On the surface, putting is a simple thing. Or two things, actually: direction and distance. But you can’t begin to get either of those right if your stroke is an inconsistent mess. If the putter’s too light or too heavy, for example, or if you’re fighting to return the face to square, the ball’s not going to end up in the hole. A lot of putters enhance the way the ball rolls after impact, but some of the newest putters are designed to improve your stroke before impact. Whether it’s through unusual lengths and head shapes, adjustable settings or new ideas about balance points, the coolest tools for holing more putts offer a better path to dialling in direction and distance.
Here are seven worth your attention:
Nike
Method Origin
The polymer-filled grooves and resin mid-layer help produce consistent distance control, but your stroke might benefit even more by an adjustable, counterbalanced grip option that lets you shift the shaft’s balance point.
Happy Putter
Tour Mallet
This design lets you customise the loft, lie angle and even how much the putter weighs. It also lets you tweak the aiming feature on top: The putter comes with three alignment guides.
Odyssey
Toe Up
All that mass normally filling the sole has been hollowed out so the centre of gravity is closer to the face. As a result, the putter features less torque and balances toe up, making it easier to square the face.
Titleist/Scotty Cameron
Select Newport M2
The classic heel-toe-weighted shape comes in a mid-mallet that works better for straight-back/straight-through strokes. The mid-layer membrane adds a soft feel to the extra-stable head.
Directed Force
Reno
A mallet improves off-centre hits, but its face might be harder to square at impact. This putter balances the head weighting so the face stays square to the lie angle throughout the stroke.
Toulon Design
Madison
The traditional shape might make you think of a fine piece of jewellry, but there’s meaning to the precision. The face pattern enhances sound and roll, and three sole plates help find the proper head weight for your stroke.
Bobby Grace
Let’s Face It
Struggling with the ban on anchoring? This mallet fits the fully legal Kuchar-style of arm-anchored putting and works if you stand sidesaddle and stroke the short ones while looking at the hole.
