Best Mallet Putters 2024: The MOI boosting models to power up your putting performance
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Want the ultimate putter for stability, forgiveness, and alignment aids? Today’s Golfer has you covered with our pick of the best mallets on the market.
Best Mallet Putters – Jump To:
The best mallet putters tend to offer more stability and forgiveness than traditional blades, which explains their increased popularity and the fact they now greatly outnumber blades, both on tour and in our picks of the best putters.
The best blade putters still have their proponents of course, but golfers wanting to maximize the use of modern technology to help them hole more putts will want to choose a mallet. Mallet putters have much larger head profiles, enabling manufacturers to distribute more weight toward the head’s perimeter, boosting the MOI and thus promoting more stability throughout the putting stroke. With more surface area to play with, there is more space to be creative with alignment aids also.
Best At A Glance
Best overall mallet putter: Odyssey Ai-One Milled Three T Putter | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
Best looking mallet putter: Bettinardi BB48 Putter | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
Best value mallet putter: Cleveland HB Soft 2 Retrieve Putter | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
Best for swings with arc: Scotty Cameron Super Select Fastback 1.5 Putter | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
Best sounding mallet putter: Ping PLD DS72 Putter | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER
A great example of a modern mallet putter is the Odyssey 2-Ball Triple Track putter which burst onto the scene more than 20 years ago now and is still going strong today, demonstrating how a larger footprint can boost stability and provide novel alignment solutions for those who struggle to set the ball off on the right line. More recently, the TaylorMade Spider Tour franchise has convinced some of the world’s best golfers including Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler to game a more forgiving and stable modern mallet putter.
In our 2024 Top Gear testing, we ‘putt’ the latest mallet putters from the leading manufacturers through their paces to help you find the best flat stick for your stroke. If you have your mind set on a particular brand of putter, then you might also want to check out our brand-specific pages, reviewing the best models on offer from names such as Odyssey and TaylorMade.
Let’s take a look at the best mallet putters on the market this season.
Best Mallet Putters 2024:
Mallet putters don't get much better than this.
Best overall mallet
Odyssey are brilliant at sticking with tour- and consumer-proven putter head shapes and building in whatever new tech they come up with. The Three T shape has been an award winner here at TG before and I still love the idea of the flat/square back running parallel to the face which makes this model super attractive within the mallet category. Where mallet putters have traditionally had more flowing and rounded head shapes, especially to the rear, the Three T is blunt and straight, which I find really helps highlight where the face is pointing.
You will need to love and appreciate the beauty of CNC Milled putters to buy into the Three T as they really don’t come cheap. But having been to the global launch of the whole Ai family at PGA Frisco in Texas, I can confidently say putter designs don’t come any more complex. The work and effort Odyssey have put into developing their Ai face story is second to none and while lots of clubs golfers will likely struggle to ever know if the face tech helps putts finish 21% closer to the hole as the brand claim, over the course of a season I’d happily wager a month's mortgage payment that most golfers will see an improvement in their 3-putt percentage using the tech.
With significant amounts of toe hang, the Three T isn’t a model for all strokes. You will need a decent amount of arc, rotation, or like feeling the putter release through impact to deploy this model at maximum efficiency.
I really like the slightly firmer feel and faster ball speed off the titanium insert of the Ai-One Milled series as I use a softer, lower-compression golf ball. To me, the feel and roll are better for all year-round performance in the UK but I completely appreciate golfers who play on seriously quick greens in the USA might like teaming the softer White Hot insert of the standard (non-CNC Milled) Ai One putter family with a firmer compression golf ball.
If a beautifully made mallet putter is on your shopping list in 2024, I’d seriously recommend having the Three T right near the top of the models you want to try.
Read our full Odyssey Ai-One Milled Three T putter review.
Pros
- Beautiful to look at
- Packed with technology
- Offers great distance control
Cons
- One of the most expensive putters out there
Simply unbeatable at this price point.
Best value mallet
Cleveland can’t claim the Retreve as their own design, as Ping have used something similar on their Tyne G and Fetch over the years. But where those cost over $300, the Cleveland comes in for just $149.99, which is serious value in anyone’s book.
Value-for-money putters have become harder and harder to find, especially so if you don’t want to dumb down on components or go for cheaper painted finishes that overtime will chip and come off. The Cleveland HB Soft 2 family is bucking that trend.
I love how the Retrieve has a CNC Milled face that’s optimized to speed up off-center hits, so they travel the same distance as on-center impacts.
There’s also a choice of a pistol or oversized grip, and a really crisp classy satin and polished unpainted finish.
When I throw into the mix a lovely cute little mallet head and how the golf ball-sized hole in the back focuses the eye on impacting putts directly on the sweet spot, plus a very keen price, I reckon the Retrieve can just about claim the title of best value putter in 2024.
If you don't like this head shape there's a further eight models in the HB Soft 2 family from blades to MOI styles, if you’re shopping on a putter budget in 2024 this is your place to start.
Read our full Cleveland HB Soft putter review.
Pros
- Great price point
- Premium looks
- Options to suit all stroke types
Cons
- Not the softest feel
Maybe the best-looking mallet putter on the market.
Best looking mallet
We’ve had a long love affair with Bettinardi mallets here at TG as they’re just so damn desirable. After eight years of struggling to move on from the Bettinardi Queen B #11, this year the new BB48 has just about toppled its sibling in our eyes.
I love the BB48 not just for its lovely smooth and responsive feel but also because of its super simplicity at address.
With a golf ball width Black Pearl PVD-colored cavity back contrasting with your ball of choice, the BB48 has the classiest alignment aid in the industry. The setup frames the ball very subtly which is incredibly clever within this tiny little mallet-shaped head. The single sightline also looks great behind an unmarked or alignment-striped golf ball at address.
Buying into Bettinardi is all about investing in feel and craftsmanship and a product that is always made in the USA, which means the brand's designs never come cheap. There are tons of mallet putters out there in the market place but very few are produced to such high standards in America by a true flat stick legend. If you’re in the market for a premium CNC Milled mallet that oozes feel and class in 2024, Bettinardi are worthy of your full attention.
Pros
- Frames the ball nicely at address
- Beautifully made
- Fantastic feel
Cons
- Among the most expensive putters out there
You can't go wrong with a Scotty.
Best for swings with arc
Scotty Cameron's Select putter family is delicious – you could easily include every single model in any list of the best putters of the year.
But the Fastback 1.5 stands out as it’s the mallet that also best combines the elegance and simplicity wrapped up in Cameron’s iconic blades.
I say that as the putter supremo feels the need to add additional visual curved cues around the cavity back of the other two GOLO mallets in this family, where the Fastback finish remains utterly seamless.
Don’t choose this model just because of our thinking though; the 1.5 does have some toe hang so it would better suit players who don’t try to swing the putter in straight lines.
The GOLO 6 mallet is much closer to being face-balanced and therefore a better option for straighter stroke players.
If you’re buying a Cameron putter anytime soon, make sure you see the different heads side by side. I’d challenge anyone’s eye not to be drawn to the crescent-shaped design around the cavity back of the GOLO models. If you see what I see you’ll then start wondering why the curved line is there and ultimately find it a little distracting. The super simple Fastback 1.5, on the other hand, is utterly clean and unfussy, hence why it features among my five top mallet putters of 2024.
Read our full Scotty Cameron Super Select Fastback 1.5 putter review.
Pros
- Super stylish
- Great for players with some arc in their stroke
Cons
- Not good for those with a straight putting stroke
We can see why Viktor Hovland loves this putter.
Best sounding mallet
Ping have just launched five new fully CNC Milled PLD models for 2024 and we’re very much drawn to the super simple DS72 mallet. It’s the model favored by Norwegian Viktor Hovland and we can see why he feels this model is the perfect fit for his game.
I love the blunt head shape, so the back of the head is parallel to the face which is perfect if your eyes struggle to deal with a full-on curved back mallet shape.
I love the DS72’s muted sound and firm no-insert feel.
Putts came off the face with very little skid or bounce and lots of roll. It’s a model I’d love in my own bag.
However, it's a lot cash for a putter that doesn’t appear to be crammed full of tech like a Cobra 3D Printed Supernova or TaylorMade Spider Tour. But you have to appreciate this model takes hours to CNC Mill which costs money and gives a very premium and precise end product.
If you’re happy spending at this level you should be aware Ping have just opened a PLD fitting lab at Loughborough University, where for an additional fee you can get custom fit for and pretty much design your very own PLD model to your exact requirements. That's a level of service that’s very rarely available in the UK.
Read our full review of the Ping PLD DS72 putter review.
Pros
- Lovely shape
- Good fitting options
- Customizable
Cons
- A lot of money for not lots of tech
Putters don't come much better looking or feeling than this
Best mini-mallet
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 onto 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
| Style | Mini-mallet |
| Weight | 362g |
| Loft | 3° |
Maxing out on stability, forgiveness, and alignment aids
Best for alignment
The brand says 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
| Style | Mallet |
| Stock grip | Odyssey 2022 oversize grip (silver/black) |
| Weight | 365g |
| Loft | 3° |
How we tested the best mallet putters of 2024
To help you find the best mallet putter for your game, we’ve tested the latest models from the leading brands on the market.
TG Equipment Editor Simon Daddow and Test Pro Neil Wain both putted to a hole 15 feet away and hit at least 20 putts with each model tested. We’re listening for sound, looking for how putts roll across the surface of the green, and gauging the feel and feedback of the putter face. We consider the grip size, shape, and texture, whilst also paying attention to the shaft and the stability on off-center hits.
While we normally share all the data from our golf club tests, we don’t do that with putters. Whilst we do use a Foresight GC Quad launch monitor in putting mode to measure and gauge the roll, topspin, and skid of every putt hit, over the years we’ve learned that putting data is more player- and day-dependent than any other club in the bag. So, whilst we use this data for analysis, we don’t base big decisions or recommendations on it, as history shows data is very likely to be different on another day’s testing. Essentially, we’re not comfortable making huge claims that one putter rolls better than another, because we know that on another day’s testing, the roles could be reversed.
You can read all about how TG tests golf equipment here.
Best Mallet Putters: Buying Guide
Here are some of the key things to consider when lining up a new mallet putter…
Budget
With many of the best mallet 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.
If you’re ready to upgrade in 2024 but can’t justify the dizzying price tags of the games’s powerhouse brands, check out our pick of the best mallet putters from 2023. Many of these recently replaced or slightly older models are now available at reduced prices and still deliver a great performance on the greens.
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 you like the feel of is key to confidence and consistent pace control.
Length / Head size
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.
Mallet putters typically have large head sizes to enable weight to be shifted to the perimeter to boost MOI. If a large footprint is too off-putting for you over the ball, perhaps you should consider a mid-mallet design with a slightly lower MOI as a compromise.
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.
Best Mallet Putters: FAQs
Are mallet putters for high handicappers?
Yes, but they are also for tour pros too. Around two-thirds of PGA Tour players now use mallet putters, and the proportion is increasing all the time. Anyone who feels they need more consistency and forgiveness from their putting stroke should probably be considering a mallet or high MOI putter.
What makes mallet putters so good?
Mallet putters have a larger head than blade putters, which in itself makes them more stable and therefore easier to hit putts on your intended start line.
But the larger heads also allow manufacturers to distribute the weight more effectively and pack in extra technology to minimize twisting as you strike the ball. The larger footprint also leaves room for more alignment aids than you get with a blade.
What putter does Tiger Woods use?
Tiger Woods uses a Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS Prototype putter, which has been in his bag for most of his career. Check out all the clubs and other equipment Tiger Woods uses here.
What putter does Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler use?
Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler both gamed a TaylorMade Spider Tour X putter in 2024.
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About the author
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 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.
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.
You can contact Simon via email and follow him on Twitter for loads more golf equipment insight.
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Best Mallet Putters 2024
