Best Cheap Putters 2024

Golf clubs are expensive. It's not just the best drivers or the best golf irons that will set you back. Most modern clubs have been carefully designed over many, many years and this is reflected in the price.

Unfortunately, this creates a barrier for many novice and first-time players looking to start their golf journey. At Golf Monthly, we think golf should be accessible to everyone.

With this in mind, we've tried, tested and compiled a list of the best cheap putters available today. These are budget models that still deliver the performance you need to play golf. Some of these are also included in our guide to the best putters too.

Naturally, you'll progress and want to upgrade your putters. For that, we have guides to the best Scotty Cameron putters as well as the most forgiving putters, or even a guide on the best putters for high handicappers. If you're completely new to golf, you may also want to take a look at our guide on the best putters for beginners. 

WATCH: Joel Tadman runs through the best putters you can buy this year

The Quick List

Best Cheap Putters

Best alignment

Wilson’s hardware doesn't get the attention it deserves. This is especially true for its every level Infinite range—which has been revamped for 2024 with a total of nine new models, one of our favorites being the Bucktown.

Right out of the box, the Bucktown mallet putter's stock Pistol Karakal flat-sided grip felt comfortable in our hands. Like many of the best putters, the Bucktown had a sold, stable feel to it. This firm sensation would pair nicely with a soft, low compression golf ball. The strike pattern is very helpful and is perfect for mid-to-high handicappers. 

Additionally this putter really elevates itself with the alignment. The white lines on the head contrast with the black finish beautifully, and the middle of the three is slightly thicker to help center the ball at address. 

On the whole, we think this is an incredibly well-balanced model that will definitely help golfers set the face square and see their stroke path more clearly. And obviously with its inclusion in this guide, the price point is attractive too.

• Read our full Wilson Infinite Bucktown Putter review

Best blade

After testing the classic Ram Zebra, which features on our list of the 10 best putter designs of all time, we were eager to get our hands on Ram's latest putter line up.

Straight away, we liked the jumbo style black grip and the matching graphite shaft which looks a lot nicer than what you'd typically expect at this price point. The head has a fantastic aesthetic too—we thought the black finish and and branding looked great.

In testing, we found the FX-01 wasn't that forgiving. The benefit of this is that it will encourage you to work on finding the middle more often, where you'll definitely be rewarded. This makes for a good putter for beginner golfers who are looking to improve their stroke.

Our only qualm was the acoustics of the putter. Even when we tested with the best golf balls we found the sound of this putter incredibly high-pitched and jarring. Overall, this is a great putter considering the price point it comes out. Of course, it's not without fault but it's still excellent value for under 100 bucks. 

• Read our full Ram FX-01 Putter Review

Best premium model

Despite looking like a premium model, the Bandon 3 putter from TaylorMade comes with a comparatively small price tag...

Off the face it feels solid and offers up a surprisingly firm and loud sound at impact given the deep grooves on the face insert. This remained consistent across its length and the speed was enough to impart a short, controlled stroke and still get the ball to the hole. 

In terms of aesthetics, we loved the sandstone finish on the head. It somehow maintains an elegant and premium look with a raw finish. The Bandon 3 has more of a toe hang so is ideal for players who want to have the forgiveness of a mallet and are perhaps moving from a blade. Indeed the putter sits flush to the ground and the winged shape helps players square the club to the golf ball at impact too.

Overall, we felt it had a similar feel to a blade putter but in a mallet form which means it may suit a wide range of players. 

• Read our full TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast Bandon 3 Putter Review

Best for seniors

Cleveland is known for making some excellent wedges but it's putters are definitely underrated. Don't be put of by the Retreve's unorthodox 'gimmicky' shape either!

The Retreve is Cleveland’s first putter with the ability to pick the ball out of the hole which is a game-changer for seniors. With the milling on the face and the luxurious Pistol Grips they look every inch a premium product and that look is matched by the sound and feel when you strike a putt.

We loved the feel from the milled face although the Retreve was a little firmer than other putters in the SOFT 2 family, probably due to the gaping ball shaped hole behind the face. Still, it produced a pleasing feel when hit out of the sweet spot. 

There is a lot to be said for not having to bend and pick the ball out of the hole. it shouldn't the sole reason for choosing a putter of course, but it does counts for something. If there’s little to choose between two putters then this little extra feature may sway it for some golfers, especially senior players.

• Read our full Cleveland HB Soft 2 Retreve Putter Review

Best high MOI

The Inesis High MOI putter is the top spec model from Decathlon’s range of own brand putters. It's a visually excellent putter that is a great value option.

As you would expect given the name, this putter features a high Moment of Inertia which basically means it is less likely to twist if hit off-centre. The result is a very forgiving putter with stability too thanks to the weight being repositioned back in each of the corners. This makes for a great choice for those who are just starting their golf journey and are looking for something that'll help them nail more putts.

In testing, at address it sat very well to the ground which can be an issue for putters of this shape. We also really liked the contrast of the silver leading edge with the darker sections of the putter, as well as the white line and dot which aided alignment. 

We thought the feel off the face was very good thanks to a semi-rigid TPU pad that sits behind a metallic face. The face features grooves in an arc to improve the roll on the ball which showed up in testing too.

• Read our full Inesis High MOI Putter Review

Best value

This putter is an addition to the excellent Wilson Staff range of clubs and a very recognizable head shape that has become increasingly popular in mallet putters across the market, and one of the most forgiving putters too.

The Buckingham also comes with an oversize grip as standard which is great for golfers who use a claw grip, or golfers who find themselves gripping too hard on a thin grip and want a softer feel. At a very competitive retail price with a premium look and feel, the Wilson Staff Infinite Buckingham is a great option and one of the best models in terms of value anywhere.

As with all the Infinite range, the Buckingham features counterbalance technology which combines a heavier head and grip weights, moving the balance point closer to the hands for a smoother and more controlled putting stroke.

How we test putters

When it comes to product testing, our reviews and buyers' guides are built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team. Most members of the Golf Monthly team contribute to the putter tests and all writers are able to efficiently test the vast majority of the biggest product releases and convey the pros and cons eloquently.

Getting into specifics, we test putters outdoors on real greens with premium golf balls to get a thorough understanding of design features, feel, sound and looks. Ultimately, we aim to be as insightful and honest as possible in our reviews so it is important to acknowledge that no manufacturer can buy a good review. This is because our team tells it how it is. To learn more about our methodology, take look at our guide on how Golf Monthly tests products. 

How to choose a new putter

While golf is one of the most expensive sports to play, cheap putters are not hard to come by. There are plenty of great putters on this list for those who are just getting into the game or are looking for a slightly less expensive alternative to the flagship flatsticks that some of the big golfing brands produce. If you are looking for a cheap putter, there are a few things to consider before purchasing that club. As the putter is one of the most important clubs in your bag that can save the most shots off your round, you will need to think carefully about what you're purchasing before you go ahead and buy that club. For that reason, we have set out below a list of five considerations you need to keep in mind when purchasing your next putter. 

1. Head Design

Putters come in lots of different head designs whether that be blade, mallet, or mid-mallet and all have their positives and negatives. For beginner golfers, we recommend using a mallet putter because they tend to be much larger which helps to improve the forgiveness of the club. That is done through redistribution of the club's weight to the extremities of the clubhead, which stabilizes the club and increases its MOI. 

MOI stands for 'moment of inertia' and the higher the MOI, the less your club head will turn through impact, creating a more smooth and even stroke. For that reason, mallet putters typically offer better balance compared to blade putters and are therefore more suitable for less experienced players or those looking for more forgiveness in their club. Additionally, because of this size, mallet putters tend to offer larger sweet spots which are beneficial for players who may struggle to consistently strike the ball. 

Blade putters, meanwhile, are better for those putters who have an arc in their stroke. Players who like to feel how the ball reacts off the face may opt to use a blade putter over a mallet to give them greater responsivity. Some argue that blade putters provide slightly better control over distance, but ultimately, that varies from player to player and putter that works best for you. 

2. Feel 

This is a very important factor to consider because when putting, feel is everything. Some putters offer a firmer feel off the face whilst others are soft, some are heavier than others too so you need to find a model that fits well in your hands. The putter grip plays a huge part in the confidence you feel with a putter. Get a putter with a grip that feels right and sits comfortably in your hands while allowing you to return the putter back to the ball squarely and consistently. You may also want to think about the shaft too and how much vibration you get from the club, for example, if you prefer that to be nerfed or you prefer to feel good feedback from the ball on the clubface. 

3. Looks

You have to like what you are putting with because this will give you confidence when you're standing over the ball. Confidence is king on the putting greens, so get a club that is going to boost your confidence levels. In terms of mallets, there are loads of classic and futuristic designs above so it is purely a case of finding a model you like the look of. 

4. Alignment tools

It's also worth thinking about the alignment tools the putter can offer you. While some golfers may not prefer to have any aiming guides on the back of their putters, most players can benefit from having an aiming line on the back of their putter which can also help to improve your focus on the ball and help you strike through the shot more square. 

5. Price 

Our final tip is to think about price because while there are some premium designs out there, there are also some models which offer excellent value, as the selections above show. Sometimes less experienced players should steer clear of the more expensive offerings currently on the market which may actually not be very forgiving and may not be suitable for your swing style.

If you're a beginner golfer looking at purchasing more equipment that wont cost you an arm and a leg, take a look at our guides on the best budget golf drivers, the best golf irons for beginners and the best cheap golf balls. 

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