Blade vs mallet pros and cons.

[splashtryagain]

Putters, blade or mallet?
Having recently acquired a scotty 2.5 (thanks fundy) to supplement my #7 I can now see and feel obvious differences in the 2 and was wondering what others views were. The mallet is almost a given from 4 feet and less whilst the blade may miss one in 10 ish but from distance the blade is much more dependable. The other thing I have noticed is that in the previous couple of years of using a mallet I must have picked up some terrible habits as the first few putts with the scotty showed my stroke to be all over the place - are mallets too forgiving?

 

[Deleted member 3432]

As someone who swaps putters every couple of weeks, for me its about whatever gets it in the hole in as few putts as possible. I want enough feel off the face to be able to lag from distance consistantly other than that I dont care what it looks like. Currently using Spider S which is pig ugly but rolls it fairly well.

 

[Foxholer]

Putters, blade or mallet?
are mallets too forgiving?

Impossible! Use what works best - not looks prettiest!

But if practice with a blade identifies and provides the means to correct 'some terrible habits' then that's no bad thing.

 

[tsped83]

I counted the number of putters I've had in the last 18 months...nearly that number and I'm still not content. Given my 'extensive' knowledge in this area, I think it's more the man than the machine. Learn and practice a repetitive stroke and then I think either a mallet or blade will do the trick.

 

[Slab]

My wife (who doesn't play golf at all) can putt to a higher standard (including the missed putts) when using a mallet than she can with a blade, (messing around with both on practice green) think that says it all really!

I'm keeping my blade though

 

[One Planer]

For me, there are no pro's and con's, only what suits and what doesn't.

 

[drawboy]

Personally I find the mallet easier to align and to be more stable through impact, less prone to twisting. I tended to push more with the blade but I have hit a lot more long putts with the blade type. 4 foot in I prefer the mallet no7 to anything I have ever used.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have the half mallet #9 but still think I should be using a blade. Prefer the simpler cleaner look of a blade but the mallet is more stable. It is about the one that holes the most.

 

[dufferman]

Surely if a mallet is 'more forgiving' then everyone would be using one???

 

[splashtryagain]

Dufferman - forgiveness has little to do with alignment ie hitting the ball at the hole. If you are not aligned correctly no putt is going in, forgiveness lets morr off center but online putts go in. If you cant line up a mallet or hate using it there is no point and stick to a blade!
Tried a #9 myself and loved it but prefer the #7 for holing putts!

 

[Andy808]

Apparently I have a swing that would suit a mallet but I can't hit them for toffee and love the blade I play with.

 

[dufferman]

Dufferman - forgiveness has little to do with alignment ie hitting the ball at the hole. If you are not aligned correctly no putt is going in, forgiveness lets morr off center but online putts go in. If you cant line up a mallet or hate using it there is no point and stick to a blade!
Tried a #9 myself and loved it but prefer the #7 for holing putts!

What I'm saying is, clearly there isn't a 'better' or 'easier' putter to use, it's all down to personal preference.

 

[harpo_72]

I use a mallet yes Madison .. Ugly as sin but sinks putts. My stroke is straight back staight through, I am open at address as well because I know my swing line. On short putts or fast putts I play off one foot ( the back one) on long putts I play off the front to stop coming up and delivering glancing blows. I would play a bladed putter and have in the past, but lining up is hard a 2ball blade would work but I am not keen on the inserts. I love the c-groove thing, I can really feel the ball.
Basically if your a fan putter a blade suits, but to be successful you have to be extraordinarily talented! A putter is a tool and you should play a max of 50% of your shots with it, so choosing it because it looks cool, should be at the bottom of the list. A simple swing that eliminates room for error ie straight back straight through will always score better due to its simplicity ...
As for distance control erm no difference this is a feel thing, why should it be better with a blade? I don't understand the logic of that argument. Especially when the word feel is not about the head performance but as in your ability to feel the required strength to play the putt.

 

[Doh]

I always thought that depending on the type of swing you had that would determine the type of putter that would suit you. I have a straight back and through swing so should play a mallet type putter (face balanced) which I do now
But I have used a blade in the past (heel toe balanced)with some success I think I only changed because I liked the look and feel of it of it. So I suppose it's whatever suits you and that you have the confidence to use it.