Have you heard of the 80/20 rule?
In short – it states that 20% of what you put in generates 80% of what you get.
This is considered to be universal and the skew can be even greater.
In golf, putting is the 20% helping you lower your golf score dramatically.
Why?
Because everyone else is focused on driving the ball.
We both get it…
…driving is more fun.
But where do you lose the most strokes?
Most likely on the putting green.
Which is why we are covering the 5 most forgiving Putters on the market right now, so you can decide which one will most likely improve your game.
Let’s dive in.
The Most Forgiving Putters are:
At a glance: Out top picks of most forgiving putters
- Our Top Pick: TaylorMade Spider Putter
- Odyssey White Hot Pro 2.0
- R.C Silver Ray SR500 Putter
- Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach Putter
- Pinemeadow Golf Men's PGX Putter
Putters Buying Guide
Let’s understand the differences in putter design, and what things you should keep in mind if you decide to buy a forgiving putter.
On Putters and Forgiveness
Putting can be stressful, even for experienced golfers. It requires patience, determination and a lot of practice.
As we stated before, the putter is the most used golf club, so it is very important that you obtain the right one.
Technology has made putters more forgiving. Now, what do we mean by forgiveness? In essence, forgiving putter should help you make successful putts.
It should add accuracy, speed, and distance to your game.
Also, it should help you with alignment.
Qualities Of Forgiving Putters
Though there is no definitive way of telling which putter is or isn’t forgiving, this list of technical features should help you understand the topic.
Blade or Mallet?
First, let’s discuss the two main types of putters, blade and mallet putters.
In short, blade putters feature more straightforward design, smaller and lighter head; they are traditional putters.
Though they make look simple, modern blade putters feature advanced features.
Furthermore, they are commonly picked by professional PGA players, for it does give more freedom and control than the mallet putter.
Regarding alignment, the blade putters are toe weighted because the club’s shaft connects to the center of the club’s head, thus moving the sweet spot a bit closer to the middle of the head. In short, those who have a bit arc to their stroke should seek blade putters.
On the other hand, mallet putters heave heavier and larger heads. They may look weird, but their shapes make a lot of sense since it always comes down to weight distribution, CG, and MOI. They are often more forgiving, having a large sweet spot.
As such, they are a common pick amongst beginners and recreational golfers.
Mallet putters are also more helpful than the blade putters when it comes to alignment, for they offer more adjustability, and come in various shapes.
Technical Considerations in more Detail
Naturally, make sure you select the putter that is compatible with your strong hand, and that the shaft is fit your body dimensions.
Also, we suggest that beginners go with with the mallet putters, since they generally offer more forgiveness than the blade putters do.
Consider the factors we didn’t discuss that much in this article.
For instance, the adjustability factor.
Some putters have movable weights, which help you distribute the weight within the club’s head.
Also, consider different design shapes and colors. Don’t let that mallet design scare you: despite the differences in composition, all putters are used similarly, and they all have the same goal in mind.
Moreover, consider loft degree and lie angle degree (read more about it in this concise article). Note that the putters on our list come with head covers.
Though there is a lot more to be said about putters in general and the role they play in golf, we hope this guide has helped you at least grasp the concept of putters and their role in the world of golf.
Center of Gravity
The center of gravity of a putter describes where its natural balance point and pivot point are. Ideally, a very forgiving putter has a higher center of gravity.
Higher center of gravity allows for more consistent strokes as the weight of the putter itself doesn’t affect the player’s stroke as much. Higher centers of gravity are better for people who have less pivot in their putt stroke.
A putter with a lower center of gravity forces the player to use more force to keep the putter in line with their swing, meaning your putt swing itself must already be very consistent for the putter to perform consistently.
Moment of Inertia
The moment of inertia of a putter ties into what most people refer to as the sweet spot. Typically, heavier putters will have a greater moment of inertia which is desirable when looking for a more forgiving putter.
A putter with a very high moment of inertia will be more forgiving with shots that aren’t perfectly centered on the head of the putter.
The moment of inertia of blade style putters typically ranges from 2500 to 5000 while some very high moment of inertia mallets go from 6500 to even higher.
Alignment
Let’s assume you know nothing about golf. Now, remember this: blade putters are fit for arc strokes, mallet putters for straight back and through strokes.
Furthermore, arc strokes come from the mid or high toe weighted putters, while the straight strokes come from the face balanced putters. We highly recommend you watch this video to understand the importance of alignment:
What does this mean? Well, blade putter strokes are curved: if the weight isn’t distributed equally, and the balance is offset by both shaft position and the head design, the ball will curve.
On the other hand, mallets are more balanced, weight is distributed equally, and thus the strokes will be more straight.
In short, if you are a complete beginner, go for the mallet putter, for they will help you with alignment and accuracy.
Sweet Spot
The bigger the sweet spot, the easier it is for you to achieve precise strokes. If you need help with your putting, go with the putter that has a larger sweet spot.
If you want a bit more challenge in your game, go for the one that has a smaller sweet spot. In essence, sweet sport refers to the putter’s part whit which you should hit the golf ball.
Gripping
If possible, go for the oversized grip simply because it is easier to work with the grip that is too big, rather than working with a grip that is too small.
An oversized grip can give you more control and balance over your stroke, while also provide you with better feel, thus enhancing your golfing experience.
Our Top Picks for Most Forgiving Putters
PRODUCT
- Designed to give control and stability
- Perimeter weighting improves mis-hits
- Pure Roll Technology improves topspin and accuracy
- Aluminum insert enhances the feel
- High moment of inertia and high center of gravity
- Super Stroke grip can offer valuable data regarding your golf swing
- Excellent toe-balanced alignment
- Great feel and feedback
- Standard and balanced design
- Improves accuracy and distance
- Large sweet spot
- Forgiving, good for all around shots
- Inexpensive, fit for everyone’s budget
- Excellent feel and balance
- Mixture of classic shape and forgiving performance
- Value for money, durable and robust
- Responsive and soft face
- Large sweet spot
- Optimal weight, made of thin stainless steel
- Smart black and white design helps with alignments
- Massive head grants more MOI and topspin
- Solid construction and durability
- Performs excellently on faster greens
- The most inexpensive putter on the list
5 Most Forgiving Putters for 2021
1. TaylorMade Spider Putter
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Pros
- Designed to give control and stability
- Perimeter weighting improves mis-hits
- Pure Roll Technology improves topspin and accuracy
- Aluminum insert enhances the feel
- High moment of inertia and high center of gravity
- Super Stroke grip can offer valuable data regarding your golf swing
Cons
- The most expensive putter on the list
- The somewhat weird shape will take some time getting used to it
- Odd shaft alignment – will need to be adjusted for most golfers
Description
TaylorMade Spider Putter comes in four different shapes (styles), fit for right and left-handers, and offers three shaft sizes (33, 34 and 35 inches).
This is a modern, futuristic looking mallet, weighing 360 grams (head), having 2.5 loft degree and 70-degree lie angle. The mallet was designed to offer players control and stability. Its forgiving nature makes it a valuable option for golfers who want to improve their putting game.
This putter features perimeter weighting, thus helping you improve your mis-hits. On the other hand, the Pure Roll inserted technology mixes the 45-degree groove with the thin polymer finish to deliver amazing feel, responsive feedback and accelerated topspin.
The improved topspin-orientated design grants you more speed, accuracy, and length. Furthermore, the mallet has excellent line alignment, helping you keep the golf ball on the desired course. The balanced face design is fit for those who want maximum straightness and minimum arc in their game.
The putter has its downsides. For starters, it is the most expensive putter on our list. Also, the putter’s design is a bit weird and unusual, This isn’t a straight down downside, but it will take some time before you get used to it. Other than these small issues, the TaylorMade Spider Putter performs and feels great, and is recommended to any golfer.
2. Odyssey White Hot Pro 2.0
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Pros
- Excellent toe-balanced alignment
- Great feel and feedback
- Standard and balanced design
- Improves accuracy and distance
Cons
- The grip is too small
- Putter’s head should have been a bit heavier
Description
Last on our least is the Odyssey White Hot Pro 2.0, a putter available for left and right-handers and in 3 different shaft sizes. Made by Callaway, the White Hot Pro 2.0 is an upgraded version of the successful White Hot Pro blade putter.
It features a classic design, its head offering optimal performance for players of all types. Probably the best thing about this putter is the alignment. This is a toe-balanced putter and is as such fit for players who have a little arc in their game, but more on that in the value section.
It feels great and provides good feedback on each putt you make. We recommend it to players who seek standard and balanced putter. Moreover, beginners should also consider buying it, due to the simple design and forgiving nature. It does have a soft touch and amazing accuracy.
However, we feel that the grip was too small, and we recommend you replace it with oversize grip for better performance. Also, I feel that the head should have been a bit heavier since it would add more speed and distance. However, beginners probably won’t mind the fact that it is lighter than it should be.
3. R.C Silver Ray SR500 Putter
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Pros
- Large sweet spot
- Forgiving, good for all around shots
- Inexpensive, fit for everyone’s budget
- Excellent feel and balance
Cons
- The paint might chip off
- Grip should have been larger
Description
Available for right-handers only, the Silver Ray SR500 Putter has a 70-degree lie angle, with three different loft degrees. The shaft is available in 34 and 35 inches.
This beautifully designed mallet putter features grey finish, with the mixture of red and white colors for more natural alignment. The putter is both firm (concerning durability) and soft, providing excellent feel and decent forward spin.
It derives its forgiveness from the weighted head, which grants balance and provides more smooth stroke.
This is Ray Cook’s most prominent putter and has won over 200 professional PGA events. It has even won the four majors.
The putter is balanced and consistent, providing you with fantastic feel and accuracy. The putter has a large sweet spot, which grants amateurs and high handicappers more control over their putts.
The stock grip is mid-sized and firm, though you have the option to purchase more comfortable grip additionally.
This putter feels great and performs great, but we feel that the grip should have been a bit larger. If you are into cosmetics, you probably won’t like the fact that the paint chips off after you use the putter for some time, which should be expected, for this is a very inexpensive putter, fit for anyone’s budget.
4. Cleveland Golf Huntington Beach Putter
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Pros
- Mixture of classic shape and forgiving performance
- Value for money, durable and robust
- Responsive and soft face
- Large sweet spot
- Optimal weight, made of thin stainless steel
Cons
- Grip is somewhat awkward
- Putter features boring design
Description
Huntington Beach Putter is available for left and right-handers, featuring three different shaft sizes (33, 34 and 35 inches), fitting for people of all sizes.
This putter features standard, tour-proven design, and is made of stainless steel (304 soft steel), which makes it quite sturdy and durable. The putter is a mixture of classic shape design and modern technology and is a such an attractive option for all types of players.
The putter is deep milled, granting soft feel, but is still strong enough to provide you with excellent feedback. Head weighs 345 g, which makes the putter lightweight, but not too light. Alignment is solid, and the putter doesn’t intervene with your alignment (regarding color suggestion).
All in all, the Huntington Beach Putter is balanced, accurate and valuable, game-improving putter. The grip is a bit too slick (or too smooth) for my taste, and will take some time before you get used to it.
Also, this blade putter isn’t that much innovative, meaning that it doesn’t bring anything new to the world of golf. It is, however, a perfect fit for high handicappers and total beginners, thanks to the simple design and forgiving nature.
5. Pinemeadow Golf Men's PGX Putter
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Pros
- Smart black and white design helps with alignments
- Massive head grants more MOI and topspin
- Solid construction and durability
- Performs excellently on faster greens
- The most inexpensive putter on the list
Cons
- Performs poorly on slower greens
- Not so durable
Description
Pinemeadow Golf Men’s PGX Putter is available for left-handers only, featuring a black and white finish that stands out while you are on the green. This color pattern helps with alignment, which in turn helps you make successful putts.
The putter’s head weighs 380G: the additional 40 g increases the club’s MOI, topspin, and speed. As such, this mallet is fit for fast golf courses (the good news is that more and more golf courses have fast greens).
It is also worth mentioning that this is the most inexpensive putter on our list. However, it is also the least forgiving putter. Though it does help with topspin, distance, and accuracy, the putter isn’t fit for slow greens. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use it on slow greens but only that it performs best on the faster greens.
The good news is that the putter’s weight makes it much easier to hit your shots. Also, the alignment is near perfect, thanks to the smart black and white coloring. All in all, this is a solid and balanced putter, perfect for beginners and amateurs.
Conclusion and Editors Choice
Though I was juggling between the TaylorMade Spider Putter and the Odyssey White Hot Pro 2.0, the winner of our list is TaylorMade Spider Putter. It is the most forgiving putter, which is what this article is all about.
TaylorMade Spider Putter is available in different shapes, and it aligns perfectly, it introduces new technologies that improve the mallets accuracy, add speed and topspin. Also, this mallet is fit for people who never played golf before, which is always a plus.
The mallet is expensive when compared to other putters on the list, and it does require some time getting used to it, but it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to performance, forgiveness, and feel. But, if your budget doesn’t allow it, go for the Odyssey White Hot Pro 2.0.