Ever watch a pro drain a 30-foot putt under pressure and immediately wonder, what putter are they using? You're not alone. This article will break down the exact types of putters you'll see in the bags of the world's best, explain the why behind their choices, and give you a simple guide to find the perfect putter for your own game.
First, let's get one thing straight. While brands like Scotty Cameron, Odyssey, and TaylorMade dominate the tour, the logo on the putter is not what makes it great. A pro's relationship with their putter is deeply personal. Many players, like Tiger Woods and his famous red-dotted Scotty Cameron Newport 2, use the same flatstick for years - sometimes decades - because it feels like an extension of their arms. It provides a familiar look, sound, and a level of trust that can't be bought off the rack.
Pros spend endless hours on practice greens testing different models. They aren’t just looking for the newest technology, they are searching for the tool that best fits their specific putting stroke. This is the big idea we need to understand: the best putter for any golfer, pro or amateur, is the one that complements their individual stroke style. So, instead of asking which brand is best, the better question is, which type of putter is best for you?
The blade putter is the OG, the classic design that has been sinking putts for a century. Think of timeless models like the Ping Anser or the aforementioned Scotty Cameron Newport. These putters feature a relatively thin, single-piece head with a clean and simple look at address.
Generally, the shaft enters the putter head closer to the heel, which results in "toe hang." If you balance a blade putter on your finger, the toe of the putter will hang down toward the ground. This design is built for a specific type of stroke.
A blade putter is designed for a player with an arcing putting stroke. This is where the putter head moves on a slight arc - opening on the way back, squaring at impact, and closing on the follow-through, much like a swinging gate.
In the last decade, mallet putters have exploded in popularity on professional tours. From the TaylorMade Spider to the Odyssey "broomsticks," these larger, more modern-looking devices offer a host of performance benefits.
Mallets come in all shapes and sizes, from futuristic, almost spaceship-like designs to more compact versions. Their defining feature is a large clubhead that distributes weight to the perimeter. This creates a much higher Moment of Inertia (MOI), which is just a fancy way of saying the putter is more stable and resists twisting on off-center hits.
Many mallets are "face-balanced." If you balance one on your finger, the face will point straight up to the sky. This is designed for a different type of stroke.
A face-balanced mallet is ideal for a player with a straight-back and straight-through putting stroke. Think of a simple pendulum motion with minimal face rotation.
Not all mallets are face-balanced. You can now find mallets with varying degrees of toe-hang, designed to fit players with a slight arc who still want the forgiveness benefits. It's about finding the combination that fits your eye and your stroke.
Choosing a putter is about more than just a blade vs. mallet decision. Pros have every single aspect of their putter dialed in. Here are some of the other elements they - and you - should think about.
This is huge. A putter that is too long or too short will force you into an uncomfortable or inconsistent setup posture. The lie angle - the angle of the shaft relative to the sole of the putter - is also customized to ensure the putter sits perfectly flat on the ground at address. Getting these elements right through a professional fitting promotes a more repeatable stroke and better aim.
Putter grips have seen a revolution. The classic, thin "Pistol" grip is still popular, but oversized grips like those from SuperStroke are now ubiquitous on tour. The theory behind a thicker, non-tapered grip is that it quiets the hands and wrists, encouraging a more stable stroke powered by the larger muscles of the shoulders and torso. This prevents "flipping" at the ball, which is a major cause of missed putts.
The face of the putter is where a lot of modern technology is packed. You'll hear about milled faces, which offer a firmer feel and precise finish, and insert faces, like Odyssey's legendary White Hot insert, which provide a softer feel and sound. TaylorMade's "Pure Roll" insert features grooves designed to get the ball rolling end-over-end more quickly, reducing skidding and improving distance control. The choice comes down to personal preference in feel and performance.
Okay, all this information about pros is interesting, but how does it help you? The takeaway is to follow their process, not their exact product. Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to finding your next putter.
This is the most important step. You need to know if you have an arcing stroke or a straight-back, straight-through motion. The easiest way to see this is to record a short video of your stroke from behind on your phone. Look at the path of the putter head. Does it swing open and closed like a gate (arc) or move straight along the target line (straight)? This knowledge alone will narrow your choices significantly.
Armed with your new stroke knowledge, go to a golf store with a practice green. Grab a classic blade putter with some toe-hang, and grab a face-balanced mallet. Spend at least 10-15 minutes rolling putts with each. Don't just focus on whether you make them, pay attention to what feels more natural and stable. Which one feels easier to repeat?
Next, see which style helps you align better. Set up to a few putts without a line on your ball. Step back and see where you were actually aimed. Many golfers are surprised to find that the visual cues on a mallet help them instinctively aim much more accurately than a blade does.
If you're serious about improving, a putter fitting is one of the best investments you can make in your game. A fitter will not only match your stroke type to the right head and toe hang, but they'll also customize the length, lie angle, and grip to fit your body and setup perfectly. It takes all the guesswork out of the equation and gives you the confidence that the tool in your hands is built just for you.
The journey to finding the right putter is a personal one. While we can look at what putters pro golfers use for inspiration, their choices simply reinforce the core lesson: the best putter is the one that fits your stroke, boosts your confidence, and simplifies the task of aiming. Forget the hype and focus on finding a tool that makes putting feel easier for you.
Knowing which putter to use is a huge piece of the puzzle, but so is strategy. When you're standing over an approach shot, leaving yourself a 20-footer versus a 50-footer can make all the difference. That's where I can help. With Caddie AI, you get instant strategic advice on how to play a hole, helping you make smarter decisions that lead to shorter, easier putts and a more confident putting stroke.
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