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    Golf Digest Logo Hot List

    Best Mallet Putters: Innovation

    January 21, 2025

    The best clubs in each category of the Hot List reflect excellence across an array of criteria. For Innovation in mallet putters, our editors and scientific panel meet with manufacturer R&D teams throughout the year to better understand what companies are doing and why and how important those efforts might be relative to the current standard. For example, the designs that earn our highest marks make meaningful progress in the areas of forgiveness, alignment, weighting and shaft design. Here you’ll see how our editors evaluated mallets based on their interpretation of the criterion of Innovation, with each putter earning a score of 4.5 stars. Note: The star rating is for the collection of models under a specific family (e.g., Ai-One family, Studio Style family).

    Evnroll Zero
    $450 | Golf Galaxy
    4.5
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Gold
    $450
    A reverse plumber’s-neck hosel centers the putter’s balance point between the shaft and head to make it easier for the face to stay square to the path of the stroke. The benefit of the hosel is that unlike other designs that reduce or eliminate torsional resistance, this version does not force the hands well forward with an angled shaft. The idea is that because the shaft is aligned with the head’s center of mass, the putter face stays square to the path of the stroke to eliminate unreliable hand action. Models include the extremely stable Z1, which features two 85-gram heel and toe weights in the front sole of the milled-aircraft-aluminum head. The familiar Evnroll face-milling pattern features grooves that vary in width and spacing for consistent energy transfer across the face. The design of the grooves creates a progressive depth that redirects heel and toe mis-hits back toward the centerline. Steel and tungsten sole weights in the heel and toe provide added stability and match the head weight to each shaft length for consistent swingweight. Top 5 in Performance, high-handicaps Models: Z1, Z5s. Head weights: 365, 380, 395 grams. Lengths: 33-35 inches. Loft: 3 degrees
    L.A.B. Golf Oz.1/Oz.1i
    $450/$500 | Golf Galaxy
    4.5
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Gold
    $450/$500
    L.A.B. Golf is known for distinctive shapes that pursue balanced weighting to keep the face square, but this lineup represents the company’s most conventional look yet. With input from Adam Scott, the traditional half-moon mallets feature the all-aluminum milled Oz.1 and the Oz.1i, which has a milled stainless-steel face insert. Both models incorporate the sole weighting and 2-degree shaft lean that align the shaft with the putter’s center of mass so that the head remains square to the lie angle for consistent, on-target impacts. Each model features a 0-degree shaft-lean option that allows it to work with conventional putter grips. Top 5 in Performance, low-handicaps Models: Oz.1/Oz.1i. Head weights: custom. Lengths: 28-40 inches. Loft: 3 degrees
    Odyssey Ai-One Square 2 Square
    $300 | Golf Galaxy
    4.5
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Gold
    $300
    New weighting and shaft position keep the shaft in line with the head’s center of gravity so that the face angle naturally remains square to the stroke path. The shaft angle’s built-in forward press promotes consistent contact with the center of the face. The face insert is the same as the one on the standard Ai-One models. Designers used AI and machine learning to explore more than 2,000 design versions to develop the face insert’s asymmetrical thickness pattern to improve off-center speed and roll for greater consistency. The urethane coating over the soft aluminum-face insert matches that of the company’s highly favored White Hot material for soft feel. A counterbalanced “Stroke Lab” shaft improves consistency in impact location. Models: Jailbird, #7. Head weights: 360 grams. Lengths: 33, 34, 35 inches. Loft: 3 degrees
    Bettinardi Antidote
    $430 | Golf Galaxy
    4.0
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Silver
    $430
    Like its counterpart blade model, this squared-off mallet keeps the shaft in line with the head’s center of gravity. The key to the design is how the weight is centered in the head using a lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum insert in the pocket cavity. That weighting increases the tendency of the face angle to stay square to the path of the stroke. The face, milled from 303 stainless steel, is surrounded by a lightweight body milled from 6061 aluminum. The grooved milling pattern on the face displaces more than half of the steel from the surface, creating a more responsive feel. The blast finish reduces glare at address. Also available is a longer, heavier, counterbalanced version with a 17-inch grip to minimize excess hand action in the stroke. Models: SB2. Head weights: 360, 400 grams. Lengths: 33-39 inches. Loft: 3 degrees
    Cobra 3D Printed
    $350 | Golf Galaxy
    4.0
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Silver
    $350
    A 3D-printed latticework piece beneath the lightweight carbon-fiber crown allows weight to be relocated on the perimeter for improved stability on off-center hits. The nylon structure weighs less than one-sixth that of stainless steel and one-half of aluminum. The face insert features four loft sections up and down the face to provide consistent launch and speed. Having less loft low on the face and more loft high on the face optimizes launch whether the putter is contacting the ball on the downswing or upswing. A new 304 stainless-steel face insert offers tour-preferred feel. Interchangeable sole weights (five to 30 grams each) in the heel and toe make it easy to customize the putter. Heavier sole weights also make it possible for the line to offer counterbalanced versions with a 17-inch grip and 37.5-inch overall length. Models: Agera, Agera RS, Supernova. Head weights: 365-415 grams. Lengths: 34, 35, 37.5 inches. Lofts: 1-4 degrees
    Evnroll V-Series
    $450 | Golf Galaxy
    4.5
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Gold
    $450
    The “V” reflects the versatility of a lineup that allows multiple-mallet options to attach to the two most popular shaft/neck options via a typical torque wrench. Two hosel options include the short slant or short plumber. Putters are milled from 303 stainless steel in the face with a 6061-aircraft-aluminum body. Tungsten/steel sole weights in the heel and toe can be adjusted to balance the head weight to match the shaft length or a preferred swingweight. They can also be used to provide an asymmetrical setup to accommodate a particular stroke type. The familiar Evnroll face-milling pattern features grooves that vary in width and spacing for consistent energy transfer across the face. The groove design also creates a progressive depth that redirects heel and toe mis-hits toward the centerline. Models: V5.1, V5.2. Head weights: 340, 355, 370 grams. Lengths: 33-35 inches. Loft: 2 degrees
    Meridian Milled Series
    $250 | Golf Galaxy
    4.5
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Gold
    $250
    These traditional but customizable one-piece millings feature a unique electrical-discharge machining process with fully robotic, around-the-clock manufacturing. The process cuts as many as a dozen starter blanks out of a large block of stainless steel with five-axis milling machines precisely dialing in each angle and curve to produce an affordable design. Three mallet models include multiple neck options (single bend, minimalist slant neck, tall slant neck) to fit different strokes. Players can choose from one of four face-milling patterns: the soft Meridian cut, firm Smooth cut, mid-soft Fine Fly cut and the mid-firm Tack cut. The taller face is designed to increase the likelihood of solid contact and consistent roll. Top 5 in Performance, low-handicaps Models: Tybee, Key West, Kiawah. Head weights: 330, 360-370 grams. Lengths: 33-38 inches. Loft: 3 degrees
    Mizuno M.Craft X
    $400 | Golf Galaxy
    4.5
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Gold
    $400
    The interchangeable steel-face and aluminum-body designs aim to give players the feel of a blade with the stability and forgiveness of a mallet. The face is milled from forged 1025 steel, the same steel used in the company’s irons. The body is 7075 aluminum. Heavy heel and toe sole weights, which join the front piece to the back, add mallet-level stability and keep the center of gravity forward, reminiscent of a blade. The three face parts result in nine combinations of face/neck, toe hang and total head weight. Range includes bend, slant neck and plumber’s-neck options. Top 5 in Performance, high-handicaps Models: Four, Five, Six. Head weights: 337-393 grams (stock weight: 365 grams). Lengths: 34, 35 inches. Loft: 3 degrees
    Odyssey Ai-One
    $300 | Golf Galaxy
    5.0
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Gold
    $300
    The Ai-One comes in an array of traditional and non-traditional shapes, including the iconic 2-Ball and popular Jailbird and even one that combines the two. The secret, though, is the asymmetrical thickness pattern on the face. Designers used AI and machine learning to explore more than 2,000 design versions to develop the face insert’s asymmetrical thickness pattern to improve off-center speed and roll for greater consistency. The urethane coating over the soft-aluminum face insert matches that of the company’s highly favored White Hot material for soft feel. A new “Silver Series” finish joins the previously released dark-blue aesthetic. Head shapes developed with tour-player input and prototypes created with 3-D printing accelerated the turnaround time from months to weeks. Heel and toe sole weights allow the head weight to better align with shaft length and a player’s stroke type. A longer and heavier “Cruiser” version is available for those looking to reduce hand action during their strokes. Top 5 in Performance, middle-handicaps Models: 24 Slant, 2-Ball, 2-Ball Jailbird, Jailbird Mini, Rossie DB/S, Seven CH/S, Wing Back DB. Head weights: 360, 365, 380. Lengths: 33, 34, 35, 38 inches. Loft: 3 degrees
    Odyssey Ai-One Milled
    $450 | Golf Galaxy
    5.0
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Gold
    $450
    A thin titanium face insert creates micro-deflections to improve off-center impacts to roll as well as center strikes. New head styles include takes on the popular Jailbird open-mallet shape. Designers used AI and machine learning to explore more than 2,000 design versions to develop the face insert’s asymmetrical thickness pattern to improve off-center speed and roll for greater consistency. A longer and heavier “Cruiser” version is available for those looking to reduce hand action during their strokes. Top 5 in Performance, middle- and high-handicaps Models: 2-Ball T, Eight T, Eleven T, Jailbird Mini T, Rossie V T, Seven T DB/S, Six T, Jailbird T Versa 90. Head weights: 360, 380. Lengths: 33, 34, 35, 38. Loft: 3 degrees
    PXG Allan
    $450 | Golf Galaxy
    4.5
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Gold
    $450
    The internal weighting and S-shaped hosel balance the head with the shaft to improve consistency during the stroke. That weighting and shaft angle line up the face to the stroke path to reduce hand activity. The center of gravity is slightly toward the toe to further increase stability. The stainless-steel hollow body features a weight-saving ultra-thin face. The face is supported internally by a light, soft, responsive polymer that allows saved weight to be positioned for increased stability. Rows of pyramid-shaped points milled into the face create more consistent energy transfer and roll across a wide area. Model: Allan. Head weights: 360-395 grams. Lengths: 33-38 inches. Loft: 5 degrees
    PXG Battle Ready II
    $390 | Golf Galaxy
    4.5
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Gold
    $390
    These high-stability models feature extra mass on the perimeter due to a hollow-body design. A polymer like the one used in the company’s irons fills the central interior of each design, providing a weight-saving soft, responsive feel. The filling supports a face barely the thickness of a dime to save weight, dampen vibration and improve stability on off-center hits compared to last year’s version. Four hosel/neck options and an array of screw weights offer a range of flexible options for each head to fit different stroke types and player preferences. Top 5 in Performance, high-handicaps Models: Apache, Bat Attack, Blackjack, Hercules, One and Done. Head weights: 330-460 grams. Lengths: custom. Loft: 3 degrees (7 degrees on armlock).
    SeeMore Mini Giant HTX/MDX
    $400 | Golf Galaxy
    4.0
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Silver
    $400
    These conventional-looking mallets come with the benefit of SeeMore’s proven alignment system for keeping the putter face square to the target. By aligning the shaft and a red dot on the heel side of the flange, the golfer knows the putter face is not only aligned properly but the sole is flat on the ground to increase the opportunity for solid contact. Copper weights on the heel, toe and sole (six on the HTx and four on the MDx) balance the putter’s overall head weight and center of gravity to help the face stay square to the plane of the putting stroke. The larger tip-diameter steel shaft provides extra stability and a clearer visual effect for the alignment system. The head is fully milled from high-grade aluminum. The HTX has the familiar parallel-wing footprint, and the MDX offers a traditional clamshell mid-mallet design. Models: Mini Giant HTx, MDx. Head weights: 365, 370 grams. Lengths: 30-39 inches. Loft: 2.5 degrees
    TaylorMade Spider Tour
    $350 | Golf Galaxy
    5.0
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Gold
    $350
    The square-ish designs feature extreme heel and toe weighting for maximum forgiveness as well as two neck styles and different centers of gravity to better accommodate arcing and straight strokes. The thin-wall casting method allows saved weight from the crown and sidewalls to be redistributed for more stability on off-center hits. A thermoplastic rubber positioned behind the face, previously used in TaylorMade’s irons, minimizes vibration for a cleaner, crisper sound. The lightweight Surlyn face insert features grooves that angle downward to improves initial launch and roll to control unwanted backspin and initial skidding. Among the most popular mallet designs ever, Spider putters have been the preferred putter by Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy and scored 14 wins overall on the PGA Tour in 2024. The Tour S model comes in a heavier head for over-length setups, and a Black Series is now offered with a black PVD finish in the Tour, Tour X and Tour S models. Top 5 in Performance, all handicaps Models: Tour, Tour X, Tour S, Tour Z, Tour V. Head weights: 345-380 grams. Lengths: 33, 34, 35, 38 inches. Loft: 3 degrees
    Titleist Scotty Cameron Phantom
    $450 | Golf Galaxy
    5.0
    GD SCORE GD HOT LIST SCORE
    Hot List Gold
    $450
    This broad collection features multiple styles offering high stability plus various neck/hosel orientations to fit the gamut of stroke types and player preferences. The lineup includes models in milled 303 stainless steel and milled 6061 aluminum with a weight-saving aluminum sole plate that allows mass to be distributed to the perimeter for increased stability. New markings and angles provide a renewed emphasis on alignment. Dual milling on the face enhances consistency in sound and roll. This includes a deeper mill for softer feel to start, then a mid-mill for more consistent feel and roll. Top 5 in Performance, low- and middle-handicaps Models: 5, 5s, 5.5, 7, 7.5, 9, 9.5, 11, 11.5. Head weights: 345, 355, 365 grams. Lengths: 33-35 inches. Lofts: 3.5 degrees