Broadly speaking, there are two different types of putting strokes.
Stroke Type 1 – Straight Back Straight Through
Players with this type of stroke are best suited to face-balanced putters. This round-up review highlights an excellent selection of face-balanced putters that are currently available.
Stroke Type 2 – Arc Stroke
This stroke type is better suited to putters with more weight in the toe. Instead of being ‘face balanced’ the toe of the putter will point towards the ground if you balance the putter on a horizontal surface.
Best Face Balanced Putters
Cobra KING 3D Printed Supernova Putter
Cobra’s new range of 3D Printed putters has added a much-needed boost of innovation to their product lineup. As you can see from the images below, the Cobra King 3D Printed Supernova is an oversized fang-shaped mallet that looks like it was designed by a team of astronauts.
This particular putter is packed with performance-enhancing features, including 42 grams of tungsten on the perimeter provides maximum stability through impact. Another standout feature is the SIK Aluminium Face Insert with Descending Loft Technology (DLT). DLT produces a consistent launch of 1.5 degrees, whether you have an ascending, neutral or descending angle of attack.
Odyssey 2-Ball Ten Tour Lined Putter
The original Odyssey 2 ball putter was a massive hit on the PGA tour, but over time, that popularity waned. Thankfully, Odyssey have re-engineered the classic 2 disc style into the Ten series, essentially combining two of the most popular Odyssey designs ever created. Ultimately, the Odyssey Ten shape is a Tour proven design that puts an emphasis on alignment and high MOI for more confidence and consistency on the greens.
In addition to a high level of forgiveness, you should also find the 2 Ball Ten provides a delightful sound and feel at impact, thanks to the Microhinge Face technology.
Cleveland Frontline Elevado Single Bend Putter
The Cleveland Frontline Elevado Single Bend Putter is characterized by a confidence-inspiring, extremely square fang style head design. Because the angles are so sharp, setting up square to the target is very easy.
Another key component of the Elevado Putter is the distribution of weight. While most mallet putters position most of the weight in the back (in order to maximize MOI and forgiveness), the Cleveland Frontline putters buck this trend in order to increase accuracy. In the case of the Elevado, the tungsten weights are positioned in the front of the putter face, which is one of the secrets to Cleveland’s aimpoint technology.
Odyssey White Hot OG Seven Putter
The Odyssey White Hot OG is a return to one of the most popular putter designs on the PGA tour. Used by players like Luke Donald, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson, Odyssey’s Seven putter series continues to be a hit with amatuers and professionals alike. Key features include:
- Odyssey White Hot Insert
- Milled surface finish
- Steel shaft and multi-material Stroke lab shaft options
- Delightfully soft feel yet good distance control
- Perfecly face balanced
PING Heppler Ketsch Putter
If you struggle with alignment, the PING Heppler Ketsch Putter could just be the antidote you’ve been searching for. The defining feature of this putter is the middle alignment stripe, which runs from the face of the putter all the way to the very back of the putter head. When you set up behind the ball, it becomes very obvious where you are aiming, and very obvious if you have alignment issues ingrained into your address position.
TaylorMade Spider X Hydro Blast Single Bend Putter
The Face Balanced Taylormade Spider X remains one of the most popular putter designs on the PGA tour. It is currently gamed by Daniel Berger, Matthew Wolff, and several European tour players.
The standout features of the Spider X are the truepath alignment system, high MOI weighting, and Taylormade’s patented pure roll insert. All-in-all, the Spider X is an excellent choice if you want a tour-proven mallet that inspires confidence at address.
Taylormade Spider S
The Taylormade Spider S is fresh take on the classic spider mallet design. In this case, Taylormades’s engineers combined the properties of high-grade aluminum and tungsten weighting in a design that focuses on stability and forgiveness.
Visually, the Spider S is both simple and unique. It has a diamond-like head shape, three alignment lines and a rectangular hole that helps frame the ball like an arrow.
Scotty Cameron Phantom X11
With its sleek profile and swept-back trimmed wings, the Scotty Cameron Phantom X 11 has a clean topline and provides darker visual alignment cues from address with its misted “popped up” back flange milling and single sight line in light gray. With a mid-bend shaft to minimize face rotation during the stroke and customizable stainless steel sole weights, Phantom X 11 is ready for your next level.
