The 8 Best Golf Putters of 2023

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Long drives get all the glory, but there’s something sweet about sinking a 10-footer, too. Whether you’re prepping for a trip to the top courses in golf’s motherland, Scotland, or are binging top golf movies, it’s easy to get inspired to up your game on the green. The perfect putter depends on the player, so we’ve scoured the Internet for the top blades and wedges to enhance your short game. The following picks have been evaluated on head shape, balance, and added tech features.

Best Overall

TaylorMade Spider EX #3 Putter

TaylorMade Spider EX #3 Putter

Dick's Sporting Goods

What We Like
  • Well-balanced

  • Helps with your alignment

  • Comes in various sizes and weights

What We Don't Like
  • Pricey

This putter even has pros switching from blade putters to mallets thanks to its enhanced stability through a Fluted Feel Shaft. Stability also gets a supercharge through a multi-material head design that places the heaviest materials on the outside to create a perfectly balanced putter. Plus, TaylorMade incorporated a three-dot alignment path into the white line running on the top of the putter to create better sighting and distance control. The EX line comes in several variations to fit left- and right-handed golfers, several lengths, and several weights. So, this top-performing putter is right for a swath of players.

Price at time of publication: $350

Best Budget

Pinemeadow Golf Men's PGX Putter

Pinemeadow Golf Men's PGX Putter

Amazon

What We Like
  • Great for beginners

  • Comes with a fitted cover

What We Don't Like
  • Weighs more than other options

With premium putters topping $400, the Pinemeadow PGX Putter is a breath of fresh air to the budget. The putter doesn’t offer the bells and whistles of others, but if you’re looking for a basic club, this is a great fit. The mallet-style design provides stability and forgiveness for newbie golfers. That mallet design also means the putter is a bit heavier than average. The “tour weighted” club is suited for fast greens. The white finish will stand out on the course—and green, allowing you to maintain focus as it stands out against the grass and line up a perfect shot. While some reviewers purchased this club as a practice putter, they found it performed so solidly they added it to their bag for a full 18 holes. The club comes with a fitted cover.

Price at time of publication: $40

Best for Men

Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 Putter

Scotty Cameron Phantom Putter

Worldwide Golf Shops

What We Like
  • Great stability

  • Customizable

What We Don't Like
  • Pricey

This putter offers the best of both worlds with a blade feel and mallet design. This allows for a flowing feel with all the stability benefits of a mallet. The head design further enhances that stable feel. It combines a center aluminum soleplate with customizable steel weights on the perimeter. In addition to more stability, this also creates a great deal of forgiveness. You’ll also be able to line up shots like a pro with a milled sight line on the top of the head that’s more prominent than previous editions of this putter. Take note: This is a premium quality club with a price tag to match. 

Price at time of publication: $430

Best for Women

Callaway ODYSSEY White Hot Pro 2.0 Ladies Putter

Callaway ODYSSEY White Hot Pro 2.0 Ladies Putter

Amazon

What We Like
  • Great stability

  • Great for beginners

What We Don't Like
  • Not recommended for pros

The women’s version of the top-reviewed Odyssey White Hot men’s putter features top performance at a shorter length and a smaller grip. (Though a jumbo grip is also available.) The “white hot” insert, made using the same technology golf balls use, lends the putter a solid hand feel, even striking across the plate of the blade, and that reassuring tap of a solidly hit putt. The putter has additional stability thanks to a full shaft hosel. Reviewers recommend this club for more beginner players looking to quickly improve their games with a versatile club rather than seasoned amateurs or pros looking for more finesse in a putter.

Best for Juniors

PING Sigma 2 Arna Stealth Putter

PING Sigma 2 Arna Stealth Putter

Dick's Sporting Goods

What We Like
  • Great for beginners

  • Comes in various sizes

What We Don't Like
  • Pricey

If you’re traveling to a family-friendly golf resort, your child will need gear, too. In fact, many kids start by perfecting their short games. The Ping Sigma 2 Arna Stealth putter offers performance for adults, but it comes with a 32- to 36-inch adjustable shaft that suits juniors. It can grow with your junior golfer, which it will need to since it comes with a price tag that matches adult clubs. The club face has a varied groove pattern that lends a consistent roll even from off-center hits from golfers still learning. Reviewers say this putter performs well at multiple distances on the green.

Price at time of publication: $199

Best for Beginners

PING Heppler Ketsch Putter

PING Heppler Ketsch Putter

PGA Tour Superstore

What We Like
  • Great stability

  • Adjustable

What We Don't Like
  • Pricey

Sometimes beginners need clubs that aren’t overly complicated. They’ll find a down-to-basics, channel-free design in the Ping Heppler Ketsch putter. The solid, machined face offers a wide putting surface with the forgiveness and stability of a mallet design. The head design compensates for off-kilter hits with its mass (from steel) placed at the back of the putter. The club’s black-and-copper design helps even newcomers line up perfect sinkers on the green. This club also accommodates a variety of golfers; with a quick twist, the length shaft extends from 32 to 36 inches.

Price at the time of publication: $250

Best Mallet

Callaway Odyssey Triple Track 2-Ball Putter

Callaway Odyssey Triple Track 2-Ball Putter

Amazon

What We Like
  • Great for long distance putts

  • Has an alignment path

What We Don't Like
  • Pricey

This much-sought-after putter features a proven two-ball mallet shape that has made appearances at PGA Tour events and major championships. Additional features help perfect your put. Its Triple track Technology is based on the same visual technology used to land planes. The putter has three sight lines to frame the ball and provide superior alignment. Reviewers attest to the putter’s great hand feel and accuracy, particularly from longer-distance putts, such as 20 feet.

Price at time of publication: $230 to $428, depending on the style

Best Blade

Tommy Armour Impact No. 2 Wide Blade Putter

Tommy Armour Impact No. 2 Wide Blade Putter

Dick's Sporting Goods

What We Like
  • Great for advanced players

  • Has an alignment path

What We Don't Like
  • Not recommended for beginners

This coveted blade putter has a double bend hosel, which is a good fit for golfers who hit straight and through with very little rotation in their strokes. It’s a level of finesse that more advanced players will appreciate. An aluminum-face insert and rubber backing offer a soft feel and consistent putt. The putter also delivers superior positioning thanks to a high-contrast white top-line dot and rear-alignment line. Generally, reviewers applauded this putter’s distance control and said it performs well at multiple shot lengths, from 20 to 5 feet.

Price at time of publication: $150

What to Look for in a Golf Putter

Head Shape

Putters have evolved into three distinct designs: mallet, mid-mallet, and blade. Blade designs are traditionally long, rectangular heads, while newfangled mallet heads are designed with a bulkier D-shape to improve aim and steady one of the game’s most critical strokes. Experiment with various shapes before buying to determine what works best for your game. 

Balance

Putters are built with different kinds of balances, which in turn can impact how you putt. For example, counter-balanced putters have a heavier head, while four-way sole balancing—where the putter is evened out across the board—helps with alignment. Other putters have custom balancing so golfers can tailor what’s right for their stroke. 

Added Tech

Golf clubs have come a long way since the game first teed off in the 15th century, and now putters are made with special technology that can help aid your game’s weak points—and shave a few points off your score. Some help to produce more topspin, for example, which helps keep your ball from skidding quite as much. Others incorporate high-tech inserts to help with accuracy and distance control.

Frequently Asked Questions
  • What’s the difference between putters for men and women?

    The primary difference between men and women golfers (and their clubs) is height, which affects the length and lie angle of the putter. According to PGA golf instructor Dale Abraham, who heads golf instruction at the Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, California, "The putter doesn't know who is swinging it, so it's dependent on the type of stroke, not the sex of the golfer."

  • What’s the best way to be fitted for a putter?

    The best way to ensure a good fit is to work with a golf pro who properly fits putters. Steve Bosdosh, a PGA-certified instructor and a GOLF Magazine Top 100 teacher, recommends being measured with a launch monitor or putter-fitting device and trying out different kinds/sizes. “The worst is for the fitter to tell you which club to purchase; the player should make the decision,” he says.

  • What should you look for when buying a putter?

    Many factors are important in buying a putter, including having the correct type (blade vs. mallet) for you, having the proper toe hang or face balance, alignment, lie, weight, grip size, and length. Don't overlook the putter's design. According to Bosdosh, "If the player does not like the look of it, they most likely won't perform their best with it."

  • What’s the difference between blade and mallet putters?

    A blade-style putter has a thinner design and has remained relatively similar over the years. Traditionally, mallet putters have a semi-circle shape, though recent versions have several designs. Professionals lean toward blade putters for greater feel and control, while beginners often opt for mallet putters because they are thought to be more forgiving.

Why Trust TripSavvy

Ashley M. Biggers started golfing with her grandfather when she was six years old. She started golfing with her grandmother’s clubs a couple of years later and has been trying to perfect her short game ever since.

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