Forgiving Putters To Help You Putt Straight

The art of putting is often described as the game within the game of golf, and for good reason. It's on the green where strokes are saved or squandered, where tournaments are won or lost, and where golfers of all skill levels can find their greatest triumphs or most frustrating defeats.

In recent years, putter technology has advanced significantly, with manufacturers focusing on creating clubs that offer increased forgiveness, stability, and consistency. These innovations have led to a new generation of putters designed to help golfers of all abilities improve their performance on the green, potentially shaving strokes off their scores and boosting their confidence in one of the most critical aspects of the game.

Forgiving putters, characterized by their ability to maintain performance on off-center hits and provide stable, consistent rolls, have become increasingly popular among both amateur and professional golfers. These putters typically feature larger sweet spots, higher moments of inertia (MOI), and advanced alignment aids to help golfers improve their accuracy and consistency.

While traditionally associated with mallet-style heads, forgiving features have also made their way into more classic blade designs, offering golfers a wide range of options to suit their preferences and playing styles. Understanding the characteristics and benefits of these forgiving putters can help golfers make informed decisions when selecting a club that could potentially transform their short game.

Let’s get started!

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Forgiving Putter

By considering factors such as head design, alignment aids, and personal preferences, and by taking the time to test different options, golfers can find a putter that not only forgives their mishits but also helps them sink more putts and lower their scores.

When selecting a forgiving putter, consider the following aspects:

• Head design: Larger mallet heads typically offer more forgiveness and stability due to increased MOI.
• Alignment aids: Various visual aids can help improve accuracy. Choose one that suits your eye and complements your preferred ball marking style.
• Stroke type and toe hang: Match the putter's toe hang to your stroke type. Face-balanced putters suit straight back-straight through strokes, while toe-balanced putters work better for arcing strokes.
• Face type: Different face materials and milling patterns can affect feel and roll. Softer faces may provide better feedback, while firmer faces can offer more consistent distance control.
• Weight: The overall weight of the putter is important so that you can play comfortably without having to go through any trouble while maneuvering around the ball. Heavier putters can help steady the stroke, which may benefit some beginners.
• Price: While there are premium options available, there are also many forgiving putters offering excellent value at more affordable price points. Make sure you look for a putter that meets your budget. If you do not have budget constraints, you can easily go for premium choices that may come with several additional features. Even without a high budget, you can still definitely find a forgiving putter that can give you good value and a great experience. 
• Shaft: Steel is the most common material used for putter shafts. It provides excellent stability and feedback to the golfer, although it is heavier than other options available in the market. Graphite shafts, on the other hand, offer a lighter alternative to steel. They can help reduce vibrations during the putt and provide a wider variety of weight and flex options for golfers to choose from. Some manufacturers have introduced multi-material shafts that combine steel and graphite, aiming to blend the benefits of both materials into a single shaft. Aluminum is another lightweight option for putter shafts, though it is less commonly used than steel or graphite. Composite shafts, made from various materials such as carbon fiber and fiberglass, represent another category of putter shafts. These can be engineered to provide specific performance characteristics, offering golfers a highly customizable option for their putting needs.

• Length: While other factors like head design and weight distribution play significant roles in a putter's forgiveness, length is an essential component that should not be overlooked when selecting the right club for improved putting performance. 

  Proper putter length is crucial for achieving the correct address position, which directly impacts alignment and stroke mechanics. When a putter is too long or too short, it can force a golfer into an awkward stance that may lead to inconsistent ball striking. For instance, if the putter is too short, a player might stand too close to the ball, causing their eyes to be misaligned and potentially leading to pushes or pulls on the green.

   Conversely, if the putter is too long, it can create distance issues that may also affect accuracy. Therefore, having the right length helps ensure that a golfer's hands are positioned correctly under their shoulders and that their eyes are over or slightly inside the ball, optimizing their chances of making solid contact and improving overall forgiveness in their putting game.

   Moreover, the relationship between putter length and forgiveness extends beyond mere alignment; it also affects how a golfer interacts with the club during their stroke. A properly fitted putter allows for a more natural swing arc and promotes better distance control, which are essential for effective putting.

   For golfers who struggle with consistency, using a putter that fits their height and stance can lead to improved performance on the greens.

   While mallet putters are generally recognized for their higher moment of inertia (MOI) and larger sweet spots—features that contribute to greater forgiveness—having the correct length in either mallet or blade designs further enhances these benefits.

Who Benefits Most from Forgiving Putters?

Forgiving putters are especially advantageous for beginners and high handicappers who are still developing their skills, as well as for golfers who struggle with consistent ball striking. These putters cater to players looking to enhance their putting accuracy and consistency, providing a more stable feel during their putting stroke. However, even experienced players can reap the benefits of these designs, as the added stability and forgiveness can help them maintain their performance on the green, regardless of their skill level.

Mallet vs. Blade Putters for Forgiveness

Mallet and blade putters represent two distinct approaches to putter design, each with its own strengths and characteristics when it comes to forgiveness.

Whether you are in the market for a new putter or simply curious as to which design could be a fit for your game, let’s take a look at the blade vs. mallet putters

Blade putters, with their classic, smaller design, have long been favored by golf purists and skilled players for their precision and feel. These putters typically feature a simple, rectangular shape with a thin face and minimal alignment aids. While blade putters can offer excellent feedback and control for experienced golfers, they generally provide less forgiveness on off-center hits compared to their mallet counterparts. The smaller sweet spot and lower moment of inertia (MOI) of blade putters mean that mishits can result in more significant deviations in distance and direction, potentially leading to missed putts for less consistent players.

In contrast, mallet putters have revolutionized the putting game by incorporating advanced technology and design features that enhance forgiveness and stability. These putters are characterized by their larger, more complex head shapes, which allow for increased perimeter weighting and a higher MOI. This design philosophy results in a larger sweet spot and greater stability throughout the putting stroke, particularly on off-center hits.

Mallet putters often feature multiple alignment aids, helping golfers improve their aim and consistency. The increased forgiveness of mallet putters makes them an attractive option for golfers of all skill levels, from beginners to professionals. Many mallet putters also incorporate face insert technologies or milling patterns designed to improve roll and feel, further enhancing their performance on the greens.

While some golfers may find the larger size of mallet putters less visually appealing or more difficult to maneuver, the forgiveness and stability benefits often outweigh these concerns for many players seeking to improve their putting performance.

Mallet putters are generally considered more forgiving than blade putters for several reasons:

• Larger head size allows for more perimeter weighting
• Higher MOI reduces twisting on off-center hits
• More space for alignment aids
• Lower and deeper center of gravity for better roll

That said, some golfers may prefer the look and feel of a blade putter. In this case, choosing a blade with some forgiveness features, like perimeter weighting or a larger sweet spot, can be a good compromise.

For a more in depth understanding of blade and mallet putter, read our guide BLADE VS MALLET PUTTER: WHICH IS BETTER FOR YOU?

  Our Top Picks

Forgiving putters can significantly improve a golfer's performance on the green, especially for beginners and high handicappers.

Here's our list of some of the most forgiving putters available today, their features, and who they're best suited for:

 Mallet Putters

Mallet putters are generally considered more forgiving than blade putters due to their larger head size and weight distribution. They offer higher MOI (moment of inertia), which provides more stability on off-center hits.

TaylorMade Spider GT Max

The TaylorMade Spider GT Max is a highly forgiving mallet putter that offers:

• High MOI design for excellent stability and forgiveness
• Clear alignment aids to improve accuracy. Its optically engineered design allows for easy and precise alignment, while helping golfers visualize the path of the ball’s path to the hole.
• Adjustable weights for customization
• Hand: Available for both right & left handed golfers
• Lengths: 33", 34" & 35"
• Headcover is included

Spider GT Max features a PureRoll² insert crafted from black TPU urethane with silver aluminum beams positioned at a downward 45° angle which improves topspin across the face and helps produce a smooth, consistent end-over-end roll on the greens.

This putter is ideal for golfers seeking a highly forgiving option with the ability to fine-tune performance. The clever and intuitive weight system allows for fine-tuning of CG placement and toe hang, resulting in subtle but effective variations in head performance. 

Position 1 – Corrective performance for golfers who tend to miss putts left
Position 2 – Versatility and performance similar to Spider X
Position 3 – Corrective performance for golfers who miss putts right

Cobra King 3D Printed Agera

The KING Agera putter is Cobra's highest MOI putter at 7540. It features an oversize mallet shape, and a multi-material construction utilizing an intricate 3D printed nylon lattice cartridge that optimizes the weight distribution within the putter head to create the highest MOI possible in a blade shape for more consistent and predictable rolls,  aluminum, tungsten weights, and SIK Face Technology to create their most stable and forgiving putter in the 3D Printed family. The Cobra King 3D Agera stands out for its exceptional forgiveness, featuring:

• Large sweet spot for consistent performance
• 3D printed lattice cartridge, steel chassis, and tungsten weights for high MOI
• Descending Loft Technology for consistent launch regardless of stroke type
• Hand: Available for both right & left handed golfers
• Lengths: 34", 35" & 37.5" ( for players who prefer a taller posture at address to promote consistency and help relieve back pain.)
• Headcover is included

This putter is best suited for beginners and high handicappers looking for maximum forgiveness and stability. However, it comes at a premium price point.

Cleveland Frontline Elite Rho

The Cleveland Frontline Elite Rho offers:

• Winged design with tungsten inserts for perimeter weighting
• Adjustable weights near the face to prevent rotation on impact
• Multiple shaft options to suit different putting strokes
• Loft 3 degrees / Lie 70 degrees
• Hand: Available for both right & left handed golfers
• Hosel: Single bend

This putter is particularly helpful for golfers who struggle to keep the clubface open at impact. Its clever design makes it one of the most forgiving putters on the market. For players with a "straight back and straight through" stroke type, Frontline Elite uses a high-contrast alignment line paired with a single bend hosel.

To help you achieve perfect alignment every time, regardless of your address, the Frontline Elite mallet putter positions the sightline on the exact center axis of the ball.

Frontline Elite's full mallets use advanced, multi-material designs. Lightweight aluminum, ABS polymer, steel, and tungsten are all carefully assembled to give golfers optimal performance with premium looks, feel, fit, and finish.

Blade Putters

While generally less forgiving than mallets, some blade putters offer a good balance of forgiveness and traditional feel.

Odessey Ai-ONE Milled Two T CH Putter

The Odessy Ai-ONE Milled Two T CH putter is a classic blade-style design with heel-toe weighting, featuring angled bumpers and a squared-off appearance for improved alignment. Its crank hosel design results in significant toe hang, making it ideal for golfers with strokes that involve more face rotation and arc.

The Odessy Ai-ONE Milled Two T CH blade putter offers:

• Premium build quality
• Excellent feel and consistent roll
• Stunning aesthetics
• Hand: Available for both right & left handed golfers
• Steel Shaft Lengths: 32"-36" in 1/2" increments
• Headcover is included

Its Ai-ONE milled titanium insert was designed using Artificial Intelligence to create the unique contours on the back surface. These contours help to maintain ball speed on off-center hits for better distance control, no matter where you hit it on the face. 

While not as forgiving as mallet designs, this putter provides a good balance of performance and classic looks for more experienced players

When selecting a putter, consider factors such as head design, alignment aids, stroke type, and budget. It's also crucial to test different putters to find one that feels comfortable and inspires confidence on the green. Remember that while a forgiving putter can help improve your performance, it's no substitute for practice and developing a consistent putting stroke.

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Selecting the right putter is a deeply personal choice that can have a significant impact on a golfer's performance and enjoyment of the game. While forgiving putters offer numerous benefits, particularly for beginners and high handicappers, the ultimate goal is to find a club that inspires confidence and complements one's natural stroke. As putter technology continues to evolve, golfers have more options than ever to find a club that combines forgiveness with their preferred aesthetics and feel. Whether opting for a high-tech mallet or a more traditional blade with modern enhancements, today's forgiving putters offer golfers of all skill levels the opportunity to improve their performance on the green.

It is now up to you to see what works for you to pick the forgiving putter of your choice and improve your game.