Martin Hopley
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TaylorMade has been making a lot of variations to their Spider putter range for their tour players recently, resulting in products like the TaylorMade Spider Tour Putter that I reviewed.

As usual Tour players like to tinker and after several variations on that design, we now also have the TaylorMade Spider Mini putter.

TaylorMade Spider Mini Putter

As the name suggests the Mini has a 15% smaller head than the Spider Tour, but most of that comes off the rear of the putter where the two 'rocket pods' look like they have been lopped off.

TaylorMade Spider Mini Putter

They have been replaced on the back by two steel weights that are cast directly into each side of the head in order to keep the high MOI forgiveness of the Spider design in a more compact head.

TaylorMade Spider Mini Putter

I say more compact, but closer inspection reveals that the faces are actually both the same width and it is only really the back half of the putter that has been reduced in size.

TaylorMade Spider Mini Putter

This has a couple of benefits in that the head seems a little easier to control and you don't feel you a wielding a small pan lid on a stick by comparison.

TaylorMade Spider Mini Putter

Also with the weights being further back on the Spider Tour I was finding I was getting more skidding at impact, probably because I tend to add loft with my stroke and the deeper CG of the Tour doesn't really help with that. With the Mini the CG is closer to the face so that gave a better roll for me, even though both models have 3° of loft on them.

When I first took it out the box I thought the Spider Mini was going to be too small and just for better players, but when I was out on the putting green I found it to be equally as forgiving and just as consistent, if not more so, than the Tour.

This may in part be due to the better Pure Roll insert in the Mini which is thicker and made out of aluminium rather than the surlyn version in the Tour.

TaylorMade Spider Mini Putter

At last TaylorMade seem to have made an insert that sounds and feels as good as the rest of the inserts in the market and the grooves on the face combine to give it a good roll and a nice positive sound.

There is also a new alignment line on top called the T-Sightline, which probably didn't strain the marketing team too much.

TaylorMade Spider Mini Putter

It probably won't strain your eyes either and I like it because it combines the long alignment line pointing at the target with a horizontal line parallel to the face to assist with lining up.

With the more compact style of head it seemed to encourage you to be more accurate with your strike, but in actual fact, the head is more forgiving than you think.

The Spider Mini comes with a SuperStroke Pistol GTR 1.0 grip branded up with the TaylorMade style and is a mid-sized grip that I think most golfers will like.

TaylorMade Spider Mini Putter

It sits on a classy looking smoke coloured steel shaft that features a 3/4 hosel bend offset in order to create that face balanced head.

TaylorMade Spider Mini Putter

Lately there have been a lot of high MOI mallets that are being downsized and tweaked to appeal to better players. The benefits of a face balanced, or near face balanced, head with higher MOI and more forgiveness than a blade style putter offers the best of both worlds and is enticing those who are already good at putting to the Spider range, rather than those who need the high MOI benefits.

TaylorMade Spider Mini Putter

The Spider Mini fits right into this sector and for better players who can putt it is probably the first model TaylorMade has done in a while that is worth considering, even if it is a little on the pricey side.

The shape is a little functional and compared to the Spider Tour it seems like it has had its tail docked, but it is a clean and tidy design that comes in the matt Tour Red shown here or a Diamond Silver finish with a black T-Sightline.

I like the look of the Spider Mini and the alignment lines really draws your focus to the strike of the ball and combined with that better aluminium insert creates a putter that may also surprise you with how well it performs.

Golfalot Rating: 5 stars
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TaylorMade Spider Mini Putter

TaylorMade Spider Mini Putter - Product Details

UK LaunchJune 2018
UK Launch RRP£269
USA LaunchJune 2018
USA Launch RRP$299
European LaunchJune 2018
European Launch RRP€329
Handicap Range
Low
High
GolferMens, Women
Hand AvailabilityRight
Right Handed Lofts
MaterialSteel
Colour OptionsRed, Silver
Lie70°
Weight355 grams
Club Lengths33, 34, 35 inches
GripSuper Stroke Pistol GTR 1.0
Putter ShapesMallet
Putter InsertYes
Putter Face GroovesYes
Manufacturer's WebsiteTaylorMade Website

User Reviews

PDT
October 2018

I think this review is spot on, and gives a very objective analysis. I have both the Spider Tour and the Mini, and the Mini is in my bag. Agree with the comment that the compact look and T alignment makes you feel more "accurate" at set up. The new insert gives a firmer strike than the Tour Spider. The alignment aid is a personal preference, but I'm enjoying it and would recommend giving it a try.

Fraz
September 2018

I really like the feel and the alignment lines. It's very up right which is good for me. I notice the rubber in the lines on the face plate started coming out. Anyone else experience that?

Wooo
August 2018

Great putter!!! Good alignment and feel.

GDS
July 2018

I spent some time with this putter, but didn’t come away with the confidence I got using the Spider Tour. The T alignment didn’t work for me either.

SV
June 2018

I am not a fan of the "T" alignment aid as it is. It seems the cross of the "T" should be at the top of the face, not the middle of the head. Then it would be a better alignment tool.

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