Blades Versus Mallets—A Performance Analysis
With technology constantly changing, two simple constructions are staying constant: blade and mallet putters. Over the years, we’ve seen some astonishing designs in both categories. There are classic, well-known ones such as Odyssey 2-Ball, PING Anser, Scotty Cameron Newport … the list goes on and on. But there are some head scratchers too: PING’s Doc 17, Odyssey’s 2-Ball Blade, Axis1 and Taylormade’s Truss.
But let’s face it: looks and feel don’t always equal performance. Is there a significant statistical performance difference between blades and mallets? Is the differential minimal? Let’s take a look.
Most Wanted Putter Testing
During our Most Wanted testing season, we test both blade and mallet putters. Through these tests, we gain insightful performance data. The data collected and utilized in this article is from 18 testers who participated in both our Most Wanted Blade and Most Wanted Mallet tests.
Putter Technology
Through the years, technology has been the focal point of putter innovation.
For blade putters, a timeless design blends with a focus on feel and precision. Over time, peripheral, heel-toe weighting became relevant, which brought forth enhancements in consistency and forgiveness. Nowadays, face technology is at the forefront. In 2021, there was a plethora of face innovations. Odyssey’s White Hot Face was reborn. Sik implements Descending Loft Technology. Tommy Armour features a CNC milled 6061 aluminum face insert. Face technology has many different forms.
Mallet putters offer a smidge more than blades. For example, more head size. This allows for increased forgiveness or, in golfing nerd lingo, “MOI”, short for moment of inertia Generally, face technology stays consistent between mallet and blade offerings from the same OEM.
Blades Versus Mallets Results
Our current world thrives on statistical performance. Let’s address this question: Are there significant performance differences between blades and mallets? Check out which group performed best from five, 10 and 20 feet below.
From five feet, mallets putters had a two-putt better average than the blade putters. At 10 feet, blades got the edge with a four-putt better average. With a three-putt better average, blades took the advantage at 20 feet. Overall, blades had a four-putt better average versus mallets.
Although the average total putts from each distance and overall are minimal, there is a statistical differential worthy of attention. Let’s take a look at some key takeaways.
Key Takeaways
1. Blades Excel From 10 Feet
With a 223 total putt average, blade putters had four fewer putts than mallet putters. In addition, there was a five-putt differential between the best blades and the best mallets from 10 feet. Tommy Armour Impact No. 2 Wide and Odyssey White OG #1 both had a total of 211 putts. From 10 feet, Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball totaled 216 putts. Cleveland’s HB Soft Premier 10.5 was the second best mallet with 219 total putts. Not only did the blade putters collectively perform better but two blades outperformed the best mallet from 10 feet.
2. Tester Benefits Blades Versus Mallets
During these tests, data was collected from 18 different testers. Each tester participated in both tests. Over the course of testing, testers saw benefits by using blades or mallets. On average, 10 testers saw a 1.02 total putt decrease when using mallets while eight testers had a 1.24 total putt decrease when using blades. But the testers who benefited from using blades saw the better decrease in average total putts. Quite the result.
3. Best Putters Across the Board
For both blades and mallets, there are three putters within each category that performed best for testers across the board.
Within the blade category: Odyssey White Hot OG #1 Stroke Lab, Tommy Armour Impact No. 2 Wide and Scotty Cameron Special Select Squareback 2. These putters finished first, second and third, respectively, in average total putts.
In the mallet category: Odyssey Triple Track 2-Ball, Odyssey 2-Ball Ten S and PING Harwood. Again, respectively finishing first, second and third.
Get Fitted
Based on our data set, blades have a slight advantage over mallets, specifically from 10 and 20 feet. There is no absolute reason as to why this outcome came to fruition. In testing, there were testers who saw performance benefits while using blades. On the other hand, testers saw performance gains when using mallets. When considering a new putter, compare a blade putter versus a mallet to see which one performs better for you. Once you’ve established that, go get fitted. Proper length and lie with a putter can truly benefit you.
Andrew
3 weeks agoMy takeaway from this is that we should carry two putters in the bag. A blade for the long putts and a mallet for the 5 footers!
Phil
4 weeks agoScott,
I use a 36 inch putter. Go to Club Champion or other reliable fitter. The coolest thing was realizing how rarely I hit the sweet spot. The right size and style were such a refreshing change. My putting use to be such a weakness and now its a stronger part of my game.
Abraham
1 month agoPutters are the one club that may not benefit as much from fitting. Most big golf stores have a good putting green where you can try out dozens of clubs.
That kind of casual testing is not as easy with other clubs.
Putters are much more “feel” dependent than other clubs in the bag. Also, I think the shaft isn’t as important because the swing speed is so slow compared to a full swing.
Players that are considered great putters would succeed with a variety of different style clubs.
I do think there is value in changing putters occasionally during a slump. Sometimes getting a new club sparks confidence.
Mike
1 month agoApologies, but completely disagree about the fitting aspect. I’ve gone for a putter fitting: it determined my proper length, lie angle & loft. Yes, feel is absolutely very important but knowing my optimum “numbers” helped steer me to the “best-match” putter.
Jimmy Choo
1 month agoI have a total of 6 putters currently, both mallet and blade. And I have used more than 10 putters that include Scotty, Ping, Odyssey, Yes, Rife etc….
Ok, I am not good at green which explain why I have so many putters. Just share with you guys on some finding,
40% on “CORRECT” practice
40% on reading green
15% on equipment
5% on luck
I like to use blade when the green is huge and fast, mallet when green is small and slow. I think other than blade and mallet, we should look at the toe hang, this is especially important if you have a soft grip.
Andrew J
1 month agoLove your analysis. Only I believe it is 50% practice getting your ball to roll on the aim-line desired at the speed desired to hole the putt. Then other 50% is greenreading. which is guaranteed accurate per Math that comes with P&SI EGOS. Luck and equipment are negligible
Nocklaus
1 month ago5 foot is the shortest putts here. Thats not a sure make. I would like to see putts made from 3 feet, cause that should be a sure putt. So the putters that dont putt a 3 foot putt in the hole, we could rule out.
Phil
1 month agoI got fitted a few years ago and it was eye opening. Absolutely shocked how rarely I hit the sweet spot. After the fitting, my confidence rose due tot he right size of putter ( I am 6’6), lie and loft.
My suggestion is go to Dicks and try 4 or 5 different styles of putters and see what suits your eye best. I always wanted a Scotty Cameron because of the name. I hit it for a while and hated it and sucked with it! You may find a cheap putter that suits you well and performs well. Try a lot and once you figure out a style, try several brands in that style. Then go to 2nd Swing or Global Golf and save a $100 bucks or more.
scott
1 month agoHey Phil, I am 6’6″ as well, curious as to how long you putter is? thanks
Phil
4 weeks agoScott,
I use a 36 inch putter. Go to Club Champion or other reliable fitter. The coolest thing was realizing how rarely I hit the sweet spot. The right size and style were such a refreshing change. My putting use to be such a weakness and now its a stronger part of my game.
scott Justus
1 month agoHi Phil…let me try this again….I realize custom fitting is the way to go but I don’t run into that many tall golfers…I am also 6’6″ and am curious as to what length putter you were fitted in…thanks
Mulegolf
1 month agoWhat I didn’t notice in your article is, how many of your testers actually use blades and mallets in their own game. I’ve got to believe that testing the type putter that you are used to using would result in better numbers than you would get using the other type of putter.
Karl
1 month agoInteresting and imho very valid point.
Meyersp
1 month agoIt would be interesting to see if any of the scoring apps collect putter model information. They already would have the users handicap and # of putts per round for thousands of users. With that many users, they could see trends (blades vs mallets) and perhaps other combinations. Big data at work.
Garrett
1 month agoFirst: throw everything you read in this article out your brains.
Second: get fitted and purchase a LAB putter. Trust me. Don’t waste your time with inferior technology any longer.
Phillip Bishop
1 month agoLAB will be included in 2022 Testing.
Steve S
1 month agoI like the focus of the article. However, I have improved my putting in the last 2 years due to 2 factors. I spend more time trying to read putts and I bought a putting mat which is parked in front of the TV. Basically anytime I’m watching TV I’m putting. Hours of practice on stroke mechanics have improved my “up and downs” and reduced my 3 putts to the point that I’m kinda shocked when I get one. I have used 3 different putters over those 2 years. A mallet that is face balanced, a blade that is toe down and a blade that is toe up. Results have been similar with all three. Apparently my brain corrects my stroke based on feel without me knowing. Drove the guy at the PGA Superstore crazy because I putted the same with about everything he gave me. He couldn’t believe it. I focus on impact and a square putter face at impact. The rest takes care of itself. A friend of mine says that if you are a “good putter” you can putt with anything that is a stick with a hunk of metal at the end. He might be right.
Dave
4 weeks agoYou’re a lucky (& rare) guy Steve S.
Tim
1 day agoWhat putting mat is parked in front of your TV?
Dan Zimmerman
1 month agoOnly 18 testers? 55% — or ~10 golfers — performed better with mallets… TINY differences suggest you need more testers over several years OR Arccos-type big data collection to even begin a relevant discussion.
Jeremy Sibley
1 month agoI agree….this test, and many others on this website, havs such a small sample size that the variables involved make them all statistically irrelevant. If anyone places weight on this stuff they better shake their heads.
Tom Pane
1 month agoI switched from a Taylor Made blade to a PXG mallet with no regrets. By the way, I tested all that you listed over the past year.
MrHogan
1 month agoOle rule of thumb. If you tend to leave putts short, consider switching to a mallet. A mallet has a greater MOI and will help get the ball to the hole..
joe
1 month agoGuys,
Your website is fantastic. The video blog is fantastic. You did a great job with the ball testing.
Possibly to continue to enhance your scientific/golf credibility you could consult a statistician on the “statistical significance” of a 1.24 putt difference over 225 putts? (0.005% is probably not statistically significant) The other question for the statistician is, “was the study powered” with enough putts to demonstrate statistical significance? (is it 18 x 225 = 4,050 total putts. definitely does not show a statistical significance.)
Again, you guys are the best, I love your work, very entertaining. Possibly as you venture into more of the scientific aspect of these tests, your credibility would be enhanced if you enlisted a statistician? (not me)
Jeremy Sibley
1 month agoWith the variables involved this year is irrelevant and a product of nothing other than than the testers own performance over a set of outta that likely has little to no correlation with the putter itself. You could run the same with your own putter twice and have far different results. Concentrate on feel and confidence when buying a putter not this nonsense
Jeremy Sibley
1 month agoConcentrate on feel and confidence when buying a putter, not irrelevant tests like this nonsense. I have a BA in Econ, have taken a significant amount of statistics, and understand Multiple Regression Analysis. This year simply proves nothing.
Andrew J
1 month agoDo any of these blades or mallets guarantee you will make more putts next year than in any previous season? Nope, but P&SI EGOS does. It holes putts you use to misread & miss, but no longer.
MrHogan
1 month agoOld rule of thumb was, if you tend to leave putts short, consider trying a mallet type putter. Mallet has a greater MOI and will help get the ball to the hole.
George Hammond
1 month agoInteresting. I got a mallet (Ping Fetch) in 2020 and have been using it since then. Before that I used a blade, an old Knight One-Shot. I seem to miss more putts within 5 feet with the mallet. I seem to do better with the mallet on slower greens and with the bad on faster greens. I am considering going back to the blade, but would buy new if I do.
Greg Johnson
1 month agoI recommend that you get both. Get fitted for several putters to find your best performing blade and your best performing mallet from 10 feet and 5 feet. I have posted before that I disliked the look of the best performing blade putter from my fittings. But the dang ball kept going into the hole! I love it a lot more now.
I like the mallets because nothing ruins a round more than missing putts 5 feet or shorter. Mallets will help with that, but practice makes a more permanent solution.
Carl Licari
1 month agoInteresting results. I actually prefer a blade. I bought a Scotty Newport 1 and was disappointed in the inconsistent ball strike feel. Just this week same story with the Odyssey White Hot OG #1 Stroke Lab. I have found NOTHING that gives the consistent, solid feel of the Taylormade Spider Tour with “Pure Roll” face. I’d try a blade if they made one with that face. In the end it’s all subjective. Good article guys.
Geir
1 month agoI don’t understand the numbers… Blades see 1.24 strokes improvement over mallet testers, yet you say 55% perform better with the mallet?
Elliot
1 month agoGuessing more putts from 5 yards, so skews the average
Dave R.
1 month agoI’ll take a mallet any day. My putting has improved dramatically since I switched from a blade, and I’m talking about long putts from 15-50 feet.
Brian Parkinson
1 month agoThis has been a quest of mine recently. Since I’m accumulating putters at a rapid rate, I’ve been trying to focus on value models such as the Tommy Armour Impact 2, and the Inesis Mallet, and Inesis Half Moon, and a Wilson Armlock. Just didn’t love the old Scotty Newport 2 CB anymore. Anyway, I agree with the article – the Tommy doesn’t feel as good, and doesn’t look as good, but it consistently rolls them in the hole better than the feel/look putters. But the process of acquiring a few different types and styles has let me practice until I can figure out what’s best for me.
Scott
1 month agoBrian, if you’re into value putters, the Wilson Staff Infinite series are great, too. They’re mostly $99-129 and in my experience perform better for me than bigger name and more expensive putters. I do want to look into the Tommy Armour putters but the stores around me don’t stock many.