Will it be True love for TaylorMade’s new Spider X putter?
TaylorMade Spider X putter review: The results
I’ve generally avoided insert putters, largely because I have a tendency to leave putts short when hitting something that’s softer than a milled face.
But this was firm from the first strike, which would tally with TaylorMade’s assertion that the insert is thicker than previous models.
Feel is often important with putters, and an underrated element when making a decision in the face of all this technology, but I really liked the weight of the Spider X and the way it moved through the stroke.
I don’t have much of an arc – hence why I use this kind of putter – and it was very easy to feel like the face was pointing in a straight line at conclusion.
That, combined with the shape of the head and the way it lines up behind the ball, gave me a lot of confidence and especially on those four to eight footers that are so crucial to making a good score off my handicap.
I actually one-putted the first three holes I played with the Spider X and all from distance (there’s video evidence to prove it!). I think it will work well for me in competition play as the greens get quicker.
So is this the putter for you? Check out Steve’s final verdict on the next page…
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
