Best Putters 2026: Blade, Mallet & Insert Putters Ranked

Updated March 2, 2026 · 14 min read · by 13.golf

Putting accounts for 40% of your strokes but most golfers spend less than 10% of their practice time on the green. The right putter matched to your stroke type can save 2-5 strokes per round. We tested 18 putters on an indoor putting lab and outdoor greens to find the best options for every stroke type and budget.

Quick Rankings

Rank	Putter	Type	Best For	Price
1	Scotty Cameron Super Select Newport 2	Blade	Arc stroke	$429
2	TaylorMade Spider GTX	Mallet	Straight stroke	$349
3	Odyssey Ai-One Milled Seven T	Mallet	Forgiveness	$299
4	Ping PLD Milled Anser	Blade	Feel	$450
5	Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 4	Blade	Value	$149

Best Blade Putters

Scotty Cameron Super Select Newport 2 ($429) — The most iconic putter shape in golf, refined to perfection. Milled 303 stainless steel with a solid-face design produces pure feedback on every putt. Vibration dampening system (VDS) provides soft feel without sacrificing response. Tour Satin finish reduces glare. The Newport 2 is the putter that more Tour pros use than any other model — for good reason.

Ping PLD Milled Anser ($450) — Precision milled from a single block of 303 stainless steel. The Anser head shape is the best-selling putter design in history. Dual-durometer insert provides soft feel with consistent ball speed. Premium price justified by extraordinary craftsmanship — every surface is machined to micron-level precision.

Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 4 ($149) — Best value blade putter. Speed Optimized Face Technology provides consistent ball speed across the face. Diamond CNC milling creates a soft, responsive feel. At $149, it delivers 85% of the performance of putters costing 3x more. The smartest purchase in golf if you prefer a blade putter.

Best Mallet Putters

TaylorMade Spider GTX ($349) — The most stable putter in our test. Heavy tungsten weights in the perimeter create extreme MOI (moment of inertia) that resists twisting on off-center hits. True Path alignment system makes aiming effortless. Pure Roll insert with grooves that launch the ball rolling immediately. If you struggle with distance control or alignment, the Spider GTX will improve both.

Odyssey Ai-One Milled Seven T ($299) — AI-designed face pattern varies the milling depth across 168 different points to normalize ball speed. Mishits travel the same distance as center hits — the most forgiving face in putting. White Hot insert provides the legendary soft feel that made Odyssey famous. The Seven T shape offers clean alignment lines.

Blade vs Mallet: Which Is Right for You?

Factor	Blade	Mallet
Stroke type	Arc (inside-to-inside)	Straight back and through
Forgiveness	Less forgiving	More forgiving
Feel/feedback	Superior feel	Dampened feel
Alignment	Minimal aids	Built-in alignment lines
Weight	Lighter (330-350g)	Heavier (350-380g)
Tour usage	~55% of Tour pros	~45% of Tour pros

Putter Fitting Tips

• Length matters most: Standard putter length is 34-35 inches. If your hands hang naturally below your shoulders with eyes over the ball, that length works. If you hunch or reach, you need a different length. Get fitted
• Stroke type determines head shape: Film your putting stroke from behind. If the putter head moves on an arc, choose a blade or heel-toe weighted putter. If it moves straight back and through, choose a face-balanced mallet
• Grip size affects aim: Larger grips (SuperStroke 3.0+) reduce hand action and promote a shoulder-driven stroke. Thinner grips allow more feel but can introduce inconsistency. Try both
• Test on real greens: Indoor putting mats are faster than most course greens. Always test putters on actual putting greens at various speeds before buying

Frequently Asked Questions