Blade or Mallet?

[Scobie]

Just seen a piece on GM's homepage about choosing a putter and i'd like to know people's views here. Do you prefer a blade or mallet type putter?

Personally, after a bit of trial and error, i've decided blades are the way to go for me. When i started playing i was using a Fisher blade putter, which i was quite good with. But then i started thinking how much better i would be with a larger alignment aid. Since then i've used a Ping Piper and a Ping Cra-z, both of which i thought were good until i went back to a bladed putter two months ago(a cheap second hand 10 euro anser type)and have been putting better than ever. I think(for me) large alignment aids prove to be more of a distraction than a help.

So what about you? Whats your poison?

 

[jeardley]

i cant imagine not having my scotty cameron in the bag... its the one club that will outlast the rest. can see me still playing it in 10 years

 

[richart]

Always had a blade, from original Ping Anser back in the 70's, then a Wilson Staff blade, and ended up with Odyssey XG No.1 Just suits my eye, and not a great one for chopping and changing putters.

 

[MattCarter]

I use a Blade putter since i started playing but are going to swap putters with my mate. so will be using a 2 ball on sunday so will let you know how i get on and if i will be moving to a mallet putter or not.

 

[Aztecs27]

Whatever this:

is classed as. I don't own it yet. But it will be mine by Christmas.

 

[Swinger]

I have a selection of putters from true blades through to mallets + a belly and broomhandle.

I have 3 in usual rotation which are a Scotty Cameron Napa, Odyssey Sabertooth and a Mizuno BC5 belly.

If I had to choose I'd probably stick with the belly, I like the thick shaft and long grip!!

I just like mixing things up, I have to use pretty much every putter once or twice a year as it would be a shame for them to be sat doing nothing.

 

[drawboy]

I'm a mallet fan now, I've had Ping Ansers in the past and Ping Pals, but now I use an Odyssey white hot no7 similar to Luke Donalds but without all the attention to detail that the pro's get. For me, for a middle to high handicap player the mallet is far more forgiving and easier to both align and square the face thus resulting in more putts made.

 

[Scobie]

Whatever this:

is classed as. I don't own it yet. But it will be mine by Christmas.

I have been looking at those putters myself,the 001 model to be more specific. They look great although havent had a chance to try them out.
The putter i have a the moment is the style i want but will be upgrading at Christmas, assuming Santa brings me those vouchers i asked for .

 

[bigslice]

Whatever this:

is classed as. I don't own it yet. But it will be mine by Christmas.

ok well tell us how much you got it for!!!!

i suspect it didnt cost you anything

 

[ScienceBoy]

My ping redwood is a beautiful club, when I am on form I cannot miss.

Sadly a drop in my putting form leads to my short putts slipping. Regular practice does prevent this and usually leads to rounds where I feel I just cannot miss! The most amazing feeling with such a wonderful club. My best is 51 5 footers in a row on the practice green!

I do think someone of my handicap would do better with a mallet but I just could not find one I liked when I tested them.

The only other putter I have really liked is the Odyssey Backstryke, that thing is very interesting!

 

[Aztecs27]

Whatever this:

is classed as. I don't own it yet. But it will be mine by Christmas.

ok well tell us how much you got it for!!!!

i suspect it didnt cost you anything

I have no idea. I've asked someone to buy it for me!

 

[golfstick]

yes- sophia, looks lush

 

[Ethan]

To be a pedant, a Ping Anser is not really a blade, it is a heel-toe putter. A Wilson 8802 or Phil Mick's putter is a blade.

My favourite shape is the mini mallet, with a flow neck, like this:

http://www.scottycameron.com/putters/puttermodel.aspx?id=395

The Wilson TPA XVIII was the first of these, and the Odyssey 9 and the new Mizuno MP102 are similar.

 

[Owen_Thomas_14]

Blade for me . My favourite blade would be the one in my sig

 

[Region3]

yes- sophia, looks lush

I've just changed from one of those. Loved it but lost a couple of shots a round from missing the sweet spot and the ball only going half the distance it needed to.

I had a Ping Zing2 when I was a kid, so I went for an iWi Ping Zing for my new one. Early signs are good.

For some reason I don't like putting with a mallet, it just looks wrong to me standing over it.

 

[TobyRich1928]

Got to be a blade, mallets just look stupid really, i mean really . . . is there anything better looking then this ???
http://www.scottycameron.com/putters/puttermodel.aspx?id=393

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Ideally a blade but since I got the odyssey #9 I'd have to vote for a mallet. I still have full blown mallets like the itsy spider. If I spent more time on my stroke I could happily go back to a blade but the #9 is masking the errors quite nicely

 

[Imurg]

I'm Mallet Man

More to the point I'm a Face-Balanced kinda Guy. With a toe heavy putter - Anser/Zing style - I can feel the toe coming round at a vast rate of knots sending my stroke all over the place. A face-balanced mallet just keeps my stroke together. Currently using a Sabertooth as I had problems from 5/6 feet but the y seem to have stabilised but I like the look and feel of it so its staying. I've used mini-mallets like the Odyssey No 5 and the Ping Piper in the past and I can see me going back to that style one day.

 

[Scobie]

More to the point I'm a Face-Balanced kinda Guy. With a toe heavy putter - Anser/Zing style - I can feel the toe coming round at a vast rate of knots sending my stroke all over the place. A face-balanced mallet just keeps my stroke together.

[/QUOTE]
Is there anyway of telling if a putter is face/toe balanced?

 

[chris661]

Let the shaft rest on your hand if the face stays pointing up = face balanced, if the toe falls down = toe balanced? I think.

http://www.scottycameron.com/putters/puttermodel.aspx?id=385

The bee's knee's IMO.