2022 TaylorMade Spider X vs. TaylorMade Spider GT

[BackNine08]

Trying to decide between the two. Hit both and both (with a slight toe hang) roll incredibly well. Similarly priced so no difference there.

 

Any other criteria I should use to help me decide? Paint chipping issues? Longevity of design? Just need something (or someone's personal experience) to wrap things up!

 

Thanks in advance! 

[dmecca2]

x........gt...........GTX!!!!

[SheriffBooth]

I prefer the way the Spider GT soles behind the ball.  I never have to manipulate the face, it just sits nice and square.  My limited experience with the X and the Tour Black before it were that they sometimes wanted to flop open at address.  I also like the simplicity of the GT - I have the model with the short line on top - but that's just aesthetics and my personal preference.  

[BackNine08]

35 minutes ago, dmecca2 said:

x........gt...........GTX!!!!

??

[BackNine08]

13 minutes ago, SheriffBooth said:

I prefer the way the Spider GT soles behind the ball.  I never have to manipulate the face, it just sits nice and square.  My limited experience with the X and the Tour Black before it were that they sometimes wanted to flop open at address.  I also like the simplicity of the GT - I have the model with the short line on top - but that's just aesthetics and my personal preference.  

Thank you. To clarify, we're talking about the one in the attached image right?

[dmecca2]

3 hours ago, BackNine08 said:

??

Taylormade just released the GTX line. Give that a try.

 

 

[BackNine08]

Just now, dmecca2 said:

Taylormade just released the GTX line. Give that a try.

 

 

Ok. Do putters see a significant improvement year over year? 

[dmecca2]

1 minute ago, BackNine08 said:

Ok. Do putters see a significant improvement year over year? 

Depends on who you ask. Probably no. But sometimes yes. This year they released a putter with moveable weights. I haven't tested it yet so I couldn't tell you if it's anything special.

 

I do like their new gtx "spider". It's quite literally a combination of the x and gt line.

[SheriffBooth]

5 hours ago, BackNine08 said:

Thank you. To clarify, we're talking about the one in the attached image right?

That's the exact putter I'm currently using.

[BackNine08]

5 minutes ago, SheriffBooth said:

That's the exact putter I'm currently using.

Thanks

[mjo23]

On 1/30/2023 at 7:37 AM, BackNine08 said:

Trying to decide between the two. Hit both and both (with a slight toe hang) roll incredibly well. Similarly priced so no difference there.

 

Any other criteria I should use to help me decide? Paint chipping issues? Longevity of design? Just need something (or someone's personal experience) to wrap things up!

 

Thanks in advance! 

The design of the X is definitely still preferred by most people and players on Tour. Unless it’s the hydroblast version, paint chipping is an issue with the X (not an issue with the GT)

 

Also the X has a KBS shaft (which is better imo) while the GT has taylormades in-house putter shaft, which they seemed to have abandoned with the latest GTX release (they went back to KBS)

Edited February 2, 2023 by mjo23

[MFBach]

On 1/30/2023 at 7:37 AM, BackNine08 said:

Any other criteria I should use to help me decide? Paint chipping issues? Longevity of design? Just need something (or someone's personal experience) to wrap things up!

The X is a tried a true design. Looks great, performs, just hard to beat in general. I’ve never had any paint issues with the X or Tour, despite the numerous complaints I’ve seen posted, both of mine still look great with no chipping or degradation of any kind. 
 

As far as performance benefits, the GT is going to have a slightly more forward CG, which will encourage more face closure through the stroke. The CG in the X is more rearward, which will promote less arc in the stroke. They’re both very stable and perform well, so it would be hard to go wrong either way. 
 

You might check out the new GTX Max. The price tag is a bit higher than their other models, but it’s the best of both worlds. Milled aluminum finish, more traditional Spider shape than the GT, and an adjustable weight track system to fit CG to your specific needs. 

[BackNine08]

18 hours ago, mjo23 said:

The design of the X is definitely still preferred by most people and players on Tour. Unless it’s the hydroblast version, paint chipping is an issue with the X (not an issue with the GT)

 

Also the X has a KBS shaft (which is better imo) while the GT has taylormades in-house putter shaft, which they seemed to have abandoned with the latest GTX release (they went back to KBS)

 

11 hours ago, MFBach said:

The X is a tried a true design. Looks great, performs, just hard to beat in general. I’ve never had any paint issues with the X or Tour, despite the numerous complaints I’ve seen posted, both of mine still look great with no chipping or degradation of any kind. 
 

As far as performance benefits, the GT is going to have a slightly more forward CG, which will encourage more face closure through the stroke. The CG in the X is more rearward, which will promote less arc in the stroke. They’re both very stable and perform well, so it would be hard to go wrong either way. 
 

You might check out the new GTX Max. The price tag is a bit higher than their other models, but it’s the best of both worlds. Milled aluminum finish, more traditional Spider shape than the GT, and an adjustable weight track system to fit CG to your specific needs. 

Thanks to the both of you. 
 

My concern about design was exactly that - just seems like a lot of people still prefer the X and the GT hasn’t quite seen the same traction. 
 

Paint chipping still seems to be a concern because most of the models available in stores now are the HyrdoBlast. 

[mjo23]

14 hours ago, BackNine08 said:

 

Thanks to the both of you. 
 

My concern about design was exactly that - just seems like a lot of people still prefer the X and the GT hasn’t quite seen the same traction. 
 

Paint chipping still seems to be a concern because most of the models available in stores now are the HyrdoBlast. 

The slant neck isn’t available (except in Canada apparently) in the hydroblast just fyi, so if you want a slant neck instead of the flow neck you gotta get a non-hydroblast spider x. And they’re becoming harder to find.

Some people don’t have issues with the paint chipping if they use a headcover, while others have issues even with a headcover. The QC on the finish wasn’t great, but it’s a great putter

Edited February 3, 2023 by mjo23

[BackNine08]

16 hours ago, mjo23 said:

The slant neck isn’t available (except in Canada apparently) in the hydroblast just fyi, so if you want a slant neck instead of the flow neck you gotta get a non-hydroblast spider x. And they’re becoming harder to find.

Some people don’t have issues with the paint chipping if they use a headcover, while others have issues even with a headcover. The QC on the finish wasn’t great, but it’s a great putter

Actually, with the flow neck having a bit of a Toe Hang, I prefer that over the single bend.

[mitchdoc]

Still find it crazy that Taylor made never released the Rory putter setup.

[BackNine08]

8 hours ago, mitchdoc said:

Still find it crazy that Taylor made never released the Rory putter setup.

How is it different that the X available publicly?

[So_Cal]

4 hours ago, BackNine08 said:

How is it different that the X available publicly?

I think it has a slant neck as opposed to the flow that they released in the US.  Strangely the slant was sold in Canada

[dmeeksDC]

Tried the X and it is okay but I don’t care for square-looking putters and I also seem to make more putts with a more forward CG so I prefer the GT. Saw a couple of GTs in play at Pebble yesterday by players not on the TM staff. The GT sits great and does not look like a Winnebago behind the ball — the black wings sort of fade away at address if the aluminum top is a different color. When I look down I only notice the front piece. It almost looks like a Rossie shape and that’s my favorite. The two subtle milled lines on the rear of the top shell are great for aiming. 
 

Had to go the “My Tour GT” custom route to get the flow neck and slightly more toe hang than the slant so that’s what I did. Blue top with black wings. GT is my favorite in the Spider lineage.

[BackNine08]

2 hours ago, dmeeksDC said:

Tried the X and it is okay but I don’t care for square-looking putters and I also seem to make more putts with a more forward CG so I prefer the GT. Saw a couple of GTs in play at Pebble yesterday by players not on the TM staff. The GT sits great and does not look like a Winnebago behind the ball — the black wings sort of fade away at address if the aluminum top is a different color. When I look down I only notice the front piece. It almost looks like a Rossie shape and that’s my favorite. The two subtle milled lines on the rear of the top shell are great for aiming. 
 

Had to go the “My Tour GT” custom route to get the flow neck and slightly more toe hang than the slant so that’s what I did. Blue top with black wings. GT is my favorite in the Spider lineage.

For the additional Toe hang, is that a different hosel or can you customize the toe hang using an existing type of hosel exactly? 

[dmeeksDC]

56 minutes ago, BackNine08 said:

For the additional Toe hang, is that a different hosel or can you customize the toe hang using an existing type of hosel exactly? 

You get the putter custom built and choose from four hosels. I didn’t modify it. On the TaylorMade “custom” GT site it says the flow neck hosel has the most toe hang at 22 degrees, but barely more than the slant neck at 21. I just prefer the flow neck from address. You can get the slant in a stock build, but not the flow neck. I examined the flow neck on a Spider X at a store and I think it is the same, just have to custom order to get it on the GT. i did do an Edel putter laser fitting (best one IMO) to see if I needed the face balance putter I was using and it was very clear I putt better with some toe flow so I matched that fit. Not fighting my stroke like I had been. 
 

[mitchdoc]

21 hours ago, BackNine08 said:

How is it different that the X available publicly?

Hydroblast model with slant neck.