Putters
Read up on reviews and ratings for putters from all the biggest names in golf. Find the perfect putter with the experts at Golf Monthly.
The putter market exploded recently after the anchoring ban saw a raft of new designs launched to offer anchored stability in a legal club design. Then a strange thing happened when designers realised the counterbalanced technology they’d created could transform the traditional putter market as well. While counterbalanced putters are the current hot trend, in a market that is so subjective, more traditional putters will always have their place. Here we give you a few tips and things to consider if you are considering upgrading your current flat stick for a new model.
Putters buyers guide
Which head shapes should I consider? The smallest option, blades were once recommended for tour pros and better players alone. But now, with modern materials and new ways of making them more stable in the stroke, they are worth considering for anyone who likes a compact look at address and the heightened feel a blade normally provides. Mid-mallets are smaller than mallets and bigger than blades, offering a good fusion of feel and stability. Their size also makes them more versatile for different stroke types, either arcing or straight back and through. Mallets are the largest and are stereotypically more suited to mid and higher handicap golfers because the larger heads allow more weight to be deployed to stop the head from twisting, making them more stable. Colours and alignment aids From contrasting white and black heads, to more traditional finishes, there is something for all of your tastes. There’s also a raft of innovative alignment aids to offer an alternative to the simple sight lines, like the pair of squares on Cleveland’s Smart Square, the t-shape lines on Titleist’s Scotty Cameron Futura X and the classic two circles on Odyssey’s Versa Two-Ball. Weighting The biggest recent innovation was the introduction of counterbalancing, a technology that sees lots of weight placed in the head to reduce unwanted twisting, with a little weight also added to the shaft and grip to create the ideal pendulum feel. This concept has since been applied to multiple head types, including blades. However, in a part of the game as subjective as putting, a heavy head won’t be for everyone. Face type The final thing to consider is also one of the most important, as your feel off the face is a big factor when it comes to controlling your distance. Most manufacturers have their own take when it comes to the face’s design. Some prefer a milled design, where the steel is never heated, cooled or hardened, so it never has the opportunity to change its structure for more consistency in material. Others prefer the use of an insert, like PING’s variable-depth-groove insert that it says improves ball-speed consistency on putts struck from the heel or toe thanks to grooves that are deepest in the middle and shallower toward the perimeter. There’s no hard and fast rules about which type of golfers will suit which approach, so it’s worthwhile trying as many as you can to narrow down your options.
Latest
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Odyssey Ai-One Milled Two T Putter Review
Dave Usher tests the all new Odyssey Ai-One Milled Two T Blade putter to see if it warrants its high price point
By David Usher Published
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IB Sweet Spot Putter Review
I've never been more excited to try a new product, but could the IB Putter Sweet Spot live up to my expectations? Here's my review of the strangest looking flatsticks you'll see this year.
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TaylorMade 2023 Spider Tour Putters Review
Dave Usher tests the new TaylorMade Spider Tour putters to see what golfers can expect from this reimagined range
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Mizuno M.Craft OMOI 06 Putter Review
Does the performance of the Mizuno M.CRAFT OMOI 06 putter match its stylish looks and premium feel? Sam De'Ath finds out
By Sam De'Ath Published
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Mizuno M.Craft OMOI 05 Putter Review
After testing on the golf course, Sam De’Ath offers his thoughts on the performance of the Mizuno M.Craft OMOI 05 putter
By Sam De'Ath Published
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Mizuno M.Craft OMOI 04 Putter Review
Sam De’Ath tests the Mizuno M.Craft OMOI 04 putter on the golf course and offers his verdict on the performance
By Sam De'Ath Published
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PXG Battle Ready II Brandon Putter Review
Should the new and improved PXG Battle Ready II Brandon putter be considered for your bag? Sam De’Ath puts it to the test to find out
By Sam De'Ath Published
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PXG Battle Ready II Bat Attack Putter Review
Sam De’Ath tests one of the latest PXG putter designs on the course to see if the technological updates lead to gains on the green
By Sam De'Ath Published
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TaylorMade TP Reserve B13 Putter Review
Joel Tadman tests out a blade from TaylorMade's new premium milled putter range and reports back on the experience
By Joel Tadman Published