Blade Putter or Mallet?

[Honeybadger]

As someone who once played forged blade irons and switched to cavity backs because I am no pro, I wondered if I would benefit by switching from a blade to a mallet putter. I took the plunge this season and realized what I was missing- just as the cavity backs helped me hit more greens, the mallet has led me to sink more putts. My lag putting is most improved with the added forgiveness. I think it was stubbornness- as a single digit handicap player I thought I should be using blades and now enjoy the game more and practice less. Anyone else making the switch? 

[Fairway14]

7 minutes ago, Honeybadger said:

As someone who once played forged blade irons and switched to cavity backs because I am no pro, I wondered if I would benefit by switching from a blade to a mallet putter. I took the plunge this season and realized what I was missing- just as the cavity backs helped me hit more greens, the mallet has led me to sink more putts. My lag putting is most improved with the added forgiveness. I think it was stubbornness- as a single digit handicap player I thought I should be using blades and now enjoy the game more and practice less. Anyone else making the switch? 

 

Yes, I played about 50 rounds of golf with large head irons and a large mallet head putter. I sold the irons and went back to a relatively small head, which I find easier to square at impact than the large heads. The mallet putter I replaced with a Bullseye style slender head, again because the smaller head is easier to swing, square at impact.

[Honeybadger]

I didn’t have to worry about that (squaring the putter face) as I’m a SBST putter, so the mallet fit my stroke perfectly. 

[JDennis]

I prefer Mallets, but this year switched to wide Blades and never been putting better. I can still roll both of the better than a standard blade.

[Chadwickog]

I was putting great with a mallet but didn't like the insert it had so I went on a search and ended up with a few blades.  My putting suffered so I decided to find a mallet without an insert and it has greatly improved my putting this season.

[Twism86]

1 hour ago, JDennis said:

I prefer Mallets, but this year switched to wide Blades and never been putting better. I can still roll both of the better than a standard blade.

I too am thinking of doing similar, just blade to wide blade. I want a milled putter for the feel so why not a Scotty. I would like a classic Newport because I love the look of blades. I currently have a blade insert putter but when I practice with a mallet, I feel my stroke is better. So this leads me to thinking the SC squareback would be a nice middle point. Thoughts? 

[Honeybadger]

1 hour ago, JDennis said:

I prefer Mallets, but this year switched to wide Blades and never been putting better. I can still roll both of the better than a standard blade.

I do miss the workability of a smaller iron. 

[MattM97]

My handicap says I should play mallets, my putting stats say blade is fine. I also don't mine mallets but as I prefer milled mallets I can't find a mallet with the look, weight and feel I want without dropping a lot of cash. But after switching to a blade putter and building confidence I don't know if I can go back to mallets, I'll try but I'll probably be a blade user for a while.

[Fairway14]

This is a blade putter.

[JDennis]

27 minutes ago, Twism86 said:

I too am thinking of doing similar, just blade to wide blade. I want a milled putter for the feel so why not a Scotty. I would like a classic Newport because I love the look of blades. I currently have a blade insert putter but when I practice with a mallet, I feel my stroke is better. So this leads me to thinking the SC squareback would be a nice middle point. Thoughts? 

 

That is the putter that ended up in the bag. I purchased a 2020 special select squareback and a Betti Studio 28. The Squareback was just more natural to my stroke. I did end up putting 40 gram weights in it because I like a heavier head. 

[getitdaily]

High moi mallets are better inside 10 feet. However, I haven't found a mallet that makes more putts or is better on speed control than a milled blade. Milled blades produce better speed off the face for longer putts which means putts holding their line better. 

 

Inside 10 feet though, high moi mallets really take the fear of a bad stroke out of the mind.

[Honeybadger]

4 hours ago, Twism86 said:

I too am thinking of doing similar, just blade to wide blade. I want a milled putter for the feel so why not a Scotty. I would like a classic Newport because I love the look of blades. I currently have a blade insert putter but when I practice with a mallet, I feel my stroke is better. So this leads me to thinking the SC squareback would be a nice middle point. Thoughts? 

I didn’t think I could get used to the look of a mallet after using blades all my golfing life, but I went with one that I thought was the most aesthetically pleasing and it was a pretty smooth transition. I’ve never liked the Wolverine (Ping) or Fang (Odyssey) type of styles because they look like UFO’s. I went with the simple looking design of Seemore’s SB20- even though it’s big, it’s very pleasing to the eye sitting behind the ball. I really have to love the look of a putter and to me this one looks great. 

[Honeybadger]

4 hours ago, Fairway14 said:

This is a blade putter.

Looks more like a butter knife than a putter... 😜

[Honeybadger]

4 hours ago, MattM97 said:

My handicap says I should play mallets, my putting stats say blade is fine. I also don't mine mallets but as I prefer milled mallets I can't find a mallet with the look, weight and feel I want without dropping a lot of cash. But after switching to a blade putter and building confidence I don't know if I can go back to mallets, I'll try but I'll probably be a blade user for a while.

You can get good deals on mallets on E-Bay. Especially used ones. Try one out in a store and see if you can find it on the Bay. 

[MattM97]

1 hour ago, Honeybadger said:

You can get good deals on mallets on E-Bay. Especially used ones. Try one out in a store and see if you can find it on the Bay. 

 

Being a lefty that's easier said than done and not many mallets i do enjoy. I'm fine with blade putters. 

[Fairway14]

2 hours ago, Honeybadger said:

Looks more like a butter knife than a putter... 😜

 

My point is that Ping Anser/Cameron Newport styles are not "blade putters". They're smaller than a mallet but that's about it.

[MattM97]

Just now, Fairway14 said:

 

My point is that Ping Anser/Cameron Newport styles are not "blade putters". They're smaller than a mallet but that's about it.

 

People call them blades because it's easier and less hassle than saying or typing "heel and toe weighted putter". 

[getitdaily]

14 minutes ago, Fairway14 said:

 

My point is that Ping Anser/Cameron Newport styles are not "blade putters". They're smaller than a mallet but that's about it.

?que?

 

Anser style heads have been called blades for so long that the supreme court wouldn't overturn it based on precedent...

[PureDivots]

Life long blade putter user. My putting has been a downfall of my game recently so I am taking the time to give a mallet a run. I've dabbled in the past but never gave them much of a chance. Going to stick with it through the winter months and I think it will help. My putting can't get any worse by my standards. 

[Fairway14]

23 minutes ago, getitdaily said:

?que?

 

Anser style heads have been called blades for so long that the supreme court wouldn't overturn it based on precedent...

 

I've always called them Anser style heads.

[Fairway14]

41 minutes ago, MattM97 said:

 

People call them blades because it's easier and less hassle than saying or typing "heel and toe weighted putter". 

 

Honest blade putter.

[Honeybadger]

14 minutes ago, Fairway14 said:

 

I've always called them Anser style heads.

 

11 minutes ago, Fairway14 said:

 

Honest blade putter.

Honest fairway WOODS. 

[Honeybadger]

41 minutes ago, DaltonSTL said:

Life long blade putter user. My putting has been a downfall of my game recently so I am taking the time to give a mallet a run. I've dabbled in the past but never gave them much of a chance. Going to stick with it through the winter months and I think it will help. My putting can't get any worse by my standards. 

I was in the same place- very inconsistent with a blade putter. I would have great days and awful days. With the mallet, I now have great days and average days. Knock on wood-  haven’t had a awful day since switching. Good luck. 

[getitdaily]

1 hour ago, Honeybadger said:

 

Honest fairway WOODS. 

I'm waiting for mizuno to ship my new 921 tour steels.

[Fairway14]

1 hour ago, Honeybadger said:

 

Honest fairway WOODS. 

Agreed, woods are made of wood and current clubs are fairway metals.

[Goalie Golfer96]

Mallets with their MOI are what work best for me. 

[Goalie Golfer96]

2 hours ago, Fairway14 said:

 

Honest blade putter.

As opposed to a dishonest blade? 

[Honeybadger]

23 minutes ago, Goalie Golfer96 said:

Mallets with their MOI are what work best for me. 

Yeah- it definitely gives me confidence that if I miss it a little the ball will still stay on line. The biggest boost since switching has been with lag putts. 

[Fairway14]

Just now, Goalie Golfer96 said:

As opposed to a dishonest blade? 

 

Yes, nothing about an Anser/Newport style putter is "blade like".

 

[Goalie Golfer96]

1 hour ago, Fairway14 said:

 

Yes, nothing about an Anser/Newport style putter is "blade like".

 

Yes, just like a Ford Mustang is not a Model T, but they’re both automobile like.