Best Golf Putters 2026: Our expert picks from traditional to zero-torque
Whether you're in the market for a shiny new blade or a something more forgiving, these are the very best putters we've tested this year.
Trying to name the best putter on the market in any given year is a little bit trying to pinpoint the best wine or whisky you can buy.
You may be able to discern a few things straight away in terms of quality and feel, but ultimately, one's experience with a putter comes down to the user perhaps more than any other club.
Putters are endlessly customisable and notoriously finicky to dial in for any specific player. What works for one person might not necessarily work for the wide gamut of golfers, while even the same model of putter can provide a vastly different experience on the green if fitted with a different neck or made with a different balance profile.
Picking the perfect putter for you on sight alone is near impossible, and there with so many and variants of each model designed to fit different players, it's near-impossible to put together an objective list of the single best putters you can buy.
Even so, with the amount of putters we test throughout the year, here at GolfMagic we've been able to pinpoint the manufacturers and ranges we feel will positively impact putting for the most amount of players.
As such, we've elected to take a broader look a select few of our favourite putter ranges with both milled and insert faces, so you can get a quick read on the best putters in the profile you generally prefer before you choose a shape that suits your eye and stroke.
For the zero torque fans out there, we've also included a few of our favourites in the growing ZT sector, and expanded further with a full-sized guide to the best zero torque putters. If you're on a budget, you can also read our guide to the best cheap putters.
Read on, then, to find all our favourite putters we took out on the greens this year, starting with our pick of the bunch.
The best golf putter for 2026
GolfMagic may receive a small advertising or affiliate commission if you buy via our links. Pricing may vary.The best Mallet Putters for 2025
TaylorMade Spider Tour
RRP: £349
Key features:
- High MOI design offers loads of forgiveness
- Range of shapes designed to suit different stroke paths
- Brand new torched PVD finish
- TPU insert provides a nice soft feel
The revamped TaylorMade Spider Tour putter features a sleek new torched PVD finish but maintains its iconic design. Despite its reputation with top players, including both Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood, the Spider Tour has a legendary rep thanks to its soft feel, versatility and forgiveness for golfers of all skill levels.
Available in a range of shapes starting with the classic tour and now including the fanged Spider F and mid-mallet Spider V, the Spider Tour line-up large head and clear alignment aid instil confidence, making centring the ball to the target effortless.
The new Gunmetal PVD finish complements the putter's look, providing a more subdued and appealing colour palette, while a black sole plate with neon blue Spider detailing and TaylorMade branding adds to its aesthetics.
The TPU Pure Roll insert offers a soft feel at impact, providing feedback on off-centre hits. The Spider Tour's subdued impact sensation allows for better distance control.
In terms of performance, it excels in line and length control, even on long putts. The high MOI head ensures accuracy and distance retention on suboptimal strokes. The alignment aid shines on shorter putts, making squaring the ball to the target effortless.
READ OUR FULL TAYLORMADE SPIDER TOUR REVIEW
The best milled putters
Bettinardi BB Series
Price: £479
Key features:
- VDF Face Milling delivers premium feel and consistency off the face face
- New blue PVD finish looks great behind the ball and in hand
- Six shape options ranging from traditional blades to full mallets
Bettinardi's flagship putter range for the 2026 season, the revamped BB Series embodies the brand's commitment to build quality, artisanal milling and classic performance, with an eye-catching new Savannah Blue PVD making for a striking finish.
The BB Series remains is one of the softest milled face putters on the market, with a new VDF Face Milling technique providing a softfeel at impact while still giving plenty of haptic feedback. The new face pattern was developed using data from Quintic, one of the world’s leading putter-fitting analysis companies.
While the feel is obviously top notch, the performance and forgiveness are also deeply impressive, the new face providing even more consistency and speed control on less than ideal strikes.
Cobra 3DP
RRP: £379
Key features:
- Milled 304 stainless steel body and face for a premium feel
- LA Golf's descending Loft Technology optimises launch and roll
- 3D printed Nylon chassis optimises CG and weight distribution for higher MOI
The first mass-market 3D printed putters ever made, Cobra's new 3DP range is a far more premium proposition than any putter range we've seen from the brand up until now.
Combining a milled 304 stainless steel body with a 3D printed nylon chassis and a carbon fibre crown, the new range comes finished in a smart bronze finish and thanks to its precision-milled face delivers truly top-tier feel and feedback.
Cobra's decision to 3D print the internal chassis also means the brand can shift more metal and weight towards the perimeter of the putter, optimising its CG while increasing MOI and forgiveness.
The 3DP range wes developed in collaboration with LA Golf, which lent its proprietary Descending Loft Technology (DLT) to each 3DP Tour putter's face to optimise launch and roll. Each also comes fitted as standard with a KBS CT Tour shaft and SuperStroke Pistol 1.0 grip.
Mizuno M-Craft City Series
RRP: £299
Key features:
- New, Japanese-inspired design looks great in the bag and sat behind the ball
- Forged construction and internal copper layer provide a softer feel for a milled putter
- Refined shaping to aid centre of gravity and stability
- Adjustable weighting
Taking Mizuno's putter range in a new direction for 2026 is the City Series: a range of forged putters that pivots away from modern tech and puts the emphasis back on the four core tenets Mizuno is best known for: heritage, individuality, innovation, and foundation.
Mizuno have made a clear aesthetic turn with the new City series, embracing a more traditional look that looks absolutely stunning and harkens back to classic, luxurious Japanese design.
Odyssey Damascus Milled
RRP: £569
Pros:
- High-end stability with a premium milled feel
- Stunning new Damascus steel milled inserts
- Milled steel head with sandblasted finish
- Available in both standard and zero torque Square-2-Square models
Keeping much of the learnings from the brand's core Ai-DUAL range but providing an even more luxurious package, Odyssey's new Damascus Milled range is the Rolls-Royce to the Ai-DUAL's supercar.
The new Damascus insert is made from a variety of different steel alloys, forged, folded, pressed to create both its distinctive pattern and an incredibly responsive, tuned feel. Keeping with the premium, luxrious approach, the rest of the putter head is milled from premium stainless steel, finished in a clean sandblasted silver.
You will, of course, pay a premium for the luxury of this milled face and the feel that comes with it – particularly compared with the already excellent Ai-DUAL putters that we'll get to shortly. But if you want most premium experience Odyssey has to offer, this is the range to aspire to for 2026.
The best insert putters for 2025
Odyssey Ai-DUAL
RRP: £269 (Standard), £339 (Square 2 Square)
Pros
- Ai-DUAL insert provides an consistent roll from across the face and a soft feel
- Eye-catching red and black colour scheme
- New 1/2 ball alignment option
- Available in both conventional and zero torque models
Ai-DUAL is Odyssey's flagship conventional putter range for 2026, comprising a full line-up of its most iconic shapes catered to traditional bladed putters, mallet players and a wide range of different strokes.
The key new update comes in the form is Callaway's new Ai-DUAL insert, which has evolved from the AI-designed Ai-ONE series with the addition of a second layer of Urethane that you can see thanks to their different colours when you look down at its leading edge.
The softer outer layer provides a cushier feel on the ball at impact, while the firmer layer behind it helps produce more consistent speed across the face, with the thickness of both varying at different parts along the leading edge (Callaway once again used AI to figure out these exact placements, placing more forgiveness at the points where players most often strike it off centre).
The insert is also updated with a new forward roll groove design, engineered with a 19° slope to improve roll up and down the face.
That's not all, however, as Odyssey have a brand new alignment aid they're introducing to boot. Named 1/2 ball, it does largely what it says on the tin, providing a semi-circular guide directly behind point of impact to aid alignment and make for more centre impacts.
Available in the standard Ai-DUAL range as well as the zero-torque Square 2 Square variant, there are dozens of Ai-DUAL models to try out.
PING Scottsdale TEC
RRP: £375
Pros
- Eye-Q alignment system aids visual acuity
- Soft yet responsive PEBAX face insert
- Comes in two high-MOI mallet shapes with low-torque Onset Option
PING's new Scottsdale TEC (standing for Tour Elevated Concept) range is the brand's new top-end flagship line, and the plays host to a number of new innovations from the brand. Most notable, and immediately eye-catching, is the colour scheme and alignment profile, named Eye-Q by the brand.
To better aid visual acuity and mental clarity, PING has adopted a high-contrast black-on-white scheme on top of the putters, with a simple line-and-dot alignment system. The idea of the separate dot is that it gives a place for the player to focus their eye when preparing to make a stroke, having used eye-tracking research to figure out just how much players shift their gaze even when they think they're at their most focused.
Providing an altogether more premium feel than the standard Scottsdale model putters, PING's new Scottsdale TEC also have a revised face insert, made from PEBAX - a firm, elastic material typically used in the soles of running shoes. The sensation it provides is softer than a standard milled face, yet responsive.
Already, the Scottsdale TEC has seen major success in the hands of Wyndham Clark, who used his Ally Blue Onset model to win the 2026 U.S. Open.
The best zero torque putters
L.A.B. Golf OZ.1
RRP: £549
Key features:
- Zero-torque Lie Angle Balance design makes it incredibly stable
- Modern, minimalist, premium design
- Shaft lean and press grip aid topspin roll
If you are in the market for another one of the best zero torque putters money can buy right now, then look no further than the L.A.B Golf OZ.1 Putter, which has all the engineering been co-designed by a former Masters champion and 14-time PGA Tour winner in Adam Scott.
There’s no denying LAB Golf are doing something unique—and with the OZ.1, they’ve made it more accessible than ever.
It looks slick, feels premium, and genuinely improves short-range consistency.
But if your game lives or dies by long-range feel or crafty shots off the fringe, you might find it a bit too prescriptive.
READ OUR FULL L.A.B. GOLF OZ.1 PUTTER REVIEW
Odyssey S2S Tri-Hot
RRP: £499
Key features:
- Makes zero-torque putting much more accessible
- Forward placement of shaft feels much more natural
- Ai-DUAL Insert has a nice soft feel
Replacing last year's Odyssey Ai-ONE Square 2 Square range, the newly-introduced Tri-Hot range is a far clearer statement of intent for Odyssey in the zero-torque category. It's also comfortably their best zero torque putter range so far.
Introduced with the intent of 'pushing zero torque forward', the Tri-Hot range has a more forward-placed centre of gravity compared to most zero torque putter models, allowing the brand to move the shaft further forward in turn and creating a look and feel at address more akin to a conventional golf putter.
As such, this is the most natural-feeling zero-torque putter we've tested so far at GolfMagic, making the category far more accessible to those who struggle with the amount of forward lean and onset zero torque putters traditionally come equipped with.
As such, if we came across a player curious about whether or not a zero-torque putter is right for their game, this is overwhelmingly the model we'd encourage them to try first.
READ OUR FULL ODYSSEY S2S TRI-HOT PUTTER REVIEW
TaylorMade Spider 5K ZT
RRP: £449
Pros:
- Striking modern design with subtle detailing
- Zero torque performance especially aids short putts
- Insert provides a consistent strike across the face
The new TaylorMade Spider ZT putter is a standout addition to the zero torque category. With its stunning looks, intelligent design, and lighter weight, it delivers both style and substance. It excels on short putts, holds up on longer ones, and feels great in the hands.
The feel might be firmer than some expect, and the toe-up design may split opinion, but overall, this is one of the most complete and enjoyable mallet putters I’ve tested this year.
If you’ve ever been tempted by zero torque putters but felt put off by their weight or robotic feel, the Spider ZT is absolutely worth a look.
It’s packed with subtle but meaningful innovations, from the CG placement to the material choice, and it’s refreshingly user-friendly.
This remains one of our favourite Zero Torque Putter in the game, and with an even larger, more forgiving ZT Max variant also now available, perhaps the most stable putter on the market right now.
READ OUR FULL TAYLORMADE SPIDER ZT PUTTER REVIEW
Which putter head shape is best for my putting style?
One of the first things you will notice about a putter is the size and the design of the head. From mallets to pick-me-ups and from two-balls to bladed heads, there is a vast choice of putter heads that you can choose from.
Larger mallet putters like the TaylorMade Spider have large, forgiving heads which can help with your stroke consistency.
Mallet putters help with the effortlessness of your putting stroke. With the added weight at the bottom of the club, the face is less likely to deviate from a true line and you don’t need to do as much work to get the club face straight as you connect with the ball.
Mallet putters are commonly used in both professional and amateur games and this is because they offer enhanced performance benefits such as increased forgiveness and stability.
This type of putter is better for beginner golfers. At the start of your golf career, you want stability and steadiness and this is the biggest strength of a mallet putter. Golf beginners should establish a consistent strike with their putter and this is more likely with a mallet putter as opposed to a blade putter.
On the flip side, traditional bladed putters have thinner, generally lighter heads that provide more control over the stroke at the expense of forgiveness.
If you have a blade putter in your bag, this must be more precise with your putting stroke and it stimulates you to find the middle of the clubface regularly. The alignment aid may be smaller on a blade putter, but this encourages you to use your feel and control to putt well.
Any golfer can use a blade putter, but as it is known as the ‘player’s putter’, it is suited to lower handicappers who back their short game and distance control. Tiger Woods has always used a blade putter during his PGA Tour career, for example.
Much like many things in golf, the type of head that's right for you is a matter of personal preference and comfort, and generally comes down to how you putt. Mallet putters tend to favour those with more forward-to-back swings, while the additional toe hang of a blade putter is better suited to those who have more arc in their putting stroke.
How do putter lengths affect putting accuracy and comfort?
When you get custom fitted for your putter, you can choose from a wide range of shaft lengths. The traditional length of a putter is between 32 inches and 36 inches. This length is used by most golfers.
However, many golfers also use belly putters which are between 41 inches and 46 inches. Belly putters are longer than traditional putters and although they are uncommon, this length of the shaft is available.
Longer putters between 48 inches and 52 inches, also known as broom-handle putters, are very rare. Long putters would require a completely different type of grip. Players such as Adam Scott have been seen using long putters on the PGA Tour with their left hand at the top of the club and their right hand in the middle of the shaft.
How does a putter's neck affect its performance?
The designs of putter necks have evolved over the years. As you look down at your putter when you address the ball, you need to be pleased with the look of the neck above the head.
Types of hosel such as plumber-neck, flare-tip, long hosel, slant neck and centre-shaft are examples of what you find when you go and purchase your new putter. This is also another feature that you should discuss during a custom fitting session.
This subtle change in the configuration of the club can have a significant difference in the way you connect with the ball and the way you swing the putter. As you can see by the image we have used above, each brand uses several different hosel designs.
What should I look for in an alignment aid?
Outside of very specific circumstances like a custom build, a putter will come with an alignment guide on the top of the club head. Alignment aids are typically intended to line up with the alignment aid of your ball at address, giving a visual aid to let you know you're stroking on-line and aiding with finding the middle of the golf ball when you make the connection.
Alignment aids vary in size and scope, some consisting of simple lines or dots and some using multiple lines or, in the case of famous putters like Odyssey's Two-Ball, mimicing additional golf balls behind your own. Like many of these elements we have listed above, the type of alignment aid, or whether you even want an alignment aid, is your personal choice.
How do we test golf putters?
GolfMagic's Equipment Editors test each putter by using them for a prolonged period. Around a month’s use allows him to assess how well each club performs on the green.
In our putter equipment reviews, we use each club from a variety of positions on the green, hitting putts from both long and short ranges to test the overall feel of the club.
After using the putter for about a month, we get used to the grip of the club, the weight of the head and the alignment technology at address. All of these elements are part of our thorough testing process.
Using the putters on a variety of different greens and a variety of different contours to ensure a fair test, we received a well-rounded outlook on how each of the putters performs on several different terrains.
Check out our full range of golf equipment guides below:
- The Best Golf Drivers
- The Best Golf Mini Drivers
- The Best Golf Fairway Woods
- The Best Golf Irons
- The Best Golf Wedges
- The Best Golf Package Sets
- The Best Golf Balls
- The Best Golf Gloves
- The Best Golf Rangefinders
- The Best Golf GPS Watches
- The Best Golf Bags
- The Best Golf Travel Bags
- The Best Electric Golf Trolleys
- The Best Golf Training Aids
In This Article
Brad Nash is Reviews Editor at GolfMagic, having joined the team in June 2025 to look after all things reviews, soft goods testing and equipment alongside Equipment Editor Georgina. Primarily a writer, you may see him pop up in videos or on the GolfMagic socials from time to time.
