What Are the Best Putters for the Straight Back Straight Through Cutting Style

Most Forgiving Putters

We hear a lot about forgiving drivers, woods and irons but less so with the flat-stick. This shouldn't be the case though because many brands construct the most forgiving putters possible to help us from six-feet, especially when we struggle to find the middle of the face and our strokes become more frayed.

But what makes the most forgiving putters? Well the best putters for forgiveness are usually mallets designs. They tend to be larger and there is more weight to them in the club-face, which can also be redistributed to other parts of the head which can help stabilise your stroke. The weight of the putter in the perimeter of the club-head offers better balance than what can be offered from a blade putter.

The best mallet putters also tend to have a larger sweet spot which can be beneficial if you are a player who struggles to consistently strike your putts out of the middle of the face. The weight in the club-head also helps here because it diminishes the twisting of the putter throughout the stroke too.

Also mallets often have some kind of alignment aid too which can help improve accuracy.

So bearing all of this in mind, here are some of the most forgiving putters, in all shapes and sizes, that are designed to get the ball rolling straight and true.

Joel Tadman tests 15 of the latest putter ranges in 2021 and picks his favourites

Alternatively if you are new to the game you should also check out our guides on the best putters for beginners, or the best putters for high handicappers too.

Most Forgiving Putters

Reasons to buy

+ Incredibly easy to line up putts

Reasons to avoid

- Triple Track option only useful with the corresponding Callaway golf balls

While this putter doesn't swing itself, it pretty much does the rest for you. Odyssey's 2-Ball Ten has added some incredibly useful alignment tools to a putter that is surprisingly lightweight, easy to roll and forgiving across the face

The new 2-Ball Ten comes with Odyssey's famous 2-Ball alignment and it really helped us with making sure the ball was lined up correctly and the face came in square at the point of impact; a very useful tool for those who tend to push or pull lots of putts.

Being a mallet, this is also a very forgiving putter and mishits aren't too punishing so this is ideal for the golfer who struggles with consistent strike. The feel off the face is nice and soft too and that feel is mirrored in the sound it makes off the face.

The 2-Ball Ten is also available with Odyssey's Triple Track alignment and this works very well with Callaway's Triple Track balls for even more help with alignment.

• Read our full Odyssey 2 Ball Ten Putter Review

Reasons to buy

+ Descending Loft Technology in the face provides consistent ball roll

Reasons to avoid

- Unorthodox design can be quite busy to look down on

Putters don't come much more futuristic in looks than the King 3D Printed Agera. It has the highest MOI of any Cobra putter thanks to its sheer size but also the multi-material construction utilizing a 3D printed nylon insert, aluminium and tungsten weights.

Everything on this putter screams forgiveness from its size, construction and face insert that provides one of the most forgiving putters on the market.

The forgiveness was mostly helped by the SIK Face Technology, which uses descending loft technology to produce more consistent launch and we've found it to be a genuine asset in our testing.

If you can get used to how funky and futuristic this putter looks, this is easily one of the most forgiving designs we've tested and would be a great asset for any golfer.

• Read our full Cobra King 3D Printed Agera Putter Review

(Image credit: Golf Monthly)

Reasons to buy

+ Easy to align and the wingback design makes it very stable

Reasons to avoid

- Expensive, but its performance, looks and feel match the price

Scotty Cameron is the go-to putter for those who want a hand crafted and premium putter in their bag.

The Scotty Cameron Phantom X 11.5 is the newest addition to the acclaimed, high-tec Phantom range and is a wingback, mallet designed for stability throughout the putting stroke.

This is an ideal mallet putter for those who like to have an arc in their putting stroke as the low bend shaft creates a nice amount of toe flow mixed with stability. There is further stability from the wings and despite its larger profile, these wings are not distracting to the eye and the clean white line running through the crown is a great alignment tool.

If you don't tend to have an arc on your putting stroke, we'd recommend the Scotty Cameron Phantom 11, which is identical in the head to the Phantom X 11.5 but with a different shaft that creates a face balance

• Read our full Scotty Cameron Phantom X Putters Review

Ping 2021 Fetch Putter

Reasons to buy

+ Soft face ideal for putting on fast greens

Reasons to avoid

- Not adjustable like the previous Sigma models

Ping's new 2021 range comprises 12 models across blades, mid-mallets and mallets that also benefit from new levels of forgiveness thanks to use of at least three materials in each head.

To balance feel, roll and ball speed, Ping has introduced a new dual-durometer Pebax face insert. The front layer is softer for precision on shorter putts while the back layer is firmer to provide good speed and distance control.

We like the sleek black aesthetic of the whole 2021 range and the shocks of red give it enough colour to pop on the greens.

The Fetch model also has a cool feature on the bottom that allows you to pick up the ball without bending down to get it, hence the name Fetch!

• Read our full Ping 2021 Fetch Putter Review

(Image credit: Taylormade)

Reasons to buy

+ A blade with mallet-like assistance, what's not to like?

Reasons to avoid

- A lot has gone into this and it's fairly pricey

Dustin Johnson is renowned for mixing things up at the putter end of the bag and he first tried the Truss mallet before putting the TB1 into play and winning at the Travelers in early 2021. He has grown up using a blade but enjoys the benefits of a mallet so this was ideal and it offered him more stability. Even the Tour pros need some of the most forgiving putters possible!

This is the only blade shaped putter in this list of forgiving putters and that is thanks to the mallet-like stability this putter has.

To enhance the quality of the roll all the Truss putters have the same Surlyn insert found in the Spider putters while the grooves are designed to get the ball rolling rather than skidding.

According to TaylorMade's data this Truss TB1 blade deflects 61.5% less than a standard heel-toe blade while the centre-shafted TB2 is up at 80.3%. Both of which also feature in our best TaylorMade putters guide.

• Read our full TaylorMade Truss Putters Review

(Image credit: Golf Monthly)

Reasons to buy

+ Premium performance at a cut price

Reasons to avoid

- Quite a large and busy putter head which won't suit all

This putter is an addition to the excellent Wilson Staff Infinite range of putters and very recognisable head shape that has become increasingly popular in mallet putters across the market, and one of the most forgiving putters too.

As with all the Infinite range, the Buckingham features counterbalance technology which combines a heavier head and grip weights, moving the balance point closer to the hands for a smoother and more controlled putting stroke.

The Buckingham also comes with an oversize grip as standard which is great for golfers who use a claw grip, or golfers who find themselves gripping too hard on a thin grip and want a softer feel.

At a very competitive retail price with a premium look and feel, the Wilson Staff Infinite Buckingham is a great option at a fractional price.

• Read our full Wilson Staff Infinite Buckingham Putter review

Reasons to buy

+ This is an outstanding looking model and there's an option to tinker with the weight

Reasons to avoid

- There's no topline alignment

Mizuno are back in the premium putter market with three M-Craft models. The 1 is a square back with a mid slant neck to help with an exaggerated putting arc, the 2 is a classic heel-toe with plumber's neck and is suited for a moderate putting arc. This model, the M-Craft 3, is a face-balanced mid-mallet and is suitable for those with less arc in their stroke.

They are all forged from premium carbon steel and then beautifully CNC-milled and the results are exquisite – there are also adjustable sole weights for added customisation.

You might not have considered a blue finish, it also comes in black and white, before but this might change your mind.

• Read our full Mizuno M Craft Putters Review

(Image credit: Golf Monthly)

Evnroll ER11V Putter

Reasons to buy

+ You'll struggle to find a putter that helps you more

Reasons to avoid

- More compact than old Evnroll mallets, but it is still quite big

The flagship model in the new Evnroll V Series putters is the ER11V, which is a high-performance mallet offering forgiveness and stability with a clean and compact look.

All Evnroll putters come with patented 'Sweet Face Technology', an innovative and unique mill pattern engineered to deliver uniform performance across the entire hitting area. You can really feel this at work in the ER11V too, making it an ideal option for a golfer who struggles with consistent roll and pace control.

The other putters in the V Series have the same innovative technology in the head and come with a number of different shaft bends so golfers can find an Evnroll putter that suits their putting stroke precisely.

(Image credit: Golf Monthly)

Reasons to buy

+ Incredibly stable and creates a consistent roll off the face

Reasons to avoid

- If you do like to rotate the putter then there might be more suitable options

The third member of the Spider putter family to make our list, the Spider SR is designed to be one of the most stable putters in the Spider range.

SR stands for Stability Refined and the stability comes from the Tour-inspired winged shape which features two back weights for the highest MOI performance, making it one of, if not the, most forgiving putter in the Spider range.

The Spider SR has the same TPU Pure Roll face insert that is used in the Spider EX, making for a soft feel with consistent roll allowing golfers to maximise their pace control on the greens.

The biggest difference between the Spider SR and the rest of the Spider range is of course the looks and the SR's arrow alignment tool is very helpful at keeping the blade square through impact. If you're after a forgiving mallet and like the shape of the Spider SR its an ideal putter.

• Read our full TaylorMade Spider SR Putter Review

(Image credit: Golf Monthly)

Reasons to buy

+  It's a thing of clinical beauty and Rose's putting stats have improved significantly

Reasons to avoid

- It's one of the pricier putters on the market

When this was launched it was said to be the world's first 'Perfect balance/Torque free' mallet putter. This was done by placing the centre of gravity exactly in the centre of the face and in line with the axis of the shaft which is said to create a perfectly balanced putter.

Justin Rose said of the putter: "I'd been wanting to use Axis 1 for a couple of years but hadn't been able to. That was a big part of my decision and why I changed equipment (from TaylorMade to Honma)."

The putter remains in the bag, unlike Rose's association with Honma.

• Read our full Axis1 Rose Putter Review

Reasons to buy

+ Classy, premium looks. Suits a variety of strokes

Reasons to avoid

- Can produce some sun glare

This is certainly one of the more subtle looking putters in this list and this is a huge plus point for the TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast Bandon 3.

It's still as forgiving as some of the more funky shapes and this putter comes with clean, clear alignment aids and a flush fit to the ground.

Off the face, it feels solid and offers up a surprisingly firm and loud sound at impact given the deep grooves on the face insert. This remained consistent across its length, though, and the speed was enough to impart a short, controlled stroke and still get the ball to the hole.

The Bandon 3 has more of a toe hang so is ideal for players who want to have the forgivness of a mallet and are perhaps moving from a blade.

For those who prefer a face balanced putter, the Bandon 1 will be the perfect match.

• Read our full TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast Bandon 3 Putter Review

Reasons to buy

+ Helpful alignment aids and plenty of off centre forgiveness

Reasons to avoid

-This is the most 'out there' putter and not one for the traditionalist

This is another that should suit plenty of strokes and tastes. This has the most forgiveness in the Heppler family and there is plenty going on with the airport runway lights catching the eye and the imagination.

The dots actually get closer together from front to back to simulate motion. More forgiveness is becoming more popular in putters these days and this should really help with your pace putting. Good for your confidence.

• Read our full Ping Heppler Putters Review

What to consider when buying a new putter?

When it comes to arguably the most important golf club in the bag, you need to think about what you want and what you like to use when it comes to the putter. A confidence-inspiring design that suits your eye and suits your stroke can save countless shots on the greens and a good flatstick is often a quick way of bringing the handicap down. So then what are the things you need to mull over before purchasing?

Head Design

Putters come in a traditional blade, mid-mallet or a mallet design. All three styles have positives and negatives to them for every player and luckily lots of brands implement technologies across all three.

Mallet putters tend to be much larger than blades and they usually come in various shapes and sizes. This helps in a number of ways. A lot of the time most of the weight in a mallet putter can be found in the club face however because of its design, weight can then be redistributed to other parts of the head which can help stabilise your stroke. The weight of the putter in the perimeter of the club-head offers better balance than what can be offered from a blade putter.

Mallet putters tend to also have a larger sweet spot which can be beneficial if you are a player who struggles to consistently strike your putts out of the middle of the face. The weight in the club-head also helps here because it diminishes the twisting of the putter throughout the stroke too.

Additionally if you struggle with alignment, a mallet putter could be the way to go. Alignment plays a crucial part in putting because it is all about accuracy and a mallet putter can be beneficial here by helping your eyes line up the putt.

A blade putter is a lot simpler in terms of design and will suit the traditionalists among you a lot more than some of the mallet putters pictured above. Blade putters also tend to suit players with an arc in their putting stroke because of the toe-weighted nature of the club-head.

Feel

Here, we're talking not just about the feel and sound the ball makes coming off the face but how the putter feels in your hands.

A quieter sound contributes to a softer feel, whereas a louder sound usually translates into a firmer feel. A firmer feel is often the product of shallow grooves or no grooves at all on the face, where sound can't be dissipated as effectively. They work better with softer feeling golf balls, where as soft-feeling putters work best with firmer golf balls.

You can get putters with adjustable weights in the sole that will alter the feel of the putter. For example, if your stroke is quite smooth and slow, a heavier putter will encourage that more. Jerky putters may prefer a lighter putter, although opting for more weight may reduce it, depending on what your goals are.

The putter grip plays a huge roll in the confidence you feel with a putter. Get one that feels right and sits in your hands comfortably while allowing you to return the putter back to the ball squarely and consistently.

Looks

You should get a putter that you like the look of as the aesthetics can play a role in inspiring or diminishing confidence on the greens.

Blades won't offer as much alignment assistance, but are still popular because of how they feel and the levels of forgiveness are increasing every year.

Mallet putters have more real estate, and can therefore provide more help to set the face squarely. Mid mallets are somewhere in the middle, offering a decent level of assistance without looking too cumbersome.

Value

Our final tip is to think about price because while there are some premium designs out there, there are also some models which offer excellent value. All putters will propel the ball towards the hole, but they do it in different ways. If performance is more important than looks or feel, there are lots of cut-price options out there that will do a good job and you can spend more money on other areas of your bag.

Dan is a Staff Writer and has been with the Golf Monthly team since early 2021. Dan graduated with a Masters in International Journalism from the University of Sussex and primarily looks after equipment reviews and buyer's guides on the website. Dan was a custom fit specialist at American Golf for two years and has brought his expertise in golf equipment to a huge range of buyer's guides and reviews on the website. A left handed golfer, his handicap index is currently 9.8 and he plays at Fulford Heath Golf Club in the West Midlands. His golfing highlight is shooting 76 at Essendon Golf Club on his first ever round with his Golf Monthly colleagues. Dan also runs his own cricket podcast and website in his spare time.

Dan is currently playing:

Driver: Ping G425 Max

Fairway: Ping G425 Max

Hybrid: TaylorMade Rocketballz

Irons: Ping i59 (4-PW)

Wedges: Ping Glide Forged Pro

Putter: Wilson Staff Infinite Buckingham

Ball: TaylorMade TP5 Pix

What Are the Best Putters for the Straight Back Straight Through Cutting Style

Source: https://www.golfmonthly.com/best-golf-deals/most-forgiving-putters-211552

Share this post