“Drive for show, putt for dough,” as the saying goes. The putter is the most used club in your bag, and sinking more putts takes strokes off your score faster than almost anything else. But with so many options available, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This guide goes through the main decisions so you can find a putter that suits your stroke.
Putter types
Blade putters
The classic choice, blade putters have a compact head and often a cavity back design. They offer less forgiveness on off-centre hits than mallets, but many golfers value the feel and control they provide. They suit golfers whose stroke has more arc to it.
Have a look at the Ping PLD Anser 2 Matte Black, or browse our full range of golf putters.
Mallet putters
With the largest heads available, many mallets are face-balanced, meaning the weight is distributed so the head wants to stay square to your target line through the stroke. That stability and extra forgiveness is a real advantage for golfers with a straighter back-and-through stroke.
The Odyssey Ai-One Double Wide is a good example, and there are more in our Odyssey putter collection.
Mid-mallet putters
Mid-mallets bridge the gap. They have a mid-sized head that is thinner than a full mallet for better feel, yet more forgiving on off-centre strikes than a blade. They come in both face-balanced and toe-hang versions, which makes them worth considering if your stroke has some arc going back but straightens through impact.
Worth a look are the Odyssey Ai-One Milled Three-T S and the Scotty Cameron range. If you want to go deeper on the two main shapes, I have compared them in blade vs mallet putters.
Milled vs insert faces
Milled putters are crafted from a single block of metal, precision-milled for a solid feel and consistent response. The grooves are carved to promote a true roll and reliable distance control. If you want clear feedback on every strike, a milled face is worth considering.
Insert putters have a softer insert, usually urethane, elastomer or polymer, set into the face. The insert dampens vibration and spreads the effective sweet spot over a larger area, which means more forgiveness on off-centre hits.
Toe hang vs face-balanced
Face-balanced putters naturally want to stay square to the target line through the stroke, which suits a straighter putting motion. Mallets and mid-mallets often fall into this category.
Toe hang putters have more weight in the toe, so the head hangs downward when balanced on your finger. This helps players with an arcing stroke rotate the face back to square at impact. Blades are more likely to have toe hang.
What is your stroke?
Knowing your stroke type is one of the most useful things when choosing a putter, because matching the two is what produces consistency.
Arc stroke. You set up with your eyes slightly inside the ball. The putter face opens slightly on the takeaway and closes through impact, creating a gentle arc. Many golfers find this gives them better control of pace.
Straight-through stroke. Your eyes sit directly over the ball, and the putter head travels along the target line back and through, striking the ball square.
What about the grip?
Just as with the rest of your clubs, there are plenty of choices for your putter grip, and getting it right improves your feel at impact.
Larger grips encourage a more stable hand position and reduce unwanted wrist movement, which can improve consistency. They also add weight to your hands, which some golfers like as a counterbalance.
Smaller grips allow more precise hand movement and greater feel for the ball, which suits golfers who prefer a hands-on putting style.
Get fitted for putting success
This guide is a useful starting point, but there is no substitute for getting fitted for a putter. A fitting lets you test different types, head sizes, lengths and lie angles, and we can look at your stroke and recommend what suits your posture, path and feel preferences.
It also saves money in the long run, because you avoid the trial and error of buying putters that never quite suit you. If three-putting is the real problem, it is worth reading why golfers three-putt so often, and for the higher handicap golfer there is best putters for high handicap golfers in NZ.
FAQs
What length should my putter be?
Standard putters for men are usually 33 to 35 inches, and for women 33 to 34 inches. Don’t get stuck on the numbers though. Your ideal length depends on your height, arm length and setup, so it is worth testing a few.
What is the best material for a putter?
Stainless steel is the most common because it is durable with a solid feel. Aluminium or titanium make for a lighter head, while brass is heavier. The sound and feel of each varies, so try them before deciding.
How much should I budget for a new putter?
Consider your experience, how often you play, and your overall club budget. If you play regularly it is worth spending more to get the right setup, whereas newer golfers may prefer something less expensive to start with, knowing they will likely upgrade later.
Which putters do most pros use?
Professionals traditionally favoured blades, which give direct feel and toe weighting that suits an arcing stroke. The trend has shifted towards mallets for their forgiveness, and some mallets with shorter hosels still allow arc in the stroke.
What is the best brand of putter?
Plenty of brands make excellent putters, so it comes down to testing. The best putter is the one that helps you hole the most putts, whatever the name on the sole.
Happy golfing,
Scott Pickett
PGA Professional
Founder – Golf 360
Mount Maunganui
