Mallet versus blade putters: one of golf’s most debated topics. But we don’t deal in subjective opinions at MyGolfSpy; data is our deal. So we decided to look at actual performance and see what the best putters on the PGA Tour are using. We pulled the top 10 PGA Tour players in Strokes Gained putting and investigated what putters they’re using. If anyone has figured out if mallet or blade takes the cake, it’s them.
Top 10 PGA Tour putters and their putter models
| Player | Putter Model | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Burns | Odyssey Ai-ONE 7S | Mallet |
| Harry Hall | Odyssey O-Works #1 Wide / Ai-One DW | Blade |
| Brandt Snedeker | Odyssey White Hot XG Rossie | Mallet |
| Danny Willett | Scotty Cameron T-5 Tour Prototype | Blade |
| Sam Ryder | Odyssey White Hot Versa Seven S | Mallet |
| Nico Echavarria | Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Seven | Mallet |
| Denny McCarthy | Scotty Cameron GoLo N7 (Tour-only) | Mallet |
| Jacob Bridgeman | Bettinardi DASS BB Zero Tour | Blade |
| Sami Valimaki | Odyssey Ai-One #1 | Blade |
| Cameron Young | Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype | Mallet |
Blade versus mallet: What the data shows
Of the 10 best putters on Tour:
- Six are using mallet putters
- Four are using blade putters
For a long time, blade putters were thought to be the most popular choice for professional golfers but we have seen a shift. The shift all comes down to data and what works and this aligns closely with Shot Scope’s amateur data which showed that mallet users:
- Make more putts inside six feet (82% vs. 75%)
- Three-putt less often (2.3 vs. 2.6 per round)
- Perform worse on lag putting but make up for it with better short-putting conversion
For the top 10 percent of putters in the Shot Scope database, it was even more lopsided:
- 93% make rate inside six feet
- Just 0.7 three-putts per round
What does it all mean?
Looking at these top 10 players, as well as the new data on blade versus mallet putters for amateurs, there are a few things we can determine:
- Tour players still mix blade and mallet designs. While mallets dominate the top 10, blades are still used by high-performing putters.
- Odyssey is the most popular brand. Six of the 10 players are using an Odyssey putter in some form.
- Mallets are gaining ground—even at the highest level. From Ai-One to Phantom to Tri-Hot, modern mallets strike a balance between forgiveness and precision that is good enough for PGA Tour professionals.
- Your best bet might not be a blade. If you’re struggling from inside six feet or losing strokes with three-putts, the amateur data strongly points toward trying a mallet.
Final thoughts
If you’ve been sticking with your blade putter because “it’s what the professionals use”, it’s time to choose what works for your game instead. Blades and mallets can work but you should get fitted and test the putter that makes it easier for you to make more putts.
OpMan
12 months ago
Grips, grip weights, grip sizes, grip lengths, counter balance, shaft type (graphite/steel, half graphite), shaft length, shaft weight, shaft thickness, etc etc……..
Not just about the head, is it? But also, head sizes, head weights, adjustable weights??? Some blades are as big as mallets.
Head steel type, face material, face grooves or not, soft or hard, etc etc…….
Does it fit your eye, the line, the dot, the neck, the toe balance, face balance, arc balance, lie balance, does it swing to your stroke, blah blah……..