Our Job is Your Game

The most comprehensive blade putter test of 2021 is complete.

At MyGolfSpy, our job is to provide independent, unbiased and objective testing so you can make more confident purchasing decisions. Our 2021 Most Wanted Blade test is an indispensable guide for the off-the-rack buyer or for anyone looking for insight before their next fitting.

As always, we don’t want you to spend a dollar unless what you’re buying outperforms what’s in your bag.

If you’re in the market for a new putter, this test is for you.

2021 Most Wanted Blade Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #1 Stroke Lab Putter

The Odyssey White Hot OG #1 Stroke Lab Putter led the pack in this year’s test. The data tells the story.

• First in strokes gained overall
• Third in strokes gained from  five feet
• Second in strokes gained from 10 feet
• First in strokes gained from 20 feet

An impressive performance from, dare we say it, an original gangster. The Original White Hot Insert has made its long-requested reappearance. It did not disappoint as the 2021 Most Wanted Blade Putter winner.

Putter Buying Considerations

Length

Typically, stock putters come in either 34-inch or 35-inch lengths. Length can affect distance and direction. Many golfers find they fit better into putters with shorter shafts. Choose a putter that allows for a relaxed set-up based on your address posture.

Loft

The right loft promotes a smooth roll off the face. Too little or too much can cause bouncing, hopping and, ultimately, distance-control issues. We recommend working with a professional fitter to determine the right loft for your putting stroke.

Blade or Mallet?

Which is best for you? It’s a combination of personal preference and individual putting stroke. While there are few absolutes in fitting, those with a faster putting stroke often are better suited with lighter blade-putter options. If your stroke is slower and smooth, a heavier mallet might make more of an impact.

Toe Hang

As much as tempo is a factor in choosing the right putter, so too is the amount of arc in your stroke. If you open and close the face more than average, consider a heel-shafted putter with more weight in the toe. Balance the putter on your two index fingers. If the putter head hangs with the toe closer to 6 o’clock, it’s toe-balanced. A face-balanced putter will face the sky. Face-balanced putters are generally well suited for golfers with more of a straight-back, straight-through stroke.

Putter Features

While not quite to the extent of drivers, putters have gone high tech.

It’s not uncommon to find putters with adjustable weighting which, in addition to changing head weight, can alter toe hang to suit either a stronger or less arcing stroke. All Odyssey and Toulon putters offer multi-material Stroke Lab shafts. Evnroll, SIK and others offer face-milling patterns or inserts designed to not only promote smooth roll but consistent distance (and, in some cases, direction) on mishits.

Fast Versus Slow Greens

There’s a case to be made for matching the weight of your putter to the speed of the greens you play most often. On slow greens, heavier putters tend to perform better. On fast greens, a delicate touch is needed. Often a lighter putter will produce better results.

Field Notes

During our research to find the 2021 Most Wanted Blade Putter, we looked for trends into where the market is moving as well as noteworthy advances manufacturers have made to improve year-over-year performance. Over the course of testing, we solicit feedback from testers. Understanding what they liked, disliked or what they would change is valuable information. However, the subjective feel does not factor into the overall rankings.

Trends and Tweaks

• 2021. The year of the insert. The test results suggest so. Four of the top five finishers feature inserts: Odyssey White Hot OG #1 Stroke Lab, Tommy Armour Impact No.2 Wide, PING 2021 Anser 4 and Odyssey White Hot OG #1.
• Of the 22 models tested, 13 blade putters feature a slight arc toe hang (45 degrees), seven are strong toe hang (90 degrees), one is face-balanced (zero degrees) and one putter is torque-balanced (toe up).
• Companies offering multiple neck types for the same model head with increasing frequency. For example, EVNROLL V Series features a “drop-in hosel” capability. This allows for four different neck type offerings which provide more fitting options. We encourage our readers to get fitted for putters. The proper neck that matches your stroke type is influential for more consistent putting.
• This year, pistol grip options can be found in abundance. Twenty of the 22 putters tested featured a pistol grip. Of the 22 putters, only the Edel EAS 1.0 and Kirkland KS1 were without a pistol grip.

Notes From The Testing Pool

• A newcomer to the party, the Scott Golf Ace, was well received by a majority of testers. They praised its classic look and its pleasant feel. Some testers thought the chrome finish was too shiny.
• Golfers love a beautiful-looking putter, regardless of whether if it performs well. These putters were complimented for their looks: PING 2021 Anser and Anser 4, SIK Pro C, Scotty Cameron Special Select Newport, Newport 2.5 and Squareback 2.
• Midsize to oversized grips were praised by our testers on these putters: Edel EAS 1.0, Kirkland Signature KS1, EVNROLL ER2v, Wilson Staff Infinite Michigan Ave and Cleveland Frontline 8.0.
• For 2021, Mizuno rolled out additional putters in their M Craft Series. Testers said the M Craft IV had a great blend of feel and weighting. However, the iconic Mizuno Blue Ion finish received mixed comments.
• Another newcomer to the test, the XXIO Full Milled Blade,was highlighted for its softer feel and classic look.

2021 Most Wanted Blade Putter Data

2021 Most Wanted Blade Putters for 2021 – Buying Tips

GET FITTED

Ninety-five percent of amateur golfers haven’t been fitted for a putter. Would it surprise you to know that most PGA professionals (the guys fitting you for a putter) haven’t been fitted, either? If you’re playing the wrong equipment for your game, you could be costing yourself strokes. Don’t choose a putter just because it looks or feels good, get fitted for a putter that performs best for YOUR stroke and start making more putts.

FACE TECHNOLOGY

Face technology comes in different forms: variable grooves, face inserts or a more traditional milled face. While face technology varies, it is critical to the putter. The goal is simple  — to provide a more consistent result even when your stroke isn’t up to par. Utilize the technology to your advantage and choose the best one that suits your style and desires.

GRIP STYLE

Grips come in various sizes. It often boils down to personal preference. Larger grips may enhance control through the stroke but they may affect feel. Vice versa, a slimmer grip can increase feel but cause a lack of control. Pick your grip wisely.

2021 Most Wanted Blade Putter – Product Specifications

FAQ

Buying a Putter

Q: Should I get fitted 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 or the one you happen to make a couple of putts with. Do your research, know the facts and take your knowledge to your golf course or store with the intention of being fitted for the right putter for YOUR stroke. Your best chance of finding YOUR best putter comes from getting fitted.

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: An easy test of putter length: Take a comfortable putting stance with a putter. If the putter is too short, it likely it will sit too upright or the heel will be off the ground. If it’s too long, you’ll feel you’re crowding the ball and the toe will be pointing up slightly. Visit a fitter.

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

A: Name-brand putters range from $99 to more than $400. Higher-priced models are often 100-per-cent CNC milled but it’s also true that you could be paying a premium for the logo on the putter. Price may always be a factor but don’t assume the best putters are the most expensive.

Most Wanted

Q: How is the Most Wanted Winner determined?

A: Rankings for the best putters for 2020 are derived from Strokes Gained values relative to the average putter on an individual basis. We then take the average strokes gained for each putter across all 20 of our testers and aggregate the three distances tested (five, 10 and 20 feet). The Most Wanted Putter(s) is the one with the highest Strokes Gained value.

Q: How were 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 a mallet putter test?

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