While we all like to work on hitting the perfect drive or perfecting the distance and height of our iron and chip shots, the most important golf shot is the putt. Putt well, and you will be hitting pars and birdies; putt poorly, and you will see all your perfect drives and measured chips count for nothing. The ability to two-putt is one of the most effective ways to lower your handicap. While there are many drills to improve your putting ability, the putter you use will also greatly impact your green game. This doesn’t mean you need to buy the most expensive putter you can find. Instead, find a putter that suits your game and playing ability. When choosing your putter, you will have two choices: a blade putter and a mallet putter. This article will break down the two putter clubheads to help you decide which is best for your game.
Blade Putter

The blade putter is the traditional putter and has been used by many of golf’s best players, most notably Tiger Woods with his iconic Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS. Its clean, uniform design has made it the choice of golf purists.
Pros
Arch Stroke: The blade putter’s toe hang design places more weight on the toe side, allowing the putter face to open naturally. This makes blade putters perfect for those who prefer an arc stroke, also known as an inside-to-outside stroke.
Greater Feel: Blade putters offer a softer feel, giving golfers a lot of feedback from their strikes. This allows players to adjust their strokes for greater accuracy and precision.
Precision: Blade putters are much more accurate over longer distances than mallet putters, especially for putts over ten feet.
Versatility: While they may be less forgiving in terms of ball striking, blade putters are much more versatile when playing on courses with varying green speeds.
Cons
Unforgiving: Because of the small club head, you have a lot less leeway to make a mistake when striking the ball.
Harder to Line Up: Blade putters don’t have alignment lines, making it much more challenging to line up the putter with the golf ball.
Less Stability: Blade putters are much less stable than their mallet counterparts due to their lightweight design. This makes overall consistency and accuracy much more challenging.
Mallet Putter

The counterpart to the blade putter is the mallet. These putters come in a variety of shapes, but they are usually either a box shape or a semi-circle shape and will have a large club face. While considered the best option for those starting out, many of the top players in the world now favor the mallet, including Scottie Scheffler, who uses a TaylorMade Spider Tour X L-neck.
Pros
Alignment Guides: Due to the larger size of the club head, manufacturers are able to include alignment lines that can help with striking the dead center of the ball.
Larger Sweet Spot: Another advantage of a larger club head is a much larger sweet spot. This makes the mallet putter much more forgiving than a blade putter.
Extra Weight: The extra weight increases the club’s stability, which makes good contact much more likely. This makes them ideal for those with a low handicap or new to the game.
Straight Back Stroke: Mallet putters favor players who swing the putter in a straight line.
Cons
Extra Weight: While the extra weight increases the stability of the club head, it also makes it harder to control, especially on shorter putts.
Fast Greens: Mallet putters can be less accurate on fast greens due to their heavier weight, leading to over-hitting.
Price: Mallet putters are universally more expensive. If you are looking to invest in one, it may be worth considering secondhand options.
Verdict
In simplistic terms, the blade putter is more suited for those who can control the golf ball better, making it more suited for high handicap players, while the forgiving nature of the mallet putter makes it better for those with less playing experience. Ultimately, your choice of putter will depend on your playing style and preference. Test out different models in the club shop and speak to a pro coach to determine which putter club head suits you best.