In the early days of golf, all putters looked rather similar, with a simple flat metal head used to strike the ball toward the hole. Technological advancements have since revolutionized putting. Golf club manufacturers continue to up the ante, unveiling new and innovative putter designs in an effort to shave strokes. This quest for perfection has created an array of putter heads.
Blade
The most traditional of designs, the blade putter head provides golfers with confidence and reliability. The blade's thin, flat surface tends to be weight-balanced, favoring golfers with a straight putting stroke. Golfers who like to play it safe can't go wrong with a blade putter head, which provides a soft touch and plenty of control, especially on faster greens.
Mallet
As its name implies, the mallet putter head resembles a hammer or even a half moon. Mallet putter heads boast large, wide faces that extend backwards well behind the shaft. Due to their size, mallet putters weigh more than blades. Engineers use the additional weight and unique shape to create a lower center of gravity, which translates into reduced backspin on putts. Most mallets will also feature a special face insert made from a lightweight material to give the heavy putter a softer touch.
Peripheral-Weighted
A peripheral-weighted putter head, also known as a heel-toe putter head, is larger than a traditional blade and distributes its weight to balance the club face at the toe. This subtle design change extends the face's sweet spot, meaning the peripheral-weighted putter tends to be far more forgiving than its rivals. Because they're so forgiving, peripheral-weighted putters are ideal for amateur golfers, especially those with in-out strokes.
Teardrop
Similar in size to blades, teardrop putter heads utilize rolled-face technology to differentiate them from the customary flat surface face. The teardrop's unique shape tends to reduce the bouncing and slipping created with most flat putters. Once struck, the ball rolls immediately with a smooth line and no skidding. Teardrops may provide increased accuracy and efficiency for golfers struggling with traditional blade putters.
2-Ball
Golfers having a difficult time lining up putts should opt for a 2-ball putter head. A variation on a mallet head, the 2-ball putter places two golf ball-sized circles along the top surface of the mallet, lined up one after the other and perpendicular to the club face. Lining up the two circles with the actual golf ball helps the golfer visualize a straight line and zero in on the proper contact point.
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