Can’t put with mallets inside 10ft, can’t put with blade style outside of 15ft, anyone else?

[ThreePuttForPar]

Title kind of says it all. I’m constantly switching putters. I prefer a blade or wide blade (double wide, er2, etc…) at address. Putt much better with this style from 15ft in. But my lag touch is terrible with them. 
 

with the mallets and claws I start missing from 5-10ft much more often. I get real hung up on the alignment lines and start making poor strokes.

 

I’m not really expecting anyone to solve this for me, I know what’s needed is trial and error (buying lots of putters, lol) and LOTS of practice. I am just wondering if anyone else has similar experiences, and what they ended up with.

 

Thanks all!

[jeff1727]

Going out on a limb but I would guess most people experience the exact opposite based on all the threads I’ve read.  Most find the extra stability of a mallet to be better at close range but loose feel at greater distances.   I play a blade because my distance control is miles better on lag putts over a mallet. 
 

[MattM97]

Yeah I'm with Jeff my lag putting is way better with blades but I haven't tried a mallet in a while, but blade I'm a little Shakey up close mainly knee knocker range. Not sure if a mallet would be better then but you gotta find that sweet spot even if there are weaknesses. 

[ShortGolfer]

Have you tried a 2 ball putter instead of alignment line putter?

 

I have an White Hot Odyssey 2 ball blade putter is a little of both.  Not quite a true blade and not quite a full mallet.  

May be the best or worst of both worlds!  Not a good match for my putting stroke but I found my putting grip with it!

[Nelson.br.1515]

For me you could have left it at “can’t putt with”…although LAB Link is currently performing well. Nice mix of blade alignment and mallet stability. 

[jtj74]

Sounds like you're golden between 10-15 feet. Hit all your approach shots to that distance. Problem solved. 🤣

[dnong]

Carry 2 putters.

[Jeff58]

Does your blade have a pistol type grip and a larger model on your mallets?

[moostache]

For me, I have such a hard time lining up mallets when I can see the hole, meaning short putts are just a mental struggle to trust the line with mallets. Plus, I find distance control with lag putting a mallet difficult. Not to sound like a sales ad, but I've found success with a tri-hot one. Long putts seem to hold their line a bit better than a standard blade (not revolutionary) but I still get the sight that seems to help me putt better. Worth a shot 🤷

[Jayjay_theweim_guy]

1 hour ago, ThreePuttForPar said:

...with the mallets and claws I start missing from 5-10ft much more often. I get real hung up on the alignment lines and start making poor strokes.

 

Thanks all!

Do an Edel-esque putter fitting to determine how different head shapes and alignment marks affect your natural aim?  Then import that shape & mark to a putter type you've shown good speed control with, and see if your alignment improves?

 

Me, I need to try the "five coins on a line" drill to determine once and for all how to hold myself so that I see straight as straight.  Otherwise, my speed control is usually decent, but I'm a pretty consistent 2-4 degrees right aimer from where I should be aiming.  Fairly certain it's that I'm perceiving straight as something else.

[getitdaily]

Opposite for me.

 

However, if I can inject my opinion...go with the option that makes putts inside 10 feet ALL DAY EVERY DAY EVEN SATURDAY AND DAYS THAT END IN ANY LETTER.

[BigBlue7]

Opposite for me -- I lose my speed control on anything over 15 ft when I try to move away from blades

[philly2kuk]

Mallets are slightly better for me close in but my lag putts are terrible. So I stick to blades as it’s usually a tap in.

[Cliffy2020]

1 hour ago, ThreePuttForPar said:

Title kind of says it all. I’m constantly switching putters. I prefer a blade or wide blade (double wide, er2, etc…) at address. Putt much better with this style from 15ft in. But my lag touch is terrible with them. 
 

with the mallets and claws I start missing from 5-10ft much more often. I get real hung up on the alignment lines and start making poor strokes.

 

I’m not really expecting anyone to solve this for me, I know what’s needed is trial and error (buying lots of putters, lol) and LOTS of practice. I am just wondering if anyone else has similar experiences, and what they ended up with.

 

Thanks all!

Is your poor lag putting consistently short or long?  Assuming you don’t have adjustable weights in your putter(s), start adding lead tape to the putter you aim the best.  Distance control is often a weight/feel issue.

 

They invented “tank” models for a reason.

[kmay__]

Maybe its the constant changing of putters..... I will await the revocation of my WRX card. Lol but the only thing that made a drastic improvement on my personal putting was sticking to 1 putter, a line on the ball, consistent setup and routine......and not changing it. Off days are off days, sticking stuff out long term I believe is the only way to improve. Pick a putter you like, and stick it out. 

 

Line on the ball really helped me with pace, because at address all I am thinking about is pace, the line is already set in place, nothing else to think about but making the stroke and how far I want the ball to travel. 

[dfeldss]

In my uneducated opinion, I'd stick with the one you lag better with.

 

I think you can drill the short putts/alignment issues with practice more than you can the distance control on the longer ones. 

 

Either way, I'd pick one or the other and give it an extended run in the bag and I'd bet you'll see better results than constantly flip flopping

[userpick21]

I'm with you here, OP.  My lag putting is best with a Spider X, but inside 10' I feel like it lacks the finesse needed.  The problem is certainly me, but I also like to blame the putter/try to find a magic one.

[snowmangolf]

After experimenting with 20+ putters, a mix of mallets and blades and even different lengths, I’ve found that a claw grip and a 34”blade works best for me. My distance control with the claw grip is substantially better and I’m so confident inside of 10-15ft. The claw really smoothed my stroke out and I find that it forces me to putt through the ball and continue the stroke towards the target line. 

 

Maybe try experimenting with different style grips while you try to figure it all out. I did spend the whole winter with a putter in my hand so a lot of practice probably has something to do with it too. 

[Cactus Jack]

Have you ever checked the loft and lie of your putters? If not, it's worth doing so in my opinion. Specifically loft, too much or too little can cause many problems. 

[ThreePuttForPar]

3 hours ago, Jeff58 said:

Does your blade have a pistol type grip and a larger model on your mallets?

Never thought about that, but more often than not, yes. Might need to try a larger grip on the blades. Seems obvious when you say it lol

[Rosco1216]

It’s not the blade or mallet shape that makes you better with one on short putts and bad with the other and then vice versa.  
 

One head shape and alignment orientation is best for you to get your aim and starting line where you want. Then the correct head weight, grip weight, grip, toe hang, l/l etc get your stroke and speed consistent. 

Edited April 24, 2023 by Rosco1216

[stevopagolf]

I am the exact opposite.  Can't lag the long ones with the mallet but 10 and in I am noticeably better.

[ThreePuttForPar]

3 hours ago, Cliffy2020 said:

Is your poor lag putting consistently short or long?  Assuming you don’t have adjustable weights in your putter(s), start adding lead tape to the putter you aim the best.  Distance control is often a weight/feel issue.

 

They invented “tank” models for a reason.

I remember the tank putters. I used to have a tank #7 (fang style) that I like a lot for a while. My lag putts are usually short. Some more weight might be a good thing.

[ThreePuttForPar]

1 hour ago, Cactus Jack said:

Have you ever checked the loft and lie of your putters? If not, it's worth doing so in my opinion. Specifically loft, too much or too little can cause many problems. 

No. I’ve always wondered if it’s possible to do a fitting after you’ve already bought the putter, but never asked. I need to look into that. I bet since I already just bought an expensive putter, a fitting after the fact is possible.

[ThreePuttForPar]

3 hours ago, kmay__ said:

Maybe its the constant changing of putters..... I will await the revocation of my WRX card. Lol but the only thing that made a drastic improvement on my personal putting was sticking to 1 putter, a line on the ball, consistent setup and routine......and not changing it. Off days are off days, sticking stuff out long term I believe is the only way to improve. Pick a putter you like, and stick it out. 

 

Line on the ball really helped me with pace, because at address all I am thinking about is pace, the line is already set in place, nothing else to think about but making the stroke and how far I want the ball to travel. 

Blasphemy!

[AdExec]

Cameron Newport+ or Newport 2+ 

 

Perfect compromise for me so far. Stability on the short putts, and feel on the long putts. 

[Jeff58]

2 hours ago, ThreePuttForPar said:

Never thought about that, but more often than not, yes. Might need to try a larger grip on the blades. Seems obvious when you say it lol

Yes. Blades usually come with smaller diameter grips with the idea that as there will be some arc in the stroke, so there must be some wrist action to allow it to occur. The problem tends to be exactly what you’re experiencing, which is at some distance/force, the wrists become too active, and maintaining your intended line becomes difficult.

 

Perhaps find a larger/more restrictive grip as you’re thinking, or consider something “in the middle”, a slight toe hang model with a mid-size grip. 

[ThreePuttForPar]

1 hour ago, AdExec said:

Cameron Newport+ or Newport 2+ 

 

Perfect compromise for me so far. Stability on the short putts, and feel on the long putts. 

Just got a Ping pld anser D which is super similar. Hoping it’s a nice medium.

[ThreePuttForPar]

46 minutes ago, Jeff58 said:

Yes. Blades usually come with smaller diameter grips with the idea that as there will be some arc in the stroke, so there must be some wrist action to allow it to occur. The problem tends to be exactly what you’re experiencing, which is at some distance/force, the wrists become too active, and maintaining your intended line becomes difficult.

 

Perhaps find a larger/more restrictive grip as you’re thinking, or consider something “in the middle”, a slight toe hang model with a mid-size grip. 

Yup, wrists get super active in the lags. Very inconsistent results. Thanks for the input. Will give it a try.

Edited April 24, 2023 by ThreePuttForPar