About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the putter, which I tested for one day in November of 2022.

My take

The TaylorMade Spider EX White #9 putter is for the semi-serious golfer looking for more feel and consistency seven feet and closer. The putter is also very aesthetically pleasing to the eye with its white and navy design.

About the club I tested

• Model: 2021 TaylorMade Spider EX #3
• Shape: Mallet
• Hosel Neck: Plumber neck
• Balance Point: 12in
• Shaft Length: 35in
• Grip Type: Standard
• Finish: White/Red

About me

• Average Score: 79
• Handicap: 7
• Experience: 22 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
• Stroke Type: Straight back and through
• Golf Ball Used: 2021 Callaway ERC Soft
• Height: 5’10’’

Test conditions

• When I tested the putter: November 2022
• Days tested: 1
• Where I’ve used it: Turf practice green
• Weather and Wind Conditions: Inside
• Green Speed: Slow to medium
• Grass Type: Turf

How it performs

What I was looking for

I prefer mallet putters over any other type of putter, so I wanted to try the TaylorMade Spider Ex because it is one of the more popular styles on the PGA Tour. I like that it’s aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Second, I am a “feel” putter, so I wanted something with a soft face that would allow me to feel the putt through contact more consistently.

Why I chose to test this club

I tested this club because I wanted to compare it to the Odyssey mallet putter I currently play. I’ve seen this putter quite a bit on TV, as most TaylorMade-sponsored players use a version of the spider putters, but I did not end up purchasing it because I felt the Mizuno M.Craft VI putter outperformed it.

What I love about it

• Face Feel: The face technology has a balancing feature that allows me to feel the club striking the ball, giving me more confidence to make more putts.
• Forgiveness: Even when the putt isn’t stuck perfectly, it still rolls pure and allows shorter putts to hold their line and farther putts to lag their way close to the hole.
• Alignment: The club boasts sharp alignment with its double lines on the side and dotted line down the middle of the clubhead when viewed from above.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Pulling this out of the bag is a nice feeling. The steel shaft down to the mallet's white and red head makes the putter stand out.
• Grip Feel: Grip feel was solid. It has a standard grip which is comfortable regardless of hand placement.
• Balance: This putter has a consistent weight through the putting stroke, so it maintains its inertia when taking it back and straight through.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Weight: The weight was lighter than I would have liked as it weighs 352g versus what I am used to at 365g.
• Customization: I would have liked to see how a 34-inch putter would have performed as I fluctuate between that and 35 inches as being my preferred length of putter. I couldn’t test a 34-inch as they had none in stock.

Best Putt or Round with this Putter

During my testing session, I averaged around a 90% make rate five to seven feet away from the hole, which is solid for the average weekend player.

Value for the money vs. other options

I think the TaylorMade Spider EX is worth the money. I tried cheaper options, both the DFX Seven and the DFX 2-Ball putters by Odyssey. They weren’t as forgiving, and the face didn’t have the same feel. I think for a serious golfer spending the extra money is well worth it.

Final verdict

I believe the TaylorMade Spider EX putter will create more confidence in people’s game on the greens to lag those long putts close and make more putts within that knee-knocker range of five to seven feet.