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SURVIVAL OF THE FITTERS

The Golf Digest Hot List is the golf industry’s leading annual equipment review—and the people behind it some of the hardest-working, most passionate professionals in the game. Presented by Golf Galaxy.

Putters

Putters do more to control our happiness than any other club. They’re like the weather on a golf trip to Ireland, only more fickle—or at least they used to be. Golfers have no excuses for finding the right putter. Today’s putters offer more options for more kind of strokes; both mallets and blades have embraced stability on off-center hits; new face designs improve roll; and heads feature different kinds of hosels to align with stroke type. The problem is that golfers don’t tend to get fit for their putter even though dialing in the right specs on a putter is easier than it is for any full swing club. Our advice: If you want to improve your distance control and alignment, go with a mallet. If feel and a more compact shape are important, maybe a blade is for you. Still, unless your name’s on your bag, consider a mallet anyway. You’ll never be happier.