If you’ve ever felt like your putting stroke is a little unsteady, or watched in frustration as a putt rolls offline from a slight mishit, then the mallet putter might just be the tool you need. These larger, often uniquely shaped putters are becoming more popular for a reason, and they aren't just for beginners. This guide will walk you through exactly what a mallet putter is, how it compares to a traditional blade, and most importantly, how to figure out if it’s the right choice to help you sink more putts.
At first glance, a mallet putter is defined by its large, extended clubhead. You’ll see them in all sorts of shapes - from simple semi-circles to futuristic designs that look more like spaceship blueprints. But that large size isn’t just for looks, it’s the key to the mallet’s biggest advantage: stability.
Think of it like this: the designers of mallet putters use that extra real estate to push weight to the very edges of the clubhead, as far away from the face as possible. This technique is called perimeter weighting, and its entire purpose is to increase something called the "Moment of Inertia," or MOI.
Without getting too technical, MOI is a measure of an object's resistance to twisting. Imagine a figure skater spinning. When they pull their arms in, their weight is concentrated, and they spin very fast. When they extend their arms out, their weight is distributed, and they slow down dramatically. That resistance to changing their spin is a good way to understand MOI.
In a putter, a higher MOI is a very good thing. When you don't strike the putt perfectly in the center of the face (which is most of us, most of the time), a low-MOI putter like a traditional blade will twist open or closed. A putt struck on the toe will cause the face to open up, sending the ball to the right. A putt hit on the heel will cause the face to close, sending the ball left.
A high-MOI mallet putter, with all its weight pushed to the perimeter, strongly resists this twisting on off-center hits. The face stays much squarer to your intended line, leading to putts that roll out straighter and lose less speed. In short, mallet putters offer a bigger effective hitting area, providing immense forgiveness and stability.
Before mallet putters exploded in popularity, the flat-stick of choice for nearly every golfer was the blade. Understanding the differences between these two styles will help you figure out which family of putters is better suited for your game.
The decision to switch to a mallet often comes down to your personal putting motion. Generally, there are two main types of putting strokes, and a mallet is a fantastic match for one of them in particular.
Some golfers strive for a very mechanical stroke where the putter head moves straight back from the ball and straight through towards the target, like a pendulum. There is very little-to-no opening and closing of the putter face (face rotation). If this describes your stroke or is the motion you're trying to achieve, a mallet putter can be a fantastic partner. Its inherent stability makes it easier to keep the putter on that straight path with minimal manipulation from your hands.
Many (if not most) golfers have a putting stroke with a slight arc. The putter head swings slightly to the inside on the backswing, returns to square at impact, and moves back inside on the follow-through. A mallet can absolutely work for this type of stroke, but you'll need a specific kind - one with "toe hang." We'll cover that in a moment.
Once you’ve decided to explore mallets, you'll discover a world of different shapes and technical specifications. Don't be overwhelmed, most of the variation comes down to alignment preference and a very important aspect called "toe hang."
Manufacturers are constantly innovating, but you’ll typically see mallet heads that fall into a few families:
This is probably the single most important technical apect to get right. It has everything to do with how the putter is weighted to match your stroke arc.
Here’s a simple test you can do with any putter: Balance the shaft on your finger and see what the face does.
Using a putter that doesn't match your stroke type means you'll be fighting its natural design on every single putt, leading to inconsistency. Matching the toe hang to your arc is a fundamental part of a proper putter fitting.
Ready to try one out? Here’s a simple process to follow to find a mallet that can help you shave strokes off your score.
Before you even go to the store, figure oyur stroke type. If you're not sure, take a few practice strokes paying close attention to the putter path, or better yet, film yourself from behind. If you see a distinct arc, look for mallets with toe hang. If you are (or want to be) more straight-back, straight-through, your search should start with face-balanced models.
Putting is as much about confidence as it i about mechanics. Look at diferent mallet shapes and find one that appeals to your eye. Pay attention to the alignment aids. Does a long single line help you aim better? Or does a system like the 2-Ball make it incredibly easy for you to see the line to the hole? Go with what feels intuitive to you.
A putter that is too long or too short will force you into an awkward posture, making a consistent stroke much harder. While a professional fitting is best, you can get a good idea by adopting your natural putting posture a allowing your arms to hang freely. The right a-length utter should fit comfortably in your hands without you having to reach or crouch excessively, and the sole should rest flat on the ground.
Never buy a putte blind. Go to a golf-store with a putting g or, even better, a-demo day. Roll 5-foot putts to check your start line and see how the alignment aids work for you. Then, hit soe 2-anooters to get a feel for distance cotrol and how the ball comes off the face insert (they range from very soft toquite firm). The putter that makes you feel like you can't miss is the one to seriously consider.
A mallet putter is more than just a big clubhead, it's a piece of engineering designed to improve stability, forgive mishits, and help with alignment. For any golfer who uses a straight-back, straight-through stroke or simply wants more confidence and consistency on the greens, a mallet can be a fantastic tool for lowering scores. The key is to match the head's characteristics, especially its toe hang, to your own unique putting stroke.
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