With my custom MySpiderX putter arriving this week, I took to the course to test the feel and performance between my Spider Tour Black gamer. The Spider Tour has been in the bag for the past two years, and it has been an outstanding putter for me. Can the MySpiderX outperform the Spider Tour? Lets find out.
Take a look at my previous reviews of the design process and the in-hand unpackaging below.
https://community.taylormadegolf.com/t5/Equipment/Review-Designing-My-Custom-TaylorMade-MySpiderX-Pu...
ALIGNMENT
My Spider Tour has a custom black sightline that I added at the end of last season. Originally, I liked the Tour with no sightline as it helped me focus on the ball line instead of the putter crown. Eventually I got to the point where I really felt a subtle sightline would be beneficial, especially for short pressure putts. I saw huge improvement in my putting game since adding the line, and never looked back. With the MySpiderX, I chose to add the True Alignment technology to help increase my aim even further than my Spider Tour. Now, compared to the custom Spider Tour sightline, the True Path Alignment is nowhere near subtle next to the Midnight Blue body, but that is the point. Having the contrast between the alignment aid, and the body make it incredibly easy to envision the line I intended to put the ball on. Using this technology is a game changer for me, as it allows for much better focus on the path, as well as the concentration on the stroke through impact.
PURE ROLL INSERT
The 5mm thick aluminum insert in the SpiderX, for me, had a slightly different feel than the 3mm surlyn insert in the Spider Tour. There was difficulty telling the difference, in terms of feel, between both inserts from 10 ft and out. Both inserts were very soft, responsive, and provided great feedback on off center strikes. The more prominent difference between the inserts came from 10 ft and in. The Pure Roll insert in the Spider Tour has a better feel, provided more feedback, and had a better sound for me. This was just a personal preference, and also the fact that I have been used to the Spider Tour for the last 2 seasons. The MySpiderX Pure Roll insert was by no means bad, but I feel I will need a little more time to adjust to this insert. This insert reminded me in looks, feel, and feedback of the Spider Limited putter (red/black) I gamed before the Spider Tour.
DISTANCE CONTROL
Both putters had very similar distance control, and I found I was able to easily switch back and forth between each putter and still achieve the same control with the same putting stroke. With the improvements to the Pure Roll insert in the MySpiderX, I was expecting a small increase in distance due getting the ball starting to roll faster, but both the surlyn and aluminum inserts were very similar for control.
STABILITY AND FEEL
When concentrating on the head stability, I found the MySpiderX to be slightly more stable when starting the putting stroke from address. This is due in part to the improved 36 percent weight on the outside of the body on the MySpiderX compared to 30 percent on the Spider Tour. It may be a small change, but it was certainly noticeable when starting the putting stroke. I have struggled in the past, with previous putters, with starting the putting stroke. The Spider Tour has helped this tremendously, and the few times I start the putting stroke and the putter drifts, I stop and re-address the ball. If found that the MySpiderX did perform even better than the Spider Tour in this aspect during testing.
Feel between the MySpiderX and the Spider Tour were similar as far as the stroke is concerned. When taking practice strokes, the putters feel almost identical. This made for a very easy transition into the MySpiderX as I did not feel a major difference between the head designs.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Testing between the MySpiderX and Spider Tour putters showed many similarities, as well as some improvements. The biggest improvements I found with the MySpiderX was the addition of the True Path Alignment technology, and increased stability when starting the putting stroke. These improvements alone warrant a bag change, and further on-course testing will continue in the coming weeks to make the final decision.
If you are in the market for a new putter, or are interested in the MySpiderX or SpiderX, do not miss a chance to test and compare. Many new technologies in this putter iteration are sure to benefit players of all levels.
ALIGNMENT
My Spider Tour has a custom black sightline that I added at the end of last season. Originally, I liked the Tour with no sightline as it helped me focus on the ball line instead of the putter crown. Eventually I got to the point where I really felt a subtle sightline would be beneficial, especially for short pressure putts. I saw huge improvement in my putting game since adding the line, and never looked back. With the MySpiderX, I chose to add the True Alignment technology to help increase my aim even further than my Spider Tour. Now, compared to the custom Spider Tour sightline, the True Path Alignment is nowhere near subtle next to the Midnight Blue body, but that is the point. Having the contrast between the alignment aid, and the body make it incredibly easy to envision the line I intended to put the ball on. Using this technology is a game changer for me, as it allows for much better focus on the path, as well as the concentration on the stroke through impact.
PURE ROLL INSERT
The 5mm thick aluminum insert in the SpiderX, for me, had a slightly different feel than the 3mm surlyn insert in the Spider Tour. There was difficulty telling the difference, in terms of feel, between both inserts from 10 ft and out. Both inserts were very soft, responsive, and provided great feedback on off center strikes. The more prominent difference between the inserts came from 10 ft and in. The Pure Roll insert in the Spider Tour has a better feel, provided more feedback, and had a better sound for me. This was just a personal preference, and also the fact that I have been used to the Spider Tour for the last 2 seasons. The MySpiderX Pure Roll insert was by no means bad, but I feel I will need a little more time to adjust to this insert. This insert reminded me in looks, feel, and feedback of the Spider Limited putter (red/black) I gamed before the Spider Tour.
DISTANCE CONTROL
Both putters had very similar distance control, and I found I was able to easily switch back and forth between each putter and still achieve the same control with the same putting stroke. With the improvements to the Pure Roll insert in the MySpiderX, I was expecting a small increase in distance due getting the ball starting to roll faster, but both the surlyn and aluminum inserts were very similar for control.
STABILITY AND FEEL
When concentrating on the head stability, I found the MySpiderX to be slightly more stable when starting the putting stroke from address. This is due in part to the improved 36 percent weight on the outside of the body on the MySpiderX compared to 30 percent on the Spider Tour. It may be a small change, but it was certainly noticeable when starting the putting stroke. I have struggled in the past, with previous putters, with starting the putting stroke. The Spider Tour has helped this tremendously, and the few times I start the putting stroke and the putter drifts, I stop and re-address the ball. If found that the MySpiderX did perform even better than the Spider Tour in this aspect during testing.
Feel between the MySpiderX and the Spider Tour were similar as far as the stroke is concerned. When taking practice strokes, the putters feel almost identical. This made for a very easy transition into the MySpiderX as I did not feel a major difference between the head designs.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Testing between the MySpiderX and Spider Tour putters showed many similarities, as well as some improvements. The biggest improvements I found with the MySpiderX was the addition of the True Path Alignment technology, and increased stability when starting the putting stroke. These improvements alone warrant a bag change, and further on-course testing will continue in the coming weeks to make the final decision.
If you are in the market for a new putter, or are interested in the MySpiderX or SpiderX, do not miss a chance to test and compare. Many new technologies in this putter iteration are sure to benefit players of all levels.
