Best Putters For High Handicappers 2026
Here are some of our favorite putters that will work perfectly for high handicap players.
Ask most high handicap golfers what area of their game they would like to be better at and most will say that they would like more distance off the tee. Some might even say they'd like to be more consistent with their approach shots, but the often overlooked truth is that the quickest and easiest way to shave shots off your score and lower your handicap is to cut out those three and four putts.
Of course the best way to improve on the greens is to hone your putting stroke through a lot of practice, but you can also improve by making sure you are using equipment that is suitable for your ability and putting stroke. Some of the best putters currently on the market will help struggling golfers to lower their handicaps due to forgiving designs and impressive technology that can help golfers strike the ball more consistently and with better alignment.
Best Putters For High Handicappers 2026
The Quick List
The massive footprint of the LAB DF3i will take some getting used to for traditionalists, but the near automatic squaring of the DF3i's face makes it especially prolific from short range.
Odyssey's entry into the zero torque putter market, the Cruiser is just as impressive as the original Square 2 Square putter and is the most stable of all the zero torque putters we've tested thus far.
Scotty Cameron's latest Squareback putter combines beautiful feel with exemplary levels of forgiveness. As always with this brand of putters, the build quality if exceptional and feels ultra premium as you use it.
The PXG Hot Rod ZT neatly bridges the gap between premium milled aesthetics and the stability of a zero-torque design, whilst the alignment design will definitely help golfers who need a hand here.
The Wilson Infinite 606 offers a solid zero-torque option for golfers keen to try the technology without paying a premium price. The milled face and clear alignment aids make it an appealing choice for players seeking greater consistency on the greens.
Top pick
The previous DF3 featured in this guide but after testing the latest DF3i it had to be replaced. The criticism with the previous design was the ball came off the face softly and slow for some players, me included. Now the DF3i has a firmer feel thanks to the fly-milled stainless-steel insert bonded to the 6061 aircraft aluminum body.
The result is it is faster off the face which will be good for higher handicap golfers who need help with distance control. Indeed it provided an extra pop, allowing me to have really impressive distance control when putting from longer range by not having to swing the putter back ludicrously far.
But an added performance element higher handicap golfers will love is how this putter delivered on shorter distance putts. This is thanks to the Lie Angle Balance technology which basically revolves around just aiming and rocking the shoulders when putting. I greatly enjoyed this because the putter simply wants to stay square and I felt simply putting with the ‘larger muscles’ was the best way I could complement it. The putter fights any manipulation or face rotation which is a common thing I see with higher handicap players so I am confident this putter is a model you should try if this applies to you.
- Read our full L.A.B. Golf DF3i Putter Review
Best large profile
The Cruiser is Odyssey's entry into the growing world of zero torque putters which, to summarize very quickly, are putters designed to stay square relative to the path of your stroke rather than the natural opening and closing of the face that we see with traditional putters. Of the putters I've tested in this category thus far, this one might be the most stable.
Higher handicappers will benefit from the larger head footprint from this putter which helps make lining up square to your target a lot easier. The ball is framed beautifully at address which will only inspire confidence in the user before the stroke. The White Hot Urethane insert offers a soft feel through impact, and the little grooves across the face help the ball to roll straight off the face rather than skidding, meaning more consistency for the user.
It's worth noting that this putter is 38" long and has a longer 17" grip which may feel a bit alien for a while after purchase, especially with short putts, but I'd implore the higher handicap to stick with this uncomfortable feeling until they get used to it as it could really help their putting in the long run. If the feeling is a little too alien, those who prefer a shorter putter may opt for the original Jailbird Square 2 Square.
Best premium model
As always with Scotty Cameron putters, this is yet another beautiful, premium-feeling putter that will feel as wonderful in the hands of a high handicapper as much as it will with a scratch player. Higher handicappers will particularly benefit from the new alignment technology courtesy of a new high-contrast, multi-material alignment system. During testing I found this really helped us line the face up square to the target at address, instilling a lot of confidence before the stroke. It's one of the most visually appealing and helpful Scotty putters I've ever tested.
Aside from the new technology and top sight line, the Studio Style Squareback putter boasts the same stunning looks and feel that we have seen from the best Scotty Cameron putters over the years. Made from 303 stainless steel and 6061 Aircraft aluminum, the feel is tremendous and the interchangeable dual weights on the sole of the club allow for helpful customization and tweaking.
New for this Studio Style range, which features four models, is the chain-link face milling, implemented to provide a softer feel and sound through impact. Higher handicappers will benefit from the softer feel and the forgiveness that accompanies it, gaining the feeling you won't need to hit the perfect putt right out of the centre of the face every time for you to be successful with that tricky 8ft par putt.
- Read our full Scotty Cameron Studio Style Squareback Putter Review
Best for alignment
While PXG has dabbled in high-stability designs before, the Hot Rod ZT is the brand's first zero-torque putter released with a conventional (by zero-torque standards) neck configuration.
Overall it performed very well indeed to the point where I seriously considered putting it in my bag this year. Starting with the looks, it is striking thanks to a modern precision-milled 6061 aluminium head with a sleek black finish. The head distributes mass through a high-MOI mallet shape that frames the ball cleanly at address and the overall size, along with the alignment cues, will inspire confidence over a putt for those who need it.
Out on the greens, the stability was instantly noticeable when putting from inside 10 feet. The Hot Rod ZT felt almost automatic, and thanks to the easy alignment and zero-torque design, I could trust the face would return square. It is also extremely forgiving on off-center strikes so higher handicappers will benefit in this regard too.
In short I think this is definitely a putter you should try out if you need a new flatstick. It looks great, aligns beautifully and the actual putting performance is good as well.
- Read our full PXG Hot Rod ZT Putter Review
Best value
Typically, the latest innovations in golf technology come with a fairly hefty price tag, but Wilson has entered the zero-torque market at a far more accessible price point with this 606 design.
At address, it presents a compact winged-mallet profile that should inspire confidence, although the footprint could arguably be a little larger. In terms of feel, the double-milled face pattern was a standout feature, producing a solid yet responsive sensation at impact. Mallet putters can sometimes dull feedback, but this milling helps deliver dependable distance control and promotes a consistent roll, even on off-centre strikes.
Wilson has precisely positioned the CG so that the shaft axis passes directly through it - the way the majority of manufacturers are designing zero torque putters. This ensures somewhat of a ‘toe-up’ approach, eliminating twisting and torque in the putter head.
Overall, the combination of stability, alignment clarity, and zero torque performance makes the 606 ideal for players seeking additional help and simplicity on the greens.
- Read our full Wilson Infinite The 606 Putter Review
How we test putters
Our buyers' guides are built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team. 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 our writers we are able to efficiently test the vast majority of the biggest product releases as well as convey the pros and cons of each eloquently.
Getting into specifics, we test the putters outdoors on real greens with premium golf balls to get a thorough understanding of design features, feel, sound and looks. This takes place over a number of rounds and we usually try to test putters on different types of course, as well as in different weather conditions to truly put them through their paces and understand how they perform when variables and contexts differ.
Sam also practices a lot at home and therefore does a lot of indoor putter testing as well to get some feedback and data in a controlled environment.
Ultimately, we aim to be as insightful and honest as possible in our reviews so it is important to state clearly that no manufacturer can buy a good review as our team tells it how it is. To learn more about our methodology, see how Golf Monthly tests products in our guide.
How to choose a new putter
The putter is the most important (and perhaps most undervalued) club in the bag, especially for high handicappers because only a slight improvement can turn a 95 into an 89. Therefore there are several factors you need to consider before purchasing a new putter, which we will go into below.
1. Head Design
Putters come in lots of different head designs. Blade, mallet, or mid-mallet shapes all have their positives and negatives and we would recommend you experiemtn with all three to see which suits your eye and feels comfortable. For high handicap golfers, generally we would recommend using a mallet putter because the larger head helps to improve the forgiveness on offer. That is done through redistribution of the club's weight to the extremities of the clubhead, which stabilizes the club and increases the MOI of the club even when you don't hit it out of the sweet spot.
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 high handicappers and less experienced players. 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.
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 shaft whether you like the feel of the ball reverberating along the shaft, or prefer that to be nerfed.
3. Looks
It might seem somewhat superficial, but looks are very important in a putter simply because you have to like how your putter looks, because that will give you confidence when you're stood over the ball. In terms of mallets, there are loads of classic and futuristic designs above so it is easy to find something you like the look of.
4. Alignment tools
Alignment is vital in putting, While some golfers may not prefer to have any aiming guides on the back of their putters, high-handicappers can seriously benefit from having an aiming line (or lines) on the back of their putter to help focus on the ball and start it on the right path.
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 high handicappers 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.
But if you're still stuck on what putter to choose, why not take a look at what some different brands have to offer and check out our best Ping putters buying guide or our best Scotty Cameron putters guide for more information on the types of clubs different manufacturers can offer high handicap golfers.
FAQs
What kind of putter should a high handicap golfer use?
While this is subjective to each golfer, High handicap golfers generally see better results when they use mallet putters compared to blade putters or high MOI putters. Mallet putters are typically very forgiving, provide excellent feel on impact and tend have great alignment tools high handicappers can use to improve their accuracy on the greens.
Are bigger putters more forgiving?
Technically yes. The larger a putter is, the bigger the sweet spot on the club face will be. That means that if you strike a shot off-center on a larger putter compared to a smaller putter, there is a greater chance you'll strike a more fluid shot and get the ball closer to the hole.
Are expensive putters worth it for high handicappers?
For high handicappers who don't play as regularly as perhaps a scratch golfer, you may want to think about your budget when purchasing an expensive putter. Expensive putters won't always offer high handicappers the same performance-enhancing qualities that they offer more experienced golfers. But there are a wide range of well-priced putters on the market that are more suitable to a high-handicappers game and can help shave more putts of their round.
If you're also thinking about buying a set of irons or a new driver, why not take a look at our guides on the best golf clubs for high handicappers or our guide on the best drivers for high handicappers.
