As the old saying goes. You drive for show, but putt for dough …
We took a look at some of the best blade putters from around the world between the $80 - $200 price range. They won’t break the bank, but hopefully they will help shave a couple shots off your game to break into that next level.
Blade putters are still the most popular putters on tour. In 2018, 56% of the top 50 players in the OGWR opted for blade putters. These putters are popular because of their weight distribution between heel and toe, which can also lead to a more precise feel. Because of this, blade putters often appeal to those who putt more by feel, and not by site.
Here are our thoughts on the best blade putters for 2020.
Best Blade Putters
Below are our top picks for blade putters.
- Best Overall: Odyssey White Hot Pro 2.0
- Editor's Choice: S7K Standing Putter
- Pro's Choice: Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach #1
- Best Quality: Odyssey Stroke Lab Versa Putter
- Best Putter For Mid-Level/Beginners: TaylorMade Golf White Smoke Putter IN-12
- Best Durability: Bettinardi Golf 2018-2019 BB29 Putter
- Good Overall: Wilson Golf- Infinite Lakeshore Putter
- Best Putter For Improvement: Cleveland TFi 2135 1.0 Satin putter
Also check out our buyers guide for blade putters.
Best Golf Blade Putters
1. Odyssey White Hot Pro 2.0
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The Odyssey White Hot Pro 2.0 is a superb all-round blade and it is designed to meet the requirements of the most serious golfers.
The Laser milling enables the putter with a high tight tolerance level. This high tolerance comes with better performance and consistency. The putter has a heel or toe weighting system which provides comfort, responsiveness and allows a certain level of forgiveness across the face. The full shaft offset system makes sure your hands are always ahead of the ball which helps provide an upward impact on the strike and a smooth roll.
Some of the other features which make this putter a superb choice are EyeFit System, Timeless Blade Head Design, Crank Neck Hosel and Contrasting Alignment Aids.
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2. S7K Standing Putter
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The SK7 putter is a standalone putter than can help golfers gain immediate feedback of how their putter is resting on the ground. An often forgotten point is when the toe of a putter is raised, it can cause the ball to travel to the left.
When the toes is down as is often the case with flatter putters, this can have the effect of sending the ball to the left. Often golfers aren’t aware of this, but it can be addressed by having a putter with a correct lie angle for your style of stoke and the S7 can assist with this automatically due to its design.
This club has been designed for the full spectrum of golfing talents. The S7’s simple blade alignment marker at the back of the clubhead is divided into three lines. This is often a fair indication the direction the ball will travel on impact.
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3. Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach #1
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The Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach #1 putter is inspired by the beautiful setting of Cleveland Golf's North America headquarters. This putter classic design is backed up by modern technology to help any golfer improve their round.
The soft 304 stainless steel used in the head design offers fantastic feel for both short and long shots. The face of the putter is milled for reduce skidding and to quickly get the ball rolling to ensure it keeps its line.
Cleveland offer two different grip types. A standard version for those so inclined in addition to a midsize Winn grip option. This putter is a fantastic all-round option, especially at the price and besides it clean look, it is comfortable and allows for a solid roll to be imparted on the ball.
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4.Odyssey Stroke Lab Versa Putter
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The innovative, multi-material Stroke Lab shaft is designed to help with the tempo and consistency of your stroke and the Microhinge Star Insert creates a firmer feel and pleasing sound at impact while providing the great, consistent roll.
One of the highlights of the Stroke Lab series is the amount of variation one can find. Regardless of your preference, there should be a Stroke Lab putter that fits your preference.
The Stroke Lab putter is one for both high and low handicap and it should provide you with great confidence when approaching your next green.
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5. TaylorMade Golf White Smoke Putter IN-12
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The IN-12 putter design is based on a traditional blade styling with a L-Neck shaft connection which allows the putter to sit perfectly behind the ball. Each White Smoke putter is equipped with TaylorMade’s patented 'Pure Roll' insert.
This insert promotes reduced skidding, forward spin, and encourages a smooth, accurate roll whilst allowing for greater control of the ball speed. This Pure Roll is designed by Surlyn and allows for a soft feel and sound.
The club should appeal to be beginner to mid-level golfers.
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6. Bettinardi Golf 2018-2019 BB29 Putter
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This minimalist putter’s heel-toe weighted blade features a squared frame, crowned topline and a mid-slant neck - all attributes designed to promote ideal hand positioning and locked in feeling when you address the ball. As a result of the aggressive flymill milling technique, there is a softer feel on impact.
The putter is Milled from a solid block of faultless carbon steel which provides further feel and durability.
Overall, the Bettinardi is a superb putter with great feel and should appeal to golfers throughout the handicap spectrum.
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7. Wilson Golf- Infinite Lakeshore Putter
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The Wilson Staff Infinite putter line includes six classic head shapes. Each features counter balancing technology which provides a more controlled putting stroke.
This putter was inspired by the company’s HQ in Chicago and each putter is named after a local landmark. Besides the Counterbalanced Technology, the Dark Anti-Glare Finish helps accentuate sight lines and the Double Milled Face Promotes consistent impact, roll and distance control.
The oversized grip is one that many golfers will favour at 104 grams, it’s a heavy grip, and it gives you a nice, counter-balanced feel for a smoother stroke.
The new Infinite’s are very similar to the old ones, but when taking into account the new look package and the price, its is easy to see why this is a club that appeals to many golfers
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8. Cleveland TFi 2135 1.0 Satin putter
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The Cleveland TFi 2135 1.0 Satin is a putter with an appealing, clean design. The new optimized milled face allows for a more consistent roll and the 2135 aiming tech provides good assistance when it comes to lining up your putt.
Cleveland say a new satin finish has 50% more contrast, and the sightline of the traditional 1.0 blade is 21.35 millimetres off the ground to aid accurate alignment.
Cleveland TFi 2135 1.0 Satin putter is particularly well suited to those who have an arc putting stroke This putter is geared toward consistency and should greatly improve your game, especially if you are a little unsure on the green at times. The Cleveland TFi 2135 1.0 Satin putter is particularly well suited to those who have an arc putting stroke
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Blade Putters - Buyers Guide
The world of putters can be a vast and confusing one. We have put together a Buyer’s Guide on some of the different aspects to look out for in order to help identify which putter may be perfect for you.
Type Of Stroke
Before addressing the type of putter, you are looking for, it is important to keep in mind what type of stroke one has. There are mainly two types of swing that a player may fall into:
The straight style refers to the type of stroke where the golfer focuses on bringing the putter back and through the ball on a straight line. All the while keeping the head square through the motion. Golfers who have an arc swing will bring the club back slightly inside the line of the ball, opening the face toward outside.
They will then stroke through that same line, returning the head to the square position through the ball at impact, whilst finishing with a slight arc and closed face toward the inside of the line. The type of stroke a player has will help determine which is the putter for you.
Head Balancing
Once you have identified your type of stroke you have, the first aspect of the putter one should consider is head balancing.
A person with a straight stroke should consider a face-balanced putter as this allows a golfer to maintain a square putter face throughout the stroke. A toe-hanging putter is more suited to the golfer with an arc type stroke as this allows the player to putt more consistently.
An easy way to test which category a putter falls into is to balance the shaft of the putter horizontally across your open palm, allowing the fall into its natural resting position. If the face points toward the sky, you are holding a face-balanced putter. If the toe of the putter hangs down or slightly to the side, you are holding a toe-hanging putter.
Head Shape And Weight
The head of a putter is often where it can become more about a player’s personal preference. After you have chosen what type of balancing you are after (face-balanced or toe-hang putter), the next step is to take a look at the shape of the head and its weight.
Although some if this is personal preference, it can also depend on the standard of your golf and the type of greens you regularly play on. People with and arc type stroke may benefit from a blade style putter with no sight line. Those with a square putting style may benefit from using a mallet style with a sight line.
The weight is a slightly different story, and again this often relates to the style of greens you regularly play on. For those that play on softer greens, a slightly heavier head may be preferable. For those that have to tackle fast tracks on a regular basis, a lighter option may help retain some of the feel whilst putting.
Shaft Length
Shaft length is something that may be the most important part of a putter as and it is incredibly important that you get into the correct position for your body type when addressing the ball. When you tilt from your hips, you want your eyes over the ball, hands under your shoulders, elbows bent but touching your rib cage, and hips over your heels. If you find yourself gripping down the putter grip, it may be too short for you, the opposite is also true.
With the correct length of putter the shaft should be in line with your forearms.
Tip: A simple test to find out what length of putter is perfect for you, try the following.
Address the ball as you normally when would setting up for a putt. After you find yourself in a comfortable position, drop a ball from your left eye. If the dropped ball lands on the golf ball, you may be in the perfect position although there are other factors to consider. If the dropped ball lands between you and the golf ball on the ground, your shaft may be too long. This is a common mistake that many people make.
Grip
There are literally dozens of different grips for a player to choose from. What is most important is how the grip feels in the players hands. This can take a certain amount of “playing the field” in order to find which suits you best.
Softer grips provide less feedback but enhance rhythm whereas firmer grips creates more impact in addition to lessening the impact. A wider grip will separate your hands on the golf club, and this can assist with reduced flicking or wrist hinge during the putting stroke.
What has become popular in recent years are the oversized or even super-sized grips which players of all ability often choose
The above points will hopefully assist you in your next putter choice and ultimately, help you hole more putts.