Are you a great putter? No? A mallet’s forgiveness changes everything.
We considered 28 mallet putters; 15 made the list.
HANDICAPPER: (L) LOW | (M) MIDDLE | (H) HIGH
GOLD
Listed Alphabetically
Bettinardi
Queen B 10 (2019)
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★½
VERDICT
Bettinardi mallet putters are famously known for their soft curves and clean lines, and the Queen B 10 is more of the same. The putter is milled from soft carbon steel, and Bettinardi’s signature “micro-honeycomb” milled face provides a firm feel for optimal feedback. The 362-gram head provides good heft and offers plenty of stability on off-centre strikes. The crescent-milled neck matches the toe-hang feel tour players prefer.
COMMENTS
(L) Gorgeous putter. Easy to align, and the ball comes off smooth.
(M) The weighting takes away any issues of getting the ball to the hole.
(H) This is a smooth operator. Heavy, in a good way.
Odyssey
Exo (With Stroke Lab)
Performance ★★★★★
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★★
VERDICT
The use of multiple materials raises the stability and reduces the dispersion on mis-hits. The cool part is how the steel body is bridged by a lightweight aluminium truss – which means nearly 90 percent of the head’s weight is on the perimeter – and the face insert has “micråohinges” for better roll and the familiar soft feel of the White Hot polymer insert. The Stroke Lab shaft shifts the balance point towards the hands for better consistency.
COMMENTS
(L) The visual contrast helps you line up.
(M) End-over-end roll, great soft feel and excellent speed control. Everything gets to the hole.
(H) Buttery and hard to miss.
Odyssey
O-Works Red/Black
Performance ★★★★★
Innovation ★★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★★
Demand ★★★★½
VERDICT
More than 20 options fill out this line in multiple shapes, hosels, colours and even counter-balanced versions. In fact, four head styles come in both face-balanced and toe-hang options. But one constant throughout is the multilevel face technology. It combines a thermoplastic-elastomer insert for softness and a thin layer of steel with rows of protruding “microhinges” that flex at impact to provide a more immediate forward roll.
COMMENTS
(L) Very user-friendly. You can grab it and go.
(M) You mis-hit the putt a little, and it goes the same distance as a square strike.
(H) Balanced, stable. I felt assured by the sound at impact.
Odyssey
Stroke Lab
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★★★
VERDICT
Odyssey believes most current mallet putters feature too much weight too far from the hands. This can hurt control and consistency. All six Stroke Lab mallets in the line feature a shaft made mostly from graphite, with steel near the head and extra weight in the grip so the balance point is closer to your hands. The face insert’s combination of a polymer filled with steel “microhinges” yields soft feel and better roll.
COMMENTS
(L) It soles nicely. The insert was responsive on short and long putts.
(M) I like the simplicity of the alignment.
(H) Not too heavy, not too light. Phenomenal on long putts.
Odyssey
Toulon Design
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★½
VERDICT
Like the smoky, matte-black look? It’s new this year, part of the subtle but effective upgrades to Odyssey’s high-end line of milled mallet putters. The trademark diamond-shape milling pattern on the face reaches from heel to toe, extending the soft sound and improved topspin roll for all impacts. Also, the five new mallets offer the Stroke Lab shaft, which is made of graphite and has a counter-balanced grip for more control and consistency.
COMMENTS
(L) Responsive and stable. Almost like it has an insert.
(M) The shape and weight of the grip hide a multitude of sins with your stroke.
(H) The shaft weight was great for my tempo.
Ping
Sigma 2
Performance ★★★★★
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★★★
VERDICT
Ping believes most golfers use a putter that’s ill-suited for their stroke – a 35-inch model isn’t always the appropriate length. That’s why a hidden mechanism inside the grip on these mallet putters allows you to adjust the length from 32 to 36 inches. No need to get the shaft cut down and the putter regripped. Among the models in the Sigma 2 line is the Fetch [left]. Not only is it stable, you can use it to grab your ball off the green or pick it out of the hole.
COMMENTS
(L) No vibration. The adjustable grip is genius.
(M) Quiet with a consistent roll, regardless of the distance.
(H) One of the most knife-cutting-warm-butter sounds I’ve ever hit.
Ping
Vault 2.0
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★½
VERDICT
Seeing the name Vault should prepare you for the classic-looking milled mallet putters. And these are, but there’s tech to back up the looks. The face features a precision-milling pattern to improve off-centre strikes for consistent performance. Then, to match your length and balance preferences, the putters offer custom heel and toe sole weights (steel, tungsten or aluminium). Both the Piper and the Ketsch [left] can be matched to an arcing or straight stroke.
COMMENTS
(L) I missed on the toe and heel, and it still wanted to plough straight.
(M) The alignment and lower profile behind the ball are outstanding.
(H) Easy to figure out the speed on any distance.
TaylorMade
Spider (Tour • Mini • Interactive)
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★★½
VERDICT
The most popular mallet putters in the game offer extreme forgiveness in a size that’s pleasingly palatable. That’s especially true with the Mini, which features smaller rear heel and toe sections than the other models. The face insert’s grooves angle at 45 degrees for quicker end-over-end roll. The Interactive version [left] works with a Blast Motion grip sensor to sync 11 stroke elements to a mobile app that provides analytics and drills to improve your putting.
COMMENTS
(L) Lots of stability. No turbulence when you hit it off the toe or heel.
(M) Perfect size. Big enough, but not unwieldy.
(H) Easy to roll it on line. The T-alignment is very helpful.
TaylorMade
Spider X
Performance ★★★★★
Innovation ★★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★★
Demand ★★★★★
VERDICT
You’re probably used to seeing these mallet putters in bright red. But the new copper and dark blue options aren’t the biggest change. This new model features a deeper centre of gravity to make it more stable in a more compact package. By using a carbon-composite centre section, almost three-quarters of the head’s weight lies in the heel and toe. A thicker Surlyn face insert produces a softer feel, but it gets the same quick roll thanks to the face’s angled grooves.
COMMENTS
(L) It’s light, soft, compact and consistent. Good release off the clubhead.
(M) Very consistent sound across the face. Good distance control.
(H) Lively face both in the sound and the roll.
TaylorMade
TP Black Copper Collection
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★½
VERDICT
These mini-mallets get your attention for their old-school finish, but they have forgiveness benefits, too. Take the Ardmore 3 [left]. It’s narrow, but a section in the back has been removed. That leaves a gap the width of a golf ball to promote better alignment. It also allows more weight to be placed in the extreme heel and toe for extra stability on off-centre hits. The grooves on the aluminium face insert angle downward to reduce backspin.
COMMENTS
(L) Lots of energy off the face. Good distance control.
(M) The antique finish is cool, and it sets up square.
(H) The perfect introduction if you’re afraid of mallets. Frictionless strikes.
Titleist
Scotty Cameron Select
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★★
VERDICT
This traditional, milled-mallet line includes the same inlay face technology as the Cameron blades. A larger layer of vibration-damping material is between the aircraft-aluminium face piece and the stainless-steel milled body. Tour players asked for a plumbing neck, and that’s what Cameron delivered with the newest model, the Select Fastback 2 [left]. The other two changes to this new model are a shorter face height and a thinner topline.
COMMENTS
(L) Very responsive face. Good feedback, good distance control.
(M) Precise and pure, right down to the satin finish.
(H) It’s compact and feels good, but it has forgiveness, too.
SILVER
Listed Alphabetically
Bettinardi
Studio Stock (2019)
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★½
VERDICT
The face on this line is the softest-feeling of all the Bettinardi putters. The F.I.T. (Feel Impact Technology) face has a 20-percent deeper milling pattern to provide more of a cushion at impact. This works together with the crisper sound of stainless steel, which is being used for the first time in the milled Studio Stock line. This year’s shape is more rounded, and the cavity-back design means more weight on the perimeter for extra forgiveness.
COMMENTS
(L) The sharp lines focus your attention to get the putter square.
(M) Mis-hits were rare, and the grip is comfortable.
(H) Sturdy but responsive.
Bloodline
RG-1
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★½
Demand ★★
VERDICT
This putter can stand on its own – and that’s not a metaphor. Literally, this putter stands up without you holding onto it. So your dreams have come true: you can line up the putter as you’re looking down the line, and then step up to the putt without the head moving. It’s all possible because of the uniquely balanced carbon-fibre shaft, oversize grip and milled aluminium head. Available in heel or centre-shaft options.
COMMENTS
(L) If you can read greens, you can’t miss.
(M) The lightweight shaft and weight in the head help smooth out your stroke.
(H) I like the concept, and the feel is surprisingly soft.
Edel
Torque Balanced
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★
Demand ★
VERDICT
This putter naturally hangs with the toe pointing up. It’s a weighting strategy that involves removing mass from the toe. With less weight, there’s less resistance to returning the clubface to square. This means you have more control over the stroke for greater consistency. The grip is cylindrical, with no taper, so it encourages precise alignment and the proper grip pressure – an underrated factor when attempting to make consistent, smooth strokes.
COMMENTS
(L) The ball comes off the face perfectly.
(M) There’s just something that keeps the putterhead square.
(H) Compact clubhead. Easy to feel the head square up.
Seemore
M5X Private Reserve
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★
Demand ★★
VERDICT
SeeMore putters are known for their alignment features. When you address the putt, and the shaft hides the familiar red dot, you know you’re set up properly. This milled stainless-steel mallet also has a centre alignment line to add focus on the direction of the putterhead, instead of just squaring up your body. A milled-aluminium face insert provides soft feel, and you can customise head weight, length, lie, grip and even headcover.
COMMENTS
(L) Easy to sole nicely. It just gets out of the way and lets you make a stroke.
(M) The alignment lets me concentrate on line and speed.
(H) The weight distribution felt perfect.
