Best Putters 2015 review

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WATCH: Putters Test 2015

Looking for a new putter? We have tested 17 of the hottest new blades and mallets just for you.

Intrinsic to lower scores, yet too often the bane of our sport, the putter is by far the most used and mistreated club in our bag. 

Putters: 10 things to know

Catering for both blade and mallet lovers, the goal of our test was to find the best putters in terms of performance, feel and looks. 

Here's our verdict. 

Bettinardi BB32 

This half-moon mallet is very nicely weighted and features a confidence-inspiring sight line and flat flange design when standing over the ball. It sounds beautiful off the face but distance control from long range was not the strongest. A little pricey at £239 but we enjoyed a consistently pure roll with this one and short putts proved tough to miss.

Bettinardi Inovai

It provided us with terrific alignment, great feel and superb distance control. Its appearance will likely divide opinion as it is the wackiest design in Bettinardi's new range, but we rather quite like it. Again, not the cheapest flatstick in the world at £239, but well worth a look if you are in the market for a stable high MOI (clubhead's resistance to twisting) putter this season.

Full Review: Bettinardi Inovai

Bettinardi Studio Stock 2

This beautifully crafted blade that favours a player with a slight arc to their stroke as the hosel sits close to the centre. Players who enjoy a solid, dense feel off the face will appreciate this one. Although forgiving enough, we felt it lacked the consistency other blades delivered, so its £299 price tag looks a tad steep. For us, its Olympic Bronze finish sums it up nicely.

Nike Method Converge B1-01

An ideal blade for players with a slight arc to their stroke. The wider than normal flange will likely divide opinion but the dark finish with "T" red alignment ensures confidence. Balls were rolling straight and true off the face and distance control was acceptable on long-range putts. If you like a soft feel, you will appreciate the RZN groove insert. Good value at £130. 

Nike Method Matter B2-01

A classic tour-proven putter that will likely suit golfers with a slight arc to their putting stroke. There is a very simple alignment aid but the dark finish ensures no glare issues over the ball. Putts were rolling straight and true off the RZN groove insert, which made this one of the softest feeling blades in our test. At times, it felt too soft though. Great value for money at £99. 

Full Review: Nike Method Matter B2-01

Odyssey Works Versa #1

This classic heel-toe weighted blade features a new Fusion RX insert, created by using a combination of the famous White Hot insert and Metal X Roll technology. This metal mesh generated us with superb distance control on putts outside of 30 feet and a great overall feel. Forgiving enough, but it will not help you much with your stroke. You get all of your £169. 

Full Review: Odyssey Works Versa #1

Odyssey Works V-Line Versa

One of the hottest mallets in the game. The Fusion RX insert promotes a smooth, forward roll and the sound off the face is very pure. The dual alignment works nicely and the high MOI aids great forgiveness on long and short putts. The stock, fat SuperStroke grip only accentuates the feel. It is not cheap at £169 but you cannot put a price on holing more putts. 

Full Review: Odyssey Works V-Line Versa

PING Cadence TR Anser 2

One of the most consistent blades in our test. Even when not striking long putts out of the centre, we were still able to roll balls up to gimme distance. PING's True Roll technology grooves provide you with unrivalled forgiveness; we found we could not miss with this Anser 2 model from inside of six feet. There are far worse things to spend £163 on.

Full Review: PING Cadence TR Anser 2

PING Cadence TR Rustler 

While we preferred the bladed Anser 2 model, the Rustler mallet proved solid enough. PING's True Roll technology once again instilled us with an abundance of forgiveness and those must-make short putts were tough to miss. This mallet design will likely divide opinion but the single alignment aid does a good job. A little pricey at £163 but very much worth a closer look.

Full Review: PING Cadence TR Rustler

Scotty Cameron Select Roundback

One of the best all-round performing putters we have ever tested. We loved the red crisscross on the back flange as it provided a simple and effective path to alignment, while the high MOI, large sweetspot and remarkably solid feel contributed to lots of holed putts from both short and long range. Very expensive at £279, but if you have the cash to splash then look no further.

Full Review: Scotty Cameron Select Roundback

TaylorMade Ghost Tour Black Indy

We could not stop holing putts from inside 10 feet with this one. Featuring a rich, dark glare-resistant coating that works great out in the sun, the white sightline on the trailing edge formed a confidence-inspiring alignment aid. It feels particularly quiet off the face, but still delivers great feedback on off-centre hits. Terrific value for money at £139. 

Full Review: TaylorMade Ghost Tour Black Indy

TaylorMade Spider Blade

A solid offering from TaylorMade but not quite as hot as we were expecting. This heel-toe weighted counter-balanced blade provided good forgiveness and accuracy but the PureRoll Surlyn insert did not feel as nice as some of the others. The counterbalancing takes time to figure out from long range. A little pricey at £149, especially given the performance of the cheaper Indy.

TaylorMade Spider Mallet

A slight improvement on the Spider Blade. We favoured the half-moon design with a strong alignment aid. This mallet aided strong forgiveness no matter what stroke we put on the putt. While the majority of weight is felt in the comfortable SuperStroke grip, the head did feel light and that contributed to a lack of distance control on long putts. Good value at £149.

Wilson Staff Infinite Michigan Ave

If you are looking for a premium heel-toe weighted blade that does not break the bank, look no further than this one. The alignment aid works well and the counterbalancing - aiding a high MOI - ensured good forgiveness on short putts. Distance control proved difficult, however, and it did not feel as nice off the face as others. At around £79, this one offers great value for money. 

Wilson Staff Infinite South Side

If you are looking for a premium mallet that does not break the bank, look no further than this one. Although the centre shaft was a turn off, the alignment aid works well and the counterbalancing - aiding a high MOI - ensured good forgiveness on short putts. Distance control proved difficult, however, and it did not feel as nice off the face as others. Great value for money at £79.

Yes! Donna

While the striking yellow visual aid will likely split opinion, it locks you into the stroke. The bar on the sole ensures the face sits square no matter how the player holds the club at address. The C-Groove technology promotes a smooth roll off the face, while the very high MOI generates great forgiveness. If you can stomach the looks, this is a very solid blade at £149. 

Yes! Milly

Although the shape is very different, representing a mid-size mallet, the Milly performed just as well as the Donna. The strong yellow visual aid lines you up well and the bar on the sole ensures the face sits square at address. The C-Groove technology promotes a smooth roll off the face, while the very high MOI generates great forgiveness. Good value at £149.

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