Putters - Mallet for straight through and blade for arc swings?

[Sheekamoo]

Is it true that mallet style putters are more designed for people who swing straight through the ball while blade putters are more for people who arc their swing (opening and closing the face of the club)?

From what I've heard and read online that appears to be true. Mallet style putters are generally weighted evenly to help with a straight through put. But blade style putters are usually toe heavy to help with the club face opening and closing during the swing.

[Petden]

I dont have concrete facts to agree or disagree with you, however, when I swing each that seems to be the case.

[tim31x]

yes, it is true that mallets are designed for more of a straight through swing, and blades for the arc swing. i however play a blade and prefer the straight through swing, its just a feel thing and it works for me so its all good haha.

[jonjones]

I have a straight through swing and have used both types of putters. I prefer and currently use a blade putter. It works for me.

[TakeDeadAim]

You can do an on-line putter fitting at odisseygolf.com. it will suggest various models based on your path.

[PiKapp23]

I think it's as much about the shaft configuration for the swing as anything else. I have always found that a center-shafted putter is better for the straight through swing where as a heel shafted model (especially if toe weighted) is better for the arc swing. Personally I find it harder to square the putter face on heel shafted models for my straight through swing. It just happens naturally with center shafted models.

[iacas]

  tim31x said:

yes, it is true that mallets are designed for more of a straight through swing, and blades for the arc swing.

I don't think that's true at all. I think...

  PiKapp23 said:

t's as much about the shaft configuration for the swing as anything else.

That I'll agree with.

I also believe that 99% of golfers shouldn't putt "square to square" and that 99% of those who think they putt square to square don't.

[Range King]

I have been asking myself, and trying to find out, what is the theory behind mallet and blade putters?
I can understand that mallet putters are more stable during impact, because of their bulky form.
But what is the downside of mallet putters?
I have tried both, but the results were the same for me. I just picked a blade putter, because of the classier look and because it sits smaller in my bag.

Dom

[trjohnson2]

I have an arced stroke, and love the mallet. I found that blades were less consistent in the open and close than a mallet for me. Generally, I think the new breed of mallet putters (Spider, Sabetooth, Ignite, etc.) are designed to be high MOI, which helps create a bigger sweet spot and reduces twisting on off center hits, giving the putt a truer and straighter roll.
A couple of my friends really hate mallets, and it's for two main reasons - 1) they say the extra bulk reduces their ability to feel the putt, and 2) the larger clubhead is visually distracting. I personally don't think either apply, but to each his own. Putters are such a personal thing, I don't know that any general maxims should be applied. If youlike it and gives you the confidence you need, then its the right one for you.

[imtomtomim]

well, my blade is an odyssey black series-i #1 and it's meant for straight through putting. I do arc a bit, but that's just natural shoulder turn so I let it be.

[Maverick]

If you like a blade but like the face-balance and straight back and through style that a mallet offers, I would recommend getting a "long neck" version. What this does is actually becomes a center shafted/weighted putter.

I'm not lying, go face balance a Newport Long Neck (or any other blade style putter that has a "longer" neck) - by placing it on your finger and you will see that the face will point straight up with the toe pointing to the side. (compared to the toe pointing straight down on conventional blade).

I too prefer a face balanced putter (I use a Newport TeI3 Long Neck), but don't really like the look of mallets. It's the best of both worlds really.

[Crafty]

From waht I know, each putter is designed with a certain amount of "toe hang". If the toe hang is greater, then the putter will fit better someone who strokes the ball with an arc. If it is less, it is intended more for the sqaure to sqaure stroke.

People say mallets are better for a sqaure to square stroke because the design of the head often promotes less "toe hang", making it easier to stroke that putter sqaure to sqaure.

I would definitely agree that shaft comfiguration is extremely improtant as well. As a rule of thumb, a putter will become more beneficial to a sqaure to square stroke as the shaft moves further away from the heel of the club

[PT_OleMiss]

  iacas said:

I also believe that 99% of golfers shouldn't putt "square to square" and that 99% of those who

Can you please explain your reasoning on this. I think I putt "square to square" with an Odyssey White Hot #2 blade. I was considering a mallet because I thought that might be better for my putting stroke, so I'm curious about your reasoning.

[elchene]

My putter is a heel-shafted half-mallet with lots of toe hang. It's designed to better suit those with arced strokes.

[jrwingate6]

No this is not true one bit. I don't know who told you this or where you got the information but it's wrong. Center shafted putters are meant for straight back swings. Heal Toe weighted putters are meant for arc swings. They make Heal Toe weighted mallet putters.

[iacas]

  PT_OleMiss said:

Can you please explain your reasoning on this.

I have several times on this forum. I'm really not interested in sharing it all again.

  jrwingate6 said:

No this is not true one bit. I don't know who told you this or where you got the information but it's wrong. Center shafted putters are meant for straight back swings. Heal Toe weighted putters are meant for arc swings. They make Heal Toe weighted mallet putters.

The information comes from people like Scotty Cameron, who likely have firmer ideas and stronger understanding of putting than you do.

He makes near-center-shafted putters (he won't call them truly center-shafted - you don't hit the ball off the center of the shaft) but believes that everyone should putt with an arc stroke. As do I, if that's not clear.