Tour Edge Exotics Wingman 801 Putter Review: Is this one of the best budget putters around?

Key Features:

• High MOI design: new aluminum sole plate placed beneath a large hollow centre offers weight reallocation to the heel and toe
• VIBRCOR TPU insert: located behind the 304 stainless steel putter face 
• Alignment-enhancing design: contrasting white alignment stripe draws your eye to the centre of the putter face and down your target line

If you've always wanted the iconic Spider look in your bag but can't quite justify the spend, the Tour Edge Exotics Wingman 801 might just catch your eye — and your wallet.

With a striking resemblance to one of the best putters in the game, the Tour Edge Exotics Wingman 801 Putter delivers impressive looks, standout alignment and a sound that hits the right notes — all for just £129 / $169.99. 

But does it back up the aesthetics with consistent feel and performance?

I took the Wingman 801 straight out onto the greens at Silvermere Golf Club in Surrey to find out. 

I’m a self-confessed sucker for a good-looking putter, and the Wingman 801 genuinely made a cracking first impression.

It immediately reminded me of a more budget-friendly TaylorMade Spider Tour Putter — one of the most recognisable mallet shapes in the game today. The Spider Tour X version is famously wielded by PGA Tour superstars Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.

But if truth be told, looks are the only thing this putter has that comes close to rivalling the popular Spider franchise. 

Scroll down and I'll tell you why... 

Player Level

The Wingman 801 is absolutely suited to golfers just getting into the game or higher handicappers who want a confidence-inspiring head shape without emptying their wallets. For that group, the visual alignment support and attractive price point are both huge wins.

For better players, though — particularly single-figure handicaps like myself (I play off 4) — this putter doesn’t quite deliver the consistency or feedback needed to gauge distance effectively or recover from off-centre strikes.

Looks and Feel

Let’s start with the looks — because Tour Edge has really nailed this part. 

The deep blue finish, paired with a strong white and black alignment line, creates a bold and modern aesthetic that screams shelf appeal. 

The slant neck hosel and mallet profile add to the overall premium silhouette, and its large alignment line running through the middle genuinely helped me frame the ball nice and confidently.

There are a few design choices that won’t be for everyone — the face is peppered with embossed “W” logos that I personally found unnecessary.

Its precision-milled face was a nice touch and did provide a soft feel but only when struck out the middle.

That said, consistency of my strike on the greens was another story. 

Compared to high-end models like a L.A.B. Golf DF3 or PXG Allan, the Wingman 801 lacked connection and feedback, especially on off-centre hits.

The sound is lovely — a deep, satisfying click when you catch it flush — but there’s no real link between the sound and feel, which made it hard to instinctively know where I'd struck the ball.

I also wasn't much of a fan of the standard Golf Pride Pro Only Blue Star Angled grip, so that would be something I would want to re-grip as I typically prefer a chunkier-style putter grip. That in itself would improve overall feel for me. 

But as we always say here at GolfMagic, looks and feel are very much personal preferences, so what looks and feels right might to me could be very different to you. 

That is always something to bare in mind when reading my latest reviews. 

Performance and Forgiveness

The performance of the Wingman 801 can best be described as hit and miss. 

On short putts, the combination of alignment visuals and shape gave me plenty of confidence. 

But on mid-to-long range efforts, things began to unravel.

I found my distance control from 20 to 30 feet to be erratic, and it often felt like I was guessing how hard to hit it.

The roll wasn’t as true or reliable as premium mallets like an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser, and that lack of consistency makes a big difference when you’re trying to two-putt from the edge of the green.

Forgiveness-wise, heel and toe strikes were especially punishing. 

The feel turned dead and vibrational with a noticeable drop in feedback — and not in a good way. 

So, while it offers the look of a forgiving putter, it doesn’t quite live up to that in play.

How It Compares

It’s hard not to compare the Wingman 801 to a TaylorMade Spider given their nearly identical head shapes. 

But in reality, the performance gap is wide. 

The Spider is well over twice the price — and it earns it — with vastly improved feel, roll consistency and feedback.

Against other putters in its price bracket, the Wingman 801 holds its own on looks alone. 

But something like the Odyssey DFX may offer better feel and forgiveness, albeit with less visual flair.

Should You Buy It?

If you’re a beginner or casual golfer looking to grab a great-looking putter at a fraction of the cost of a TaylorMade Spider, then the Tour Edge Wingman 801 is well worth a try. You’ll feel confident over short putts and look the part with it in your bag.

But if you’re a low-handicap player, or someone who really values feel, feedback and distance control, you’ll need to spend a bit more to get the performance you want. 

For me, this putter just didn’t offer the responsiveness or consistency that I crave on the greens. 

Verdict

The Tour Edge Exotics Wingman 801 Putter is a brilliant-looking, great-sounding and affordable option for beginner golfers who want that Spider vibe without the Spider price.

However, it’s let down by inconsistent feel, lacklustre distance control and poor forgiveness outside the centre of the face. 

It’s a putter that will turn heads visually — but it won’t win over confident putters or single-figure players looking for precision and finesse.