Best Putter for Beginners 2023 – Our Top 8 Choices

Some golfers state that the putter is the most important golf club in their golf bag, but when it comes to beginner golfers, it can be vital to their game. A good putter can have a huge impact on the score by saving strokes and, the best putters can help new players become really great golfers.

We have done the research and found some of the best putters for beginners on the market. Each of these putters has something great to offer. Whether you are looking for a putter that is budget-friendly, super forgiving, stylish, or easy to use, we have found the best out there!


Overall Best Putter for Beginners

Odyssey White Hot OG #5 

The Odyssey White Hot OG #5 putter tops the list as the best overall putter for beginners. It is one of the best face-balanced semi-mallet style putters out there, keeping the putter face square, creating straighter strokes and better accuracy. It has a single bend shaft, adjustable weights, plus Odyssey’s well known two-part urethane White Hot insert. This putter is the perfect choice for new golfers ready to strengthen their putting abilities.

Overall best putter for beginners odyssey white Got OG #5

Pros 

  • Soft feel
  • Consistent Roll
  • Optimal Stability
  • Silver PVD Finish 
  • Milled Face

Cons

  • Not great for arched strokes
  • Stock grip could cause wrist movement; jumbo grip may be necessary
  • Sounds clunky sometimes

Best Budget Putter for Beginners

Wilson Staff Infinite Michigan Ave Putter 

The Wilson Staff Infinite Michigan Ave Putter is a high-end putter in an affordable price range. Displaying the same classic design of all Wilson Infinite clubs, the Michigan Ave Putter has black and grey PVD finish, milled face and mirrored sole.

It is also the best option for a budget-friendly club without skimping on the features. Featuring multiple white alignment lines on the flange, counterbalancing technology, a square club head, a heavier grip, and a higher balance point, this putter will leave any beginner golfer confident in their putting game.

Related Post: Mallet Putter Vs Blade Putter- Which Is Best?

Best budget putter for beginners - Wilson staff infinite michigan ave putter

Pros

  • Well Balanced
  • Sleek Black Finish
  • Alignment Lines
  • Price Point

Cons

  • Tends to hit the ball to the left
  • Can be too “bladey” for some golfers


Best Forgiving Putter for Beginners

Cobra King Vintage Stingray Putter 

The Cobra King Vintage Stingray putter seems to be the most forgiving putter for beginners. With a larger sweet spot, longer target lines, an adjustable weight system and SIK aluminum face inserts to control the loft, this mallet-style putter ensures the most consistent, smooth roll.

The stainless steel body creates a solid sound and feel, giving confidence that the stroke was pure. An added bonus is the Lamkin Smart Grip, which is a sensor that allows golfers to track their statistics. This is a great feature for beginners to use so that they can track their progress and improve their game. 

Best Forgiving Putter for Beginners

Cobra King Vintage Stingray Putter

Pros

  • Easy Alignment
  • Lower Lofting Allows for Better Accuracy
  • Adjustable Weights
  • Technology to Track Statistics

Cons

  • The putter head is larger than most and can prove difficult to get used to


Best Putter For Beginner Kids

Acstar Two Way Junior Golf Putter

The Acstar Two Way Junior Gold Putter is great for kids that are 3-12 years old. The has a stainless steel body, graphite shaft, and a rubber grip to help prevent it from slipping. It is durable, lightweight, and doesn’t require as much strength as a typical adult putter. The two-way head has double alignment aids to help with aim making this putter a great first putter for any junior golfer just starting out!

Related Post: Why your Kids Should Start Golfing Now

Best Putter For Beginner Kids

Acstar Two Way Junior Golf Putter

Pros

  • Alignment Lines
  • Two-way head allows for left and right-handed golfers
  • Available in multiple colors
  • Corrosion resistant

 Cons

  • Could be a little too big for the younger golfers

Best Ladies Putter for Beginners

Pinemeadow Golf Women’s PGX Putter

The Pinemeadow Golf women’s PGX Putter is a mallet-style putter that has a consistent roll, is very forgiving, and looks sharp! The contrast of the white finish against the green helps the golfer focus on black alignment lines, making aiming easier.

The rubber inserts help control topspin and distance, while the 40 gram weight distribution prevents skid and provides stability. On top of all the features, this stunning mallet putter is listed at an affordable price, making it an excellent choice for a female golfer at any skill level, but it’s especially great for beginners.

Best Ladies Putter for Beginners

Pinemeadow Golf Women's PGX Putter

Pros 

  • Color and design make for easy alignment
  • Great putter for fast greens
  • Very Forgivable
  • Extremely Affordable

Cons

  • A bit heavy
  • Not as durable as other options

Best Straight Stroke Putter For Beginners

Wilson Infinite Buckingham Men’s Golf Putter

The Wilson Infinite Buckingham Golf Putter gives stability and consistency at the strike, and provides confidence, especially in long putt ranges. Its smooth pendulum like swing can be attributed to the weight of the club and the double-milled face provides a soft thud full of power. When it comes to straight stroke, this is the best putter for high handicappers and low handicappers alike. 

Best Straight Stroke Putter For Beginners

Wilson Infinite Buckingham Men's Golf Putter

Pros 

  • Confidence Boosting High MOI Putter Shape
  • Consistent
  • Counterbalance Technology
  • Price Point

Cons

  • Lower-end finishes and aesthetics 
  • Sight lines create a busy-ness on the head


Best Arched Stroke Putter For Beginners

TaylorMade Spider X HydroBlast Flowneck Putter

The TaylorMade Spider X HydroBlast Flowneck Putter seems to be the perfect putter for every skill level out there but really over performs when it comes to an unstable putting stroke.

It provides face stability and distance control while looking and feeling great at the same time. Its wide structure and weighted back corners allow for a smooth, straight roll out and the Pure Roll insert provides a soft feel and nice sound. Though TaylorMade offers a lot of different models, the Spider X HydroBlast is one of the best mallet putters for beginners with an arched stroke.

Best Arched Stroke Putter For Beginners

TaylorMade Spider X HydroBlast Flowneck Putter

Pros

  • Super forgiving
  • Great feel
  • Alignment aid provides the best alignment

Cons

  • A bit pricey
  • Club face may be a little big for those used to a blade

Best Ease of Use Putter for Beginners

Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 10.5CS Mens Right Hand Putter

The Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 10.5CS Putter provides consistent ball speeds with its large sweet spot so even off-center strikes can still get a good result. The CNC milling pattern on the face uses friction to produce a softer feel on impact and creates a pure roll. This center shaft putter is great and easy to use. Any beginner would love to have it as one of their golf clubs.

Best Ease of Use Putter for Beginners

Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 10.5CS Mens Right Hand Putter

Pros 

  • Buttery-soft Feel
  • Speed Control
  • Sleek Appearance
  • Soft, Muted Feel at impact 

Cons

  • A bit heavier in the head

Frequently Asked Questions about Best Putters for Beginners

Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions about golf putters for beginners. If you don’t see what you are looking for in our list of putters, check out the below for more information.


Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Putter For Beginners

best putters for beginners

When it comes to beginner golfers, there is quite a bit to consider when choosing a new putter. Forgiveness is one of the most important things to consider and we addressed our recommendation for that above. But below we have listed a few other things to consider when choosing the putter that will fit you the best.

Price

Though price is not the most important thing to consider, we do realize that when you are doing trial and error to find the best putter, the price can come into account. There are premium designs out there but most new golfers should choose to steer clear of the more pricey options until they know what style they like the most.

Alignment Tools

Most new golfers benefit greatly from having alignment tools. They help with lining up the golf ball and encourage a square strike through. 

Style

Everyone likes to look stylish and having a nice-looking putter will help any golfer feel more confident. Luckily, putters range from classic designs to futuristic styles so there will be a putter out there that will fit with any beginner’s personal style.

Feel

Feel is a very important factor in choosing a putter. There are several components to consider when selecting a putter based on feel. Think about how firm you want the stroke to feel, the shaft length, the grip comfortability, and the weight. You want to be confident when using your putter and the way it feels in your hand is a big thing to consider. 

Head Design

Though putters come in various head designs, such as mallets, mid-mallets, and blade putters, it is suggested that beginner golfers start with a mallet design. Mallet-designed putters provide a larger sweet spot, improve forgiveness, increase MOI, and stability.


How Much Should a Beginner Spend on a Putter?

Since a beginner is typically trying to decide on what type of putter best suits them, there really is no reason to spend a lot on premium golf club. Beginners should not expect to spend more the around $150 on a putter.


Which is better – A lighter or heavier putter?

This is really a personal preference based on your own putting stroke and what feels best to you. Heavier putters provide a smoother swing while lighter putters allow you to hone in on the distance strokes.


How do you choose the best golf putter for beginners?

The best way to choose a putter for a beginner is through trial and error. You will need to figure out your putting stroke style, ie arc, straight back, or straight through stroke. Then you’ll choose the best head design for you.

As we mentioned before, the mallet is suggested for beginners but that is not an absolute requirement. And last, you will need to find the right putter shaft for you. This includes where the shaft and grip are connected to the heel as well as shaft length. You’ll want to choose the design that supports your stroke style. 


What Putters do the pros use?

The putter is one of the most important golf clubs and the pros on the PGA Tour know this for sure! TaylorMade Spider X, Scotty Cameron Brand, and Odeyssey putters are some of the most popular putters touring with the most well-known pro golfers around.

In fact, Rory McIlroy used the TaylorMade Spider X HydroBlast but has recently started using the Scotty Cameron 009. Abraham Ancer likes the Odyssey Stroke Lab White Hot 5, and Tiger Woods’s Scotty Cameron backup putter is all but famous.


What Length of Putter is Right for Me?

best putters for beginners

The putter length depends on your height. The typical lengths range from 32 inches to 35 inches for heights that range from under 5 feet to 6 feet or taller. The standard length for PGA golfers is right around 33.5 inches, but as stated before, the length will depend on your height.


Is there a putter beginners should avoid?

Beginners should avoid choosing double-sided putt putt putters. While these are great for mini-golf, or home office courses they are not great for beginners looking to improve their game on the golf course.


Is a mallet or blade putter better for beginners?

I think the best putters for beginners generally would be something in the shape of a mallet. A mallet putter is a little bit bigger and more forgiving than a blade style putter. A mallet style will have a little more weight to it.

The reason they’re designed like this is because it’s going to help you swing the putter the proper way. So, in your putting stroke with a mallet putter and the way the weighting can be, it’s going to help you generate a better putting stroke overall versus a lighter blade putter that might be a little bit lighter in your grip. This makes it easier to shift around and potentially not be on line.

As we talked about when discussing a mallet putter vs blade putter, one of the key differences is that mallet putters are very forgiving. The weighting in them is more consistent, all the way back and all the way through. The feel is also going to be a lot softer and a lot easier to get the ball to the hole.

Generating the correct speed control and distance control is important, especially for beginners, and a mallet putter makes this easier to start off.


Final Thoughts about Best Putters for Beginners

After reading through our list and learning a bit about the styles and designs, we hope that we have sent you in the right direction and that you have confidence in choosing the best putter as a new golfer. Though there are a lot of different types of putters, remember to make the best choice for you. 

We love the Odyssey White Hot OG #5 and as our top overall pick, it is a great choice! And, as you have read, the putter is one of the most important things in a golf bag. Having a great ball putter can lead a beginner to become an awesome golfer!

Golf Tips What is the best putter for beginners
Tommy
Tommy

PGA Golf Professional, passionate about sharing my love for the game.

At Golf With Luck, I hope to provide a resource for golfers of any level to improve their golf game as I always continue to work on my own.

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