| Years ago, before mallet putters were an option, | | | | they can focus on aim and good body mechanics, and |
| blades were the only game on the links. And putting | | | | learn to let the club do more of the work. If you come |
| was typically the most frustrating part of any round for | | | | up short more often than you’d like, a mallet will |
| most golfers. The introduction of mallet heads allowed | | | | reduce this tendency. |
| golfers of all abilities to improve. Here are some | | | | A third criterion involves “feel.” Good golfers rely |
| factors when considering whether to use a blade or a | | | | heavily on feel, which comes from the vibrations the |
| mallet. | | | | club resonates up the shaft into the hands. Feel is so |
| First, consider your alignment abilities. Most professional | | | | crucial, Tour players never putt with a glove on. Feel |
| golfers will tell you that proper alignment is the most | | | | tells the player they have struck the ball on the sweet |
| important aspect of putting, while at the same time the | | | | spot by transmitting no or few vibrations. Poorly struck |
| most difficult to perfect. A blade typically has a single | | | | putts vibrate more. This trains the player to hit the |
| line for alignment, while mallets have a myriad of | | | | sweet spot more often. Blades have a smaller sweet |
| advanced alignment designs. If you have low-handicap | | | | spot than mallets, so feel is essential. Mallets tend to |
| alignment skills, you may prefer a blade due to its other | | | | have less feel, though new insert technology is |
| qualities. But if you would benefit from help here, | | | | increasing their performance in this department. The |
| you’ll do better finding a mallet with a system you | | | | biggest benefit of mallets is that their weighted heads |
| are comfortable with. | | | | create a larger sweet spot than blades, and make feel |
| Secondly, consider the age-old truism “never up, | | | | less important. Traditionalists will enjoy a blade, even if |
| never in!” Blade putters are lighter than mallets, and | | | | performance suffers a bit. If your game would benefit |
| even good players may tend to go too light on the | | | | from a larger sweet spot that still transmits adequate |
| stroke because they are focused on the other | | | | feel, a mallet with an insert will work splendidly. |
| essentials. Mallet players find that with a heavier club | | | | |