TaylorMade’s second low-torque release is overpowering one of them the most popular low-torque options already on the market. And just because you might not see it on the PGA Tour, that doesn’t mean it can’t help you hit more shots.
The company announced today, along with renewed Spider Tour Torched 2026 LineupThe new Spider ZT Max, which represents a split between TaylorMade’s Spider ZT brand and the rest of the Spider line.
Where the Spider Tour lineup will take cues from the Tour, the Spider ZT-5K and ZT Max are aimed more at the recreational player who wants the game to be as fun and easy as possible.
“We’ve learned that consumer demand for the first time in my career has moved in a different direction than what the Tour player has traditionally wanted,” TaylorMade Director of Product Creation Andrew Oldknow told GOLF. “Many of our athletes can feel and color all of these things, and using torque to their advantage has been a boon for them. But for consumers, many of us just want to point, shoot, aim and swing.
“The Spider ZT set a high bar for what a high MOI hammer could do. With the Spider ZT Max, we took that foundation and expanded it—literally.”
The new Spider ZT Max features a head shape very similar to original Spider ZT but now it is 20 percent bigger to increase the MIA. The Spider ZT Max hit the road last week at the Charles Schwab Challenge.
Continue reading below for more about TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putterincluding my stance on release.
What’s really new with the TaylorMade Spider ZT Max — and why you should care
Entering the UK
TaylorMade took the original ZT model and basically put it on steroids by making it 20 percent larger and adding heavy steel and tungsten weight to the corners to push mass into the corners and increase MOI.
The original Spider ZT had roughly 5,000 g/cm2 MOI, hence the 5K name, in line with the Spider Tour X, while the new ZT Max pushes that number to around 7,000 g/cm2 in a standard configuration. The extreme MOI is one of the reasons why the new 2026 Spider Tour lineup does not feature the ultra-high MOI Spider Tour S.
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Jack Hirsh/GOLF
“We wanted to put that (5K) number in there because we thought that’s kind of the minimum starting point for a zero-torque shooter,” Oldknow said. “And since then we’ve been working on how much MOI can we get?
TaylorMade saw that most players looking for an ultra-high MOI gear were gravitating toward low-torque models for greater ease of use.
With increased size comes deeper CG. Thus, the new ZT Max has a 2Ëš axle tilt instead of the 1Ëš supported axle on the ZT-5K to accommodate the 9mm deeper CG.
Like the rest of the Spider family, however, the centerpiece of the ZT Max is TaylorMade’s PureRoll insert, made from a combination of Surlyn and aluminum with 45-degree grooves designed to make the ball roll in front of the face.
Different strokes for different folks
They’re also seeing that while low-torque use has stabilized somewhat in the tournament, it still accounts for one large and growing sector of the consumer market.
Many golfers can benefit from playing putters like the Spider Tour line, which is widely adopted on Tour, but many don’t practice much. They want something that is basically point and shoot.
The ZT Max takes care of that point. Oldknow doesn’t expect to see many ZT Maxes come into play on the PGA Tour, but the consumer market will be a very different story.
“We don’t expect to see much on the Tour,” Oldknow said. “All these ball forwards are looking for more feel than a foot-up, forward-facing product.
“We think this will be something that will do well in the market.”
TaylorMade Spider ZT Max lineup
The Spider ZT Max is available in either a standard configuration, 36″ and 38″ counterweight lengths or a long 46″ build.
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Jack Hirsh/GOLF
What is it: A super high MOI low torque hammer with a center shaft design. The driver is 20 percent larger than the original Spider ZT and, with the added weight of heavy steel and tungsten in the corners, pushes the MOI to between 7000 g/cm2 on the standard model and nearly 9000 g/cm2 on the long model.
Who is it for: Players who want the most consistent putter that will naturally stay square throughout the stroke.
My take: Low-torque putters are forking putters, and TaylorMade sees that
Low-torque shooters certainly aren’t a fad, but the way Oldknow talks about the ZT Max seems to show some market maturity.
The message is now that low torque meters are not for everyoneand likely not for players who rely on feel. But for those who don’t have the reps to develop that feel or want something that’s point-and-shoot, low-end torque may be the answer.
That doesn’t mean Tour pros are abandoning low-torque stocks en masse, but even if they did, consumers would likely continue to use gauges like the ZT Max because, for the right person, they can make the game easier.
I’ve usually shied away from the extreme axis line, which is one reason I, and many others in this space, really like the ZT-5K. But even with the 2Ëš axis supported on the ZT Max, it’s so big and looks so similar to the ZT-5K that it’s harder to tell.
ZT Max is a great example of the shooter I’d want if I took six months off from gaming and then played half asleep. The shot requires very little thought to hit in a straight line. Where things become a problem for me is when it introduces a break, but that’s why I prefer a higher torque shooter like the Spider Tour.
But for anyone who can shoot point-to-point, the Spider ZT Max will be a great match.
Price, Specifications and Availability
Custom TaylorMade 2026 Spider ZT-Max Putter
SPIDER STABILITY To maximize MOI, four heavy-duty steel and tungsten corner weights frame a low-density, aerospace-grade aluminum body. LOW CUT DESIGN The KBS driveshaft is bored straight from the toe near CG with a 2° camber and 34mm of offset behind the face, enabling a stable, high lift design. PURE ROLL™ INSERT Made from a combination of Surlyn and aluminum, the black Pure Roll™ insert creates a softer feel. The channels are angled at 45° to encourage optimal forward rotation, as well as the best sound, feel and overall roll characteristics. UNIQUE SOLE SHAPE New and improved sole shape to work specifically with this unique hose configuration, engineers worked tirelessly to find new ways to improve accuracy from the moment the putter gets behind the ball. The new sole curvature accommodates different types of players and ball positions, giving players the ability to find a consistent and repeatable shot.
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Custom TaylorMade 2026 Spider ZT-Max Counterbalance Putter
SPIDER STABILITY To maximize MOI, four heavy-duty steel and tungsten corner weights frame a low-density, aerospace-grade aluminum body. LOW CUT DESIGN The KBS driveshaft is bored straight from the toe near CG with a 2° camber and 34mm of offset behind the face, enabling a stable, high lift design. PURE ROLL™ INSERT Made from a combination of Surlyn and aluminum, the black Pure Roll™ insert creates a softer feel. The channels are angled at 45° to encourage optimal forward rotation, as well as the best sound, feel and overall roll characteristics. UNIQUE SOLE SHAPE New and improved sole shape to work specifically with this unique hose configuration, engineers worked tirelessly to find new ways to improve accuracy from the moment the putter gets behind the ball. The new sole curvature accommodates different types of players and ball positions, giving players the ability to find a consistent and repeatable shot.
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Custom TaylorMade 2026 Spider ZT-Max Long Putter
SPIDER STABILITY To maximize MOI, four heavy-duty steel and tungsten corner weights frame a low-density, aerospace-grade aluminum body. LOW CUT DESIGN The KBS driveshaft is bored straight from the toe near CG with a 2° camber and 34mm of offset behind the face, enabling a stable, high lift design. PURE ROLL™ INSERT Made from a combination of Surlyn and aluminum, the black Pure Roll™ insert creates a softer feel. The grooves are angled at 45° to encourage optimal forward rotation, as well as the best sound, feel and overall rolling characteristics. UNIQUE SOLE SHAPE New and improved sole shape to work specifically with this unique hose configuration, engineers worked tirelessly to find new ways to improve accuracy from the moment the putter gets behind the ball. The new sole curvature accommodates different types of players and ball positions, giving players the ability to find a consistent and repeatable shot.
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TaylorMade’s new ZT Max putters ARE available to order starting June 4 online and at retail locations.
