Expert Review: TaylorMade Spider EX Platinum Putter
All photos courtesy of Andrew Abbott
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the putter, which I purchased with my own money in April of 2022.
My take
The Taylormade Spider EX Platinum Putter is great for golfers with a straight back and through putting stroke. This putter provides players with increased forgiveness on off-center strikes.
Face
About the club I own
- Model: 2021 Taylormade Spider EX Platinum
- Shape: Mallet
- Hosel Neck: Single bend
- Balance Point: Face balanced
- Shaft Length: 35 inches
- Grip Type: Superstroke (Switched to Ping Pistol)
- Finish: Platinum/Silver
About me
- Average Score: 70
- Handicap: +2
- Experience: 5 years of golf
- Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
- Stroke Type: Moderate arc
- Golf Ball Used: Taylormade TP5x
- Height: 6’0”
Test conditions
- When I bought the putter: April 2022
- Days tested: 50+
- Where I’ve used it: Multiple golf courses and practice facilities
- Weather and Wind Conditions: Cold, lots of wind, no wind, warm, rain, clear sky, cloudy
- Green Speed: Range from 8–13 on the stimpmeter
- Grass Type: Bent, Poa Annua, and Bermuda
How it performs
What I was looking for
I have always used a blade-shaped putter but wanted to give a mallet a try to see if a straight back and through putting stroke was better for me. I also wanted a mallet putter that was very simple in shape and did not have lots of wings and extra add-ons.
Why I chose this club
I chose to buy the Spider EX from Taylormade because I believe it is the best-looking mallet-style putter on the market today. The putter feels great off the face and looks very sleek and stylish when I set it down behind the ball. I also notice the added weight helps me on longer putts.
Top line
What I love about it
- Face Feel: The pure-roll insert on Spider putters feels really soft. I love how the insert also has grooves built into it to provide the optimal spin off the clubface to get the ball rolling as fast as possible.
- Forgiveness: One of the best aspects of the Spider EX putter lineup is forgiveness. This putter has two weights on the perimeter of the clubhead to move the center of gravity (CG) back in the head to create the most forgiving face possible. By having the CG moved back in the head, it creates a more forgiving face that will not twist when hit off the toe or heel.
- Weight: The weight of this putter also caught my attention when I was testing potential mallet putters. I would say this putter fits in the moderate to heavy category of putter weights. The added weight allows me to make a solid consistent stroke on longer putts or slow greens. I do not feel like I have to hit the ball really hard to get it to the hole.
- Alignment: The mallet shaping of this putter head helped me a lot with alignment. Sometimes with a smaller head blade putter, the head may look square to me, but in reality was actually closed a little bit. With this putter, the alignment is very obvious when the club is closed or open in relation to the target, which helps me line my putts up much better.
- Aesthetic Appeal: I personally love the design of this putter as well as the color blocking between the platinum head and the white center strip. This color blocking also helps with alignment. I dislike the three dots for alignment, but it has certainly grown on me over time.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Length: I personally prefer a 34-inch putter to the 35-inch option. I like the putter to be a little shorter because it helps me feel more in control of the face to ensure it is square at impact to give me the best chance at making putts.
- Grip Feel: I like a smaller grip on my putters, so I got rid of the Super Stroke and replaced it with a Ping Pistol Grip. I like this smaller grip because it allows me to control the face better and feel more connected to the putter.
- Customization: There are currently no options for customization of the color, alignment, or length with this putter.
- Balance: I have an arc in my stroke, which means my putting stroke looks more like a semi-circle rather than a straight line. The face balancing of this putter is designed for golfers who use a straight back and through stroke. As a result, this putter works really well for golfers with a straight stroke but did not help me because I have more of an arcing putting stroke.
Best Putt or Round with this Putter
The best round I have with this putter was when I shot 34 in nine holes. I only had 11 putts during these nine holes. I was not playing great, so I was not hitting too many greens, and my wedges were not much better. As a result, I was left with a lot of mid-range, 5–12 foot putts. However, this putter saved me, and I made most of these putts. Also, one of the two putts I had in this round was on a par 5, where I two-putt from 30 feet to make a birdie.
Value for the money vs. other options
The Spider models of putters are my favorite when it comes to performance compared to cost. Scotty Cameron mallet putters are great, but they cost twice as much as this Spider EX while providing the same performance. However, Scotty Cameron putters are of higher quality and retain value, which is the leading reason why many golfers may choose a Scotty over other options. As a golfer with a straight back and through, one cannot go wrong with the Spider EX in this awesome platinum color.
Final verdict
The Taylormade Spider EX Platinum with the slant neck is a face-balanced putter to help golfers with a straight back and through stroke. This putter also has weights on the rear left and right wings to maximize forgiveness on mishits to help all golfers make more putts.
