When it comes to choosing the right putter, the option are seemingly endless. This can make choosing the right one feel overwhelming, especially for newer golfers. When it comes to narrowing down the options, putters normally fall into one of two categories – blades or mallets. Most golfers will have a preference between the two styles, but for those who aren’t sure, we’re here to help. This guide will explain the key benefits of both styles, with our top picks for each. We’ll walk you through the pros and cons and give helpful information to help decide which style is the best fit for your golf game.

Mallet putters – maximum forgiveness

One of the key benefits of mallet style putters is the forgiveness that they offer. Larger, heavier heads push the weight towards the perimeter of the clubhead, which in turn increases the MOI (moment of inertia). Although MOI may sound like a very technical term, it’s basically just a fancy way of saying forgiveness when referring to a golf club. This means that putts which aren’t hit out of the middle of the clubface are punished less. Off center putts will roll closer to the target, particularly on shorter putts. The increased MOI also reduces twisting on mishits, keeping the clubface squarer at impact.

More Weight, Straighter Putts

Heavier weight in the clubhead also helps with promoting a straight-back, straight-through stroke. Making sure that the clubface stays this way again reduces the amount of twisting, which will keep your putts on the right line more consistently. Any golfer with a naturally straight putting stroke, as opposed to an arc, will be more suited to a mallet putter. Most golfers will tend to find that mallet style putters perform better on the shorter putts, where aim is a priority over distance control. However, one of the drawbacks of mallet putters is that they offer muted feedback – making it harder to gauge where the clubface was when the ball was struck.

When it comes to alignment, mallet putters are fantastic – most will offer much more in the way of alignment than a blade putter would. They often feature designs such as the popular 2-ball or other geometric aids, which are especially useful for the more novice golfer. But where they excel in alignment, mallets do tend to suffer in terms of distance control. They can sometimes struggle with longer putts, due to their reduced feel – meaning putts can sometimes be left short or go too far.

Our Top Mallet Putter Picks

Time for some of our favourites and the TaylorMade Spider Tour and Tour X models have always been a big seller. Used by some of the biggest names on tour like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, they offer unmatched levels of forgiveness. The heavily weighted head, with additional weights at the back, raises the MOI to the highest level. Another popular option the Phantom range from Scotty Cameron – unlike many other mallet putters which have inserts, Scotty Cameron putters have milled clubfaces. This means that they offer a much softer feel than the insert alternative, which come off the clubface a little hotter. Scotty Cameron putters have for a long time been some of the best in the business, but they do come with a premium price.

Blade putters – superior feel and feedback

As the name suggests, blade putters have a much more traditional and sleeker look to them. Because they typically feature a toe hang design, they are better suited to golfers with an arc putting stroke. Toe hang means that the weight is distributed more towards the toe of the putter rather than the heel. This matches the inside to outside shape of an arc putting stroke, which will help keep the clubface square at impact. They offer a much greater level of feel due to the increased vibration you’ll feel in your hands. This will offer instantaneous feedback about the quality of the strike. However, alignment aids tend to be much more basic and offer much less help than the mallet putters do.

Longer putts with blade putts tend to be easier, as it is less challenging to keep speed and distance under control. That being said, any putts which don’t hit the middle of the clubface will be punished greater than a mallet and will lose distance because of this. This is why bladed putters are perhaps suited to the better golf, whereas the mallet alternative is a better choice for higher handicappers. They require much greater stability on shorter putts too to keep the face under control, which is something to consider when deciding on your new putter.

Our Top Blade Putter Picks

Some of the best options for bladed putters include the popular Ping Anser and Scotty Cameron Newport models. Much like the Phantom range of mallet putters, the Newport variant features a milled face which offers a softer strike. This is certainly noticeable when comparing to something like the Ping Anser, which is traditionally an insert in the clubface. The most important aspect of any putter though, is finding one which you are confident in.

This is why at Duncan Lambert Golf, we not only offer expert advice to all of our customers but also allow people to test putters on the outdoor putting green. Customers can take a selection outside and find the one which best suits them, whether that be a blade or a mallet. Our extensive range of putters means that there is an option for everyone, with all brands and price points covered. We stock major brands like Odyssey, Scotty Cameron, TaylorMade, Ping and many more. All of these are available at our store inside West Malling Golf Club, and we’ll be delighted to have you come down to visit us. Our friendly and knowledgeable team are always on hand to assist you, whatever you might need help with.