You can smash a drive 280 yards down the middle and still make double bogey because you three-putted from twelve feet. Putting accounts for roughly 40% of your total strokes, and yet most golfers spend less time choosing their putter than they do picking a driver. If you’re serious about lowering your scores, the flat stick in your bag matters more than almost anything else.
In This Article
- Best Overall: Odyssey White Hot OG #1
- Blade vs Mallet vs High-MOI: Which Type Do You Need?
- Best Blade Putter: Ping Anser
- Best Mallet Putter: TaylorMade Spider GT
- Best High-MOI Putter: Odyssey 2-Ball Ten
- Best Budget Putter: Wilson Staff Infinite
- How to Choose the Right Putter
- Putter Fitting: Is It Worth It?
- Putter Length and Lie Angle Explained
- Insert Face vs Milled Face: What’s the Difference?
- Scotty Cameron vs Odyssey vs Ping: The Big Three
- Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve been through five putters in the last three years — a Scotty Cameron Newport, an Odyssey Two Ball, a Ping Sigma 2, and a couple of budget options in between. Each taught me something about what makes a putter work for different strokes. Here’s what to look for.
Best Overall: Odyssey White Hot OG #1
The Odyssey White Hot OG #1 (about £150-180 from American Golf, Scottsdale Golf, or Amazon UK) is the putter I’d recommend if you forced me to pick just one for most golfers. The White Hot insert has been the gold standard for feel since it launched over twenty years ago, and this version refines it further.
Why It Wins
- Feel — the White Hot insert gives consistent feedback across the face. You know instantly whether you’ve hit the sweet spot
- Forgiveness — the #1 head shape offers more forgiveness than a traditional blade without the bulk of a mallet
- Alignment — clean sightline along the top. Not cluttered, not bare — just enough visual guidance
- Price — at £150-180, it undercuts Scotty Cameron by £200+ while delivering comparable performance
It’s the putter that most club golfers would benefit from. Not the flashiest, not the most expensive, just quietly excellent at its job.
Blade vs Mallet vs High-MOI: Which Type Do You Need?
This is the most important decision in choosing a putter, and it depends entirely on your stroke type.
Blade Putters
Blade putters have a narrow, traditional head shape — think Ping Anser or Scotty Cameron Newport. They suit golfers with an arcing stroke (the putter opens on the backswing and closes through impact). Blades offer more feel and feedback but less forgiveness on off-centre hits. If you’re a confident putter who values touch and control, blades reward that skill. If you tend to miss the sweet spot, a blade will punish you.
Mallet Putters
Mallets have larger, heavier heads with weight distributed around the perimeter. The TaylorMade Spider is the most recognisable mallet on tour. They suit golfers with a straight-back-straight-through stroke. Mallets offer more stability through impact, better forgiveness, and usually more alignment aids. The trade-off is less feel — you don’t get as much feedback from the strike. For more on the differences, our guide to blade vs mallet putters breaks it down in detail.
High-MOI Putters
High-MOI (Moment of Inertia) putters take the mallet concept further — maximising resistance to twisting on off-centre strikes. The Odyssey 2-Ball Ten is a prime example. They’re the most forgiving putters available and particularly suit golfers who struggle with consistency. The downside is they can feel heavy and unresponsive to golfers who prefer a lighter, more reactive putter.
Best Blade Putter: Ping Anser
The Ping Anser (about £170-200 from American Golf, Direct Golf, or Golf Online) is arguably the most influential putter design ever made. Karsten Solheim’s original design from 1966 has been refined over decades, and the current version is the best yet.
What Makes It Special
The Anser’s heel-toe weighting creates a sweet spot that’s more forgiving than most blades. The soft 304 stainless steel face gives a responsive but not harsh feel. It rolls the ball beautifully — consistent topspin from address, which means fewer skipping or bouncing putts on imperfect greens.
Who Should Buy It
Mid to low handicappers with an arcing stroke who want a blade that forgives occasional mis-hits. If you’re a beginner, the forgiveness ceiling might not be high enough — look at the mallets below instead. If you’ve been playing a while and understand your stroke, the Anser is one of the finest blades available at a sensible price.
Best Mallet Putter: TaylorMade Spider GT
The TaylorMade Spider GT (about £200-250 from American Golf, Scottsdale Golf, or TaylorMade.co.uk) is the mallet that put mallet putters on the map for amateur golfers. It’s been a tour staple since the Spider Tour and this version adds incremental improvements.
Stability and Forgiveness
The heavy tungsten weighting in the Spider GT creates massive stability through the stroke. Even mishits hold their line better than with most putters. The True Path alignment system — a long sightline running down the top of the head — makes aiming almost foolproof. After using one for two months, my three-putt rate dropped noticeably. The weight distribution does the hard work for you.
The Feel Trade-Off
The Spider GT has a firmer, less responsive feel than the Odyssey or the Ping. You don’t get the same tactile feedback on whether you’ve struck it centrally. For golfers who rely on feel, this can be disconcerting. For golfers who just want the ball to go where they aim it, the Spider is brilliant.
Best High-MOI Putter: Odyssey 2-Ball Ten
The Odyssey 2-Ball Ten (about £180-220 from American Golf, Golf Online, or Amazon UK) is the highest-forgiveness putter on this list and one of the best options for golfers who struggle with alignment and consistency.
The Two-Ball Alignment System
Two white discs on the top of the head line up with the golf ball at address, making alignment instinctive. It sounds gimmicky until you use it — the visual clarity of the two balls matching the target line is remarkable. The high-MOI design means even putts struck towards the toe or heel maintain speed and line far better than blades.
When to Choose High-MOI
- You three-putt frequently — forgiveness on distance control is the biggest benefit
- Your alignment is inconsistent — the visual aids make a real difference
- You have a straight-through stroke — high-MOI putters are designed for this stroke path
- You’re a higher handicapper — forgiveness matters more at this stage than feel
Best Budget Putter: Wilson Staff Infinite
The Wilson Staff Infinite range (about £60-80 from Sports Direct, Amazon UK, or Golf Online) proves you don’t need to spend £200+ to get a decent putter. Available in blade and mallet shapes, with a double-milled face that offers surprisingly good feel for the price.
What You Get for £60-80
The face insert gives a soft, consistent feel that’s closer to the Odyssey White Hot than you’d expect at this price. Alignment markings are clean and useful. The finish is good enough that you won’t feel embarrassed pulling it out at your club.
The Compromise
Weight distribution isn’t as refined as the premium options — mis-hits are punished more. The grip is basic and most golfers would benefit from upgrading it (about £15-20 for a SuperStroke). But as a putter to learn with or to carry as a backup, the Wilson Staff Infinite is exceptional value.
How to Choose the Right Putter
Choosing a putter comes down to three things: your stroke type, your biggest weakness, and your budget.
Match Putter to Stroke
- Arcing stroke — blade or mid-mallet with toe hang
- Straight-back-straight-through — mallet or high-MOI with face balancing
- Not sure? — a mid-mallet like the Odyssey OG #1 works for both stroke types and is a safe starting point
Address Your Weakness
- Distance control issues — choose a heavier mallet or high-MOI putter. More mass = more consistent energy transfer
- Alignment problems — choose a putter with clear visual aids (sightlines, two-ball, high contrast markings)
- Touch and feel problems — choose an insert-face blade or mid-mallet that gives feedback on strike quality
Putter Fitting: Is It Worth It?
A putter fitting typically costs £30-75 at a UK pro shop or fitting centre and takes 30-45 minutes. Is it worth the money? For most golfers, yes — especially if you’re spending over £100 on the putter itself.
What a Fitting Covers
- Stroke analysis — determines whether you have an arc or straight-through stroke
- Length measurement — based on your height and arm length at address
- Lie angle check — ensures the sole sits flat at impact
- Head weight preference — heavier or lighter based on your stroke tempo
- Grip sizing — thicker grips reduce wrist action, thinner grips increase feel
American Golf offers free basic putter fittings at most UK stores. For a more detailed session, Titleist and Ping fitting centres charge £50-75 but offer thorough analysis. The R&A’s equipment rules cover what’s allowed in competitive play — worth checking if you play in club competitions.
Putter Length and Lie Angle Explained
Most off-the-shelf putters come at 34 inches. That’s fine for golfers around 5’9″ to 6’0″. If you’re taller or shorter, the wrong length means your eyes aren’t over the ball at address — and that kills alignment.
Standard Lengths
- Under 5’6″ — consider 32-33 inches
- 5’6″ to 6’0″ — standard 34 inches works for most
- Over 6’0″ — look at 35-36 inches
Lie angle is equally important. If the toe of the putter is off the ground at address, the face points left (for right-handers). If the heel is up, it points right. A proper fitting adjusts this — most putters can be bent 2-4 degrees to match your setup. For more on which clubs beginners should carry, the putter is always the first priority.
Insert Face vs Milled Face: What’s the Difference?
Insert Face
An insert is a separate material bonded to the putter face — usually a polymer or elastomer compound. The Odyssey White Hot is the most famous example. Insert faces tend to feel softer, produce a muted sound at impact, and can help with distance control because the ball comes off more consistently.
Milled Face
A milled face is machined directly from the putter’s metal — no insert, just precision-cut grooves in the steel or aluminium. Scotty Cameron putters are the benchmark. Milled faces feel firmer and more responsive, giving you more feedback on strike quality. Some golfers prefer this direct connection to the ball.
Which Is Better?
Neither — it’s personal preference. Insert faces suit golfers who want consistency and softness. Milled faces suit golfers who want feedback and responsiveness. If you tend to decelerate through the ball, an insert face can help maintain speed. If you tend to hit putts too hard, a milled face’s feedback helps you calibrate.
Scotty Cameron vs Odyssey vs Ping: The Big Three
Scotty Cameron
The premium choice at £350-450. Beautiful craftsmanship, milled faces, and the cache of having a tour-proven brand in your bag. The Newport 2 is the iconic model. But you’re paying notably for the name — the performance gap between a Scotty Cameron and an Odyssey at half the price is small. At American Golf and Scottsdale Golf, you’ll find the full range plus custom options.
Odyssey
The value king. White Hot inserts, excellent forgiveness, and a range that covers every stroke type and head shape. Most club golfers would be better served by an Odyssey than a Scotty Cameron. The Ai-ONE range uses artificial intelligence to optimise the insert pattern — marketing buzz aside, it does produce consistent ball speeds across the face.
Ping
The engineering choice. Ping’s manufacturing precision is legendary, and their putters are built to tighter tolerances than most. The Anser, Sigma 2, and DS72 models are all excellent. Ping’s customer service is also the best in the industry — they’ll adjust length, lie, and loft at any authorised Ping fitting centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I spend on a putter? £100-200 covers the best putters for most golfers. Below £100, the Wilson Staff Infinite is excellent value. Above £200, you’re paying for premium materials and brand prestige. The Odyssey White Hot OG at £150-180 is the sweet spot for performance per pound.
Do expensive putters make a difference? Up to about £200, yes — better materials, more consistent manufacturing, and superior face technology all help. Above £200, the improvements become marginal. A £400 Scotty Cameron won’t make you putt twice as well as a £200 Odyssey. Spend the saved money on a putting lesson instead.
Should beginners buy a blade or mallet putter? Mallets are better for most beginners. The extra forgiveness and alignment aids help build confidence. As your stroke develops and you understand your natural path, you can consider whether a blade suits you better. Many tour pros use mallets — there’s no shame in the extra help.
How do I know if my putter is the right length? At address, your eyes should be directly over the ball or just inside the target line. If you’re reaching for the ball or standing too upright, the length is wrong. A simple test: drop a ball from between your eyes at address — it should land on or just inside the ball you’re putting.
Can I get a putter fitted at a pro shop? Yes — American Golf offers free basic fittings at most stores. Specialist fitting centres like Ping and Titleist charge £30-75 for a full session. It’s one of the best investments in golf for the cost.