Which style of putter will help you reduce strokes on the greens?
Putters come in different shapes and sizes, and different club head options offer something to complement all putting strokes.
Variables such as the length, loft and face design all contribute to the final product that the putter offers and considering these is essential in choosing the correct club.
There are three main types of club head styles available on the market, with each offering a different setup to the others.
The main options are a blade, mallet and modern mallet club head design, and while three options may seem limiting, the variables and personal preference make the setup options limitless.
Blade Putter
A blade putter is a staple in the game of golf, with the club head style one that every golfer will have encountered.
Brands such as Scotty Cameron have left a huge mark, with their blade putters some of the most recognisable golf clubs in the game.
With blade putters such as the Scotty Cameron Newport 2 having been in the bags of PGA Tour legends such as Tiger Woods, they are undeniably a great option on the greens.
The blade design is known for its shorter alignment aid on the putter, meaning they’re better for those who prefer to use the actual club face when aiming.
They suit an ‘arc’ style of putting, where the face of the putter opens in the back but then closes throughout the stroke.
While blade putters don’t have the popularity of yesteryear, leading players such as Joaquin Niemann and Hideki Matsuyama still trust the club head using the Ping PLD Anser and Scotty Cameron Newport 2 blade putters, respectively.
Mallet Putter
In recent times, more and more golfers are adopting mallet-style club-heads instead of the traditional blade putter.
The mallet-style has a chunkier feel, which looks like a semi-circle behind the club face, suiting those with a straight-back-and-through putting style.
With a deeper and more centralised centre of mass, the weight distribution can make the mallet a favourable option for those beginners who rely on the feel and response they get through contact when putting.
An ever increasingly popular design, double major winner John Rahm has been an advocate for the style, with his Odyssey White Hot OG Rossie S Putter a key weapon.
Their larger size minimises the impact of mishits and is more forgiving, ideal for those trying to improve their putting stroke.
Modern Mallet Putter
Featuring advanced alignment aids, the modern mallet style provides a visual aid to a putting stroke.
This type of clubhead is incredibly beneficial for golfers who often struggle with alignment or miss-hit their putts.
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy have regularly used the TaylorMade Spider X mallet putter, which has helped them to a plethora of tournament wins.
With a high moment of inertia, the effect of off-centre contacts is reduced, ultimately saving strokes on the greens and tidying the scorecard.
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter – and why it might work for you