Most golfers probably won’t know what’s the most popular driver or iron model on tour, but if you asked them to name the most popular putter, the chances are that they’ll say the TaylorMade Spider.
That’s because it’s picked up more victories than any other putter over the last couple of years, with the Spider Tour X in particular racking up wins thanks to the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.
Mallet putters are now used by 23 of the top 25 players in the men’s world rankings, suggesting that the humble blade putter might be on borrowed time.
As someone who has had an Odyssey blade in the bag for almost a decade, is it time that I joined the trend and put golf’s most popular putter in the bag? I got my hands on the latest update to the Spider Tour X to find out.
Who Is It Aimed At?
The Spider Tour X is one of the more compact putters in the Spider range. Whilst this means it’s not quite as forgiving as the likes of the standard Spider Tour or the Spider ZT putters, it could be the perfect starting point for golfers who’ve used a blade but want to try a mallet.
The clear alignment line is ideal for golfers who want to get the ball started on line more often, and there’s also a choice of different neck configurations to suit different stroke types.
Some golfers may prefer the feel of a milled face, rather than the slightly clickier insert, but if you’re looking for a combination of forgiveness, great looks and easy alignment, then the Tour X is definitely worth considering.
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The Tech
The Spider Tour range for 2026 sees four shapes in total: the Spider Tour, Spider Tour X, and two new models in the Spider Tour F and Tour V – which was briefly used by Brooks Koepka this season.
All of the Spider putters in the new range feature a Torched PVD finish, which is there to add a more premium with the added benefit of improving durability too.
You get the choice of either True Path alignment, or the Single Sight Line as preferred by Rory McIlroy.
The putters come with TaylorMade’s Pure Roll insert. This has been around for quite some time now, and is made from a combination of Surlyn and aluminium to offer a softer feel. The grooves are specifically angled to encourage forward roll, as well as improving sound and feel.
Behind the face, Hybrar is used to dampen unwanted vibrations, giving you a better feedback at impact.
The Spider Tour X is offered in three different models: L-Neck, Small Slant and Double Bend. I tested this putter in the Small Slant configuration, which has 30 degrees of toe hang and only a half-shaft offset, making it better for golfers with arcing strokes.
Looks
The 2026 Spider range is definitely an upgrade in the looks department, making these some of the best looking putters on the market. The previous ranges of Spider Tour putters looked good, but the new torched finish adds an extra level of quality and a more premium feel which really is impressive.
I really like the new Spider script, which we got a first glimpse of last year with the Spider ZT, and the bright blue colourway matches really well with the torched finish.
The level of detail right down to the quality of the headover is so high, and actually I think this adds to the value for money that you’re getting for this putter.
Down by the ball the compact head shape will suit golfers who perhaps still aren’t sure about switching to a mallet putter. This is because it gives you confidence down by the ball, without being overly large or heavy.
TaylorMade have used the same True Path alignment for Spider putters for a number of years now, and it’s easy to see why because it makes it so straight-forward to line up your shots.
You can also get the Single Sight Line setup, without the white section, if you want something a little cleaner.
Feel
The face has a slightly firm feel at impact, but it is really satisfying. There is a lovely click sound at the moment of contact, which is reassuring without being off-putting.
Having recently tested the Spider ZT Max, which produced a much more tingy sound at impact, the difference was clear. The PureRoll insert on the Tour X sounds fantastic by comparison.
A common concern with mallet putters is that they can feel quite heavy and clunky, but this was not really the case with the Spider Tour X. It has a lovely balanced feel, helped in no small part by the SuperStroke Pistol 1.0 grip.
The grip is a little thicker than I would usually prefer, but it matches well with the size and shape of the head, and it felt really comfortable in the hands.
Performance
I’ve always enjoyed a sight line that runs right up to the edge of the putter face, and the Spider Tour X is ideal for this because it offers such a clear and unobstructed visual down by the ball at address.
This makes it really easy to get your ball lined up in the middle of the face, and gives you that extra bit of assistance and confidence when you’re looking to commit to a straight, square stroke through impact.
Where I did struggle a little was with breaking putts, as I felt like I just didn’t have the same degree of manipulation that I might sometimes use with my blade to adjust for the curve of the green.
In the long run, this is probably a good thing, because it encourages you to commit fully to a solid, straight stroke on your intended target line rather than trying to guide the ball. But it might take a bit of getting used to if you’re transitioning from a more traditional blade putter.
However, on longer putts the performance was excellent. I felt like my distance control was noticeably improved compared to my usual blade, because the putter tended to perform consistently well even on mis-hits, thanks to the added forgiveness that the mallet-style head provides.
Verdict
Whilst there are a couple of new models in the range, the Spider Tour X has really just had a facelift rather than any actual changes to performance. As a result, it’s going to play the same as previous Tour X models, but the new colourway looks fantastic and it continues to break records in terms of it’s usage and popularity.
A quick look on the TaylorMade website shows that there’s now a whole section in the dropdown list called ‘Spider’, ahead of Clubs and Balls, which gives you an idea of just how big this line is for the brands.
Over the last decade it’s become the standard in mallet putters, much like the Pro V1 did for golf balls and the P790 did for players distance irons.
If you’ve already got a Spider Tour X, you’re not going to see any improvement in performance, but if you’re after a mallet putter that doesn’t (completely) break the bank, then a Spider has to be considered.
Would I Use It?
Absolutely, and it’s easy to see why it’s the most popular mallet putter in the game. If I do decide to part with my blade putter, this is what I’d go for.
Looking to buy? Shop Now at Clubhouse Golf, the largest and most trusted independent golf retailer in the UK!
