Six of the top-10 players in the world use a mallet, so think what one might do for you.
We considered 28 models; 14 made the list.
The Mallet Migration: Many of the game’s best are going big on the greens
During the past five years, PGA Tour players have continued to gravitate towards mallet putters. In 2014, about a third of the players on tour used one. Now it’s nearly 40 percent. It’s not just those at the bottom of the moneylist seeking the forgiveness benefits of mallets. Of the top 50 on the 2019 year-end world ranking, 23 used a mallet. Five years ago there were just 19. Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy, both blade users in 2014, now often use mallet putters. – E. Michael Johnson
GOLD
Listed alphabetically
Cleveland
frontline
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★½
VERDICT
Most companies push weight towards the back or edges of the
putter to make it more stable, but Cleveland believes that can make mis-hits g o offline. This is why the Frontline’s weight is, well, concentrated in the front, placing the centre of gravity near the face, which helps reduce sidespin and keeps the putter square. An S-shape groove pattern regulates ball speed across the face, with a high-contrast sightline on the topline for alignment.
COMMENT
“No guesswork. Easy to line up. Starts on line with a velvety soft roll.
Total control on long putts.”
Odyssey
stroke lab black • silver
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★★★
VERDICT
The new Black models in the stroke-smoothing family emphasise forgiveness and alignment with a firmer insert. The Ten has heel and toe wings that extend from a framed central mass with a centre alignment line, and the Bird of Prey [left] uses similar alignment features around a triangular shape. The distinctive Stroke Lab shaft – mostly graphite with steel near the head – seeks to even your tempo by putting the balance point closer to your hands.
COMMENT
“The size frames the ball nicely. Great alignment.
Soft but firm consistency on every putt.”
Odyssey
toulon design
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★½
VERDICT
These classic mallet shapes emphasise a compact footprint and various hosel and toe-hang choices. The 303 stainless steel heads are milled with a diamond-shape pattern on the face in which cross-hatched grooves channel vibration to promote solid feel, satisfying sound and better roll. Unlike past Toulon designs, the pattern extends across the face to improve consistency. The Stroke Lab shaft adds control by placing more weight in your hands.
COMMENT
“The compact head makes me feel more connected.
It has a nice soft click.”
Odyssey
triple track
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★
Demand ★★★★
VERDICT
The club’s selling point lies in its name. Three sightlines – two thin blue lines, one thick red – sit on white circles on a black clubhead to help alignment. Compared to a blank clubhead, Callaway says the sightlines equate to a 20 percent more consistent strike. Coupled with the company’s ERC balls (which have the same lines), centre contact is improved even more. Also comes standard with the tempo-smoothing Stroke Lab shaft.
COMMENT
“Love the contrast with the alignment lines.
You know where the ball is going when it comes off the face.”
Ping
heppler series
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★
Demand ★★★★
VERDICT
The stainless steel and soft aluminium (about a third the density of steel) construction allows more mass to be placed in the back of the putter for better perimeter weighting and stability on off-centre hits. A hidden mechanism inside the grip on these putters lets you adjust the length from 32 to 36 inches. Available in five models, each steel face is free of any grooves or patterns, an alternative for those seeking firm sound and feel.
COMMENT
“Nicely balanced. Sets up true behind the ball. Consistent.
Everywhere you hit it, it’s solid.”
Ping
sigma 2
Performance ★★★★★
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★★½
VERDICT
Most golfers haven’t been fit for a putter, which means they’re likely to be playing with the wrong length. The Sigma 2 comes to the rescue with a mechanism hidden in the shaft under the grip that lets you adjust the length from 32 to 36 inches. The five mallets in the line include the ball-picking Fetch and the heavier-head, arm-lock Valor 400. All feature a dual-layer face insert to provide a soft feel on short putts and firm control on longer leaves.
COMMENT
“Look, feel, function – it all just works.
Even on mis-hits, my putts went where I wanted them to.”
TaylorMade
tp patina
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★½
Demand ★★★
VERDICT
A new model – the angular DuPage – joins this lineup of modern takes on classic compact shapes. Full mallets mix with those featuring cutout shapes, centre sightlines or framing lines to provide optional looks against a black copper/nickel finish. A lightweight aluminium insert uses downward facing grooves that reduce backspin to improve the roll off initial contact. Heel and toe sole weights allow the headweights to be customised.
COMMENT
“It gets the ball hugging the green instantly, and the little bit of dull copper prevents glare.”
TaylorMade
spider x • spider s
Performance ★★★★★
Innovation ★★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★★
Demand ★★★★½
VERDICT
The X model has a deep centre of gravity to make it more stable in a more compact package. By using a carbon-composite centre section, almost three-quarters of the head’s weight lies in the heel and toe. Meanwhile, the S [left] features a 55-gram tungsten weight bar, plus tungsten sole weights for extreme rear weighting and stability. Both have downward facing grooves that reduce backspin to improve the roll off impact.
COMMENT
“You’re never not square. Heel, toe and centre hits all feel consistent.
So easy to use, off the rack and go.”
Titleist
scotty cameron phantom x
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★
Demand ★★★★
VERDICT
This oversize, multi-material putter uses 6061 aluminium for the face and core of the body, then incorporates heavier 303 stainless steel in perimeter wings and heel-toe weights to create an unabashed commitment to stability on off-centre hits. An anodised black finish reduces glare at address, and the grip has a larger, less-tapered right-hand area to create balance and consistency in the way your hands hold the putter and make the stroke.
COMMENT
“The weight is ideal. You can feel a good putt instead of hearing it.
So soft.”
Titleist
scotty cameron special select
Performance ★★★★★
Innovation ★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★★
Demand ★★★½
VERDICT
The Special Select features a mid-bend shaft to get a face-balanced feel for strokes that like to work straight back and straight through. The aircraft-grade aluminium plates on the sole free up weight to be redistributed to the perimeter for better off-centre hit performance. The stainless-steel inlay of past Select models has been replaced by a solid milled face, which Cameron says helps achieve a pure, consistent feel no matter the strike.
COMMENT
“You’re getting the sound and feel of a blade putter, but the consistency and help of a mallet shape.”
SILVER
Listed alphabetically
Bettinardi
inovai 6.0
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★
Demand ★★
VERDICT
Bettinardi is famous for its classic milled putters, and this series shows its techy side with the use of multiple materials. A platinum-finished 303 stainless-steel face pairs with an aluminium body anodised blue for a two-tone look designed to guide alignment and frame the ball. On the face, a milling process removes 55 percent of material to provide a soft, consistent sound and feel at impact. Finally, the stiffer shaft provides extra stability in your stroke.
COMMENT
“Good response and feedback off the face, almost like a tennis-racquet feel.
No skidding.”
PXG
milled series
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★½
Demand ★★
VERDICT
A custom-fitting process with multiple head, hosel and weighting options is this line’s hallmark. With each head offering three hosels, an adjustable shaft used in the fitting process helps identify the ideal specs. Each club in the series has serious mass in the heel, toe and rear for high mis-hit stability. Variable-size pyramids on the face – increasing in size, decreasing in density as it moves from centre – manages off-centre-hit distance control.
COMMENT
“Feels like it’s all one piece – from handle to head to ball to initial roll, it’s all smooth and in sync.”
SeeMore
platinum series
Performance ★★★★½
Innovation ★★★★
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★★
Demand ★
VERDICT
SeeMore is famous for its effective alignment story, and that concept is expanded here thanks to three shaft orientations on the new M5HT (straight, double bend and plumber’s neck). Each shaft hides a red dot on the heel side of the clubhead to let players know they’re square to the target. The distinctive blue sightline also enhances alignment. In addition, there’s improved perimeter weighting, and a milled face provides a solid feel.
COMMENT
“Feels modern and well made.
It’s easy to commit to your line with this alignment system.”
TaylorMade
truss
Performance ★★★★
Innovation ★★★★½
Look • Sound • Feel ★★★½
Demand ★★★
VERDICT
Truss is all about stability. Along with the natural ballast of a mallet head, a steel frame on the topline reinforces the connection between the club and shaft. This minimises twisting, improving the consistency of energy transferred to the ball. The beam’s stiffness also lends to an improved sound and feel. The grooved polymer insert deflects at impact so the ball starts rolling end-over-end more quickly for better distance consistency.
COMMENT
“You might think What the heck is this? But then you start playing with it, and you can’t miss.”
