When it comes to putters, some are better options than others for beginner golfers. We tested more than 60 putters in 2025 and these are the ones we’d recommend if you’re new to the game.
Wilson Infinite Buckingham
The Wilson Infinite Buckingham was the best overall mallet putter of 2025 and it’s a perfect option for beginners. It had an impressive performance across all distances, especially for medium-range putts, which are important for scoring.
The alignment lines and stability also help beginners who are trying to learn the fundamentals of the game.
Our favorite part of the Wilson Infinite Buckingham is that it’s also one of the most affordable mallet putters in the test. A fair price and performance are a nice combination.
✅ Buy This If: You want a budget-friendly mallet that performs consistently at all distances and helps build putting confidence.
❌ Don’t Buy This If: You prefer a softer feel or want a more compact, traditional design.
Tommy Armour Impact No. 2
The Tommy Armour Impact No. 2 putter is the best blade putter of 2025. It also happens to be an excellent choice for beginners looking for a traditional blade with modern forgiveness and distance control.
You’ll notice that, just as we saw with the Wilson, the mid-range performance of the Tommy Armour Impact is most impressive and that makes it a great option for beginners who need versatility and consistency. It’s also fairly priced.
✅ Buy This If: You’re looking for a value blade putter with excellent mid-range performance and straightforward alignment.
❌ Don’t Buy This If: You struggle with off-center hits and need more forgiveness on long-range putts.
Runner Mallet
One of the issues you’ll run into as a new golfer is finding equipment that grows with you. That’s the nice thing about this Runner Mallet putter. The Runner putters were featured in our test for the first time in 2025 and they showed they can compete.
The Mallet offers consistent performance throughout but it’s especially strong on medium and long putts. The price tag of the Runner putters is quite a bit higher than our first two choices but this is a club that will grow with your game.
✅ Buy This If: You want premium-level performance with adjustability and stability across all distances.
❌ Don’t Buy This If: You’re just getting started and aren’t ready to invest more than $500 in a putter.
PING Scottsdale Prime Tyne 4
The PING Scottsdale Prime Tyne 4 is a great choice thanks to its performance for medium to long-range putts. If you are new to the game, it’s well known that PING putters have impressive feel and distance control.
Ratings for feel and aesthetics on the PING Scottsdale Prime Tyne 4 were high. Sometimes, having a better feel and more confidence in a putter can encourage improvements in distance control and that seems to be the case with the PING Scottsdale Prime Tyne 44.
✅ Buy This If: You want a stable mallet with standout performance on long putts and strong visual alignment cues.
❌ Don’t Buy This If: You have a straight/back-straight/through stroke; this one favors a slight arc.
Cleveland HB Soft 2 Black Model 1
The Cleveland HB Soft 2 Black Model 1 quietly put together one of the best long-range putting performances in the entire 2025 blade putter test. At 20 feet, it ranked among the top five, outperforming many higher-end models.
It finished third overall in our 2025 Best Blade Putter testing.
Its soft face insert delivers a muted, consistent feel, which can help new players develop better feedback on mishits. The look is clean and traditional with no unnecessary distractions.
✅ Buy This If: You want a traditional look with better-than-average long-range consistency and a soft feel.
❌ Don’t Buy This If: You prefer the alignment help and forgiveness of a mallet-style head.
Final thoughts
If you don’t see anything here that could work for your golf game, take a look at our complete blade and mallet putter testing.
Fake
1 year ago
The Buckingham changed my game for the better. Steady and stable, with a nice feel to it, in my opinion. I was lucky enough to get mine for $99 a couple years ago.