The Spider putter family is getting bigger, and a little more forward.
TaylorMade is introducing the new Spider FCG putter, a singular head shape that in its appearance is similar, yet totally unique from any other Spider we have seen.
What is “FCG”?
To the point, FCG stands for Forward Center of Gravity, and we have little doubt that THP readers are familiar with this concept when it comes to putters as it was done last year by another OEM. While that fact makes the Spider FCG feel a bit reactionary, the THP testing on the forward CG concept with putters has shown that it works, and with TaylorMade following into the concept perhaps it will bring more eyes to a concept that deserves it.
TaylorMade’s story with this one is “Looks like a mallet, feels like a blade, forgives like a spider” and given what we know about forward CG in putters, it makes sense. The overall shape, which is akin to a Spider Mini, is one that allows for perimeter weighting and a higher MOI by nature, but sometimes with mallets that feature leads to a stroke and strike with less feel and feedback than a blade. By moving weight forward, in this case with a central weight as well as heel and toe tungsten weights placed just behind the face, you bring back the feel and release sensation of a blade while keeping some of the higher MOI benefits. That is FCG in a nutshell, and something TaylorMade is calling “forward loading”.
But Wait…There’s More
While the forward weight is the main part of the story here, it is worth noting there is more than just that going on.
For the Spider FCG, TaylorMade is also implementing an all new copper (CU29) Pure Roll insert which itself is 25g and only adds to the forward center of gravity design. According to TM, the material change also makes for a firmer feel and sound, which is interesting as most of the Pure Roll putters are on the firm side of the spectrum.
Additionally, they are showing once and for all that they are committed to the companies “True Path” alignment which features a significant high contrast white alignment section down the center of the putter head. Size wise, this one looks in line with the SpiderX, but here there is also a section across the topline of the Spider FCG shape that turns it into a “T” alignment mechanism. TaylorMade claims this will allow for alignment front to back, or heel to toe.
Finally, the FCG offers three neck types (Small Slant, L-Neck, Single-Bend) and is finished out with a KBS Black CT Tour putter shaft for extreme stability. Also, the central forward weight is adjustable within the design to hit a player’s preferred swing weight or head weight. On the head weight topic, based on what TaylorMade is saying, it would appear as if the head weights will vary depending on neck type and playing length in order to hit a specific swing weight, getting progressively lighter as the putters get longer ranging from 350g to 329g.
This is an interesting release for TaylorMade, and reception to the look as well as the technology story is going to be interesting to watch, we know it works, but it’s an interesting reaction from TM overall to go this way. What are your thoughts? Do you plan on giving one a roll? Be sure to jump in the conversation and let us know by leaving a comment here or on the THP community!
So anyway, I picked one up recently to play around with and surely sabotage some scores and putting stats. The color scheme suits me and I wanted a mallet looking one to try.
My take is that it feels very light (instant first reaction), the face has a unique feel I don’t think many people want (I kinda like hard and dead, lol), feels unnecessarily unstable with the skinny *ss grip on that head/shaft combo, and the SHAFT is just a wtf’er for me. I play 35" CT Tour putter shafts with various heads, and I don’t know if there’s some kind of made-for something happening on this one, but it’s softer/more active with more of a weird feel than any of mine. I played a few rounds with the stock setup and didn’t hate it, but just went choptastic on a couple and put together a 350 head with a brushed black CT Tour and Traxion Pistol GT 1.0 playing at 34.5" and it’s night and day. Take the wiggle and feedback out of the shaft and it feels waaay better off the face, more stable with the new grip, and about 35g heavier overall and near same SW. I dig it. I won’t get a chance to put it back into playing rotation until the holidays probably, but I’m excited to get it out there now.
I don’t think I’ll miss the gloss black on the shaft either. The brushed matches the head better.
Feels like I’m the only one I ever seen in the wild playing it, so it must not be very popular. I see Morikawa with it, but that feels like more of a ?. Lol. Morikawa is about the only other person I ever see playing P7MC too, so :confused2:.
First, that was a putter I liked during my PGATSS putter exploration time. The alignment is super easy and the feel and roll was solid. It did suffer a bit in my interest due to a puzzling lack of fanfare and usage. Great to see someone using it.
As to your modifications, how the heck do you change out the shaft and weight? I can find the KBS shaft you mention but picking which one (straight, single bend, double bend) is not obvious to me and then how to set that up is even less obvious. ? And I assume there are weight options? I don’t think I will pick up one of these, although my golf brain came well equipped with impulse buying mode. I would like to start tinkering with clubs and putter could be a fun place to start. A learning experiment might be fun. Thanks!
Good stuff. It’s amazing how much a different shaft such as a CT Tour can change the feel of a putter. I just ordered another 4 KBS putter shafts and am looking forward to experimenting with their One Step, probably first in a Toulon Austin head.
also, copper insert? Very cool.
My putters mod’ing has been a slow learning experiment (I try to keep the putter part of the bag pretty steady usually), that honestly started just based on looks. I like my blacks. Haha Pretty sure I bought the wrong sized shaft for one along the way at some point, set one up with the exact same weight, swing weight, balance point, etc hoping it would perform the same as another (did not), and have ruined a couple grips by thinking I had a setup just right, but didn’t. Luckily toe hang putter shaft shapes are pretty easy.
This one I recently changed in a little different way for someone (swap to 20g weight, stock grip and shaft but tipped 5/8") and it is almost identical to mine in feel. I honestly used to think the guys I’d read in here worrying about all this tiny stuff with a putters were mostly crazy.
Like @tahoebum said though it’s really amazing how little things can make a big difference with them. The KBS CT Tour is definitely my go-to and has a noticeable effect on feel compared to some others. I just wanted to dip my toe into the mallet waters and this one seemed like a good start. It just definitely didn’t work for me as well off the rack. Maybe partly because it’s so different than my normal.
This is the stock grip one with the tipped shaft and 20g weight today. Little different sound and feel than I expect, even after using it for a while, but I like ’em.
Love the shape behind the ball and the alignment. Face feels good. but the combo of this shaft and super skinny grip is a very odd combo. I dunno if TM makes weights for this one but its something I would need to look at before buying one
The replacement weights for a bunch of theirs fit these, but yeah, the grip and shaft you’d probably want to dial in too if it felt light. I don’t think you can order them custom, from them at least, but I could be wrong on that.
How does one go about getting that custom grip? Looks sweet!
You can get them on the Superstroke website under ‘customize your grip’. I know it’s available for the Pistol GT’s, Tours, Claws, etc. It’s only a couple bucks maybe? Just have to upload an image and it’ll show you what it will look like.
Every time I go to the store I walk straight to this putter and proceed to drain putts. I try everything else while im there to make sure im not seeing a fluke with the FCG but it continues to perform. I didnt order anything custom so hopefully it ships very soon before my California trip where ill be playing Torrey, Aviara, and La Costa. Will be a great test to see how it performs on some true greens
@OldandStiff is it a .355 shaft?? First thing I plan on doing is swapping shafts
I ended up putting a white pearl KBS CT tour shaft in there and for whatever reason the putter seems heavier now…which is a good thing! When I would use this in the store I always commented how light it was. the new shaft with a midsize grip makes this feel more stable and heavier throughout the stroke.
Ive now played 4 rounds with it and have not gone over 32 putts (im a terrible putter so im usually happy with 36 and down).
The FCG isn’t as good looking as my phantom x5.5 or x11.5, but id argue its a better fit for me overall. It really puts such a good roll on the ball. On lag putts it seems to roll alot quicker vs the first few skipping like I typically see on longs putts. I really prefer the feel of this insert and smaller head shape compared to the rest of the Spider lineup
I hit 12 of 18 greens and scrambled my way back to save par on all but one. 8 to 10 foot putts used to be hoping I make them. Now I expect to make it every time bc im so confident
This putter puts such a good roll on the ball. Ive noticed alot more rolling compared to skipping the first few feet like previous putters.
I haven’t played mine in a while. I found what I’d been looking for and it’s entrenched. I can’t bring myself to sell my FCG though. At some point I’ll get to goof around and play different stuff again, and I really do like it compared to other mallet like stuff. It was fun to read back through my impressions and tinkering to dial it in. That was a fun time.
I’m really digging the FCG. I’m getting more confident with it every time I play. I’m probably going to change the grip at some point, though. I think a little larger grip will make it even more stable for me. I’m a little surprised that more people aren’t using the FCG, but I guess the look and feel of it might turn some people off.
Felt a little wiggly with it and stance and eye line and everything took some adjustment, but it’s still a good putter. I forgot how solid mine feels off the face. Really liked that. Was an interesting round, so can’t judge much from 25 total putts, but dropped a 10, 15, and 30 that were pretty sweet and it got more familiar as I went. Could still totally play that thing. Kinda glad I never sold it.
This is a steal!