Top professional golfers are still using blade putters because they have incredible hand/eye coordination and the time to practice countless hours perfecting their putting technique. But, more and more PGA, Senior PGA, LPGA and amateur golfers in the US and in Europe are using mallet head putters.
Mallet head putters are growing in popularity with amateurs and professionals for several reasons:
- They offer improved alignment – Improved alignment is achieved by setting the frame of the mallet head putter to the width of the golf ball. This gives the golfer the best visual cue for proper ball position and target alignment. Testing has shown that simple lines for alignment are more effective than “circles(balls)” and odd geometric shapes. An open frame structure is even better because the view of the ground gives an extra visual cue. Finally, the open frame allows for a shaft mounting technique using a cylindrical rod mounted in the rear of the putter head. This shaft mounting rod offers a pool cue type of alignment assistance.
- They offer a higher resistance to twisting on off center hits – A higher resistance to twisting on off center hits is accomplished because the mallet head design achieves a higher moment of inertia (MOI) than typical blade putters. The open frame design allows weight to be removed from the center of the putter head and concentrated at the rear of the putter head. This and the longer front to back dimension of the mallet head putter allows weight location to be optimized for maximum MOI. A higher moment of inertia helps reduce twisting of the putter head on off center impact with the ball.
- They offer a wider range of golfer adjustability – A wider range of golfer adjustability is possible with mallet head putters because their size and shape allow for adjustable weight ports and adjustable lie angle shaft mounting methods.
- They easily accommodate a center shaft mounting for face balancing – Face balancing can be assured at any lie angle setting if an open frame mallet head design is used with a center shaft mounting technique.
- They offer a better roll characteristic – Optimum weight distribution improves the center of gravity (CG) location and also helps keep the putter slightly”tail heavy” which produces dynamic loft and improves roll.
- They are better suited to mounting of putting training aids like laser modules – Putting training aids like laser modules can be more easily mounted due to the larger front to back dimension of the mallet head putter design.
All of the above lead to a higher performing putter for the average golfer.