Taylormade Spider EX Putter £299
GM Verdict
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 continued high levels of forgiveness.
The overall shape of the Spider EX is certainly more pleasing, with its softer lines and more rounded rear section, although it comes in a fraction larger than the Spider X.
It’s available in three colour options – we tested the silver and the all-white. At address, the new dual-line system that frames three reflective dots certainly helps set the putter square to your 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.
Taylormade has implemented a new co-moulded insert on the Spider EX, with fewer grooves made of aluminium beams. We could make a case for the
Spider EX feeling fractionally softer while providing a touch more speed than Spider X, but 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 very 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 were destined to miss. It arguably felt more solid than the Spider X, too, which is no mean feat. The shape and size of the Superstroke Pistol GTR 1.0 grip certainly aided feel and 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).
If you want maximum forgiveness from a mallet putter that feels good and isn’t excessively large, the Spider EX is certainly a model to try this year.
Key Technology
Two 28g weights occupy the heel and toe and a heavy tungsten weight – ranging from 20g to 30g depending on the putter length – has been placed at the rear to add forgiveness.
The new white design, with white being the most reflective colour, allows golfers to use the front of the face for alignment and the two rails/dots to centre the ball.
A new Pure Roll 2 insert features a white TPU urethane that surrounds eight silver aluminium beams angled at 45 degrees to enhance roll and feel.