It’s official—PuttView has revolutionized how MyGolfSpy conducts putter testing, and the results of the 2025 Most Wanted Mallet Putter test reflect a new era of performance-based insights. With 36 mallet putters tested, over 180 hours logged, and 23,040 putts tracked, the field was one of the most competitive we’ve seen in years.
While big brands like PING, TaylorMade, and Odyssey showed up strong, the surprises came from smaller names like Wilson, Runner, and Makefield. It’s a testament to just how much the putter market has shifted—and how much opportunity there is to find value and performance outside of brand recognition.
Let’s break down the winners, the surprises, and what this all means for golfers looking for their next flatstick.
Key Highlights from the 2025 Test
- Best Overall: Wilson Infinite Buckingham
- Runner-Up: Runner Mallet
- 3rd Place: PING Scottsdale Prime Tyne 4
- Best for Short Putts: Toura Proto P5
- Best for Medium Putts: Makefield Defiant
- Best for Long Putts: Stix Golf Compete Mallet
These putters earned their spots not by popularity or price tag, but by outperforming the competition in various putting ranges. And in the most balanced performance across short, medium, and long distances, Wilson’s Infinite Buckingham stood tall.
What Makes a Great Mallet in 2025?
Mallet putters have long been praised for their forgiveness and stability. In 2025, the trend continues, but with even greater nuance. Thanks to PuttView’s advanced tracking, we now understand not just which putters drop the most putts, but how they control proximity to the hole, speed, and dispersion—critical factors in improving putting performance.
The Wilson Infinite Buckingham won not because it dominated all three ranges, but because it showed exceptional performance at medium distance—the range that has the greatest separation in overall scoring. In fact, it was second only to the Makefield Defiant in this zone.
The Runner Mallet also made a strong case, especially on short and medium putts, while offering solid consistency across the board. And for those who prioritize long-range consistency, the Stix Golf Compete Mallet emerged as a standout performer.
Tight Margins, Big Takeaways
Performance across mallets was tight. The gap between the top and bottom PuttView Handicap performers was just 3.3 strokes—much closer than what we saw in blade putter testing. That means selecting the best putter might come down to fitting, feel, and visual preference as much as pure performance.
The top mallets in each category:
Short Putts: Toura Proto P5 (-7.8 PuttView HCP)
Medium Putts: Makefield Defiant (-9.7)
Long Putts: Stix Golf Compete Mallet (-12.2)
However, several of these specialized putters also performed poorly in other categories. Toura was weak on medium putts, and the Stix mallet lagged behind on short ones. That balance—being solid across ranges—is what ultimately put Wilson’s Infinite Buckingham at the top.
What the Forum Thinks
Forum members have started chiming in on the surprises this year. Many are intrigued by the underdog showing from Wilson and Runner, particularly because these brands typically get passed over for bigger names like Scotty Cameron or TaylorMade.
One user noted, “I rolled the Buckingham after seeing the numbers—it feels super solid and rolls it straight. I’m honestly shocked it’s not more popular.” Another added, “The Runner mallet isn’t pretty, but if it keeps the ball online, I’ll learn to love it.”
This sentiment matches what MyGolfSpy’s testing emphasizes: ignore the badge, trust the data.
Subjective Appeal vs. Real Performance
While big names like Odyssey, Scotty Cameron, and PING still dominate the subjective category (sound, feel, and looks), they didn’t steal the spotlight in raw performance. In fact, Wilson and Runner scored lower on subjective categories but excelled in making putts and leaving makeable second attempts.
As one tester put it: “The prettiest putter won’t save you from three-putting.”
Final Thoughts
With tighter margins in performance and better understanding through PuttView data, choosing a mallet putter in 2025 should be all about your needs as a player. Do you need help on short putts? Toura’s Proto P5 might be your tool. Looking for long-range control? The Stix Mallet could be your answer. Want consistency across the board at a great price? The Wilson Infinite Buckingham is hard to beat.
Whether you’re looking to make a change or just understand what’s new in the market, the MyGolfSpy Forum is already deep in discussion. Join the conversation, share your gamer, and let us know—did the results surprise you?
MarkT
1 year ago
I was going to grumble about no pictures or links? then I see this is just a repurposed article from May 16th.