Golf is expensive, so equipping yourself with one of the best cheap putters is a great way to save some cash - especially considering how many great options there are on the market.
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.
The Quick List
This is a putter that is easy to align and undoubtedly improves the quality of results regardless of how consistent your stroke is.
Wilson's Infinite Bucktown Putter provides decent forgiveness, ample alignment help and an all-round solid, stable feel. A great cost-effective option for golfers who enjoy a firmer feel.
This putter certainly performs on all lengths of putt while also providing a more refined look and solid feel. A premium model without the premium price.
This versatile Cleveland putter offers a responsive feel and good forgiveness, and it will pick your ball out of the hole for you after knocking it in!
Ram FX-01 is an impressively stylish blade putter for an incredibly cheap price. It's wide head adds stability and there's ample alignment help too.
The clear alignment system offers lots of options and the feel and balance was very good for a putter at this price.
Best Cheap Putters
Top pick
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.
- Read our full Wilson Staff Infinite Buckingham Putter Review
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 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 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 HB Soft 2 Retreve Putter and its fantastic leather head cover
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 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 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
How we test putters
Head of our putter department in regards to testing is Sam, a graduate from Webber International University in 2017 with a BSc Marketing Management degree while playing collegiate golf before stints on both the EuroPro Tour and Clutch Pro Tours. Now with over 14 years of experience within the industry under his belt, Sam also heads up the testing and review team at Golf Monthly for fairway woods, hybrids, wedges and golf balls.
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.
Testing doesn't only take place across one round or practice session, but multiple. We also try to test on different styles of golf courses as well as in different weather conditions so we can get a better understanding of how each putter performs in variable environments and conditions.
It's during this testing that we seek to gain a thorough understanding of design features, feel, sound and looks.
Sam De'Ath testing the Kevin Burns 9307 putter on the course
Each putter we test gets a thorough testing both outdoors and inside courtesy of some of the best putting mats money can buy. Sam also tests each mat that feature in that guide, meaning plenty of hours go into each individual putter review.
Sam testing some of the best putting mats on the market
At Golf Monthly, we pride ourselves in our review process - a process that has allowed our readership to build a strong sense of trust with us over the years. We value this trust and always will, meaning all of our reviews are conducted with complete impartiality. No brand ever gets preferential treatment over another and no manufacturer can simply 'buy' a good review. Instead, we simply call it how we see it based on our knowledge of equipment and the game itself.
Glossary
Blade
A blade putter is a traditional, thin-headed golf putter that used to be the norm for the vast majority of golfers to use. This supremacy has been challenged in recent years by the growth of mallet putters, however. For more on blade putters, check out our best blade putters guide.
Mallet
A mallet putter tends to be significantly bigger in terms of head size compared to blade putter, as well as being heavier but not always. The bigger, heavier head allows weights to be distributed towards the perimeter for greater MOI and forgiveness on off-center hits
MOI
Speaking of MOI, the term is short for 'Moment of Inertia', a measurement of a clubs stability and resistance to twisting. This measurement will ultimately decide how forgiving a golf club is on off-center hits considering the club face tends to twist when we fail to find the middle of the clubface.
When you strike the ball towards the toe of the club, the impact pushes against the toe of the face and that forces it slightly open. The result is probably a start line out to the right. Likewise in terms of the heel, the impact causes the face to close slightly.
Zero torque
Zero torque putters have exploded in popularity over the last year or two, with many pros like J.J Spaun, Adam Scott, MinJee Lee and more using them on tour. The design of a zero torque putter allows the face of the putter to stay square relative to the path of your stroke rather than the natural opening and closing of the face traditional putters tend to encourage. Check out our guide on the best zero torque putters for more.
Insert
The insert of a putter is a separate piece of material inserted into the face of a putter which tend to add more forgiveness than the standard milled face putters, but less feel.
Toe Hang
A toe hang putter are designed with extra weight in the toe of the head to help close the face of your putter more gently during your stroke, reducing the chances of significantly closing the face and tugging putts to the left if you are right handed or to the right if you are left handed.
How to choose a new 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.
FAQs
What type of putter should a beginner use?
Beginners should use a putter that offers a high degree of forgiveness and stability. For that reason mallet putters are generally the best putters for beginners as the offer higher MOI's and have larger sweet spots on their club face.
How much does a good putter cost?
Putters are the most important club in your bag because as many golfers will know, they can help you save shots on the greens. While we would say a good putter is priceless, you can pick up deals on putters for as little as $20 dollars but spend more than $400 on a top of the range club.
Why should I buy a new putter?
Generally, the greens are where golfers lose the most shots during their rounds. Three-putting is the bane of every golfer and it is the one area on every player's scorecard where they can save shots. For that reason it's important to have the right equipment that can help you hit sweeter, much more accurate putting strokes. That's why it may be more beneficial for a golfer to invest in a new putter over any other type of club.