Putters: Mallets or Blades for high handicapper

[TheGolfingDetective]

Is this strictly a matter of personal preference? I recently saw some consistent improvement in my game, but my putting after switching to an Odyssey 2 Ball got better, then worse. I liked the feel of my Taylor Made blade, but the Odyssey has MUCH better alignment aids.

Should I learn to putt better with the blade, even though its much tougher for someone of my skill to align? Or stick with the mallet, even though there are times it just feels too.... big?

[teal]

I would say it is almost 100% personal preference. I am a high handicapper but not due to my putting. I HATE mallet putters. I don't like the way they feel in the least and do my best putting with a blade. The only way to find a putter is to use a putter. IMO

I like the alignment aid on the Nike Ignite as their IC is too "busy" for me but then again all I really want to know is am I centered on the ball - I don't need 5 lines on the top of my putters, single dot and I am happy. I have also found that I look less at my ball than I do the hole and let my brain take over. Get alignment, check hole and swing....

[Craig Mac]

Is this strictly a matter of personal preference?

I would say it is almost 100% personal preference

I would agree with that, I have switched several putters in the last few years, even a couple high dollar ones, and always come back to my old faithful. I don't think I am a good putter(32 putts per round), but feel is very important to me. Just take what you are comfortable with and practice, practice, practice, they'll be dropping no time.

[mybloodinvt]

Putter style is a matter of personal preference. I always liked looking down at a blade as opposed to a mallet. Until this season, I had never had a mallet in my bag. But I pulled my Scotty and replaced it with and old Odyssey that I cut down to 33.25' and my putting has improved drastically. My line is better and my speed is better. Simply put, I am making more putts. That's enough to convince me. What I like about the mallet is the face balancing. It is much easier to keep the putter face square and much more difficult to flip the toe over.

[Soup Fan]

Putters are like cutlery. You are safest using whatever is most comfortable in your hands.

I am a high handicapper but I became a much better putter when I ditched my mallet for a blade and if you are struggling with alignment, try the old Sharpie line.

[Joetruth]

Scientifically, a putter that has the shaft come from the center, with more weight on the ends then the center will give the best results




This is the head of my putter and I love it!

[iacas]

Scientifically, a putter that has the shaft come from the center, with more weight on the ends then the center will give the best results

Scientifically, if you hit the sweet spot, it doesn't matter.

The center shafting doesn't matter that much, and if it impedes your ability to hit the center of the club, you're really out of luck.

[DaveLeeNC]

Scientifically, a putter that has the shaft come from the center, with more weight on the ends then the center will give the best results

Could you elaborate on this. I can see a rationale for 'more weight on the ends' (at least WRT off-center hits), but the place where the shaft attaches to the club is not obvious (to me, anyway). Thanks.

dave

[Joetruth]

Scientifically, if you hit the sweet spot, it doesn't matter

Let's see, if I hit the sweet spot but my putter is turned 3 degress out, I bet I will miss the hole!

It's not about the sweet spot on a putter, it is about a straight putt So Scientifically, if you use a blade with the shaft at one end, it is easier to flip around the shaft due to the weight difference. A center shaft with equal weigting on both sides will give a more balance stroke. There are many putters with center shaft setups, or pm me and I will tell you where I got mine. Also a piston style putt like Jack Nickalaus' is the most accurate

[Lange]

Go with what you feel is most comfortable to you. Preference will make a huge difference.

[iacas]

Let's see, if I hit the sweet spot but my putter is turned 3 degress out, I bet I will miss the hole!

That has nothing at all to do with what you said before. Nothing. You can leave the face open or closed just as easily with a center-shafted putter as you can with a heel-shafted putter.

So Scientifically, if you use a blade with the shaft at one end, it is easier to flip around the shaft due to the weight difference. A center shaft with equal weigting on both sides will give a more balance stroke.

Wrong.

Also a piston style putt like Jack Nickalaus' is the most accurate

Really, really wrong.

Please don't talk about things about which you know little.

[wofat]

In my experience, putting is TOTALLY a feel thing. If you like the way it feels, you'll putt well. I won a putter several years ago (a taylor Rossa or something) and since I was then poor and didn't have money to spend on clubs, I kept putting with it. It was a heavy beast of a putter that I didn't like the feel of.

Since then (after bending the shaft in a number of places after losing bets on puts) I finally broke down a got my Scotty Newport 2 and have been putting lights-out for the last year I've had it. It's got nothing to do with the SC being a fantastic putter, but everything to do with my mental game and how happy and confident you are with it.

I wish the rest of my game was as solid as my putting. :(

[Joetruth]

Please don't talk about things about which you know little.

And what gives the right to decide who knows what? I'll be willing to bet my resources far outweight yours for scientific knowledge of the golf swing and mechanics of putting.

Let's hear what putting stroke you think is best for an overall higher percentage chance of a smooth straight stroke, and why? Sounds like your questioning Jack Nicklaus as being one of the greatest putters that played You get your feelings hurt so you lower my reputation?

[rudygu]

Dude, calm down. This topic has been discussed ad nauseum on this forum. Here for example. Simple use of the search button will yield several more threads regarding putting stroke path. There is no need to turn this thread into yet another battle over this.

[CG031]

I prefer the blade style...I don't think it matters. All feel IMO.

[rubbery]

I feel like putters are more or less like women, there's one out there for everyone, regardless of size.

Your putter should give you a feel of confidence just looking at it. I'm not saying that once you do find a putter you love, you'll start rolling the rock like it's your job, but it will go a loooooooooong way in giving you confidence in your putting game.

[iacas]

And what gives the right to decide who knows what?

When you say something that's "scientifically" WRONG, I (and anyone else with at least half a brain) gets to decide.

To others, let's stay on topic. You're doing great so far. And if I've not answered the original question: it doesn't matter what kind of putter a high handicapper uses. Length matters more, and so does being able to properly line it up, and so does suiting the eye of the user. P.S. Stay on topic.

[mikelz]

Is this strictly a matter of personal preference?

Yep.

I recently saw some consistent improvement in my game, but my putting after switching to an Odyssey 2 Ball got better, then worse. I liked the feel of my Taylor Made blade, but the Odyssey has MUCH better alignment aids.

I would use the one you can aim more accurately. I can develop pace with just about any putter.

Should I learn to putt better with the blade, even though its much tougher for someone of my skill to align? Or stick with the mallet, even though there are times it just feels too.... big?

Your 2-ball may not even be a mallet.

Mine isn't but it looks like one to me. If that's the one you can aim, use it.