Blade vs Mallet Putter | How to Decide Which is Best For You

Putting can be the make or break moment on the golf course, and the putter you choose can make all the difference - blade or mallet?

It's the ultimate golf dilemma, and one that has caused heated debates among casual golfers and golf purists for years.

Tired of the back and forth? So are we, and we're here to help you navigate the green and decide once and for all which putter is right for you in this ultimate blade vs mallet putter guide.

In this article, you'll learn the advantages and disadvantages of each putter type, how to putt with each one, the differences between the two, how to decide which putter design is right for you, reveal the best putter for both styles, and answer some common FAQs.

So, grip that club tight, take a deep breath, and let's dive into the blade vs mallet putter debate.

A mallet putter has a larger, more rounded head shape than a blade putter, with the weight distributed toward the back. They also often have alignment aids, such as lines or dots on the top of the clubhead to help with alignment.

Mallet head putters are generally more forgiving and offer greater stability, making them a good choice for golfers who struggle with consistency.

There are several advantages of using a mallet putter over a blade putter, such as forgiveness, stability, alignment aids, and distance control.

Mallet head putters are more forgiving with off-center hits due to the larger club head size and higher MOI.

While mallet putters do have several advantages, the potential disadvantages to consider include weight, feel, appearance, and price.

Seeing as mallet style putters are heavier than blade putters, it can be more difficult to control putts from a short distance or ones that require a delicate touch. The extra weight can also be fatiguing for some golfers.

Some golfers find that mallet head putters don't provide the same feel on impact because of the large club heads and different weight distribution, which can make it more difficult to judge the speed and distance of your putts.

While it may not have any impact on performance, the appearance of even a premium mallet putter is unappealing to golfers who prefer the traditional look of blade design putters.

The final drawback doesn't impact performance either, it's just that mallet head putters tend to be more expensive than blade putters.

A blade putter has a thin, flat putter head with a small sweet spot and feature a classic shape that's typically more traditional looking. They are often used by golfers who prioritize feel and feedback over forgiveness on off-center hits.

Seeing as blade putters require a steady hand and a consistent putting stroke, they're a good choice for skilled golfers that don't need the help of forgiveness, alignment lines, or other aides that most mallet putters offer.

While blade design putters are often considered to be less forgiving and generally have less features that bring off-line putts straight back on-line, there are some advantages that may be appealing to more experienced golfers, such as feel, accuracy, versatility, and aesthetics.

While this last advantage doesn't affect performance, the traditional aesthetic of a blade style putter is simply more appealing due to the clean lines and minimalist design.

In a nutshell, blade design putters can be a great choice for skilled golfers that don't need any alignment or accuracy aides and prioritize feel and accuracy in their putting stroke.

The disadvantages of a blade style putter are essentially the advantages of a mallet design; lack of forgiveness, less stability, no alignment lines, and feel.

As we mentioned above, a blade style putter is less forgiving because it has a smaller sweet spot than a mallet design.

A blade style putter also offers less stability than a mallet design due to the smaller putter head and less weight towards the back. This can result in making consistent strokes and overall accuracy more challenging for less experienced golfers.

There are also no alignment aides on many blade design putters, which naturally can impact aim accuracy.

Lastly, while the feel of blade style putters can provide greater feedback for some golfers, it may be too much feedback or vibration on impact for others, potentially creating an uncomfortable or distracting experience.

Okay - now we're totally clear on the differences between a blade vs mallet putter, so let's lay out the five key differences between the two putters before deciding which one is best for you.

Mallet putters have a large, rounded head shape and a big sweet spot.

Blade putters have a thinner, flat putter head with a smaller sweet spot.

Mallet putters also often have alignment aids, while most blade putters do not.

Mallet putters tend to be heavier than their counterpart, making it more difficult for short or delicate putts. However, the weight being distributed to the back offers greater stability.

While blade putters are the lighter putter, it makes them less stable. However, this different and lighter weight distribution does offer more exact distance control.

Mallet putters are more forgiving and have greater stability.

On the other hand, blade putters are more precise for golfers who can consistently hit the smaller sweet spot.

A mallet head putter may provide more consistent alignment for those who need the alignment aids.

For golfers who don't need the alignment aids, the gain of precision and distance control is a solid tradeoff.

Seeing as mallet putters have large club heads and the weight distributed towards the back, they have a different feel that doesn't provide much feedback.

The smaller size and lighter weight of blade putters offer a greater feel and feedback, which is great for golfers who prioritize touch and control but may be overwhelming for others.

Now onto the big kahuna, the moment you've been waiting for; when it comes to a blade vs mallet putter, which one should you use?

If you're a golfer that needs the aid of alignment lines, a larger sweet spot, and more forgiveness, go with a mallet putter.

If you're a skilled golfer that doesn't need any of those features, prioritizes precision, wants exceptional distance control, and prefers golf putters with greater feel and feedback on their putts, grab yourself a blade putter.