Best Armlock Putters 2024

Published:

What is armlock putting and what are the best armlock putters available to buy in 2024?

Jump To: Best Armlock Putters | Buying Guide | FAQs

Scanning through our selection of the best putters in 2024, it’s clear that armlock putters are not the most prevalent style of putter out there in the game.

They do have a market, however, and those proponents of armlock putting feel that having the putter grip locked against the arm reduces the chances of the hands influencing the putting stroke, allowing for a more stable pendulum motion of the shoulders. Take a look at Bryson Dechambeau if you want to see the putting stroke perfectly executed.

Best At A Glance

Best armlock putter for alignment: Odyssey 2-Ball Ten Putter | Buy Now – US | Buy Now – UK

Best mini-mallet armlock putter: Ping Heppler Piper Armlock Putter | Buy Now – US | Buy Now – UK

While there have been calls for armlock putting to be outlawed, suggesting there is some unfair advantage to be gained, the fact so few players adopt the technique surely begs the question – if it was that advantageous, wouldn’t everyone be doing it?

Armlock putters typically have shafts that range from 38 to 42 inches, making them a good few inches longer than the more popular mallet and blade putters. Most of the main brands will manufacture one or two armlock putters, typically evolving from their larger and most forgiving mallet putter designs.

Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau practising at Augusta.

Let’s take a look at some of the best armlock putters available in 2024.

Best Armlock Putters 2024

A solid and improved armlock option with all the tech of the successful 2021 Ten line

Best armlock putter for alignment
Price: £299.00 / $299.99 RRP
When the Odyssey Ten Shape was introduced a few years ago it immediately became the brand’s most popular choice, both on Tour and with amateur golfers.

The head design offers excellent alignment help and a very stable face thanks to a high MOI (Moment of Inertia).

There is no shortage of alignment options in the range, so you'll have no trouble finding a model that suits your eye.

The Odyssey 2-Ball Ten is the most forgiving 2-Ball putter ever made. Thanks to the increase in MOI you get 20% less twisting at impact, 38% more speed control, and 44% more topspin consistency over the original 2-Ball.

Pros

  • Iconic 2-ball alignment aid
  • High resistance to twisting at impact
  • More topspin than previous models to promote a truer roll

Cons

  • Those with arched strokes may struggle more
Style Armlock
Length 40, 42 inch
Stock grip 2-Ball Ten Armlock

Designed to meet the needs of tour players in look, sound, feel and performance

Best armlock putter for consistent launch
Price: £405.00 / $449.00 RRP
SIK stands for “Study In Kinematics” and is the brand used by Bryson DeChambeau, who has seen a huge improvement in his putting stats since making the transition to armlock putting.

"Descending Loft Technology has made a huge difference to my game, and I am excited that golfers of all standards now have the chance to appreciate what it can do for their putting – improved distance control, consistent ball striking, and confidence on the greens,” says 2020 US Open champion DeChambeau.

SIK's Descending Loft Technology (DLT) involves four flat surfaces being milled into the putter face. Each plane descends in loft by one degree from the top of the face to the bottom of the face. DLT is designed to enable the golfer to present the putter face at a consistent launch angle, thereby creating a more predictable ball roll and better distance control.

DeChambeau uses the SIK Pro model, which is a blade-style head, but we particularly like the extra large mallet Flo head for even more stability and forgiveness.

Pros

  • High MOI and low stretched-out CG
  • Custom-milled
  • Designed to meet the needs of Major winners

Cons

  • Fairly basic alignment aid
Style Armlock
Length 39 inch
Stock grip JumboMax JMX/SIK

An innovative and contemporary putter that's highly stable and consistent

Best armlock putter for a consistent roll
Price: £409.00 / $429.00 RRP
The Evnoll ER11vx feels incredibly stable and "locked in" when hitting putts.

It's a stylish mallet, with the head looking quite similar to TaylorMade's incredibly popular Spider Tour. The design is all about stability, with weight moved to the edges helping keep the face pointing square for longer throughout the stroke.

Made from black anodized 6061 aluminium, the Evnroll ER11vx features two 303 stainless steel adjustable heel/toe weights to boost stability and forgiveness.

The face is 100% CNC milled to produce a better and more consistent roll.

The Evnroll ER11vx is available as a "standard" putter as well as the armlock version; Evnroll call the latter "Midlock" so keep an eye out for that model.

Pros

  • Produces a consistent roll and pace
  • Great looking design
  • Helpful for those struggling with a consistent backswing

Cons

  • Some may struggle with shorter putts
Style Armlock
Length 40 inch
Stock grip Evnroll Midlock XL Grip

Scientifically engineered to create more topspin for a true roll

Best armlock putter for topspin
Price: £375.00 / $399.99 RRP
Bettinardi were pioneers of armlock putters and the Bettinardi Inovai 8.0 is a great option.

The Bettinardi Inovai 8.0 has a 303 stainless steel fac and 6061 aluminium back, allowing extra mass to be placed in the back, which creates a stable and forgiving head. The angular back is great for alignment and a big improvement on the previous Inovai 7.0 model.

Bettinardi’s Roll Control face milling pattern has asymmetrical grooves to promote more topspin and shorten the distance putts travel before getting into a true roll.

Pros

  • Creates more topspin for a true roll
  • Promotes controlled and consistent putting strokes
  • A contemporary and fresh styling

Cons

  • Some may think its lacks elegance
Style Armlock
Length 41 inches
Stock grip Winn 17" Armlock Grip

A compact, high MOI putter for players looking to maximize stability and feel

Best armlock putter for adjustability
Price: £299.99 / $299.99 RRP
The milled mallet PXG Battle Ready Blackjack uses a bi-material construction, combining aerospace-grade aluminum with high-density tungsten. The materials are used to create a deep center of gravity, which makes the face more resistant to twisting and therefore easier to deliver squarely at impact.

The PXG Battle Ready Blackjack features large, switchable sole weights, meaning it can be customized to ensure ideal weight and launch conditions; custom fitting will be key here.

There's a pyramid face pattern designed to ensure consistent ball speeds, launch angle, spin rates, and skid on contacts across the face.

A single, bold white sightline through the center and the arrow-like design make alignment easy.

Read our full PXG Battle Ready putter range review.

Pros

  • Excellent stability
  • Highly forgiving for off-center hits
  • Soft and responsive feel

Cons

  • A custom fitting is essential
Style Armlock
Length 38 inches
Stock grip PXG Sink Fit Pistol or Skinny

A solid face putter for those who prefer a firmer feel at impact

Best mini-mallet armlock putter
Price: £250.00 / $249.99 RRP
A centre-shafted mini mallet with two white sightlines which frame the ball brilliantly at address. The centre of gravity is low and MOI high thanks to steel heel and toe weights integrated into the aluminium body.

This will suit straight-putting strokes with little to no arc.

Pros

  • Premium copper and black finish
  • Excellent stability and forgiveness
  • Color contrast helps with alignment

Cons

  • Some may not like the firm feel
Style Armlock
Length 41.5 inch
Stock grip Available in PP59, PP60, PP61, and PP62 grips

The Agera is Cobra's highest MOI putter, making it super stable and forgiving

Best armlock putter for innovation
Price: £269.00 / $349.99 RRP
Cobra took their time entering the putter market, saying they didn’t want to do so until they had technologies capable of making a real difference to golfers’ performance.

Thanks to 3D printing, Cobra now feel they can offer something unique, as the production enables designers to layer up a steelhead in a lattice network, which removes mass from the centre. That construction method isn’t possible when casting, forging or CNC Milling, and it’s an idea that improves MOI and forgiveness.

Pros

  • Extremely forgiving
  • Sits square behind the ball
  • Surprisingly lightweight

Cons

  • Some may prefer a less futuristic design
Style Armlock
Length 41 inch
Stock grip SuperStroke Traxion Flatso 17

Best Armlock Putters: Buying Guide

Before diving in head first and buying a brand new armlock putter, you may want to keep in mind some of the below considerations that we feel are key. After all, if you are new to the idea of armlock putting, you will likely need to hit a fair few putts before it begins to feel somewhere close to being comfortable!

Length

Armlock putters are typically 38-42″ making them significantly longer than the regular length of 34-35″. The correct length largely depends on your height but also the way you stand when putting; basically, the distance from 2″ below your elbow to the floor when you address a putt is the length of armlock putter you need. If in doubt, a custom fitting session is always a sensible idea.

Alignment aids

Many of the best armlock putters have a mallet-style head which lends themselves to better alignment aid possibilities due to the bigger head size. Unlike mallets, the visual aids on blade-style putter heads tend to be fairly simple, but it’s still 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.

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 you like the feel of is key to confidence and consistent pace control.

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.

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. Why not take a read through our best putter grips guide to find out more?

Budget/price 

With many of the best armlock putters retailing for a not insignificant amount of money, 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 an armlock putter within a budget that works great for you.

How we tested the best blade putters of 2024

Unlike our other club tests, we haven’t provided any data for our armlock putters test. Our experience has shown that the data collected with putters 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.

Best Armlock Putters: FAQs

Still interested in trying armlock putting? We’ve answered the most commonly asked questions about the method and highlighted some of the best armlock putters available to buy.

What is an armlock putter?

An armlock putter is typically longer than a standard putter, which means the putter grip can rest flat against your lead forearm.

Is armlock putting better?

Like a lot of things in golf, there’s no simple yes-no answer. Proponents of arm lock putting feel that having the putter grip locked against the arm takes the hands out of your putting stroke, allowing for a more stable motion led by rocking the shoulders.

The setup involved in armlock putting also encourages more forward shaft lean, which can help get the ball rolling sooner, aiding with pace control and consistency.

Armlock putting may be better for golfers who struggle with overactive hands during the putting stroke. Some such golfers had opted for an anchored putting stroke, but this has since been banned in the rules of golf. Armlock putting might be a suitable alternative.

How long should my armlock putter be?

An armlock putter is usually 40-42″ long, compared to standard-length putters which are typically around 33-36″.

The grip on the armlock putter will need to be longer than standard, too, allowing for it to rest against your forearm. Most armlock putters will need a grip length between 17-21″.

Which pros use armlock putters?

Bryson DeChambeau is probably the most famous tour pro using an armlock putter, but Webb Simpson, Keegan Bradley, Matt Kuchar, Bubba Watson, and Will Zalatoris all use or have used an armlock putting style.

READ NEXT:
Best Wedges
Which TaylorMade putter is best for me?

BECOME A TODAY’S GOLFER MEMBER: Unlimited access to premium content and exclusive rewards!

- Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us.