Just over a year ago, Taylormade Golf released its Tour X Proto putter to the public, an option that had previously only been available to its Tour staff. The concept was a cool one: By moving as much weight forward as possible, Taylormade sought to make their iconic, oversized mallet feel like a blade putter while still delivering the stability the Spider is known for.
In addition to its unique CG location, the Tour X Proto leaned on the company’s legacy True Path Alignment system, designed to provide a reliable and consistent starting line for each putt. The finely milled face also set the Tour Proto X apart from the other Spider options in Taylormade’s lineup. While users had to give up some of the roll benefits realized from the company’s TPU Pure Roll insert, this milled face did deliver the feel many players prefer. Today, almost a year later to the date, Taylormade is releasing a new aesthetic option in the Tour X Proto line, called Tour X Black Proto.
As evidenced by the name and the photos, the Spider Tour X Black Proto is a new finish option in the Tour X Proto line rather than an all-new putter design. It will present a fresh look for consumers who may have liked the technology story but desired different visuals. The blacked-out finish is always a consumer favorite. It stands out without standing out and tends to make just about everything look cooler.
As we discussed in last November’s release article, Spider Tour X Black Proto utilizes a weight-forward CG location that creates more face rotation at impact, much like one would expect from a blade putter. At the same time, the Spider platform’s size and shape deliver high-end stability and MOI that we expect from mallets. One key difference with the Tour X Black Proto is the absence of the True Path Alignment system. It goes without saying that True Path isn’t really compatible with an all-black finish. The outline of the True Path system remains, and it will certainly provide alignment benefits, but it won’t stand out in the same way we see from a contrasting white section. Sometimes great aesthetics come with a compromise, and we have no doubt there are plenty of consumers that can look past this difference.
The TaylorMade Spider Tour X Black Proto will be available with two hosel configurations – L Neck and Short Slant. While we don’t have a fresh spec sheet with this release, we can assume they mirror the Tour X Proto line. The L Neck comes with a toe hang of 28 degrees and the Short Slant with 46 degrees. Both putters will likely have a 70 degree lie angle and 3 degrees of loft in the standard configuration. We expect to see the Tour X Black Proto come in at the $500 price point. For more information and pre-orders, visit taylormadegolf.com.
