Mallet putters tend to be stable, forgiving and easy to align. However, the differences we saw in performance from the first versus worst mallet putter comparison were eye-opening. If you are a mallet putter player and feel like your golf bag may need an upgrade this season, the Bettinardi Inovai 6.0 would be the putter to consider. It finished as the top putter from 10 feet for more than 40 percent of our test group. This year’s Best Mallet Putter test featured 46 models so the Bettinardi had its fair share of competition.
Putt distance: Five feet
When testing the best mallet putters, we evaluate performance from five, 10 and 20 feet. Scores are weighted: 55 percent for 10-foot putts, 25 percent for five-foot putts and 20 percent for 20-foot putts. This method ensures our results for the best golf putters of 2024 are those that are most likely to perform when a one-putt is needed.
The Bettinardi Inovai 6.0 and the Lazrus Golf Milled Face struggled from the five-foot range. Each scored 7.9/10 and fell well behind the best putter from five feet, the Meridian Key West. If your main weakness on the putting green is the short putts, neither of these putters will do the trick.
Putt distance: 10 feet
The 10-foot putts are the ones you need to make. They will be the difference that helps you shoot some of your best rounds of golf. When you just have to make a 10-foot putt, you’ll want the Bettinardi Inovai 6.0 in your hands. This putter scored a 10/10 for putts from 10 feet.
The Lazrus struggled.
The Lazrus’s worst performance in the entire test was from 10 feet. It finished last with a score of 6.1. If you aim to lower your handicap and make more putts, you’ll need a putter that can be counted on from 10 feet.
Putt distance: 20 feet
Now you’ll get to see why the Bettinardi Inovai was the putter that delivered the one-two punch in 2024. It had a score from 20 feet of 9.9 whereas the Lazrus scored 8.1. To score a perfect 10 from five feet and follow up with a nearly perfect score from 20 feet says a lot.
From 20 feet, the Bettinardi was the best putter for 25 percent of our testers.
Value
The $75 Lazrus is much less expensive than the $400 Bettinardi. However, the putter is the most-used club in your bag and will have the biggest impact on your scoring ability. Although the Lazrus has a lower price, the real value is found in the Bettinardi.
Bottom line
Get fitted and see which one works best for you. The Bettinardi Inovai 6.0 was one of the highest-performing putters our Best Mallet Putter test has seen. However, it does have a fang-style look that may not work for all players.
One tester said, “definitely an interesting, fang-style mallet, which won’t appeal to some golfers. However, the performance speaks for itself.”
If you are in the market for a new mallet and need a place to start, the Bettinardi Inovai 6.0 is a good place.
First Versus Worst Mallet Putters: Which is right for you?
Who’s it For?
✅ You value making putts from 10 feet: The Bettinardi Inovai 6.0 is the best from 10 feet.
✅ You want more consistency from 20 feet. Most golfers don’t think about making the 20-footers. With the Bettinardi Inovai 6.0’s performance, more of them may drop.
Who’s it not for?
❌Golfers who struggle with short putts.
❌ Anyone on a budget.
Who’s it For?
✅ You need a cheap putter. Priced at just $75, this is one of the lower-priced models in the 2024 Best Mallet Putter test.
Who’s it not for?
❌ Players who want performance from 20 feet.
❌ Anyone trying to make more 10 footers.
TENBUCK
2 years ago
This was an obvious test result, however, nothing was said about feel, feedback, weight of the putter’s, balance point or anything technical. Appreciate the article but without the technicalities it’s just a test of 2 putters.