Best Putters 2023: 71 models tested by pros and amateurs
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It’s the club you use more than any other, so finding the best putter for your game is extremely important.
Finding the best putter for your golf game is hugely important, as it’s the club you use more than any other.
You need to find the right length putter, work out whether a blade putter or mallet best suits your stroke, decide what type of alignment aids help you aim most accurately, as well as choosing the best grip, amount of toe hang, and face insert you like the feel of.
Another consideration is whether you want an armlock putter or counter-balanced putter instead of a standard putter. Armlock and counter-balanced putters are slightly longer and do take some getting used to, but the change could be worthwhile.
All of the leading manufacturers – including TaylorMade, Odyssey, and Ping – offer a wide range of putters in different shapes, sizes, styles, and types, so how do you know where to start?
Best putters: our top picks
Here are the models we highlighted as the best on test:
Best forgiving blade putter: Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Triple-Wide Putter | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
Best putter for alignment: Odyssey 2-ball Eleven Triple Track Putter | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
Best armlock putter: Evnroll ER11 Midlock Putter | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
Best for color and hosel options: TaylorMade Spider GTX Putter | VIEW UK OFFER
Best adjustable putter: TaylorMade GT MAX Putter | VIEW UK OFFER
Best budget putter: Cleveland HB Soft Milled Putter | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
Whether you’re improving out on the putting green or trying Matt Fitzpatrick’s “Six steps to becoming a better putter” a putter fitting is still a good idea or, if that’s not possible, at least picking up a few different models to see which one feels best. But even if you do have a putter fitting, testing every single putter on the market probably isn’t going to be possible, or even a good idea, as you’ll likely end up totally confused.
So we’ve narrowed down your selection with our pick of the best putters for 2023. We’ve tested 71 putters, across all of the leading manufacturers, to identify the key factors you should be considering and to highlight the best models that may help you save shots on the green.
Best Putters 2023: Blades
A beautiful blade putter with lots of options to suit different strokes
Each head is 100% CNC milled from 303 stainless steel before being given a sleek, diamond-blast finish and polished sole, for what Bettinardi calls a “luxurious presence on the green”. Each comes with a Roll Control asymmetrical face groove pattern, which helps promote topspin to get putts rolling quicker and, according to Bettinardi, makes the family the softest feeling one-piece milled putters you can buy.
Pros
- Classic, beautiful looks
- Very soft feel
- Lots of hosel and toe hang options
Cons
- Less forgiving than some
A confidence-inspiring blade with lot of clever tech packed in.
Evnroll are famous for SweetFace technology, which puts more face in contact with off-center strikes, so the ball doesn’t lose energy and travels the same distance as on-center hits. And thanks to the shape of the grooves, Rife says putts get geared back onto their target line, too. All Evnroll putters come with the tech built in, and every design is milled in the USA.
EvnRoll’s grips are great too, giving the sensation of holding the putter face in your hand.
The EvnRoll ER2 is a classic-looking blade. We particularly like the combination of two dots and a line to create a nice alignment aid, which gives you feedback on whether the handle is too high, too low, or just right.
There are lots of hosel options and a choice of silver or black finishes.
Pros
- Helps deliver consistent distances
- Classic design
- Excellent alignment aids
Cons
- Firmer feel than some
A wide blade for those who like to keep things simple
Rrp: $429.99
Rrp: $429.99
The head feels quite weighty in the hands, which gives a feeling of control and stability.
While previous BB putters were created from carbon steel, in 2022 the company switched to 303 stainless steel, saying that is preferred by tour staff.
Pros
- High-class construction
- Looks fantastic
- Sits nicely behind the ball
Cons
- Not everyone will like the heavy feeling head
One of the most stable blade putters you can get
The wider body instils confidence and sits squarely behind the ball, making alignment easy.
A multi-material construction features heavy tungsten weights, lightweight milled aluminum back sections and a heavier 303 stainless steel front end to maximize stability, along with a White Hot insert that feels lovely.
The shaft is packed with technology and looks great too.
Pros
- Very forgiving for a blade
- Stable through the stroke
- Sit squarely behind the ball
- Great feel
Cons
- Purist blade fans might not like the wide head
High-quality design and construction with clever tech to aid forgiveness
You’ll choose a Battle Ready model for the fitting options. But remember, these are 100% milled heads, so their build quality is just as precise as a Scotty Cameron or Bettinardi.
The extensive tungsten weighting strategically placed within each head increases stability and boosts off-center forgiveness, which is at levels over and above the competition.
Throw that all into the mix with at least two changeable sole weights, which give the ability to go longer or shorter in length, and the option of upgrading to PXG’s stability M16 putter shaft (for an extra £102), and it’s perfectly possible to create one of the best feeling, most stable putter set-ups available.
The head frames the ball nicely, helping you aim squarely at your target.
Pros
- Sleek looks
- Premium construction process
- Changeable sole weights
Cons
- Only available in black
The classic blade, still one of the most desirable putters you can get
The Super Select family is all about creating the most desirable and aspirational putters out there.
The Newport and Newport 2 have been Scotty Cameron’s most popular models for years now, but in 2023, with wide-body blade putters trending upwards, there’s a new plus-sized Newport and Newport 2, which nudge up forgiveness and look a little less intimidating.
Scotty Cameron has never really bought into inserts or face grooves, so each Super Select model comes with a simple milled face and a fuss-free misted, stainless steel finish. If you want a beautiful, inspiring, tour-validated blade putter, a Scotty Cameron Newport 2 will hit the spot.
Pros
- Timeless classic design
- Always retain value
- Very popular on tour
Cons
- Less modern tech than many new models
Best Putters 2023: Mallets
A familiar favorite with some clever tech packed in
The Zebra AIT 1 has quite a big footprint and offers plenty of forgiveness.
The putter comes with two 15g removable weights as standard but there’s the option to buy 10g weights or 20g weights, plus a wrench, if you want to dial in the weighting to suit your stroke.
Read our full Zebra AIT 1 putter review.
Pros
- Easy to align
- Changeable weights
- Very forgiving
Cons
- Looks a little dated
Putters don't come much better looking or feeling than this
The Queen B’s honeycomb face pattern (which now feels softer) is said to be more accurate as the mill doesn’t sweep across the surface but instead comes vertically down on to it.
We love the copper color and the way the head sits behind the golf ball. The feel is lovely and the head is reassuringly heavy.
It’s a classic design that will never go out of fashion.
Pros
- Unique finish
- Great feel
- Sits nicely behind the ball
Cons
- Heavy head won't suit all
Unique design aims to offer ultimate forgiveness
They say that while golfers have been told weight further from the face is a good idea in drivers (as it increases MOI and forgiveness), the theory doesn’t add up on the green.
It boils down to how heads rotate around their center of gravity when mishit. Cleveland says that if the CG location is further from the face, the rotation arc is bigger, so putts get pushed further offline. With front-weighted models, though, the CG is closer to the face, so the rotation circle is smaller, meaning deviation is tighter, and mishits don’t travel as offline.
Cleveland have done their homework and says the Frontline Elite family are 38% more accurate than conventional MOI putters. So, where a 2cm mishit with a standard MOI putter will miss the hole from 9.2 feet, the Frontline will have you making the same putt (with the same mishit) all the way back to 12.7 feet. It’s a cracking idea and serious food for thought.
Pros
- Unique CG boosts forgiveness
- Very accurate
- Good alignment aids
Cons
- Not everyone will like large head
All the alignment help you could ever wish for
The 2023 family is mainly made up of big-selling Ping models, along with a sprinkling of new shapes to create a nine-model range, and there’s an option to suit every stroke.
The Ping Tyne G is packed with alignment features, including a single white line to run through the middle of the golf ball, two further white lines on the back, a frame that surrounds the golf ball and the circular hole which is the same diameter as the ball. The hole can be used to pick up the ball as well, which older golfers will find handy as many mallets mean bending right down to pick up the ball.
The black-and-white combo works really well and anything that could be included to help with alignment is in there.
Read our full Ping Tyne G putter review.
Pros
- Lots of alignment aids
- Good stability
- Can pick up the ball
Cons
- Only available in black
Great feel and alignment in a neat, confidence-inspiring package
Versa isn’t a new idea, but Odyssey have brought it back at the request of a number of tour coaches, including Phil Kenyon.
White Hot Versa is a five-model family which will be hugely popular with tour pros and amateurs alike. Each head comes with the iconic White Hot face insert.
Read our full Odyssey White Hot Versa Three T putter review.
Pros
- Easy to align
- Insert feels lovely
- Lots of options
Cons
- Not as stable as bigger mallets
Maxing out on stability, forgiveness and alignment aids
The brand say golfers can expect a forward CG (1/4in closer to the face than other leading MOI models), which improves speed and spin control while also tightening dispersion.
Pros
- Great for alignment
- Very stable and forgiving
Cons
- Busy design won't suit purists
So good it can convert non-armlock golfers
It’s really simple, yet it gives a very locked-in feel, and because of how you hold the putter, it prevents your wrists breaking down at impact. It’s so good, in fact, we couldn’t believe how unnatural a standard putter felt after using the Midlock… If your putting is in the doldrums, the Evnroll Midlock throws you a lifeline.
Pros
- Best feeling armlock putter we've tested
- Promotes a stable stroke
- Excellent alignment aids
Cons
- Not everyone will like the feel of armlock
Extremely forgiving and a huge array of options to choose from
True Path alignment frames the ball and helps you visualize the path to the hole, while the Pure Roll insert is made from black TPU urethane.
Read our full TaylorMade Spider GTX putter review.
Pros
- Great stability
- Excellent forgiveness
- Strong alignment aids
Cons
- Almost too many options to choose from
A great putter with genius adjustability
Two 40g, sliding tungsten sole weights give control over the CG location, toe hang and face rotation.
Available with a small slant neck or single bend shaft, and thanks to the adjustability, you can tailor toe hang from 17° to 20° or 23°.
Read our full TaylorMade GT Max Putter review.
Pros
- Uniquely adjustable
- Can suit a variety of stroke types
- Good forgiveness and stability
Cons
- May be tempting to tinker too much
Simply unbeatable at this price point
CNC milled putters are very expensive to make as the block of steel needed to create a head in one piece is sizeable and therefore costly. Cleveland wanted to open up milled putters to everyone, so they developed a cost-effective way of making them.
Each head is first cast into shape, then to give the sharp-edged look and appeal of a premium putter the back is milled into a very precise and consistent shape, giving a cosmetic that just isn’t achievable with traditional hand finishing. Each face is then machined with an intricate groove pattern to boost consistency when putts aren’t struck from the center of the face.
There are seven HB Soft Milled models, some are face balanced, most have toe hang and suit slight arc players, but all are classic designs with premium cosmetics.
Pros
- Great price point
- Premium looks
- Options to suit all stroke types
Cons
- Not the softest feel
The future of putters is here
At 7540g/cmÇ MOI, the Agera, with its corner weighting and lightweight printed core, has a busier look at address, where the more simple Supernova frames the ball beautifully and has an MOI of 5700g/cmÇ.
With multi-material constructions bringing together aluminum, tungsten, nylon and stainless steel within each head, the 3D models are well worth £269 in our view. And if you can find yourself one of the most recent blacked-out heads, you really are getting the cherry on top of the high MOI putter pie.
Pros
- Lots of options
- Futuristic looks
- Good stability
Cons
- Older models may be updated soon
How to choose the best putter for you
Budget/price
With many of the best putters retailing for over £400, it’s important to decide how much you’re willing to spend. After all, a higher price doesn’t guarantee you’re going to hole more putts. Typically, the leading manufacturers are at the forefront of R&D and use premium materials, which explains the high price, but there’s nothing to say you can’t find a putter for under £200 that works great for you.
Type of putter
There are two main types of putter: blades and mallets (mid-mallets are a cross between the two).
Blade putters: the traditional blade putter style has been around for centuries, although modern designs are a lot more technologically advanced than the originals. Blade putters tend to look relatively simple and elegant, and advocates say they offer the best feel and feedback. Due to their smaller size, blade putters tend to be less stable and forgiving than mallets.
Mallet putters: mallet putters have rocketed in popularity in recent times, with more and more golfers of all skill levels seeing the benefits of a larger, more stable head, packed with technology to produce more forgiveness and consistency.
Alignment aids
Putters, particularly mallets, now come with all sorts of different visual aids on top to help you align putts and strike the ball in the middle of the face. It’s all personal preference, so it’s a good idea to pick up as many putters as you can and see what type of alignment aid suits your eye. If you draw a straight line on your ball, a single line on your putter can be a great accompaniment for that. If you use a triple track golf ball, a putter with three lines can work brilliantly.
Toe hang/stroke type
Most putters come with different hosel options, which not only affect the look but also the amount of ‘toe hang’ the putter has. Toe hang is measured in degrees and basically dictates how much the putter wants to rotate during your stroke. Generally, golfers with more arc in their putting stroke will benefit from more toe hang, while those with a ‘straight back and through’ stroke will want less toe hang. A simple but effective way to see how much toe hang a putter has is to balance the shaft on your finger; the angle at which the head points down towards the ground when hanging freely is the amount of toe hang. A putter with no toe hang is often called “face balanced” and the face will be pointing straight to the sky in the previously described test.
Face type/Insert
Putter faces used to be a simple, flat piece of metal, and although some are still like that, most have an insert or some form of groove pattern designed to help reduce skid and get the ball rolling sooner. Finding the face type or insert that you like the feel of is key to confidence and consistent pace control.
Length
Putters are typically 33″ to 36″ (discounting arm-lock models, which are longer). The correct length largely depends on your height but also the way you stand when putting; basically, the distance from your wrist to the floor when you address a putt is the length of putter you need.
Grip
Putters traditionally had slim grips, but in the last couple of decades, very thick grips have become extremely popular as they tend to encourage your hands to stay passive, which creates a more stable putter face through the stroke.
How we tested the best putters of 2023
Unlike our other tests, we haven’t provided any data for our putters’ test. Our experience has shown that the data collected varies too much from one day to the next to be meaningful. Any data we gathered wouldn’t be a good thing to base your buying choice on; it’s far more important to find a model that suits you and your individual putting stroke. Confidence is hugely important in all areas of golf, but perhaps none more so than putting.
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Simon Daddow
Today’s Golfer Equipment Editor
Simon Daddow is the Equipment Editor for Today’s Golfer. Having tested and played more than 10,000 clubs in his life, what he doesn’t know about golf clubs isn’t worth knowing.
He’s a specialist in all things metal having spent a large part of his career as a golf club maker and product development manager, and has worked in the golf industry for more than 30 years. Starting out as trainee professional at Downes Crediton GC where he learned the art of golf club making, he went onto work for Clubhaus Plc and Tony Charles Ltd as a golf club maker, and running Product Development at Benross Golf.
Simon also spent time working as a Sales Executive in Harrods’ golf department, even helping supply Sir Nick Faldo with personalized shirts in a last-minute emergency ahead of a flight to a tournament.
He joined EMAP Active (now Bauer Media) as Equipment Editor in 2006 and has worked for both Today’s Golfer and Golf World. Working alongside our test pro Neil Wain, Simon has made todays-golfer.com the most reliable source for golf club testing.
Despite his youthful looks, Simon has played golf for more than 40 years and plays to a handicap of 10. A lack of club speed means he’s short off the tee, but very handy from 125 yards and in.
He enjoys excellent relationships with the biggest names in the golf equipment industry, including PXG boss Bob Parsons and TaylorMade’s Tomo Bystedt and Adrian Rietveld.
Away from the course, Simon is a season-ticket holder at Peterborough United Football Club, attending games with his young son. He’s also a keen cyclist and enjoys working (and relaxing) at his allotment.
His favorite ever piece of golf equipment is the Callaway Warbird fairway wood and he considers the biggest technological advancement in the game to have been titanium driver heads.
Simon’s job means he plays regularly around the world, and rates Kingsbarns as his favorite course. He uses a PXG 0311 GEN6 XF driver, TaylorMade Stealth 2 HL (15º), Ping G400 (20.5º), PXG 0317 X Gen2 hybrid, PXG 0311 GEN6 P irons (6–PW), Cleveland CBX2 wedges (52°, 58°), Ping 21 Fetch putter and a TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball.
You can contact Simon via email and follow him on Twitter for loads more golf equipment insight.
