TaylorMade Spider EX Putter Review
Joel Tadman reviews the Spider EX putter from TaylorMade in this piece.
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If you want maximum forgiveness from a mallet putter that feels good and isn’t excessively large, the Spider EX from TaylorMade is certainly a model to try this year.
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Sky-high levels of stability
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Vivid alignment cues
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Soft-yet-solid feel
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All white option is perhaps too overpowering in bright sunlight
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TaylorMade Spider EX Putter Review
The goal with the Spider EX putter was to create something a little more refined than the popular Spider X model with better feel and while maintaining high levels of forgiveness.
The overall shape of the the Spider EX is certainly more pleasing with its softer lines and more rounded rear section, although it comes in a fraction larger than Spider X. It comes in three color options - we tested the silver and the blue.
At address, the new dual line system that frames three reflective dots certainly helps set the putter squarely to your intended target line and encourages you to strike the ball centrally.
Whether it’s more effective than the single, thicker sightline on the Spider X will be player dependent, but the fact we holed more than our fair share from short range suggested it works just as well. The all-white head certainly stands out - it’s arguably a little overpowering in bright sunlight, but the system of lines and dots allows you to subconsciously monitor your stroke path.
TaylorMade has implemented a new co-molded insert on the Spider EX with fewer grooves made of aluminum beams but frankly, we struggled to tell the difference versus the old version found on Spider X or the Spider SR (opens in new tab). We could make a case for the Spider EX to feel fractionally softer while providing a touch more speed, but in reality the differences were negligible.
That said, we liked how well the ball hugged the ground and the consistency of the roll out, even from long range, genuinely impressed us. This putter is super stable, so even if you make a poor stroke, the stability of the head will get you out of trouble - we made a few ten footers we thought we destined to miss based on strike. It arguably felt more solid than Spider X, which is no mean feat.
The shape and size of the SuperStroke Pistol GTR 1.0 grip certainly aided feel as well as control of the face, while the short slant hosel we tested matched up well with our slightly arced stroke (flow neck and single bend options are available).
Joel has worked in the golf industry for over 12 years covering both instruction and more recently equipment. He now oversees all product content here at Golf Monthly, managing a team of talented and passionate writers and presenters in delivering the most thorough and accurate reviews, buying advice, comparisons and deals to help the reader find exactly what they are looking for. So whether it's the latest driver, irons, putter or laser rangefinder, Joel has his finger on the pulse keeping up to date with the latest releases in golf. He is also responsible for all content on irons and golf tech, including distance measuring devices and launch monitors.
One of his career highlights came when covering the 2012 Masters he got to play the sacred Augusta National course on the Monday after the tournament concluded, shooting a respectable 87 with just one par and four birdies. To date, his best ever round of golf is a 5-under 67 back in 2011. He currently plays his golf at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincs, with a handicap index of 3.3.
Joel's current What's In The Bag?
Driver: Titleist TSR3, 9°
Fairway wood: Titleist TSR3, 15°
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2, 18°
Irons: TaylorMade P770, 4-7 iron, TaylorMade P7MC 8-PW
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8, 50°, 54° and a Titleist Vokey SM9 60° lob wedge
Putter: Evnroll ER2V
Ball: 2021 Titleist Pro V1x
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