About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the putter, which I purchased with my own money in February of 2023.

My take

The TaylorMade Spider GTX Black #3 Putter is great for someone who struggles with consistency in putting. I’ve always been a blade-style putter fan until I tried the Spider EX in 2020. My putting changed drastically. The stability of the 2023 Spider GTX makes it even easier to put a good roll on the ball.

About the club I own

• Model: 2023 TaylorMade Spider GTX #3
• Shape: Malett
• Hosel Neck: Slant neck
• Balance Point: Toe hang
• Shaft Length: 34”
• Grip Type: Super Stroke GT 1.0
• Finish: Black and white

About me

• Average Score: 72
• Handicap: +0.5
• Experience: 26 years of playing golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Stroke Type: Slight In-to-In
• Golf Ball Used: TaylorMade TP5X
• Height: 5’10”

Test conditions

• When I bought the putter: February 2023
• Days tested: 60
• Where I’ve used it: Golf course, practice green, and indoor practice mat
• Weather and Wind Conditions: Sunshine and rain
• Green Speed: 12
• Grass Type: TifEagle grass

How it performs

What I was looking for

I let go of my old Spider putter, which I regret to this day. That is the putter I had always putt the best with, and it gave me all the confidence I needed even to stare down a 20-footer. I haven’t been able to find anything quite like it again until now.

Why I chose this club

The TaylorMade Spider GTX gave me the confidence on the greens that I was missing. I tried other options, from Scotty to Odessey to Cleveland. But the 2023 Spider GTX still felt the best in my hands at setup.

What I love about it

What I love most about this putter is the weight and how it almost automatically squares up at impact. The way the face rotates open and closed throughout the stroke. It’s much more forgiving than my Scotty Cameron blade on mishits, giving me a better chance to make it on mishits. I love how it just lays down flat at address and lines up straight without me having to manipulate it.

• Face Feel: It comes off the face nice and soft with a satisfying “click.”
• Forgiveness: One of the most forgiving “Tour” putters out there. Forgiving all across the insert and doesn’t take off on the sweet spot as Scotty Cameron does. Pretty consistent across the face.
• Weight: Weight feels amazing. I don’t need to mess around with changing weights at all. It has the perfect head weight for all playing conditions.
• Alignment: I love how easy it is to align this putter. I just lay it down on the ground, and it falls square. The line on top of the putter also makes it easier to line up my putt.
• Length: It comes in various lengths. I personally like the 33” (I’m 5’10”).
• Aesthetic Appeal: This looks like looking at a Ferrari's back end. The shape of this putter just installs confidence.
• Grip Feel: Various options are available for grip types. They come standard with a SuperStroke putter grip, which is the number one putter grip on Tour and trusted across the board by amateurs and professionals alike.
• Customization: The “My Spider” option on the TaylorMade website is a lot of fun. There are so many different colors one can play with, and everything on the head is customizable.
• Other: Overall, it’s just a great and trustworthy putter. Golfers will not want to keep this one out of the bag!

Issues I’ve encountered

• Other: The clubhead rotates open and closed and can cause a slightly bigger miss when one makes a big swing and hits it off the heel or toe. Another issue I've encountered is that a slight forward push is required to ensure that the face stays square through impact and the toe doesn’t just come through first.

Best Putt or Round with this Putter

Very first putt I made with this putter, I fell in love. The very first hole at Addison Reserve in Delray Beach, Florida, I made a 15-footer right in the back of the cup. The way it was setup and felt in my hands, I just thought, “I feel like I can easily make this putt.” I had a career-best 23 putts that round to go along with a 3 under par. I felt like I could hit it anywhere on the green and have a shot at making the putt. The final straw came when I made a 24-footer on 18 to win the match and take some money off my friends.

Value for the money vs. other options

The Spider GTX may not be a collector's item like the Scotty Cameron or Bettenard, but performance-wise, it is just as good if not better (yes, I said it—BETTER) than any one of those for a few dollars less. And it is used and trusted by Tour players at an everyday golfer budget.

Final verdict

The TaylorMade Spider GTX Black #3 Putter will change someone’s game. They will no longer be madly pushing or pulling it left or right of the pin. And they will feel like they can make anything on the green.