Your putter - Blade or Mallet?

Just wanted to get a gauge of how many golfers play a blade putter vs. a mallet putter. And, to welcome any feedback on their preference for either.

Personally, I started with a blade putter but have since moved to a mallet/semi-mallet. I can't seem to go back to a blade putter. Not sure what others think.

Anyway, happy Friday

Tried both
Find that I get better results with a blade

It's very personal so to each his own

Where is the both option?

I use a seemore....certain angle it looks like blade...but certain angle it looks liek a square mallet.

I am using a blade putter ... I have tried a mallet putter ... The latter is user-friendly and hence, does not require lengthy period to get use to it but I don't like the bulky look of it ...  

pushslice wrote:

Where is the both option?

The T/S expects you to be specific and not wishy washy ...

pushslice wrote:

Where is the both option?

This is your current choice of putters, not your sexual preference

Traditional two-way putter like this is very difficult to control and may take sometime to get use to it ...

could never get the hang of blade putters. always twitching about when i hit it. Maybe its because i suck, so never hit sweet spot. My favorite has got to be the odyssey no. 7 kind of size. or zen zim size, so i can use blade putter cover still.

But i like both...they have their own pluses and minuses. Sigh....ok i scurry away to the corner

Hey TS, I started out with a full on mallet, the TM Spyder, did not like it, so switched to an offset blade odyssey (one of the many offshoots of the original Ping Anser Putter design) white hot and then black series (same design). Actually the main consideration at that time was to fit the clubs into the hard cover golf bag I had for overseas trips ... the blade putter takes up less space ... but over the years I have gotten used to it.

At home, with my putting mat, I have a couple of different types of putters, blade and mallet, offset vs straight neck, etc etc and my personal observations as follows

When I focus on the path the putter is making, or other mechanics of the stroke, all the putters feel very different and the ball goes all over the place.

When I focus on where I want the ball to go (I use a point about 5-10cm in front of the ball that I want to send it over) then the so called "modern" putters seem to give more or less comparable results. By modern, I am comparing against a really old putter with no perimeter weighting, straight neck, almost center shafted and completely toe balanced (the toe points directly down, perpendicular to floor) almost identical to the photo turbo posted above
. For me, that putter gives the worst results (I borrowed it to practice putting left handed as it is symetrical).

For the rest which are relatively modern (within the last 10 years I am guessing) and have perimeter weighting and the rest of the stuff that makes a putter more forgiving, as long as you spend enough time with it, chances are that you will find a way to make it work (more quickly with the right mental approach).

I am not saying that all putters are the same, far from it. I am just suggesting that as long as you spend enough time practicing with a putter that has some forgiveness built into it (any of the "modern" designs), it will work well enough for a social golfer.

If you love your putter, you will find a way to make it work. If you have doubts about your putter, it will stop working. So just make sure you have something you are happy with, first and foremost, then spend the time learning how to make it work.

I guess that is why I like customised (fitted) clubs. Because, as long as you trust your fitter, you know your equipment is right, and you can focus on getting the indian working, cos the arrows are already sorted.

Of course, for Golfer who are putting badly, and the only time they putt is when they are playing 9 or 18 holes, and never spend any time practicing putting, be it on the practice green or a putting mat, I really doubt if any particular putter type is going to make a difference ...

Blade - Easy to fit inside the bag.  

Derek wrote:

I guess that is why I like customised (fitted) clubs. Because, as long as you trust your fitter, you know your equipment is right, and you can focus on getting the indian working, cos the arrows are already sorted.

Of course, for Golfer who are putting badly, and the only time they putt is when they are playing 9 or 18 holes, and never spend any time practicing putting, be it on the practice green or a putting mat, I really doubt if any particular putter type is going to make a difference ...

This is so damn true. Totally agree 2 hands and legs up.

The one putter I ever had and really missed was the Scotty Bulls Eye. It worked so well on me and I used to have so much confidence with it till the magic suddenly disappeared. Unfortunately I didn't persevere and sold it to get a replacement. Big mistake really and I wish I could find one again.

does anyone knows if Daddy Long Legs is avail here in SG?

For long putts i this it was better with a blade putter (distance control and feel) but a mallet was much better for shorter putts.......i've stuck with a mallet since it's more annoying to miss a 3 footer....

Technospaz wrote:

pushslice wrote:

Where is the both option?

This is your current choice of putters, not your sexual preference

TS, for him not only that.... it has to be left handed or right handed too....

I started with a mallet putter but have always felt that blade putters look way more cooler. So despite mallets being more beginner friendly and having bigger sweet spots, I've recently switched to a blade. It was a disaster the first time I used on green but I'm slowly beginning to get the hang after a few more sessions.

As of now, I still feel that mallets are easier because they felt more weighty. But gonna stick to my blade for now and see how it goes.

using a blade, 8802 style putter... I choose this because I like the looks of it... simple and clean design... I tried a few similar style putters but the weight can be quite different...

I agree with Derek, once you are used to it, it will work... unless it is really a match made in hell....

Got few scotties and others, even change shaft of putter...
Blades and semi mallets etc....

My personal views for the semi VS blade puter:
Semi mallets - good for longer putts, clumsy for short putts- esp for distance control.
blades - relatively not stable and accurate for longer putts but sure give me confidence in short putts..

Chosen few putters that I really like or love... in the end I still go back to blade which i think can give better putting stats...

i've lost count of the number of putters i've tried. but currently the Scotty Red X, which ironically is the very 1st scotty i bought, works best.

golfool2009 wrote:

For long putts i this it was better with a blade putter (distance control and feel) but a mallet was much better for shorter putts.......i've stuck with a mallet since it's more annoying to miss a 3 footer....

That's odd. I've had better success using a mallet for long putts than a blade. Quite the opposite That probably explains the staggering difference in our handicap.

Derek wrote:

If you love your putter, you will find a way to make it work. If you have doubts about your putter, it will stop working. So just make sure you have something you are happy with, first and foremost, then spend the time learning how to make it work.

Good point, D. Thing is, what makes you happy. I guess it boils down to putting stroke, stance and confidence.

I started out with a blade putter. I still have my first putter. It's the classic Ping B60 which when I look at it, I feel sad and happy. Sad because it looks so ordinary and happy because it brings back good memories.

I had difficulty moving across to a mallet largely because I felt that it was too unconventional and flew in the face of what most golfers use. But, when I started playing with a mallet, it started to feel easier. I found myself sinking more and more putts. Yes, there are days when I couldn't putt to save my life but I've found myself happier with a mallet putter.

... and I don't think I could go back to a blade.

Technospaz wrote:

golfool2009 wrote:

For long putts i this it was better with a blade putter (distance control and feel) but a mallet was much better for shorter putts.......i've stuck with a mallet since it's more annoying to miss a 3 footer....

That's odd. I've had better success using a mallet for long putts than a blade. Quite the opposite That probably explains the staggering difference in our handicap.

Ha, me too bro....

Technospaz wrote:

Derek wrote:

If you love your putter, you will find a way to make it work. If you have doubts about your putter, it will stop working. So just make sure you have something you are happy with, first and foremost, then spend the time learning how to make it work.

Good point, D. Thing is, what makes you happy. I guess it boils down to putting stroke, stance and confidence.

I started out with a blade putter. I still have my first putter. It's the classic Ping B60 which when I look at it, I feel sad and happy. Sad because it looks so ordinary and happy because it brings back good memories.

I had difficulty moving across to a mallet largely because I felt that it was too unconventional and flew in the face of what most golfers use. But, when I started playing with a mallet, it started to feel easier. I found myself sinking more and more putts. Yes, there are days when I couldn't putt to save my life but I've found myself happier with a mallet putter.

... and I don't think I could go back to a blade.

Since you have been sinking more putts with a mallet, does that mean I'll be getting some strokes the next game we play....?

2nd to Panji, why no 2 putter option for both mallet & blade....? And just for the record, I've just switched to a blade from a mallet & no telling how soon I'll be going back to the mallet.....