Which Putter Type Is Best in 2025? Mallet, Blade And Zero-Torque Compared

Thanks to modern testing, picking a putter is no longer about feel. With PuttView Handicap, we’re able to compare putter performance on equal footing across head shapes, stroke types and skill levels.

This metric evaluates how many strokes a putter would gain or lose relative to an average golfer based on real start-line, launch, speed and leave-distance data. In 2025, that lets us finally answer a question golfers have debated seemingly forever:

Which is the best performing putter? Mallet, blade or zero-torque?

To find out, we compared the top performers from each of our 2025 Most Wanted putter categories.

• Best Zero-Torque Putter — L.A.B. OZ.1i
  • PuttView Handicap: -7.6
  • Distance to Hole: 0.59 ft
• Best Mallet Putter — Wilson Infinite Buckingham
  • PuttView Handicap: -7.6
  • Distance to Hole: 0.69 ft
• Best Blade Putter — Tommy Armour Impact No. 2
  • PuttView Handicap: -6.1
  • Distance to Hole: 0.73 ft

Zero-torque and mallet putters finished in a statistical tie

The L.A.B. OZ.1i (zero-torque) and Wilson Infinite Buckingham (mallet) posted identical PuttView Handicap scores at -7.6, the strongest scoring performance across all category winners.

The OZ.1i holds a slight advantage in average leave distance at 0.59 feet, the best of the group.
The Buckingham follows closely at 0.69 feet.

Blades performed well but with a lower forgiveness ceiling

The Tommy Armour Impact No. 2 was the top blade with a -6.1 PuttView Handicap and 0.73 ft average leave. This is still a strong performance but blades overall showed more variability on mishits and greater face-rotation sensitivity.

How to choose the right putter type based on 2025 performance data

Getting fitted for a putter will tell you exactly what you need. However, our 2025 testing shows clear performance patterns across zero-torque, mallet and blade putters.

If you need more face stability → Look at zero-torque putters

Zero-torque designs reduce unwanted face twist which helps testers produce straighter start lines and fewer open-face misses.

Choose this category if:

• You struggle with keeping the face square.
• Your speed control is inconsistent because the face wobbles at impact.
• You want the putter itself to help stabilize your stroke.

If you want consistent, forgiving performance → Consider a mallet

Across the full mallet test pool, these putters delivered high MOI, better stability on mishits and reliable start-line performance for a wide range of golfers.

Choose this category if:

• You like a familiar, confidence-inspiring shape.
• You rely on alignment features.
• You tend to miss the center and want more forgiveness.

If you rely on feel or have an arc stroke → A blade may still fit best

Blades showed more sensitivity to strike and more toe rotation through the stroke which suits players who already control the face well.

Choose this category if:

• You have a natural arc-style stroke.
• You prefer more rotation and more feedback.
• You want a compact profile and traditional feel.

Final thoughts: Which putter type is best in 2025?

While the zero-torque and the mallet tied with the best PuttView scores in 2025, the real takeaway is simple: the best putter for you is the one that matches your stroke.

For deeper insights, check out the full results from our 2025 putter tests.

• 2025 Zero-Torque Test
• 2025 Mallet Test
• 2025 Blade Test