Best Putters 2026 - My 10 favorite models tested and reviewed

That putters come in many shapes and sizes makes them the most personal of our club choices. We choose a putter based on the level of our confidence on the greens, finding one that best suits our stroke, as well as providing the desired feel and look at address. Unsurprisingly these differ from one player to the next, and what works for one golfer, won’t for another, hence why there are quite so many variations on the simple flatstick; the best putters can be blades, mallets, mid-mallets and more.

So how do you find the right putter for you? While there’s no substitute for trying a number of different models out for size, it does help to narrow the field down somewhat. Fortunately I’ve tried and tested a huge number of putters, from traditional blades to confidence-inspiring mallets, including zero-torque options that aim to prevent twisting and simplify the putting stroke as a result. I’ve selected my current favorites here, all chosen for their superb performance but with varied attributes; the aim is to present a guide with different styles in the view to help you find the best putter for your needs.

You’ll notice that I haven’t selected a blade but you can check out our dedicated best blade putter guide if you’re after a more traditional-looking flatstick. And should you wish to extend your search further still we have guides to the best mallet putter guide as well as our guide to the most forgiving putters.

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Sam De'Ath

Sam graduated 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 heads up the testing and review team at Golf Monthly for fairway woods, hybrids, wedges and golf balls.

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Best Putters 2026

Best overall

The Phantom series is home to a wide range of shapes and styles but it’s the 9.2R that is the pick of the bunch for me, and indeed of this entire guide. This futuristic-looking mallet gets the nod thanks to a large yet refined footprint and superb feel alongside the exceptional build quality associated with Scotty Cameron putters.

Let's start with those looks. The Phantom 9 model is used by the likes of Cameron Young on tour, and the 9.2R’s rounder, softer profile is a result of player feedback. It means that you're getting the confidence-inspiring aesthetic that you want from a mallet but without any of the offputting clunkness that can plague some models.

Like the entire Phantom range, the face of the 9.2R is a full-face insert milled from Cameron’s Studio Carbon Steel, and with a chain-link pattern designed to reduce vibration. In use it makes for a buttery-soft face, with a sound to match, but yet still remains responsive enough and gets the ball rolling beautifully.

This certainly aided my long putting and I was able to lag the ball up to the hole with regularity, while on those crucial short putts the 9.2R’s alignment aids made it easy to set up and get the ball rolling on my intended target line. Thanks to the use of plumbers-style neck the putter successfully blends the feel of a blade with the stability of a mallet, and works a treat with putting strokes that have a slight arc.

Last, but not least, is the grip. In this case it’s the standard pistol-style that you find on many of the best Scotty Cameron putters; for me it’s a great fit, allowing me to comfortably position my hands in a neutral position.

• Read our full Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.2R review

Best for modularity

If you’re not familiar with Sausage Golf Design it’s a boutique brand that designs and assembles its putters on the Côte d'Azur in France. Its USP is the modular technology that made the Boudin Noir mallet model so intriguing, and is used again here in the No.2.

Essentially, the No.2 putter is designed to allow you to adjust it to fit your stroke, via two ‘settings’. In one setting it’s a center-shafted, face-balanced blade style putter, but unscrew the shaft and change the position of it and the other modular component and you have a heel-shafter putter with toe-hang. Like most great ideas, it’s functional and easy to adjust and I enjoyed the extra freedom it provides; if you’re someone who likes to tinker with your putting stroke and putters then it’s likely a good match.

At address the No.2 is one for the purists, with a flowing, elegant design that features a small alignment aid on the flange that works well without ever being a distraction. As you’d hope from a putter CNC-machioned from a block of 303 stainless steel and with a milled grove face, the feel is soft yet responsive and promotes a pure roll that hugged my target line.

That said, the 360g head weight is noticeably heavy, and when combined with the 120g steel shaft it makes for a weightier option than some golfers may like. In practice it took me a couple of rounds to find my distance control, especially when I had the putter in its heel-shafted setting. But once accustomed the extra mass does add stability and prevents the face from twisting when you don’t quite find the center.

• Read our full Sausage Golf No.2 Putter Review

Best for mid-handicappers

The Scottsdale TEC Ketsch Onset is a far cry from the more traditional Ping putters that you’re likely accustomed to seeing, or perhaps using. The shape is best described as a compact mallet, while the white finish and the Eye-Q technology, a contrasting black alignment aid on the top rail, really grab your attention.

In short, Ping says it used eye-tracking techniques to create this ‘Quiet Eye’ tech, that sees a long line matched with a small dot located behind the face designed to act as a visual anchor. In practice it works, for me at least, providing a nice focal point once I had lined the putt up. The Onset hosel is also new, and is designed to provide you with a clear view of the ball by placing the shaft behind and near the center of the top rail.

The putter body is made from milled 6061 aluminium alongside a 304 stainless steel sole plate that sets the weight low and the perimeter of the face to add stability, a design detail used by many of most forgiving putters. And it works, especially on heel and toe strikes, where the lack of face twist was noticeable, making this a great for the higher-handicapper who perhaps doesn’t find the center of the putter face with as much consistency as they’d like.

It’s finished with a Pebax insert that’s a Ping staple and delivers a soft yet responsive feel that helps with distance control. Combined with the Eye-Q dot and I found myself holding a good amount of putts within the crucial 10ft range. All told, the Scottsdale Tec Ketsch Onset is a putter that packs in plenty of helpful features that should help you to become more confident on the greens.

• Read our full Ping Scottsdale Tec Ketsch Onset Putter Review

Most underrated

Bettinardi is a brand that flies somewhat under the radar but is highly-regarded by many, including me. The quality is exceptional, with beautifully milled faces and refined head shapes the norm. The BB49 is a great example, a compact mallet with a slanted neck that offers a slight toe hang and minimal offset at address, delivered in a distinctive Savannah Blue finish that’s offset by a brushed nickel shaft and a grey pistol grip. Classy stuff, indeed.

The appeal of a compact mallet is that it combines the confidence-inspiring look of a mallet with the feel of blade, and the BB49 achieves just that. The rounded putter head frames the ball wonderfully at address, and is a good match for a putting stroke with a slight arc. Made from a single block of 303 stainless steel, the feel off the face is beautifully soft but still provides all the feedback you need.

The Variable Depth Flymill face boasts nine precision-milled zones with grooves that are best suited to the location of the strike: deeper groves in the center to provide increased control and shallower grooves towards the heel and toe to help add some speed to those mis-hits. Out on the course I was impressed with how this translated to my ball speed and distance control, both of which were consistent on shorter putts and those from the 30 and 40ft range.

If you’re looking for a premium brand with tour-proven credentials then Bettinardi is a brand to consider; and if you’re after a timeless shape that blends feel and forgiveness then the BB49 should again be on your radar.

• Read our full Bettinardi BB-49 Putter Review

Best for alignment

Being able to align your putter to your attended target line with any kind of consistency is a crucial component of good putting, but many of us need some help at setup. The Spider Tour uses the iconic Spider head shape, famed for its high MOI that aids those off-center strikes, and pairs it with TaylorMade’s True Path Alignment, which is designed to help you start your putts on the correct path. In practice I found that it works and is a definite upgrade on previous Spider models, of which there have been plenty!

TaylorMade offers two hosel options, double bend and short slant. The former is face balance while the latter provides a bit of toe hang, enabling you to match the Spider Tour to your stroke. If you’re unsure of the difference then we have a guide that explains the difference between a face balanced and toe hang putter.

Whichever hosel you opt for, you’ll be getting the TPU Pure Roll insert. It delivers a softer feel than the Pure Roll2 that’s used on some Spider models and for me it’s a winner that combines well with the angles grooves to produce a great blend of feel and feedback. Combined with the generous footprint it makes for a putter that delivers a nice boost of confidence at address with effective results; I found myself hitting putts out the center of the face with great regularity, and alongside the easy alignment translated to holding plenty of six footers.

• Read our full TaylorMade Spider Tour Putter Review

Most premium

As a putter brand Toulon rose to prominence on the back of Xander Schauffele and his double major-winning year of 2024. And looking at the new Las Vegas model it’s easy to see why Schauffele and other pros have opted to put a Toulon putter in the bag. The finish is stunning, with a Midnight Blue finish highlighting the premium materials and the refined, flowing design, with contrasting silver sole plates and weights completing the look.

The soft lines and edges mean that the putter head frame the ball beautifully at address, while the alignment lines are a good fit for those who struggle to aim the putter correctly; for me it’s overkill and it did result in me focusing too much on the lines and losing some feel in the process, but this is likely subjective.

The feel of the putter should be less so. Thanks to the Deep Diamond Mill pattern on the face the sensation at impact is sublime, with an ideal blend of feel, sound, speed, and roll. I love just how responsive the feel was through the hands while still retaining a softness that combined really helped me to dial in my distance control on those longer lad putts. It’s worth mentioning that the speed off the face is relatively high compared to other milled faced mallets I’ve tested, and it does require a little getting used to.

Once you have, you’ll enjoy a putter that’s exceptionally stable through impact and forgiving as a result. The high MOI does its job on toe and heel strikes, making this a truly forgiving putter.

• Read our full Toulon 2026 Collection Las Vegas H7 Putter review

Best for pace control

Cobra has made quite the splash with its 3D-printed 3DP Tour irons and it’s applied the same technology to the Agera RS putter.

While the 3DP Tour irons were pretty underrated in their looks, the Agera RS is far more futuristic looking. The gold and matte carbon is likely to divide opinion but if you’re looking for a putter that will stand out from the crowd then it shouldn’t disappoint. As for the shape, the larger footprint strikes a nice balance between providing confidence without feeling cumbersome, while the single-bend shaft is well suited to a pretty neutral putting stroke; the Agera is also available with different neck designs for those who want more toe-hand or counterbalance.

Like the irons the 3D printed lattice structure is visible and enables Cobra to save weight and redistribute it accordingly, making for a high MOI putter that’s extremely stable. It was particularly noticeable on putts inside 15 feet, with face resisting any twisting and the putts staying on line as a result. This really is a putter that aids pace control.

This stability is matched by a lovely feel off the face, which is milled from stainless steel and features descending loft technology, which sees four descending face lofts (4°, 3°, 2°, and 1° from top to bottom) used to help with the launch regardless of your shaft lean or head position at impact.

It’s also worth highlighting that the putter comes with two adjustable weights that allow for some tinkering, and you can also buy additional weights, between 5g and 30g, separately.

• Read our full Cobra 3DP Tour Agera RS Putter Review

Best soft feel

Like all the putters in the Jailbird line, the S2S Tri-Hot SB is distinctive in its looks. Here Odyssey have opted for a red and black colourway that’s a little bolder than the white and navy blue finish on the Ai-One range and helped me to square the face, too.

The zero torque category is growing and this putter is an interesting addition. Here there is no shaft lean, with the hosel entering directly on the top line, which makes it look more like a traditional heel-shafted putter at address. This helps with the sightline while still delivering the performance benefits of zero torque.

The performance is aided further by the Ai-Dual insert, which blends a firmer inner layer with a softer outer layer that delivers variable face thickness to help keep ball speeds consistent no matter where you strike the ball on the face. Once you’ve had some practice it works a treat and I really grew to love the softer feel, which is enhanced further by the Forward Roll Design groove pattern. Here the groves are sloped which leads to consistent end-over-end roll off the face and helps considerably with those longer putts.

• Read our full Odyssey S2S Tri-Hot SB Jailbird Putter Review

Most forgiving

The Hot Rod ZT is PXG’s first zero torque offering and has already garnered plenty of attention thanks to it finding its way into the bag of Marco Penge. It’s offered with two different looks, the SL1 and SL2, which comes with an elongated sightline and is the model that I put through its paces.

The most noticeable feature at setup is just how forward the putter positions your hands at address. The forward press is integrated into the grip and turns the 6° of measured loft into a more traditional 3°. It was a little too much for my liking and I found the grip pretty uncomfortable in my hands, but there are custom options available on the website.

However, on the greens the technology translated to an extremely stable putter head, and combined with the easy alignment, made shorter putts feel almost automatic. PXG has added four interchangeable sole weights to the concealed tungsten, which results in a high MOI that’s truly forgiving on off-center strikes.

PXG has also nailed the feel and the acoustics. The milled face reduces the amount of contact with the ball, which translates to the softness you’d expect from an insert, while still delivering the high level of feedback you typically get from fully milled faces. In essence it offers the best of both worlds.

• Read our full PXG Hot Rod ZT Putter Review

Best firm feel

The DF3 was one of the most recognizable zero torque putters, with its profile heighted by J.J. Spaun and that unforgettable 64-footer that sealed the 2025 U.S. Open. The DF3i takes much of the tech from the original but adds a fly-milled stainless steel insert for a livelier feel.

Certainly, the ball comes off the face with more pop and greater speed. If you’re used to a milled faced putter then it’s a feeling you’ll be accustomed to, delivering plenty of feedback on the strike, which helped with my distance control no end.

As for the Lie Angle Balance technology it works just as effectively here as it does in the DF3. A simple rock of the shoulders is all that’s needed on straight putts, with the putter head staying nicely square through impact. While this degree of stability is great for those who get a little twitchy when faced with putts 10 feet and under, it does make judging longer breaking putts more of a challenge, especially if you;re coming from a blade where you can feel the face open and close through the stroke, which can help with feel.

However, it’s likely that you're turning to Zero Torque because you’re after greater stability and the DF3i provides that just that, which combined with the responsive feel off the face, makes for more consistent results.

• Read out full L.A.B. Golf DF3i Putter Review

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.

As mentioned in the intro, our putter testing and buying advice is led by former collegiate and mini tour player Sam De'Ath with the help of other well-informed members of the Golf Monthly team, all of whom know a thing or two about what makes a good putter.

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 (parkland, heathland and links) to get the best possible understanding of how each putter performs. We also aim to try them in different weather conditions to truly put them through their paces and understand how they perform when variables and contexts differ.

Not only do the putters get tested out on the golf course, they also get tested inside. Due to the fact Sam heads up our putters department, he also has the honor of testing the best putting mats on the market. This means Sam gets a lot of practice in from the comfort of his own home and thus, each putter he reviews gets a thorough workout both on and off the golf course.

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. No manufacturer ever gets preference over another either, instead our team simply calls it how we see it based on our knowledge and love for the game as well as our strong commitment to informed, bias-free buying advice.

How to choose a new putter

1. Head Design

Putters come in a traditional blade, mid-mallet or a mallet design. All three styles have positives and negatives to them for every player and luckily lots of brands implement technologies across all three.

Mallet putters tend to be much larger than blades and they usually come in various shapes and sizes. This helps in a number of ways. A lot of the time most of the weight in a mallet putter can be found in the club face however because of its design, weight can then be redistributed to other parts of the head which can help stabilize your stroke. The weight of the putter in the perimeter of the club-head offers better balance than what can be offered from a blade putter.

Mallet putters tend to also have a larger sweet spot which can be beneficial if you are a player who struggles to consistently strike your putts out of the middle of the face. The weight in the club-head also helps here because it diminishes the twisting of the putter throughout the stroke too. Additionally if you struggle with alignment, a mallet putter could be the way to go as they usually have longer alignment lines. Alignment plays a crucial part in putting because it is all about accuracy and a mallet putter can be beneficial here by helping your eyes line up the putt.

A blade putter is a lot simpler in terms of design and will suit the traditionalists among you a lot more than some of the mallet putters pictured above. Blade putters also tend to suit players with an arc in their putting stroke because of the toe-weighted nature of the club-head.

2. Feel

Here, we're talking not just about the feel and sound the ball makes coming off the face, but how the putter feels in your hands.

A quieter sound contributes to a softer feel, whereas a louder sound usually translates into a firmer feel. A firmer feel is often the product of shallow grooves or no grooves at all on the face, where sound can't be dissipated as effectively. They work better with softer feeling golf balls, where as soft-feeling putters work best with firmer golf balls.

You can get putters with adjustable weights in the sole that will alter the feel of the putter. For example, if your stroke is quite smooth and slow, a heavier putter will encourage that more. Jerky putters may prefer a lighter putter, although opting for more weight may reduce it, depending on what your goals are.

Having the best putter grip plays a huge roll in the confidence you feel with a putter. Get one that feels right and sits in your hands comfortably while allowing you to return the putter back to the ball squarely and consistently.

3. Looks

You should get a putter that you like the look of as the aesthetics can play a role in inspiring or diminishing confidence on the greens.

Blades won't offer as much alignment assistance, but are still popular because of how they feel and the levels of forgiveness are increasing every year.

Mallet putters have more real estate, and can therefore provide more help to set the face squarely. Mid mallets are somewhere in the middle, offering a decent level of assistance without looking too cumbersome.

4. Value

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. All putters will propel the ball towards the hole, but they do it in different ways. If performance is more important than looks or feel, there are lots of cut-price options out there that will do a good job and you can spend more money on other areas of your bag.

For more advice on getting the right putter for your needs as a golfer, why not also check out our guides to the best left handed putters, best putters for beginners and best arm lock putters.

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