When it comes to choosing the right putter for your golf game, it’s important to understand the differences between a mallet putter and a blade putter. A mallet putter features a larger and more forgiving head design, providing stability and alignment assistance, while a blade putter offers a traditional, sleek design that appeals to classic golfers. By knowing the distinctions between these two putter styles, you can make an informed decision that suits your playing style and preferences on the green.

Head Design

Mallet Putter

A mallet putter is characterized by a larger, more rounded clubhead design. The head is typically deep and wide, providing a larger surface area to strike the ball. This design offers an increased level of stability and forgiveness, making it easier to achieve a more consistent and accurate stroke. The larger head also often features strategic weight placement to further enhance stability and reduce twisting during impact. Mallet putters are known for their modern and visually appealing designs, often incorporating various alignment aids for improved accuracy.

Blade Putter

On the other hand, a blade putter features a more traditional and compact head design. The head is typically narrower and flatter, resembling the shape of a blade, hence the name. Blade putters have been around for decades and are favored by golf purists who appreciate the classic look and feel. The smaller head size allows for greater control and precision over the stroke. Although blade putters may offer less forgiveness compared to mallet putters, the simplicity of their design can instill confidence in those who prefer a more traditional approach to putting.

Weight Distribution

Mallet Putter

Mallet putters often have a more evenly distributed weight throughout the head, with a focus on a high moment of inertia (MOI). This means that the weight is spread out across the clubhead, providing more stability and reducing the chances of the putter twisting on off-center hits. The weight distribution in a mallet putter is carefully engineered to promote a smooth and consistent stroke, allowing for greater accuracy and distance control.

Blade Putter

In contrast, blade putters tend to have a more concentrated weight distribution towards the heel and toe of the clubhead. This design helps to maintain a traditional and responsive feel, allowing for greater feedback and touch. While the weight distribution in a blade putter may offer less forgiveness on mis-hits, it can also provide a golfer with a heightened sense of control, especially for those who have a consistent and repeatable putting stroke.

Alignment Aid

Mallet Putter

Mallet putters are well-known for incorporating various alignment aids into their design. These aids can come in the form of lines, dots, or other visual cues on the top of the putter head. These features are intended to assist golfers in aligning the face of the putter with the target line, promoting a more accurate setup and stroke. The larger head size of mallet putters often allows for more intricate alignment aids, giving players additional confidence and assurance over their putting alignment.

Blade Putter

Blade putters typically have a more simplistic and clean head design, often devoid of extensive alignment aids. While some blade putters may feature a single line or simple alignment dot, the focus is primarily on the golfer’s ability to align the putter visually. Blade putters can be a great choice for golfers who prefer a more minimalist approach and rely on their own eye and judgment to ensure proper alignment.

Center of Gravity

Mallet Putter

The center of gravity (CG) in a mallet putter is often located deeper and farther back in the head, closer to the face. This CG placement helps to promote a smoother roll and reduce skidding at impact, resulting in better distance control and truer roll on the greens. The lower CG also aids in stability and forgiveness, particularly on off-center strikes. By positioning the CG in this manner, mallet putters tend to provide a more consistent and reliable performance, regardless of the golfer’s putting stroke.

Blade Putter

In blade putters, the center of gravity is typically more towards the heel of the clubhead. This CG placement is often preferred by golfers who have an arcing stroke, as it helps to naturally square up the face at impact. By concentrating the weight towards the heel, blade putters can promote a slight rotation of the putter head during the stroke, aiding in closing the face and reducing the likelihood of pushing putts to the right for right-handed golfers. This design caters to golfers who have a more pronounced arc in their putting motion.

MOI (Moment of Inertia)

Mallet Putter

Mallet putters are engineered to have a higher moment of inertia (MOI) compared to blade putters. MOI is a measure of a club’s resistance to twisting on off-center hits. With a larger, more stable head design, mallet putters offer a higher MOI, providing forgiveness on mis-hit putts. This forgiveness translates to more consistent ball speeds and better directional control, even on putts struck away from the center of the face. Golfers who struggle with accuracy or have a less consistent putting stroke can benefit from the higher MOI of a mallet putter.

Blade Putter

In contrast, blade putters typically have a lower MOI compared to mallet putters. With a smaller and more compact head design, blade putters offer less forgiveness on mis-hits and require a higher level of precision. However, the lower MOI can also benefit golfers with a consistent putting stroke who prefer more responsiveness and feedback from their putter. Blade putters allow for a greater degree of control, making them a popular choice among highly skilled golfers who prioritize feel and touch on the greens.

Stroke Arc

Mallet Putter

Mallet putters are well-suited for golfers with a straight-back, straight-through putting stroke, also known as a “pendulum” or “square-to-square” stroke. The more stable and balanced head design of a mallet putter naturally aligns well with a straight stroke, promoting a consistent path and reducing the chances of an open or closed face at impact. Golfers who have a minimal arc or prefer a more stable and consistent stroke will find the alignment and balance characteristics of a mallet putter to be advantageous.

Blade Putter

On the other hand, blade putters are often preferred by golfers with an arcing putting stroke. An arcing stroke involves a more pronounced swing path where the putter head travels on an inward arc during the backswing, slightly rotates through impact, and then continues on an inward arc during the follow-through. The heel-weighted design of a blade putter complements this stroke by naturally squaring up the face and facilitating the desired rotation. Golfers who have a moderate to a strong arc in their putting stroke may find it easier to consistently square the face and control their ball roll with a blade putter.

Forgiveness

Mallet Putter

When it comes to forgiveness, mallet putters have the upper hand. The larger head size, strategic weight distribution, and higher MOI all contribute to enhanced forgiveness on off-center strikes. Even when the ball is not struck precisely in the center of the face, mallet putters tend to minimize the negative effects on accuracy and distance control. This forgiveness is especially beneficial for golfers who struggle with consistency or tend to mishit their putts more frequently. With a mallet putter in hand, you can gain confidence that your putts will still find their intended target.

Blade Putter

While blade putters may not offer the same level of forgiveness as their mallet counterparts, they can still provide satisfactory results when struck well. Blade putters require a more precise impact location on the clubface, as off-center hits are more likely to result in a loss of accuracy and distance control. However, skilled golfers who consistently strike the sweet spot will appreciate the direct feedback and solid feel that blade putters deliver. The lack of forgiveness in a blade putter can be seen as a positive for those who value the importance of a precise strike and prefer a more traditional and responsive putter.

Feel and Feedback

Mallet Putter

The feel and feedback of a mallet putter can vary depending on the specific design and materials used. Generally, mallet putters offer a softer and more muted feel at impact compared to blade putters. The larger head size results in a larger sweet spot, allowing for a more forgiving and consistent feel overall. The feedback from a well-struck putt is often less pronounced compared to blade putters, as the design of a mallet putter helps to dampen vibrations and produce a smoother roll. Golfers who prefer a soft and cushioned feel throughout their stroke may find a mallet putter to be a comfortable and enjoyable choice.

Blade Putter

Blade putters are renowned for their exceptional feel and feedback. The smaller head size, combined with the concentrated weight distribution, creates a more responsive and tactile experience. Golfers can distinctly feel the impact of the ball on the clubface, making it easier to assess the quality of their stroke. This direct feedback can be immensely valuable in helping golfers fine-tune their putting technique and become more precise on the greens. If you prioritize a high level of feel and enjoy a more lively and responsive putter, a blade putter might be the ideal option for you.

Preferred by Skill Level

Mallet Putter

Mallet putters are generally favored by golfers of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals. The forgiveness, stability, and alignment features inherent in mallet putter designs make them appealing to those who have yet to develop a consistent stroke or struggle with accuracy. Beginners can find confidence and improvement in their putting performance with a mallet putter, while more experienced golfers can benefit from the forgiving nature and increased stability on high-pressure putts. Regardless of skill level, a well-designed mallet putter can be a reliable tool to help shave strokes off your scorecard.

Blade Putter

Blade putters are often preferred by skilled and experienced golfers who have developed a consistent and precise putting stroke. These golfers value the responsiveness, feedback, and control that blade putters offer. The classic design and minimalist aesthetics of blade putters can also appeal to those who appreciate the traditional aspects of the game. Skilled golfers who have honed their stroke mechanics and seek a putter that rewards their precision and touch will find satisfaction in the performance of a well-crafted blade putter.

Popular Models

Mallet Putter

Some popular models of mallet putters include the Odyssey Stroke Lab Ten, TaylorMade Spider X, and the Scotty Cameron Select Squareback 2. These putters exemplify the modern and visually striking designs often associated with mallet putters. The alignment aids, enhanced stability, and forgiveness offered by these models make them highly sought after by golfers of all levels who want to improve their putting performance.

Blade Putter

Among the popular blade putter models, the Scotty Cameron Newport 2, TaylorMade TP Juno, and the Odyssey White Hot Pro 2.0 #1 stand out. These models embody the timeless elegance and craftsmanship that blade putters are known for. With their sleek and refined designs, these putters have garnered a strong following among golfers who appreciate the precision, feel, and feedback provided by these classic blades.

In conclusion, the differences between a mallet putter and a blade putter encompass various aspects, such as head design, weight distribution, alignment aids, center of gravity, MOI, stroke arc, forgiveness, feel and feedback, as well as preference based on skill level. Ultimately, the choice between a mallet putter and a blade putter boils down to personal preference, stroke style, and what attributes are most important to you in aiding your performance on the putting greens. Try out different putters, experiment with various designs, and find the one that suits your game and helps you sink those crucial putts with confidence.