2019 MOST WANTED BLADE PUTTER
Buyer's Guides

2019 MOST WANTED BLADE PUTTER

Support our Mission. We independently test each product we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

2019 MOST WANTED BLADE PUTTER
TaylorMade TP Copper Collection Juno
Cleveland TFI 2135 1.0
TaylorMade TP Copper Collection Juno
PING Sigma 2 ZB2
PING Sigma 2 Kushin C
Best Overall
TaylorMade TP Copper Collection Juno
  • 2019 Most Wanted Blade Putter
  • Ranked 1st from 5ft
  • Ranked 2nd (tie) From 10ft
  • Top ranked for looks and alignment
  • Not among the best at 20ft
  • Mixed tester feedback on feel

1st

2nd

11th

Best Value
Cleveland TFI 2135 1.0
  • 2019 Best Value Blade Putter
  • Ranked 2nd (tie) from 10ft
  • Top 10 from 5ft
  • Scored among the best for feel
  • Ranked 11th from 20ft distance
  • Rated poorly for looks

6th

2nd

20th

Best Slight Arc
TaylorMade TP Copper Collection Juno
  • 2019 Most Wanted Blade Putter
  • Ranked 1st from 5ft
  • Ranked 2nd From 10ft (tie)
  • Top ranked for looks and alignment
  • Not among the best at 20ft
  • Mixed tester feedback on feel

1st

2nd

11th

Best Strong Arc
PING Sigma 2 ZB2
  • 2019 Best Strong Arc Blade
  • Ranked 1st from 5ft
  • Ranked 4th from 10ft
  • Ranked among the highest for feel
  • Ranked near the bottom from 20ft
  • Some testers thought the feel was “too soft”

1st

4th

20th

Best SBST
PING Sigma 2 Kushin C
  • 2019 Best Blade Putter for Straight Back Straight Through stroke
  • Ranked 3rd from 5ft
  • Top 10 from 10ft
  • Rated among the top putters for feel and looks
  • Ranked 11th from 20ft
  • Mixed feedback on the center shafted design

3rd

9th

11th

INDEPENDENT & UNBIASED

MyGolfSpy accepts $0 advertising dollars from any of the major golf manufacturers. We believe in always putting #ConsumerFirst.

100

Hours
Researched

10,081

Putts
Hit

28

Products
Considered

38.7m

Readers

OUR JOB IS YOUR GAME

If you are in the market for a blade putter in 2019, this test is for you.

At MyGolfSpy our job is to provide independent, unbiased, and objective testing of products to help you make more confident purchasing decisions. We do this by employing consistent testing methodologies and advanced golf analytics inside our 100% independent test facility. You are then able to leverage the industry’s richest set of head-to-head data to help unlock your full potential. Our testing yields unparalleled data which equals unparalleled insight for the golfer.

For 2019, stop buying golf equipment you like and start buying equipment you want to keep. Don’t spend a dollar unless it improves on what’s already in the bag.

Most Wanted: TaylorMade TP Collection Juno

Putter Buying Considerations

LENGTH

The length of your putter can affect both your ability to control distance and direction. Typical stock putters are either 34″ or 35″ in length; however, many golfers will better fit into a shorter length putter. You want to choose a putter that will allow you to have a relaxed set-up based on how you address the ball.

LOFT

Loft may affect the distance of your putt more than the direction, and speed control is extremely important in putting.  If you have too much, or too little loft, your ball may either hop or dig into the ground, making distance control inconsistent. We always recommend getting fitted for a putter. A fitting specialist can help determine the proper loft for your putter.

BLADE vs. MALLET

Choosing a blade or a mallet should come down to both personal preference and your natural putting stroke tempo. According to PING, if you tend to have a quicker tempo putting stroke, a lighter, blade style putter might suit your game. Conversely, if your stroke is smoother and slower, a heavier, mallet-style putter might be your fit.

TOE HANG

As much as your tempo plays a factor into the right putter, so does the amount of arc in your stroke. If you tend to have a large amount of opening and closing of the face, you’ll want to consider a heel shafted putter that allows for rotation – if you balance the putter on your two index fingers, the putter head should hang with the toe closer to 6 o’clock. On the other extreme, a face-balanced putter will have the face pointing to the sky when you balance it. This style putter is generally well suited for golfers who have more of a straight back straight through stroke.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT - Odyssey Stroke Lab #3

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT - Odyssey Stroke Lab #3

Multi-Material Shafts: The name of the game in golf is consistency, and the Odyssey Stroke Lab putter shafts are designed to give you just that. Offering multi-material construction that leverages graphite for the majority of its length, the Stroke Lab Shaft improves weight distribution to promote a more consistent putting stroke. 

Odyssey testing showed golfers were more consistent in a number of factors like backswing length, face angle, velocity, and more. In 2019 Most Wanted testing, the Odyssey Stroke Lab #3 was a standout from 10-feet; the most critical distance we test. Bottom line, if you're looking to improve your stroke consistency, don't leave Stroke Lab Putters on the rack when you're testing putters for yourself.

FIELD NOTES

During each test, we look for trends that provide us insight into where the market as a whole is moving, as well as what noteworthy changes manufacturers have made to improve year-over-year performance. We also solicit feedback from our testers. We want to understand what they liked, what they didn’t like, and why. While we do collect and share noteworthy portions of this subjective feedback, it does not factor in our rankings.

TRENDS AND TWEAKS

  • Of the 28 models tested – 15 blade putters featured a slight arc toe hang(45°), eight were strong toe hang (90°), four were face-balanced (0°), and one putter is torque-balanced (toe-up).
  • Modern technology has spread to the putter space. 85% of the putters in the top 10 feature face technology designed to produce more consistent results. Those technologies include Odyssey Stroke Lab Putters (graphite-steel shafts), EVNROLL (variable groove technology), and PING Sigma 2 (adjustable shafts). The traditional milled face, no-tech, putters were the minority in this year’s blade test.
  • The traditional pistol grip was also rather uncommon to see on a putter in this year’s test. Almost every manufacturer offered some sort of mid-sized to over-sized grip in some shape. Whether it be the P2 Aware Tour grips on the MLA Defender and Tour Classic putters or the new EVNROLL Gravity Grip – each putter had a unique twist on a grip to help stabilize the hands and square up the face. Even Bettinardi putters with their classic cord pistol grip were mid-sized at the smallest. Gone are the days of the ultra-thin pistol grip.

Matching Your Putter to Your Tempo

According to PING, golfers with slower tempos, often better fit into heavier, mallet style putters. On the flip side, quick tempo golfers (think Brandt Snedeker), would likely benefit from a lighter, blade style putter.

NOTES FROM THE TESTING POOL

  • The PING Sigma 2 Anser was subjectively the highest rated putter in the test with an average rating of 8.3 across Looks, Feel, and Alignment. Testers praised the Sigma 2 Series as a whole for its extremely soft feel.
  • Rated among the highest for looks were the TaylorMade TP Copper Collection Juno, Odyssey Stroke Lab #3, Scotty Cameron Newport, and PING Sigma 2 ZB2.
  • The PING Sigma 2 Anser, Bettinardi Studio Stock 2, and the Scotty Cameron Newport Squareback rating among the highest for feel. A number of testers liked the feel of the milled face design on not only the Studio Stock 2 but also the entire line of Bettinardi Studio Stock putters in the test.
  • The highest rated putter for alignment among the test group was the Scotty Cameron Newport Squareback.  Testers noted the ease of which to align the putter, as well as how square it set up at address.
  • It was a rare occurrence for a putter to be highly rated for one metric and poorly for another, putters generally scored well as a whole or poorly as a whole.
  • An interesting exception was the TaylorMade TP Collection Juno which ranked highly for looks but was near the bottom in alignment and middle of the pack overall.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT - PING SIGMA 2 SERIES PUTTERS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT - PING SIGMA 2 SERIES PUTTERS

Adjustable Shafts: The second iteration of the PING Sigma 2 series putters, the Sigma 2 offers a unique feature that allows the golfer to adjust the length of the shaft with the twist of a torque wrench. The adjustable shaft can help take the guesswork out of fitting a putter for length.

Additionally, the Sigma 2 features a soft feel insert that dampens vibration and improves feel across the entirety of the face.  All the Sigma 2 models were popular and well received among the test group for looks and feel.

2019 Most Wanted PUTTER DATA

2019 Most Wanted Blade Ranking

Club5' % Rank10' % Rank20' % Rank
TaylorMade TP Copper Collection Juno

Check Price
33%42%29%
PING Sigma 2 ZB

Check Price
35%38%27%
Cleveland TFI 2135 - 1.0

Check Price
27%42%29%
Ping Sigma 2 Kushin C

Check Price
32%35%29%
Bettinardi SS28 Slotback

Check Price
29%35%29%
Odyssey Stroke Lab #3

Check Price
15%45%29%
Bettinardi Queen B #5

Check Price
30%35%25%
Odyssey Stroke Lab Double Wide

Check Price
29%31%33%
Sentio Sierra 101-F

Check Price
35%31%25%
EVNROLL ER1TS

Check Price
15%38%33%
EVNROLL ER 2.2

Check Price
15%38%33%
PING Sigma 2 Anser

Check Price
20%38%29%
Sentio Sierra 101-M

Check Price
26%35%27%
MLA Target Defender II

Check Price
16%38%31%
Wilson Staff Infinite Windy City

Check Price
31%28%29%
Bettinardi Queen B #6

Check Price
37%24%27%
Wilson Staff Infinite West Loop

Check Price
31%24%33%
Cleveland Huntington Beach 8.5

Check Price
28%28%29%
Scotty Cameron Newport Squareback

Check Price
32%24%31%
Argolf Arthur 2.0

Check Price
24%31%25%
MLA Tour Classic

Check Price
28%24%31%
Scotty Cameron Newport

Check Price
17%31%31%
Bettinardi Studio Stock 2

Check Price
23%24%35%
Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin - 8.0

Check Price
27%21%25%
Tommy Amour Infusion Roslin

Check Price
14%24%29%
Tour Edge Eden

Check Price
30%14%27%
Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 1

Check Price
15%21%27%
Edel E-5

Check Price
7%24%31%

EXPERT TIP - WHICH WAY DO YOU MISS?

Matching a putter to your natural stroke type is essential if you want to make more putts.  If you tend to miss it to the right, your putter might have too much toe hang, or the arc is "too strong." Conversely, if you consistently pull putts, or miss it to the left, your putter may not have enough toe hang.

Putters with more toe hang typically match a stoke that has a lot of rotation, where putters with less to hang match more of a straight back-straight through stroke.

MORE BUYING TIPS

GET FIT

95% of amateur golfers haven’t been fit for a putter. Would it surprise you if 85% of PGA Industry Professionals (the guys fitting you for a putter) haven’t been fit as well? The bottom line is – you’re leaving strokes on the green if you’re playing the wrong equipment for your game.  Don’t choose a putter just because it looks or feels good, get fit for a putter that works with YOUR stroke to start making more putts.

FACE TECHNOLOGY

The face of the putter is one of the most critical parts of the club; after all, it is the contact point with the ball. Every manufacturer has proprietary technology whether it’s EVNROLL’s variable grooves, PING’s TR face, or your traditional milled face, pay attention to what is on the face of the club.

GRIP STYLE

Pistol, counterbalance, and oversize – just some of the many styles of putter grips available.  Feel is the trade-off here, a thicker grip that will stabilize the wrists may lose a little feel, whereas a more traditional pistol grip may give you more response but could cost you some control.

HOW WE TEST

Our Mission is to help you find the best putter for your game.

We are 100% independent and unbiased, and always put the #ConsumerFirst

ABOUT OUR TESTERS

Our pool of testers consists of 20 golfers with handicaps ranging from plus to the mid-teens. As a group, they span a broad range of putting stroke characteristics.

Over the course of several sessions, each golfer is required to putt and finish 18 holes with each putter. Putter groupings and order are randomized on a per tester basis.

LIMITING VARIABLES AND GATHERING RELIABLE DATA

To minimize variables, all testers hit Bridgestone Tour B-RX Golf Balls inside our dedicated Lab X testing facility located in Yorktown, VA.

While it doesn't affect the final results, subjective feedback on looks, feel and alignment is taken from each tester on every putter in the test.

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS

To arrive at our final results, we analyze the data for statistical significance. Top group percentages (the percentage of the time a putter finishes in the statistically significant top group across the testing pool) are leveled to account for performance at distances and weighted to favor 10' putts as our tests show it's where the greatest differences are found. The Most Wanted Winner is the putter that finished with the highest adjusted top group percentage.

PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS

2019 Most Wanted Blade Spec Check

ClubLoft*Lie*Length*Swingweight*HeadweightToe Hang
Argolf Arthur 2.0

Check Price
470.534E 8.3370gStrong
Bettinardi Queen B #5

Check Price
3.269.834E 0.2362gSlight
Bettinardi Queen B #6

Check Price
470.534E 2.1362gStraight
Bettinardi SS28 Slotback

Check Price
2.871.634E 0.2358gStraight
Bettinardi Studio Stock 2

Check Price
370.535D 7.8358gSlight
Cleveland Huntington Beach 8.5

Check Price
2.371.633.5D 9.6360gSlight
Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 1

Check Price
2.771.333.625D 4.0345gSlight
Cleveland TFI 2135 - 1.0

Check Price
3.271.933.875C 8.5345gSlight
Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin - 8.0

Check Price
3.571.534.625F 9.4405gStraight
Edel E-5

Check Price
368.733.25C 4.9345gToe Up
EVNROLL ER1TS

Check Price
17034.625D 5355gStraight
EVNROLL ER 2.2

Check Price
1.869.333.625D 5.9370gSlight
MLA Target Defender II

Check Price
2.170.934E 1.7350gSlight
MLA Tour Classic

Check Price
3.37134F 9.4384gStraight
Odyssey Stroke Lab #3

Check Price
3.97033.375D 0360gStrong
Odyssey Stroke Lab Double Wide

Check Price
3.369.433.5D 1.1360gSlight
PING Sigma 2 Anser

Check Price
3.170.734D 0.8350gSlight
Ping Sigma 2 Kushin C

Check Price
4.270.434D 6.9360gStraight
PING Sigma 2 ZB

Check Price
3.470.634D 3.1350gStrong
Scotty Cameron Newport

Check Price
3.670.733.5D 4.5N/AStrong
Scotty Cameron Newport Squareback

Check Price
3.270.533.375D 4.3N/ASlight
Sentio Sierra 101-F

Check Price
0.970.733.75C 8.8350gSlight
Sentio Sierra 101-M

Check Price
2.471.533.75D 0.2350gSlight
TaylorMade TP Copper Collection Juno

Check Price
3.470.134D 8346gSlight
Tommy Amour Infusion Roslin

Check Price
3.769.533.625D 1.7345gSlight
Tour Edge Eden

Check Price
2.471.634.625F 2.5350gSlight
Wilson Staff Infinite West Loop

Check Price
371.133.625D 8.9365gStraight
Wilson Staff Infinite Windy City

Check Price
3.571.433.625C 8.3365gSlight

* denotes measured value vs. manufacturer’s stated spec.

FAQ

Buying a Putter

Q: Should I get fit for a putter?

A: Without a doubt. Don’t just go to the putting corral at your local golf store and choose the putter that feels the best. Do your research, know the facts, and take your knowledge to your local golf course or store with the intention of being fit for the right putter for YOUR stroke.

Q: Can I fit myself for a putter?

A: To a degree, yes.  PING developed an App that pairs with an attachable sleeve to your current putter shaft to determine your stroke type, lie, and loft to help you understand what to look for in your next putter.

Q: How do I find the right length putter for me?

A: A quick test would be to take a comfortable putting stance with a putter; if the putter is too short, it’s likely it will sit too upright, or the heel of the putter will be off the ground. On the flip side, if it’s too long, you’ll feel as though you’re crowding the ball and the putter on the ground and the toe will be pointing up slightly.

Q: What is the price range for a typical putter?

A: Most putters range in price from $50 into the thousands; however most putters average between $150 and $350. Ultimately, it’s about finding the best putter for YOUR game. Price may always be a factor, but don’t assume the best putters are the most expensive.

EXPERT TIP - DISTANCE STRUGGLES?

If you tend to struggle with short putts, you might want to try a heavier putter.  On the other end, if you need help on long putts, you might want to try a lighter putter.  Blade putters tend to be on the lighter side, whereas mallets are typically bigger and heavier.

Most Wanted

Q: How is the Most Wanted Winner determined?

A: To determine the Most Wanted Blade Putter, we run the data through three tests of statistical significance (5′, 10′, and 20′).  Throughout our test, golfers 1-putted from 5′ roughly 75% of the time, 2-putted from 20′ 80% of the time, and were nearly 50-50 (1-putt vs. 2-putt) from 10′. 10′ factor more significantly in our ratings as that’s where the most significant differences in performance are found.

Q: How are the best putters for stroke type determined?

A: At the beginning of the test, each putter is classified by its toe hang/stroke type. The best within each designation are those that finished highest overall with respect to toe hang/stroke type.

Q: How much does subjective feedback like looks, sound, and feel factor into your rankings?

A: ZERO. Our rankings are based purely on total putt counts and quantifiable performance metrics. We include subjective notes only because readers have asked for more feedback directly from the testers.

Q: Will you publish an overall winner between the Blade and Mallet putter tests?

A: Yes, those results will be published in the coming weeks after the Most Wanted Mallet is announced.

 

Support Unbiased Testing.

DID YOU KNOW: If only 1% of MyGolfSpy readers donated $25, we would be able to become completely independent in 12-months. With every donation, you create change.

Would you be willing to help by giving a donation? Every dollar will help. Make a donation to support our independent and expert golf equipment research. A PayPal account is not required in order to donate.

Donate to MGS


Amount

Frequency

For You

For You

Best Spikeless Golf Shoes 2024 Best Spikeless Golf Shoes 2024
Buyer's Guides
Apr 12, 2024
Best Spikeless Golf Shoes of 2024
First Look
Apr 12, 2024
Under Armour’s Cheesy Take on the Masters
News
Apr 12, 2024
PING WebFit: Get Fit From your Phone
MyGolfSpy

MyGolfSpy

MyGolfSpy

Our mission is #ConsumerFirst. We are here to help educate and empower golfers. We want you to get the most out of your money, time and performance. That means providing you with equipment reviews you can trust, as well as honest reporting on the latest issues affecting the game today. #PowerToThePlayer

MyGolfSpy

MyGolfSpy

MyGolfSpy

MyGolfSpy

MyGolfSpy

MyGolfSpy

Driver Ping G30 Hybrids PXG 0317
3/4 IRON PXG 0311XF 5-GW Srixon Z 565
SW PXG 0317 LW PXG 0311
Putter EVNROLL  
MyGolfSpy

MyGolfSpy

MyGolfSpy





    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

      HAC

      5 years ago

      I have a stroke where I need a putter with toe hang. If the testers are half people who want a face balanced putter and half people who want a putter with toe hang, won’t the presence of the face balanced putter people skew the results in a way that makes the results nonsense for me (same would be true if I needed a face balanced putter). Shouldn’t you divide testers and putters and come up with putter results for people who want a face balanced putter and people who want a putter with toe hang?

      Reply

      Peter Jackson

      5 years ago

      I would confirm that I have confidence in MYGOLFSPY reviews and I have bought on their recommendations.
      Previously Srixon Z565 irons which have proved to be a super set of irons; beautiful aesthetics, great feel and for a mid handicapper, a real treat as they are for me as forgiving as game improvement irons.
      I have just bought the TaylorMade TP Juno. Putting is probably the worst part of my game and a blade putter should not to be the best choice! However, I am most pleased to confirm that this putter is every bit as good as reported by MGS. I would confirm all of MGS comments; very attractive design, excellent alignment and the feature for me was the feel, accuracy and great roll which has improved my distance control greatly. Well done MGS

      Reply

      Matt Italia

      5 years ago

      Great work as usual! Will you guys be considering the Toulon putters in the next Most Wanted tests? I would love to see how they perform next to some of these other putters. Thanks!

      Reply

      Uno

      5 years ago

      I have an instructor that talked up Scotty Cameron because of the consistency of the product. Specifically, all the lofts of exactly the same. He pointed to another major brand and looking down the shaft you could see variation in lofts among the same model. Is this something you looked at, or feel is valuable to look at in the future?

      Reply

      Alex Holt

      5 years ago

      Bought the Er2 about a year ago. I wouldn’t say I was convinced by the MGS tests, but they certainly didn’t hurt. Do the grooves make the putter? Who knows , but my instinct is that my improved putting is as much to do with the custom fitting , updated head mass, and oversized grip as much as anything else. I did hit very straight putts with the original grip , but distance control was terrible. Got the regular weight oversized grip and am supper happy. It is the second most expensive club in my bag and I have no regrets. I was debating on whether I wanted to stop by and try the ER 2.2 because I have always preferred plumbers neck putters, but maybe there was a reason the original performed so well. I would be interested to see them submit a non counter balanced putter in the future. I was always skeptical of putter fittings but it turns out this club is the furtherst from standard in my whole bag. I am a mediocre putter and took the evenroll the a SAM lab and got outstanding scores and the pro mentioned the putter was very well fit. Highly recommend if you are in Carlsbad!

      Reply

      Alex

      5 years ago

      Also got the ping Kushin for back home. Once again a mid mallet with a bit more head weight and oversized grip. It’s very similar to the ER2. On a budget it’s a close second. Dissspointed with the updated sigma G lines, look cheap in my opinion. Either way both putters blow all my old blades out of the water…

      Reply

      Oli

      5 years ago

      How on earth did the edel do so badly? I have one and feel like I struggle from five feet, could this result suggest that this might not just be in my head?

      Reply

      Steve

      5 years ago

      All of this information is helpful. However as stated in the article, you should be fitted for your putter. Unless each tester was fitted for each putter that was used then the results are fun facts, but hardly statistically definitive. The chances of you
      selecting the proper putter off the rack are very small. You may think you putt well with that randomly selected putter, but think how much better you COULD be if it were fitted.

      Reply

      Jason

      5 years ago

      So how does EvnRoll go from clearly first last year, to the middle of the pack? Does this speak to the ability of the golfers or the advancement of the other brands?

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      EvnRoll performance was largely consistent from previous years. That is to say it was excellent at both 10′ and 20′. 5′ performance with the new models was a bit weaker than in previous years. And yes, in general, I think there were some improvements across the board, which created less separation between the field…effectively leveling the 10 and 20′ advantage a bit.

      I should also add that the new models are plubmers neck deck designs (the ER1TS is pretty aggressive at that) as opposed to ER2’s heel mounted double bend.

      Reply

      Nottingtom

      5 years ago

      Really like the article. Don’t find it surprising that people struggle somewhat to follow as very scientific and people just want to know what’s best d@!#It!
      Couple of thoughts;
      This is only 20 guys, one of my pet hates is using percentages when subjects are n < 100. I am in the minority with this I know, but from your tables the difference between the Juno and the Cleveland is that th Juno was in the top group from 5 feet for 33% and the Cleveland for 27%. This is 6.6 people vs 5.4 people. (Unless I have read this wrong how do you have .6 of a person or is this because of weighting factors?). Either way the Juno is basically in the top group from 5 feet for one extra guy, but for both at 5 feet there were 13/14 testers for whom they were outside the top group. This second point reminds me that all those reading would do well to look back on the follow up vid from last year re the bettardini and one of the MGS staff. Most often in top group does not have to mean best for one individual as you guys so often say, but no one seems to listen. Again just want to know what is best! Then disagree as they like something else better.

      Also is there any way you will be able to introduce slope ala the Zen Green Stage? So this way each of the 18holes would be different. Is it 18 at each distance or 6 of each btw? Not sure it's relevant, just interested.

      I really appreciate the interaction you guys have with the readers! I sent the 2018 blade MW to a buddy who never saw the site and he tested a few putters and bought the Juno! Maybe I should get him to trade it in ?. I'm still rocking the Ketsch from when it won 5or6 years back, interestingly I'm not sure I like it at all but it is real hard to miss short putts on misshits of which I manage plenty!!

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      So the answer to your 6.6 and 5.4 people question, yes, there is some leveling and weighting. It’s probably interesting to someone, so here’s the explanation:

      When we calculate our Top Group percentages we find that Top Group inclusion percentages (rate at which putters appear in the top group) decline with distance. At 20′, the median inclusion percentage this year was 70%. Loose translation – it was typical that for a given tester, 70% of the putters were as good as most any other). At 10′ that rate dropped to 45% and at 5′ it dropped again to 25%. Not to get too far into the weeds, but 5′ was to a degree an outlier on its own as we had a few putters that performed more poorly to such a degree that it defies the bell curve. So, long story short, if we simply take the average percentage across all 3 distances, the results would be weighted in descending order (20′ would count significantly more than 10′ which would count significantly more than 5′). So to avoid that, we use some math to level things off a bit while still weighting for 10′ since that’s where we see the biggest difference in the actual putt counts.

      To rehash what I mentioned in a previous comment:
      The overwhelming percentage of holes putted at 20′ results in a 2-putt (~80% of the time in our test).
      The overwhelming percentage of holes putted at 5′ result in a 1-putt (~75 of the time in our test).
      The biggest differences are found at 10′, where the breakdown is ~55%/45% with 2-putts accounting for the larger percentage.

      Reply

      Scott

      5 years ago

      I always wonder about the variability in these results. It would be interesting if you just looked at the first half of your data set and then calculated the putter rankings; and then repeat the ranking process with the second half of the data set and then compare the two rankings.

      Reply

      mark

      5 years ago

      If a face balanced putter is best suited to a straight back/ thru stroke, and you’re like most golfers that will tend to have a slight arc to their longer lag putts, why don’t companies design moveable weights so you could change to a toe hang style for those long putts, and keep a face balanced style for short putts.

      Reply

      Steve

      5 years ago

      I believe that would violate the rules of golf. Clubs are not supposed to be changed during the course of play.

      Reply

      Stephen

      5 years ago

      H! Same answer from two Stephens. What are the odds?

      Stephen

      5 years ago

      I believe it would violate the rules of golf to adjust your putter mid-round, just like you cannot change the weight settings on a driver mid round.

      Reply

      Brad

      5 years ago

      So, it has to be said. We’ve been told before by MGS that if you are using a “no tech” putter – i.e. something other than the Evenroll “variable groove”, MLA “alignment tech”, or Ping “True Roll” type of alignment or face technology – then you are losing strokes.

      Yet, here we have the Taylormade Juno at the top of the heap, which is nothing more than a modern rendition of a Ping Anser blade design with a fairly commonplace face insert and nothing special whatsoever in the way of “tech”.

      For all the talk in recent years about the new “tech” in putters, the only real “tech” advancement I’ve seen in decades is the ability to obtain scientific, objective metrics about your putting stroke using ACTUAL technology such as the SAM PuttLab. Being able to use this real tech to provide better information to get a perfect fit for your putter or correct flaws in your stroke is probably the greatest technical advancements in putting since the 1960s. If more golfers made use of this actual tech rather than just buying the new hot putter on tour or the latest winner of “Most Wanted”, they would probably see more improvement. That and a lot of practice…

      The reality is that the last great breakthrough in actual putter “technology” was the perimeter weighted designs created by Karsten over 50 years ago. Everything else has just been a bunch of people whittling away at the margins. If there were anything revolutionary out there in the world of putting, most or all of the PGA pros would have moved to using it just as they all moved to using 460cc graphite shafted drivers rather than sticking with persimmon woods with steel shafts.

      Just saying…

      Reply

      Chris Nickel

      5 years ago

      Are you suggesting the “Pure Roll” insert present on the Juno is in no way, shape or form TaylorMade’s version of “variable grooves” “alignment tech” or “True Roll” ?

      We can certainly debate which advancements have had the greatest impact, but it should be noted 85% of the top 10 this year utilize some type of face technology to create more consistent results for golfers.

      Also take a peak at the top 10 in SG putting on the PGA Tour this year as there’s quite a few players using putters with technology. Practice and fitting are critical if players want to improve, but so is using the best technology available -even if it doesn’t fit your narrative.

      Reply

      Brad

      5 years ago

      Taylormade states that the intent of the “Pure Roll” face is to increase topspin and reduce skid. It’s basically just grooves cut at an angle. Nothing more. A pretty basic idea that’s certainly been used in the past.

      According to a data-driven test I’ve seen in recent years comparing various putter face “tech” in regards to topspin and skid rate, a putter with an entirely smooth face produced LESS skid than those with all of the face “tech” (including Evnroll), although it also had less topspin than many of them. So, I guess the “tech” helps creates some topspin. Fair enough. On the other hand, the same test showed the Ping True Roll face produced even LESS topspin than the smooth faced putter. Hmm.

      Even if some face “tech” can increase topspin or decrease skid measurably, it doesn’t mean such a putter is necessarily “better” or will help to hole more putts. Both of these data metrics can be heavily influenced by the variable amount of shaft lean or forward press a golfer uses in his stroke (even from one stroke to the next), which can de-loft the putter and change the outcome.

      Yes, I stand by my “narrative” that a properly fit putter, practice, and a golfer’s confidence with a specific putter are FAR more important than ANY face “tech”. If the idea of some super-duper, alien face “tech” provided some type of placebo effect to help a golfer to hole more putts, then that’s fantastic and they should use that.

      Regarding your other point about Tour use. If what PGA pros have in their bag were a good measure of what’s better, then Evnroll and MLA must produce a really poor putter, as must Cleveland? I wonder though if any of those top 10 pros are paid to use certain club lines that have their sponsors high dollar “tech” in them in order to help market them? Surely not. Never, ever. Nope.

      Weekend Warrier

      5 years ago

      Have you guys compared the skid distance between putter with grooves and without grooves on your launch monitor? There should be a difference if the putter face technology works. Other than skid distance, you can look at smash factor. Putter with grooves or softer inserts should have lower smash factor(if club delivery at impact is the same) which should lead to less skid distance.

      Regis

      5 years ago

      No. It didn’t have to be said. You just felt luv
      Me

      No it didn’t have to be said. You just decided to pontificate

      Reply

      Brad

      5 years ago

      And, you just decided to be a pompous a$$ who uses big words to show how small your mind is.

      Well done.

      Dave S

      5 years ago

      Tony — Why not go back to a Strokes Gained method in assessing and ranking these putters? The only thing that matters is which putter (or any club for that matter) will contribute to reducing your score the most. I know you’re well versed in SG, but we learned from Brodie’s book that how someone putts at 20′ is not nearly as important to their score as how they putt from b/w 5′-10′. I’m not sure what was ever wrong with your old SG methodology. You could still provide the 5-10-20′ data for people to see if that’s really important to some. Another benefit would be year-over-year club comparisons. Yes, with different tester pools or conditions, there will be inescapable minor inconsistencies in the data, but assuming the tester pool is large enough to be statistically significant, that really shouldn’t matter much. I do imagine though that some (most) manufacturers wouldn’t like that very much b/c it would pull back the curtain on their annual “this one is so much better than last year’s model” claims. But power to the people, right?

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      Dave,

      I covered this in a previous comment. Strokes Gained is great as a raw metric, but it doesn’t always hold up when we look at statistical significance. We haven’t seen any significant movement (putters don’t go from worst to first or vice versa), but we do have situations where putters climb or fall a couple of places in the rankings when we look at the statistical reliability of the data vs the raw metric.

      That makes perfect sense to us, however; when there are situations where we say a putter is ranked #1 (because our reliability tests tell us it’s more likely to be among the very best for a higher percentage of golfers), but it’s 2nd or 3rd under a Strokes Gained metric, it causes problems (we get accused of favoring putters despite the data, or being stupid, or any number of things that aren’t real).

      It’s just math, but unfortunately, most people aren’t interested in understanding how we do things, just whether or not it looks good to them at a cursory glance. We know not everyone reads all the details of how we do things…how we arrive at the results, etc., we have to do everything we can to make sure there aren’t any contradictions between the rankings and the data we provide. To us, those contradictions make sense, but to the typical reader, it looks like we don’t know what we’re doing.

      It’s also true that since our putts are from predetermined distances, Strokes Gained values are always perfectly correlated with putts (fewest putts, highest strokes gained value).

      Reply

      Olli

      5 years ago

      You write:
      „ If you tend to miss it to the right, your putter might have too much toe hang, or the arc is “too strong.” Conversely, if you consistently pull putts, or miss it to the left, your putter may not have enough toe hang.“
      Exactly the opposite is true. Toe hang helps closing the face and so you have too much of it if you constantly miss to the left.

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      You are incorrect.

      The following comes from Paul Wood, PING’s VP of R&D. It’s from a Golf.com story on putter fitting – specifically matching putter stroke to putter type. (https://www.golf.com/instruction/putting-tips-match-your-putting-stroke-and-putter)

      “Toe-weighted putters tend to stay open through impact, while face-balanced models tend to close. On the other hand, if you push a lot of putts, a face-balanced putter can help correct the mistake.”

      Reply

      Dave S

      5 years ago

      Please elaborate. If that’s the case, why do you, with an adjustable weight driver, move the heavier weight to the toe to promote fade bias (i.e. a more open face at impact)? If what you’re saying is true, then moving the heavier weight to the toe would promote a draw–which it doesn’t.

      Reply

      Kyle W

      5 years ago

      Both said the same thing I think you’re just misinterpreting it. Weight towards the toe will slow down face closure rate vs weight towards the heel. Toe hang aka more toe weight will promote a “fade” or slower closure rate vs face balanced with more work weight in the heel which will increase closure rate.

      Svengineer

      5 years ago

      If you want to eliminate the push or pull entirely, just buy a side saddle putter with the maximum allowable lie angle and a blade length that is as short as possible and putt with the shaft vertical. I have been using a side saddle putter for 2 years and I know it looks funny, but the results are just so clear that I will never go back unless the USGA makes up some targeted rule to eliminate the side saddle technique,

      Will

      5 years ago

      Very informative, but comes down to personal preference/feel. Give Taylor credit for coming out with a copper Juno, assuming the the weights are changable – their Juno offering from a few years back were not bad either. Ray Cook put out a milled copper putter, that had an Anser slot in the sole – had a great feel. Bettinardi BB1 (carbon steel), Cameron Select 2.5 (1 piece milled version), Ping Milled, Tad Moore Milled < all are great feeling/performing putters. Like anything else regarding quality golf equipment, it's the indian not just the bow…

      Reply

      John Marsh

      5 years ago

      Getting fit for a putter is important if you have an idea of what works for you. I was putting with an Aerofoil putter, I won a fitting & putter from Bobby Grace. Bobby Grace fit me for their AMG TOUR blade putter. My putting got better & I still use it many years later.
      ,

      Reply

      MattM

      5 years ago

      This list seems pretty thin compared to last year. I’m seeing less and less brands and more and more models from each brand mainly Ping and Bettinardi. What happened to half of the brands from last year? Why no Edel E-3 or Evnroll ER3 that were winners last year?

      I use to use these lists because you guys use to bring a lot of brands into the spot light and this year it’s what I’d find at a big box golf shop.

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      A good bit of this is up to the manufacturers to submit what they choose from their lineups. Evnroll elected to send just the new stuff. Edel sent the E-5. To a degree, we’ve stopped testing boutique brands (100% or mostly custom stuff) because of issues keeping up with orders if the putters do well. That said, there is an Edel in the mix. Tommy Armour was tested. Sentio, MLA, Argolf, these are not what you’d consider big brands.

      Reply

      MattM

      5 years ago

      Do you guys not get to keep the putters that are sent? Or do you have to send them back? I can see now why some brands are missing from the list without many boutique/custom brands.

      Also one more thing for the future. Could you guys put which hands the putters are offered in? There are many on this list that are only offered in RH and as a LH golfer I like to see what’s out there for us.

      Raymond CHASTEL

      5 years ago

      What counts is to make all and every put from 6 feet in and 3/4 of those from 9 feet
      I make 100%of those puts from 6 feet and near 90%of those from 9 feet .So there is no relevance for those puts from 20 feet and more .
      I have a whole bunch of putters t home with which I train every day I am not on the golf course .Most of them are the winners of the GOLF SPY X of the past years ,and I put very well with all of them .The alignment system is of no interest to me ,I see very well the line with no alignment marks at all.

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      This is an interesting opportunity to talk about some of the keys stats from the test that help to explain where performance differences lie.

      From 20′ approximately 80% of holes played (that’s basically what we do…select the starting distance and putt to completion) resulted in 2-putts.
      From 5′ approximately 75% of holes played were one-putted.
      From 10′ the mix was about 55%/45% in favor of 2-putts. It’s definitely where the biggest distinctions are found.

      Reply

      Calvin

      5 years ago

      PGA Tour Putt Distance Make %:
      6 feet = 65%
      9 feet = 43%

      Reply

      Dave S

      5 years ago

      Thank you for beating me to it. C’mon Raymond, give us a break! If you make 100% of putts from 6′ and 90% from 10′ (we know you don’t) then you must be HORRIFIC in all other aspects of golf lol.

      Rene

      5 years ago

      HAHAHA! Don’t y’all know? Ray is on tour like the rest of us!

      Nottingtom

      5 years ago

      To be fair I think a group of PGA tour players would be significantly better from 6 feet in a flat, straight putt!
      I am over 90% on my puttout mat, which must be 6-8 feet.

      Christopher

      5 years ago

      We sometimes forget that the stat from 6 feet includes various weather conditions, slopes and pressures, indoors a PGA Tour player would make a much higher percentage (I imagine we all do). But we often see players having hot streaks when they win tournaments where they’re miss very little inside 6 feet during a winning week.

      Jorge

      5 years ago

      Please explain why Evenroll scored so bad after dominating previous years? Did they change something to the new models? Just does not make sense

      Reply

      Raymond CHASTEL

      5 years ago

      The EVNROLL putters won two year in a row (I have both of these winners ).So there has to be a change .to give a chance to other manufacturers
      My “best ” (?)putter is a very old MIZUNO 8902 with a graphite shaft which “stands alone “when you lie it uprignt on the putting suface .

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      I wouldn’t say Evnroll scored “so bad”. It was excellent at 10′, and very good from 20′ as well. For whatever reason, the new models struggled a bit from 5′.

      Reply

      Stephen

      5 years ago

      If you look at 2018 the Evnroll 3 also struggles from 5′. It was ranked 18th in 5′, but it came in first from 10′ and 20′. This year Evnroll again shined in the 10′ and 20′ ranges (4th at 10′ and 2nd at 20′), but that wasn’t enough to overcome 23rd in 5′.

      For the record I game an Evnroll 7CS and I’m very happy with it.

      John

      5 years ago

      While I can appreciate what you are trying to do, I’m not sure I can rely on the results. I spend a lot of time putting, in fact, during the Winter months, that’s about all I do. I will spend an hour or more a day just putting – mostly in the 15 foot range, but I occasionally change it up to 30 foot and 2, 4, 6, and 8 foot ranges. I also track the putts made in every practice session. What I have found over the last couple years is that I can “adapt” to just about any putter when it comes to longer putts, but when it comes to putts in the 6 – 10 foot range, some putters provide better results than others. Why is that? In my case, it all comes down to which putter is the easiest to align to the hole. I have a slight arc to my swing and I can pretty much tell almost immediately if the putter is getting in the way of my swing. Without knowing what methodology was employed in this testing, if each tester was required to putt with each putter, and the putter doesn’t match their swing type, then the results will not be relevant because the putter is adversely affecting the putters ability to make a good putt. Consequently, the results may be negative for that putter, when in fact, the testers swing is not matched to the putter being tested. It would be much more relevant if the results were provided by swing type rather than lumped together. Is the TP Juno the most wanted putter simply because more of the testers putt with a slight arc? Tell me what I’m missing.

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      Well, that’s certainly one opinion. By that measure, you could argue that every golfer should just use the same putter and that they’d eventually adapt, which I suppose runs contradictory to your next point about the influence of stroke type.

      The stroke type thing is interesting for sure. There are things we know with certainty…face balanced putters, for example, are sold in disproportionate numbers relative to golfers with SBST strokes. We also know from years of testing that the measured stroke type, doesn’t always correlate with the toe hang of the putter. My suspicion, and it’s no more than that, is that guys at the extremes (very strong arc and true SBST) will almost certainly benefit from matching stroke type putters. Once you get into the mid arc…the middle of the bell curve stuff, I suspect (and again…just a suspicion based on what we’ve seen over the years), there’s a bit more flexibility in what can work from a toe hang perspective.

      And all of that said, stroke type is just one variable. Weight, alignment, loft…it all contributes.

      Reply

      bullman

      5 years ago

      curious as to why these tests never include Boccieri Heavy Putter. I have been using one for 15 years, though I try new ones every year, it’s still the best for me.

      Reply

      Dave Wolfe

      5 years ago

      Heavy Putter was included in the 2014 test and placed 22nd of 31 blades.

      http://mygolfspy.com/2014-golfs-most-wanted-blade-the-results/

      Reply

      Terry

      5 years ago

      OOF

      Corbin

      5 years ago

      Thank you so much for including winners for each stroke type!

      Reply

      Emery

      5 years ago

      This study definitely proves one thing. That a “putter test” is too subjective. The varying results from year to year and “most wanted” starts to show how this is really a non-repeatable study and a trip to the golf shop to play around with as many putters as you want and pick the one you like may be best. The greatest golfers and “putters” in the world have won numerous Majors/Championships etc with barely more than a piece of brass on the end of a stick. Still like seeing your posts in my email and like “reviews” but choosing a “best” is weak scientifically.

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      First, there is zero subjectivity in the test or the results. Is the word you’re looking for “variability”?

      If anything, I would point to the general consistency in our results (while also mentioning that as we learn, we change our ranking methodologies just a bit, and there is some year over year change in the testing pool). The Juno has been at or near the top since the first time it was tested. PING putters have consistently been strong performers, as have Evnroll, though the data suggests the new models may not be quite as strong as previous ones.

      If you want to go putt with a small piece of brass, or you think technology is meaningless (you seem to overlook the increasing use of technology in putters being played on tour), more power to you (you’re only hurting your own game), but your “Trumpian” use of “random” quotes, doesn’t give what you’re “saying” any greater basis in reality.

      Reply

      gunmetal

      5 years ago

      Emery you are correct. I appreciate the level of preparation and detail MGS puts into these tests, but it’s kind of pointless. According to the data, the Odyssey Stroke Lab #3 is absolutely terrible from 10′ when compared to other putters.

      Bottom line is this isn’t a test about putters as much as it is a test about people and groups of people putting on a given day.

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      Let me correct that for you:

      According to the data, the Odyssey Stroke Lab #3 was the top performing putter from 10′ when compared to the other putters.

      It, along with the Evnroll models, underperformed from 5′.

      This is actually what our data suggests.

      As previously stated, the 5′ result is interesting, and while we have theories, we don’t have a definitive answer.

      gunmetal

      5 years ago

      Tony,

      Thanks for catching that. I was in the process of updating that. Would love to hear your theory on why the 5′ distance was so bad. In my mind it makes no sense, other than the obvious human factor, which is why I think it’s tough to proclaim winners in the tests – you end up proclaiming losers also.

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      It’s definitely an interesting one for sure. As I hinted at in my previous comment, we have enough data to suggest that it doesn’t happen by chance, but we don’t have a concrete explanation as to why it happens. Since we’re talking about top group percentages, we’re not necessarily talking about a massive number of putts, but the margins are reliably different enough to cause certain putters to drop. It’s something we’re going to try and find time to look at with the Foresight putting module later this year.

      Admittedly, all we have are theories right now. Is it alignment? We know that different weights work better for lag putting, so weight could be a factor. With something like Evnroll’s grooves…is it as simple as the technology not being as effective at shorter distances. There’s always going to be a human factor, so we’ll look at working backward a bit to try and figure out why some putters that are excellent from 10′ can be bad from 5′.

      While it’s not absolute, we do find more of a general performance correlation between 10′ and 20′ than 5′ and either distance, which only makes it more intriguing why some putters didn’t perform well at 5′.

      Kev S

      4 years ago

      If people are missing putts from 5 feet on a relatively flat surface then they are either aiming wrong or delivering the face of the putter to the ball either Open or Closed, so it is human error..

      From 10 feet and certainly from 20 feet the pace of the putt is relevant but from 5 feet it is simply about either aim or open or closing the club face as leaving a putt short from 5 feet is unlikely..

      Even missing the sweet spot from 5 feet will not make the putt miss unless the club face is not square at impact. Just 2 degrees wrong will make the putt miss from 5 feet.
      From 5 feet it is definitely not the club at fault, if you look back on previous MGS tests a “small piece of Brass” Wilson 8802 came 2nd from 5 feet..

      Mark

      5 years ago

      Were any Toulon Putters part of the trial/test?

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      You’d have to ask Toulon and Odyssey.

      Reply

      gunmetal

      5 years ago

      Mark,
      My guess (judging from Tony’s short response) is that Toulon didn’t supply any of it’s putters for testing. And they’re dang expensive to go purchase just for the sake of testing.

      Toulon probably knows that they have just as good a chance ending up dead last on this test as they do ending up first place. The test is more about testing golfers than it is putters. That seems harsh and I appreciate MGS for the effort they put into these, but these tests are sorta meaningless when you’re using humans.

      No doubt the Juno is an awesome putter. But it’s certainly not any better than a Cameron, Bettinardi, Odyssey, Ping, or any other putter listed up there. I would concede that on that day of testing with the group of golfers that they had, it performed the best from 10′ and 5′ combined. But that by no means means that it is the best blade putter for 2019.

      IMO.

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      So a couple of quick points, I guess.

      First, yeah, Callaway (which includes Odyssey and Toulon) declined to participate in this year’s test. Obviously, there are must-haves on the full swing clubs, so with putters, we’re forced to limit what we buy. With Toulon being positioned as Callaway’s premium option, we opted to skip those.

      As to your second point, I would again point out that our testing has been remarkably consistent over the years. EVNRoll has done well (and has always been exceptional from 10 feet), the PING stuff is always in the mix, and this, I believe, is the 3rd time we’ve tested a Juno, and it would be the 3rd time it’s been among the best.

      I also need to point out that there is no “day of testing”. Our putter tests, like every other test we run, takes place over the course of several weeks. 20 guys don’t hit 10,000 combined putts in a single day. We randomize putter grouping between testers, and each tester comes in for multiple sessions. The reason why we do that is so our test is not influenced to any great degree by one guy having one good day, or even several guys having good days. Once we’ve collected 100% of the raw data (which is effectively a count of every putt from every tester with every putter), we further analyze it for statistical significance. In this case, we used a 95% confidence interval. We identify the best-performing putter in the test for each golfer, and then identify any and all other putters for which the performance was not reliably different (again, 95% confidence interval). Those putters are put into what we call the Top Group for each tester. Our rankings are based on often a putter appears in the top group across the entire pool.

      Basically, every aspect of this test has been conceived to reduce the probability that the results could simply happen by chance.

      So yeah, there’s quite a bit more to this in the planning, execution, and analysis, than your “one day of testing” suggestion, gives us credit for. That the Juno is no better than the others you listed is certainly an opinion, however, based on a more advanced analysis, I can tell you that for a greater percentage of golfers, it absolutely will be.

      Steve

      5 years ago

      I suggest putting previous year’s winner in the test for subsequent year for comparison. Would be amusing if the Evnroll ER3 for example came in 15th one year later.

      Reply

      Jay

      5 years ago

      The PING Sigma G Anser finished 2nd in 2017 and T-18 in 2018.

      The Carbon Ringo finished 3rd in 2016, but dead last in 2018.

      Interesting to say the least.

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      The Sigma G was an interesting case…hard to say what happened there, but definitely unusual (though I’d mention that was before we started looking at statistical significance. The Ringo…let’s just say it wasn’ the same.

      Kenny B

      5 years ago

      Of the 20 testers, is there an equal number of testers with SBST and arc putter strokes? Is there a correlation between a tester’s putter stroke and handicap?

      Could we see the best putters for players with a SBST stroke and the best putters for players with an arc stroke?

      Reply

      Mike

      5 years ago

      Will you ever be releasing the “Strokes Gained” for your Most Wanted clubs? Not only would it give a good indication of how good or bad the clubs are in relation to one another, but also would allow golfers to prioritize which category of clubs will help their game the most. If a putter has a 1.03 strokes gained, a driver .003, and a wedge 2.03, money would best be spent on upgrading wedges over getting a fancy putter or driver.

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      Maybe…It’s a tricky one for us. Let take a crack at trying to explain why.

      The results need to make sense (as much as possible). That is to say, if we rank a putter #1, we want to avoid presenting raw(ish) data in a way that some might interpret as contradictory.

      So, as that applies to Strokes Gained, the first thing to consider is that we don’t *need* the metric to quantify performance because everything starts from a controlled distance. Our putts are either 5′, 10′ or 20′, and so as far as the raw numbers go, the putter that completes what you might call our test course with the fewest number of putts will produce the best strokes gained value. It would easy to put a number on that.

      That said, we don’t just look at the raw data, we crunch everything to determine where the statistical reliabilities lie. To the degree that it can, that eliminates some of the chance elements of the test, and so what you get is a situation where the difference of a few putts would impact Strokes Gained values, but may or may not be statistical reliable. When there is no reliable difference (on a per tester basis), we conclude that the performance is identical. That comes through in our ranking methodology, whereas relying on raw data alone could suggest performance differences that aren’t real.

      Reply

      Mike

      5 years ago

      I guess my interest is not so much IF a club is better than another club, but HOW MUCH is it better. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, is the relatively poor performance of the EVNROLL and MLA putters when you had a YouTube video about how that technology is beneficial. I’m not insinuating that your test is flawed or your results aren’t valid. I’m wondering what has caused the difference in results from expected results.

      Second, what is the relative benefit of new technology across product categories? Is new technology more important in putters than other clubs? Will a new putter improve my game more than a new driver, iron set, or wedge?

      Mike

      5 years ago

      The Juno has been one of the top blade putters the past 3 years in a row. That is why I purchased it this winter (using 2017/2018 results). The Black Copper finish is gorgeous from the bottom. Super Stroke grip feels great. Rolling it great in the basement. Looking forward to this season.

      Reply

      Cory

      5 years ago

      There is a bit of an error in the Q and A section concerning length. States if putter is too long it may be too upright and Heel off the floor and if too short toe off the floor when these should be reversed.

      Reply

      HDTVMAN

      5 years ago

      Surprised Evnroll and Stroke Lab weren’t at the top! I like the Ping Sigma 2’s, but they need to offer a slightly larger grip than the PP60. I have re-griped the Sigma 2’s with the adjustable shaft, and it is very easy to do.

      Reply

      Mike Cahn

      5 years ago

      The research and article gets better each year. I have been and know quite a few center shaft putter users, how come you never test these?

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      It’s largely left to the manufacturers to submit the models they believe will perform best. That said, the Kushin, which performed really well, is a center shaft putter.

      Reply

      Steve S

      5 years ago

      Disappointed that the Tommy Armour wasn’t included. Concerned that it might finish 1 or 2 like the mallet did last year?(ok, that was kind of snarky)

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      The 2019 Tommy Armour Infusion Roslin was included.

      Reply

      Steve S

      5 years ago

      Sorry Tony, need to start using the old carpenters approach. Read twice, comment once.(or just shut up)

      Reply

      Matt

      5 years ago

      Where is last year’s winner, the Evnroll ER3?

      Reply

      Gabe

      5 years ago

      Any insight as to why some putters have drastic differences between 5 and 10 ft? Is it alignment or speed due to grooves or soft feel?

      Reply

      Rick

      5 years ago

      I agree some of these disparities are pretty interesting, almost makes me wonder if the column labels are in the wrong order. Take for instance the Odyssey #3, you are 3x as likely to make a 10′ (45%) putt than a 5′ (15%) or 2x as likely to make a 20′ foot putt (29%) than a 5′. Just seems a bit weird. Any follow up on that would be interesting.

      Reply

      Tony Covey

      5 years ago

      First, I need to point out that you’re interpreting the data incorrectly. It is NOT the make percentage. The results aren’t determined by simply counting putts, we consider the statistical reliability of those totals for each golfer in the test. The rank percentages shown reflect the frequency at which a putter is in the statistically significant top group across the testing pool. While we apply a couple of leveling and weighting algorithms, a simple interpretation is that the #3 was among the best putters at 5′ significantly less often than it was at 10′.

      As for why…there was a similar discrepancy with the Evnroll putters (which has traditionally been weaker in our tests at 5′ than at 10′ and 20′). The theory is that it may be related to alignment and/or efficacy of the face technology at a shorter distance. It’s something we may look at more closely in the future.

      Rick

      5 years ago

      Hey Tony thanks for the explanation! I guess I should have watched the video…

      Prez

      5 years ago

      What are the degrees of an arc that determine if it’s slight or strong, is a 6 degree take back and follow through considered straight, slight or strong arc?

      Reply

      Mike

      5 years ago

      Great content. I like the Q&A section. Very informative.

      Reply

      Terry

      5 years ago

      Wow, wow, wow. Evnroll got beat!!!

      Reply

    Leave A Reply

    required
    required
    required (your email address will not be published)

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Best Spikeless Golf Shoes 2024 Best Spikeless Golf Shoes 2024
    Buyer's Guides
    Apr 12, 2024
    Best Spikeless Golf Shoes of 2024
    First Look
    Apr 12, 2024
    Under Armour’s Cheesy Take on the Masters
    News
    Apr 12, 2024
    PING WebFit: Get Fit From your Phone
    ENTER to WIN 3 DOZEN

    Titleist ProV1 Golf Balls

    Titleist ProV1 Golf Balls
    By signing up you agree to receive communications from MyGolfSpy and select partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy You may opt out of email messages/withdraw consent at any time.