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The most comprehensive review of the best mallet putters of 2023 is here.
Here at MyGolfSpy, we are committed to providing data-driven product reviews. For this Most Wanted Test, 20 testers each hit eight putts from five, 10 and 20 feet with each participating mallet putter model.
Use this review to help guide you with your next putter purchase. It is indispensable.
Best Mallet Putter 2023: Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Rossie S
Bottom Line
Odyssey mallet putters continue to perform well in our Most Wanted Mallet tests. The Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Rossie S dominates the field to claim the title of Best Mallet Putter 2023. It excels from 10 and 20 feet so it’s no wonder it earned the top spot.
Pros
Putting from 10 and 20 feet is where this mallet shines. Ultimately, these are the distances that lead to its massive victory.
Cons
Below average performance from five feet and it rates just average for feel.
Who Is It For?
Since it features toe-hang properties, the Tri-Hot 5K Rossie S will suit golfers with an arcing putting stroke.
Tester Feedback
- Best for sound
- Rates highly for looks and likelihood of purchase
Best Mallet Putters Overall
TOP PICKS: ODYSSEY TRI-HOT 5K ROSSIE S, L.A.B. GOLF MEZZ.1 MAX, EVNROLL EV5
Observations
- Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Rossie S is your Best Mallet Putter 2023 based on its strong performance from 10 and 20 feet.
- L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max finishes second, performing consistently from all three testing distances.
- Evnroll EV5 narrowly places third behind Mezz.1 Max. One of the best mallet putters from five feet.
- Wilson Staff Model MT22 breaks into the top four to continue Wilson’s impressive putter performance for 2023.
- Cleveland Frontline Elite Elevado wraps up the top five. Another significant showing from Cleveland.
Best Mallet Putters from Five Feet
TOP PICKS: BETTINARDI STUDIO STOCK 16, EVNROLL EV5, LA GOLF MALIBU X
Observations
- Bettinardi Studio Stock 16 is the best mallet putter from five feet.
- Evnroll EV5 also excels at five feet, finishing closely behind SS16.
- LA GOLF Malibu X places third from five feet. If you haven’t seen this product yet, you need to check it out.
- Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 is fourth. Additionally, it is one of the highest-rated putters by our testing pool for subjective feedback.
- PXG Battle Ready Hercules ascends to fifth, narrowly beating out the Cleveland Frontline Elite Elevado.
Best Mallet Putters from 10 Feet
TOP PICKS: ODYSSEY TRI-HOT 5K ROSSIE S, TAYLORMADE SPIDER GTX, PXG BATTLE READY BAT ATTACK
Observations
- Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Rossie S dominates from 10 feet. Clearly the best mallet from this distance.
- TaylorMade Spider GTX takes second place.
- Last year’s winner, PXG Battle Ready Bat Attack, beats out Wilson Staff Model MT22 for third place.
- L.A.B Golf Mezz.1 Max rounds out the top five from 10 feet.
Best Mallet Putters from 20 Feet
TOP PICKS: ODYSSEY TRI-HOT 5K ROSSIE S, ODYSSEY WHITE HOT VERSA SEVEN, EVNROLL EV5
Observations
- Again, Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Rossie S trumps the field and places best from 20 feet.
- Odyssey White Hot Versa Seven adds to Odyssey’s success and takes second place.
- Evnroll EV5 rounds out the top three.
- L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max finishes fourth from 20 feet to cap its impressive mallet putter performance.
- Inesis HIGH MOI breaks into the top five.
Best Mallet Putters 2023 – Scores
Best Mallet Putters 2023 – Buying Considerations
Length
Typically, stock putters come in either 34- or 35-inch lengths. Length can affect distance and direction. Many golfers find they fit better into putters with shorter shafts. Choose a putter that allows for a relaxed setup based on your address posture.
Loft
The right loft promotes a smooth roll off the face. Too little or too much can cause bouncing, hopping and, ultimately, distance control issues. We recommend working with a professional fitter to determine the right loft for your putting stroke.
Blade or Mallet?
Which is best for you? It’s a combination of personal preference and individual putting stroke. While there are few absolutes in fitting, those with a faster putting stroke often are better suited with lighter blade-putter options. If your stroke is slower and smooth, a heavier mallet might be preferable. Mallets offer more forgiveness due to their larger mass properties.
Best Mallet Putter for Slight Arc
Evnroll EV5 is a unique offering. With multiple variations available to the consumer, it is our recommendation if you have a slight arc putting stroke.
Toe Hang
As much as tempo is a factor in choosing the right putter, so too is the amount of arc in your stroke. If you open and close the face more than average, consider a heel-shafted putter with more weight in the toe. Balance the putter on your two index fingers. If the putter head hangs with the toe closer to 6 o’clock, it’s toe-balanced. A face-balanced putter will face the sky. Face-balanced putters are generally well suited for golfers with more of a straight-back, straight-through stroke.
Or, you can throw toe hang out the window with L.A.B. Golf. They specialize in fitting using “lie angle balance.” Their putter designs adjust to your appropriate lie angle and assist with returning the club face back to square more consistently.
Lie Angle Balance
L.A.B. Golf continues to gain momentum. Playing professionals are gaming these putters known for their “Lie Angle Balance” technology. To date, L.A.B. Golf’s Mezz.1 Max is the best performing model in our Most Wanted Putter testing. Check it out.
Putter Features
While not quite to the extent of drivers, putters have gone high-tech.
It’s not uncommon to find putters with adjustable weighting which, in addition to changing head weight, can alter toe hang to suit either a stronger or less arcing stroke. Odyssey, Toulon, PXG and Cleveland all feature multi-material putter shafts. LA GOLF and L.A.B. Golf offer composite shaft options. Evnroll and others offer face-milling patterns or inserts designed to not only promote smooth roll but consistent distance (and, in some cases, direction) on mishits.
Fast Versus Slow Greens
Best Mallet for Straight Back-Straight Through
Cleveland continues to impress with its putter selection. Frontline Elite Elevado is our recommendation if you are a straight back-straight through putting stroke type.
There’s a case to be made for matching the weight of your putter to the speed of the greens you play most often. On slow greens, heavier putters tend to perform better. On fast greens, a delicate touch is needed. Often a lighter putter will produce better results.
Best Mallet Putters 2023 – Product Specs
Best Mallet Putters 2023 – Field Notes
During each test, we look for trends that provide insight about market direction as well as what noteworthy changes manufacturers have made to improve year-over-year performance.
We are taking a new approach to tester feedback. As always, it will not play a role in our overall rankings. However, subjective feedback from our testing pool allows us to provide more definitive answers regarding sound, feel, looks and likelihood of purchase. Our testing pool now gives a rating on a scale of 1 to 10 for sound, feel, looks and likelihood of purchase.
Sound
- Odyssey White Hot Versa Seven, Evnroll EV5 and EV12, and Scotty Cameron Phantom X 12 and X 5.5 all rate well for sound.
Feel
Testers’ Choice Award – Best for Feel
Best for Feel – Evnroll EV5
- For feel, PXG Battle Ready Bat Attack, Odyssey White Hot Versa Seven, Evnroll EV12 and Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 all rank towards the top.
Looks
- The highest-ranking mallets for looks are Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Rossie S, Evnroll EV5 and EV12, Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 and Cleveland HB Soft Milled 11.
Most Likely To Purchase
Testers’ Choice Award – Most Likely to Purchase
Most Likely to Purchase – Evnroll EV5
Trends
- Carrying over from our blade putter test, there are several multi-material and composite shafts showing up in putters across the board. It is still a small percentage but it is increasing year to year. Will we reach an era where the traditional steel putter shaft is the exception? Time will tell.
- Moveable weighting appears in a few mallet putters this year. It is a putter feature that offers value from a fitting perspective, especially if you play on consistent putting surfaces.
How We Test
For Most Wanted Putter testing, we have 20 testers hit eight putts from three different distances: five, 10 and 20 feet. The putter with the fewest total putts is crowned the Best Mallet Putter.
HOW WE TEST – MOST WANTED PUTTER
The Official Golf Ball of Most Wanted – Titleist ProV1
FAQ
Buying a Mallet Putter
Q: Should I get fitted for a putter?
A: Without a doubt. Don’t just go to the putting corral at your local golf store and choose the putter that feels the best or the one you happen to make a couple of putts with. Do your research, know the facts and take your knowledge to your golf course or store with the intention of being fitted for the right putter for YOUR stroke. Your best chance of finding the best performing putter comes from getting fitted.
Q: How do I find the right length putter for me?
A: Take a comfortable putting stance with a putter. If the putter is too short, it likely it will sit too upright or the heel will be off the ground. If it’s too long, you’ll feel you’re crowding the ball and the toe will be pointing up slightly. Visit a fitter.
Q: What is the price range for a typical putter?
A: Name-brand putters range from $99 to more than $500. Higher-priced models are often 100-per-cent CNC milled but it’s also true that you could be paying a premium for the logo on the putter. Price may always be a factor but don’t assume the best putters are the most expensive.
Most Wanted
Q: How is the Most Wanted Winner determined?
A: Rankings for the Best Mallet Putters 2023 are based on a 100-point scoring system. Putters are scored at five, 10 and 20 feet. The individual scores are then aggregated to arrive at the overall score. Scores are weighted such that the 10-foot score has the greatest influence on the cumulative score.
Q: How were the best putters for stroke type determined?
A: At the beginning of the test, each putter is classified by its toe hang/stroke type. The best within each designation are those that finished highest in overall score with respect to toe hang/stroke type.
Q: How much does subjective feedback like looks, sound and feel factor into your rankings?
A: ZERO. Our rankings are based purely on total putt counts and quantifiable performance metrics. We include subjective notes only because readers have asked for more feedback directly from the testers.
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