Looking to try out a mallet putter

[bunkerputt]

I've been playing with this idea for a while.  It seems like it's easier for me to start the ball on-line with mallet style putters.  I can feel that the putter head is more stable through the stroke.  I've had my stroke measured and it's not SBST.  I can tell these mallets just want to swing a certain way and it's harder to inadvertently manipulate them with your hands.  I holed 9/10 straight twenty foot putts on the Golfsmith floor with one of the Taylormade Ghost models.  Those putters start the ball on-line for sure, but the feel and distance control seem a little different.  The sound is really 'tinky' for lack of a better term with the Taylormades.  If you play a mallet, what do you play and why?

[MiniBlueDragon]

There's no such thing as SBST. Every putting stroke has some type of curve on it.

I used to play a Ping iWi Anser, partially because it was a gift and partially because I knew no better about my stroke. I'd constantly find myself pushing putts to the right. My stroke also felt like I had a 'barn door' backstroke but a 'ST' follow through if that makes any sense.

I also decided to try out different putters but nothing felt right for me whether it was a blade, half mallet or full mallet. The epiphany came when I notice one single putter among the couple of hundred at the store and it was center shafted. Like you each and every putt I took was dead on my aim line and I was hooked (despite how freakin' ugly it is!)

Have a play with different shaft positions as well; you might be pleasantly surprised as I was.

[bunkerputt]

Originally Posted by MiniBlueDragon

There's no such thing as SBST. Every putting stroke has some type of curve on it.

True.  It's code language, like "as the crow flies".  Try to find a crow that flies perfectly straight.

The difference in feels for me between mallets and blades is one of MOI.  The mallets obviously have higher MOI, so they resist gating manipulation with the hands somewhat.  It "feels" more like SBST, but regardless, I can tell there is a way that the mallets "want" to swing.  If I just let the putter do what it "wants", it will make the exact same stroke every time.  That's why I can hole 90% of straight putts center cup from 20 feet with it.  My question is on what mallet putters provide the best feedback for distance control.  With the blade, I don't get the directional consistency that I do with a mallet, but it feels like I can control distance a little better, so I give a little and get a little.  If I got a mallet with good feedback, I might be able to have the best of both worlds.  I'm currently looking at the Scotty Cameron Kombi because I hate inserts.

[Beachcomber]

I use the Ping Redwood Piper S mallet.  It's been in my bag for a long time... And I was really close to selling it until I got it re-gripped a week ago.  And I seem to have my confidence back.  But I have hit the Taylormade Ghost Spider, and while it is ugly - it was a very nice putter.  I was making 10 to 15fts with ease.

[bunkerputt]

I picked up this one:

It's got cleaner lines, and sits really quiet at address.  I also tried out this one:

It had a little nicer feel, but it moves around a lot, doesn't sit very quiet, is a little too light for a mallet, lower MOI, and the grip was installed about 5 degree shut.  I'm normally a big Scotty fan, but this putter just didn't work for me, even though I tried to convince myself.  It just isn't twice as good as the taylormade, which was half the cost.

The sound of the ghost is going to take some getting used to, but I think I can manage.  I tried out a few others, ping, odyssey, but they just didn't give me anything.  With the ghost, I very quickly got to the point where putting with it was automatic.  You just step up and stroke it.  It pretty much swings itself.

[lumpuckeroo]

Try out the Ping iPhone putting app, it gives a real good indication of the type of putter would best for your putting style.  I'm a pretty SBST type of putter and found that a putter that has some toe hang works best for me.  I like something between a true face balance and an Anser style putter, I went with a Scotty Camerson Fastback 1.5.  Not really a mallet, I would call it more of a semi-mallet.  Hope that helps some and doesn't confuse the issue.

[newtogolf]

I had the same experience.  Started with a full mallet and couldn't control distance so went to an Anser style.  The Anser style gave me much better control distance wise but I was off left to right.  After spending weeks practicing with the iPing app I decided to give a "mid-mallet" a try, and like goldilocks it was just right.  I traded in my old putter and now using a SC California Del Mar and my putting consistency and pHcp is the best it's ever been.  Possibly a placebo effect but I feel like with this putter I have control over distance and direction.

Originally Posted by lumpuckeroo

Try out the Ping iPhone putting app, it gives a real good indication of the type of putter would best for your putting style.  I'm a pretty SBST type of putter and found that a putter that has some toe hang works best for me.  I like something between a true face balance and an Anser style putter, I went with a Scotty Camerson Fastback 1.5.  Not really a mallet, I would call it more of a semi-mallet.  Hope that helps some and doesn't confuse the issue.

[GaijinGolfer]

Ive got an old Mizuno mid-mallet hell-shafted putter.  Its basically just like a Cleveland Classic 2.  I like it because it offers some of the forgiveness of a mallet but it still has a classic look and isnt one of those big, oversized, ugly mallet putters that have no feel.

Ive tried a few of the bigger mallets (Odyssey White Hot XG Teron, Never Compromise NCX-RAY and Cameron Red-X) and I hated them all because there was no feel.

[fanofsaosin]

Switched to the Odyssey White Hot Tour #7.... best putter i have used hands down...

[bunkerputt]

I shot a really, really crappy score today, but it certainly wasn't because of my putting stroke (in-between swings and the mental game is in the crapper).  I'm really enjoying this putter.  One trick I found is, once you pick your aim point, set the putter down, and then just line up to the putter.  It pretty much aligns itself.  I now match my eye line to my target line, which has also helped start it on the right line.  From that point distance control = backswing length control.  I even hit one uphill 75-footer one-handed and almost jarred it.  This thing swings itself!

[GaijinGolfer]

Originally Posted by bunkerputt

I shot a really, really crappy score today, but it certainly wasn't because of my putting stroke (in-between swings and the mental game is in the crapper).  I'm really enjoying this putter.  One trick I found is, once you pick your aim point, set the putter down, and then just line up to the putter.  It pretty much aligns itself.  I now match my eye line to my target line, which has also helped start it on the right line.  From that point distance control = backswing length control.  I even hit one uphill 75-footer one-handed and almost jarred it.  This thing swings itself!

Very true.  Sometimes you can overthink a putt.  Thats why I take 1 look at it, line myself up and hit the putt.  If you think about it any more than that its going to create tension in your stroke and you arent going to make your best effort.

[Flounder]

High M.O.I., SBST at it's best. Got a 48" on order;

http://www.bobbygraceputters.com/online-store/long-a-belly-putters/details/97/20/long-&-belly-putters/amg-f-22-gold-long

[anthony]

For what it's worth, I really love my Cleveland Classic's mallet putter (I think that's the #2). The weight is just perfect on this thing. I can't explain it, but my putting stroke was instantly more fluid after I bought it. I got it on sale 2 or 3 year's ago for $60.00 at Dick's.

[GaijinGolfer]

Im a big fan of the Cleveland Classic putters.  Theyre a great value for the money and are really nice putters.  The TM Ghost putters are a great value too but Ive never been a big fan of TM putters.