Chasing the a best putter in golf can feel like searching for a golden ticket. You see Scottie Scheffler draining everything with his mallet, and you’re convinced that’s the answer. Then you watch a classic Tiger Woods highlight reel and suddenly, you’re searching for a timeless blade. The truth is, the best putter is not a specific brand or model - it's the one that is best for you. This guide will walk you through exactly how to determine what that is by understanding your own putting stroke and matching it with the right technology, so you can find the perfect flatstick to give you confidence on the greens.
Before we go any further, let's get one thing straight: there is no single putter that works for everyone. Tour players switch putters routinely, always searching for the right feel and a hot streak. A putter that works wonders for your friend might feel completely alien in your hands. Why?
Because the "best" putter is the one that complements your individual putting stroke, physical build, and visual preferences. It's less about finding a magic wand and more about finding a tool that fits your unique motion so seamlessly that you don’t even have to think about it. The goal is to let your natural athletic ability take over. To find that putter, we need to first figure out a few things about how you putt.
This is, without a doubt, the most important step in your search. Nearly every aspect of putter design - from head shape to hosel type - is built to accommodate one of two primary types of putting strokes. Most golfers don't even know which one they have.
Because you stand to the side of the golf ball and a putter sits at an angle (not perfectly vertical), it naturally wants to swing on an arc. As you take the putter back, it moves slightly inside the target line, returns to square at impact, and then moves back to the inside on the follow-through. The question isn't if you have an arc, but how much of an arc you have.
Here’s a simple drill you can do at home:
Knowing your tendency is the foundation for everything that follows.
Now that you know your stroke type, you can start looking at the technology designed specifically for it. The most important specification here is "head balance," which refers to how the putter hangs when you balance it.
What it is: If you balance the shaft of the putter on your finger, the face will point straight up towards the sky. This design has a center of gravity directly below the axis of the shaft.
Who it's for: Golfers with a SBST or Minimal Arc stroke. The balance of the putter resists opening and closing. It wants to stay square throughout the stroke, which is perfect for players who try to keep the putter face pointed at the target as much as possible.
What it is: When you balance this type of putter on your finger, the toe of the putter (the end farthest from you) will hang down or "hang" towards the ground. The amount of hang varies, from a "slight hang" (around 30 degrees) to a "full hang" (90 degrees). The more the toe hangs, the more suited it is for a stronger arc.
Who it's for: Golfers with a Slight or Stronger Arc stroke. This design makes it easier for the putter face to open and close naturally with the rotation of your body. Fighting against it will actually be harder. If you have a noticeable arc, a toe-hang putter will feel much more fluid and natural.
Pro-Tip: Whenever you're in a golf shop, pick up any putter, balance it on your finger, and see what the face does. This simple test will tell you instantly which type of stroke that putter is designed for.
This is the most visible difference between putters, but the choice between a blade and a mallet is about more than just looks. It ties into forgiveness, feel, and alignment.
These are the classic, traditional putter heads, like the iconic PING Anser or Scotty Cameron Newport. They are smaller, simpler, and often have a very clean, sharp look at address.
These are the larger, often funky-looking putters with extended bodies, like the TaylorMade Spider or the Odyssey 2-Ball. They come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes.
_A quick note on Mid-Mallets:_ These putters bridge the gap, offering more forgiveness than a blade but a more compact, traditional look than a full mallet. They can be a great option for golfers who want the best of both worlds.
You wouldn't buy a suit off the rack without tailoring it, so why play with a putter that isn't fit for your body? Most putters are sold at a standard 34- or 35-inch length, but this is a one-size-fits-none solution. Getting a professional fitting for length and lie angle is one of the most effective ways to lower your score.
A putter that is too long forces you to stand too upright, with your arms uncomfortably bent close to your body. One that's too short forces you to hunch over too much, creating tension in your back and shoulders. The correct length will allow you to get into a comfortable, athletic stance where your eyes are directly over or just slightly inside the target line and your arms can hang naturally.
Lie angle is the angle of the shaft relative to the sole of the putter. If it's wrong for your setup, one of two things will happen:
A fitter will put impact tape on your putter face and have you hit putts off a strike board to see precisely how the putter isinteracting with the ground at impact, then bend it to match your setup perfectly. It's a game-changer.
Once you've aligned your stroke type with the right head balance and shape, the final tweaks come down to personal preference.
The journey to finding the best putter in golf is a personal one. It starts not with looking at a rack of new models in a store, but with looking at your own technique. By understanding your stroke arc and matching it with the correct head balance, shape, and specifications, you can find a tool that makes putting feel simpler, more natural, and more consistent.
The process of understanding your own game is so rewarding, but you don't always have to figure it out alone. After you find your perfect putter, you still need to know where to aim it on a tricky, breaking putt. To make that feel less like guesswork, we created Caddie AI to act as your expert second opinion. It gives you smart reads and strategic advice right on the course, so you can stand over the ball with a clear plan and the confidence to make your best stroke. We’re here to help you play smarter, removing the uncertainty so you can enjoy the game more and drain more putts.
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