Mallet Putters

: NIKE IC; STREET PRICE: $140
WEBSITE: rifeputters.com

TECH TALK: The monochromatic head (20-20A shown), shaft and grip are designed to optically blend into the putting green so the white alignment stripes stand out. The most significant change from last year's introductory mallet is that the open spaces in the head have been filled in, creating a solid green shape. The benefit of the large, square design is a high MOI that mitigates twisting on off-center strikes.

PLAYER COMMENTS: (L) "Sometimes I have trouble setting up closed, but this corrected that problem." ... (T) "The green-white concept really does help, but I found the face profile a smidge high." ... (T) "You could leave this on the putting green and never find it again." ... (M) "Good touch on short ones; great feedback on long ones."

HOT: Free your mind and free your stroke. When you can't see the putter, all you can (and will) think about is speed.

NOT: The extra-large sole has the potential to get scuffy if you're not stroking it well.

*category leader

: ODYSSEY WHITE HOT XG 2-BALL F7; STREET PRICE: $170
WEBSITE: odysseygolf.com

TECH TALK: What we have here is a fusion of the company's two most popular alignment systems, the 2-Ball and the parallel "fangs" of #7. With 120 grams repositioned in the fangs, this model has an MOI of 4,800, which is 40 percent more than the original 2-Ball. As with most mallets in the XG line, it includes a double-bend shaft with a shaft's width of offset as well as the two-piece elastomer-based face insert with a textured sweet spot.

PLAYER COMMENTS: (M) "Center hits and off-center hits all go the same. I could get used to this." ... (T) "Looks like it can balance itself. I think I could set this putter up, walk away, and it would still be lined up at the hole when I got back." ... (L) "One of the softest inserts." ... (T) "A lot of features, yet it's simple."

HOT: For anyone struggling with alignment issues, this could be the best cure around. The combination of bars and balls is as effective as it is bold.
NOT: It looks like the Millennium Falcon.

: ODYSSEY WHITE HOT XG SABERTOOTH; STREET PRICE: $170
WEBSITE: odysseygolf.com

TECH TALK: Two dense, semicircular fangs account for 132 grams, which spread 37 percent of the head's total weight away from the CG location to increase stability on off-center hits. The soft, elastomer-backed face insert is designed to complement multilayer balls and features a textured sweet spot to enhance feel. Parallel bars and two stacked aiming dots assist with setup.

PLAYER COMMENTS: (M) "Real easy to rotate the clubface through the ball." ... (L) "I'm looking for a 'click' that is not tinny, and this provides that. It's easy to set down square, perhaps the easiest putter ever to align." ... (T) "Good stuff. How can a putter be solid and soft at the same time?" ... (L) "Nice contrasting colors." ... (T) "Good for Generation X. Too flashy for Baby Boomers."

HOT: The optical bonus of the round shape is that it corresponds perfectly with the dimensions of a cup.
NOT: Shaft-length options (three) and hosel choices (one) seem parsimonious.