Updated April 17, 2023. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
One of the most neglected areas of the golf game by beginners comes on the putting green. By using a poorly-made putter, beginners can sabotage their short game, causing them to post higher scores and stunt their potential growth.
Our list of the best putters for beginners provides players early in their careers the opportunity to play with a putter that will help their game rather than hinder it.
These high forgiveness putters offer clear alignment aids along the top to help you center the golf ball on the face, plus provide an impressive feel to help you gain confidence on the green.
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Last updated on 2023-06-01. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
Things to Consider When Choosing Golf Putters
Looks
The way a putter sits behind the ball and sets up to the target line is of paramount importance when judging the effectiveness of a putter.
There are numerous different alignment lines/dots/aids designed with one thing in mind: hit the ball in the right direction.
Some golfers want minimal alignment aids, whereas others need big long lines or prefer a unique system like a 2-ball putter or a SeeMore offers.
My judgment on looks is based on first impressions: how it looks when you pick it up, how it looks when you set it down behind the ball, how well it helps you focus on the target line, and the craftsmanship involved in making the putter.
Feel
Feel might be the hardest element of putting to define. There are numerous different inserts and metals used in putters to offer golfers a wildly diverse array of feels at impact.
And on top of that, the type of ball you choose to use can affect feel as well! For example, a rock hard distance ball like a Top Flite will feel quite different from a soft, high-compression ball like a Wilson Staff Duo.
For these tests, I used the most popular ball on the PGA Tour, a ball that suits a wide cross-section of players: the Titleist ProV1x.
The combination of distance, feel, and spin offered by the ProV1x is the reason why it revolutionized the golf world upon its introduction and made it a great ball to test putters with.
An often-overlooked element of feel is sound, so I’ve incorporated sound into this feel rating. For example, I’ve used putters that made a lot of putts but had such an offputting sound that I had to take them out of play.
Roll Quality
One of the most essential features of a putter is its ability to get the ball rolling quickly.
This may seem like an obvious statement, but you’d be surprised at how many putters cause the ball to skid or hop before it finally starts rolling properly.
These initial skids and hops can wreak havoc both on the accuracy and speed of the putt.
The goal is to get the ball rolling smoothly as soon as possible because a rolling ball carries a good amount of inertia and is less likely to be affected by the grain and impurities of the green.
If the ball is skidding, bouncing, or just not rolling smoothly, it’s more likely to be knocked offline or come up short of the hole.
Forgiveness
You’d think that a putting stroke should be an easy, short, repeatable motion that results in sweet spot contact every time.
The putter only moves a few inches back and through, right?
Well, it’s a whole lot more complicated than that. Even the best, smoothest putting strokes in the world produce mis-hits.
And in a game where the target is a mere 4.25” in diameter, precision is the name of the game.
So we’re looking for putters that will produce good results no matter where the putt is struck on the face.
If you hit a sweet spot with one stroke and then miss it with the next, ideally, you’d still like both putts to roll the same distance and along the same line.
A putter with poor forgiveness will leave mis-hits woefully short or bending offline.
A higher level of forgiveness equals more putts made, especially in high-pressure situations when your stroke might get a little wobbly or tentative.
Value
The last criteria here is value. Many beginner and intermediate golfers are just getting into the game and need to upgrade their whole bag.
While it’s tempting to spend $600 on a driver and $400 on a putter, is it really worth it?
Scotty Cameron putters may be ubiquitous on tour, but can a $100 putter get the job done and still leave you with enough left over for a lesson or two?
With greens fees increasing every year, spending your dollars wisely is important.
If you’re playing for big money, maybe it’s worth it to splurge on a putter. But what if there’s a putter out there that fits your needs for a much lower price?
Or you may be the type of player who changes putters constantly. You’ve got one in your bag and ten in your garage.
The putter that couldn’t miss yesterday suddenly stops working, so you hop online and buy yourself a new weapon for the greens.
Either way, you’re looking for a great bang for your buck! I’ve put in the time to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
Check our detailed guide: How to Choose a Putter
Our List of the Best Putter for Beginners
Odyssey 2023 White Hot OG Rossie S Putter
Best Mallet Putter for Forgiveness
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Specifications
- Head: Half-Mallet
- Loft: 3 degrees
- Length: 33-35 inches
- Head Weight: 355 grams
Pros
- Soft White Hot insert provides deft touch from anywhere on the green
- Milled surface finish offers a tour-level appearance
- Large club head provides maximum forgiveness
Cons
- Only provides a straight-back stroke option
For a beginner golfer, the best mallet-style putter that offers premium forgiveness is the Odyssey White Hot OG Rossie S.
This face-balanced putter comes equipped with the company’s popular White Hot insert, delivering softness and distance control from anywhere on the green.
It features a milled finish along the perimeter of the face, helping the golf club grip the ball’s outer layer to minimize bouncing after impact and create that gentle forward roll that helps from mid-range distances.
When it comes to beginner putters, I like for the putter to produce a smooth, effortless stroke that provides a reliable roll with golf balls. The Rossie S ranks among the best half-mallet putters I’ve ever played according to that criteria.
It has a clear alignment guide that keeps the ball in the center of the club face, and I found it plays exceptionally well from 10-20 feet.
I find that beginners do better on the putting surface with a straight-back stroke, a feature the Rossie S utilizes extremely well with golfers.
During my time with the Rossie S, I found it delivered impressive accuracy and speed control, along with being a very forgiving putter.
Ping 2023 Anser Putter
Best Blade Putter for Forgiveness
Specifications
- Head: Blade
- Loft: 3 degrees
- Length: 33-36 inches
- Head Weight: 345 grams
Pros
- Milled face offers the softness and gentle roll
- High contrast alignment guide helps center the putt
- Lightweight graphite shaft offers exceptional feel
Cons
- Does not come with a steel shaft option
Ping’s most popular putter, the Anser, gets a 2023 update with a milled face, lightweight graphite shaft, and high-contrast alignment guide.
This high MOI putter offers a firmer feel than comparable blade-style options but delivers the touch you need from anywhere on the putting surface.
It provides exceptional balance with heel and toe weights that give room for an arcing stroke yet can return the face to square at impact with regularity.
The slight difference between the milled face and shaft makes the Anser an outstanding offset putter for beginners looking for a blade-style putting solution.
While I wish this golf club had a stainless steel shaft option, it’s hard to argue that the Anser doesn’t deliver the lightweight feel that helps with long-range putting, a significant problem for most beginners.
Although it’s a classic, the 2023 version of the Ping Anser delivers modern technology to the beginning golfer, making it an easy choice as one of the best putters for beginners looking to play a blade-style putter.
Recommended: New Ping Putters of 2023
Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 Putter
Best Luxury Putter
Specifications
- Head: Forked Mallet
- Loft: 3.5 degrees
- Length: 33-35 inches
- Head Weight: 340-370 grams
Pros
- Updated Pistolero putter grip
- Stationary sole weights offer customization and balance
- Milled face delivers softness and improved feel
Cons
- Expensive putter might be too much for beginners
From Scotty Cameron, the manufacturer of some of the best putters ever created, comes the Phantom X 5.5, our choice for the best putter for beginners when it comes to playing with tour-level equipment.
At address, it offers a forked mallet appearance with a broad alignment guide, making it a dependable putter for helping a beginner golfer improve their accuracy.
Also, the milled face provides a soft feel, helping you sink more putts from 10-25 feet. The milling creates more friction on the ball, creating an immediate forward roll that stays along the target line.
After using the Phantom X 5.5 on the greens, I can firmly attest that this mallet ranks among the best putters on the market for producing dependable roll with controllable distance.
When putting together a set of golf clubs, some amateurs overlook how quality equipment can reduce the learning curve.
While a putter like the Phantom X 5.5 comes with a high cost, the improvement you can make on the greens with this superb brand-new putter is worth your consideration.
Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 4 Putter
Best Value Blade Putter
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Specifications
- Head: Blade
- Loft: 3 degrees
- Length: 33-35 inches
- Head Weight: 345 grams
Pros
- Precision milled face offers pure roll with a soft feel
- Exceptional feedback with outstanding responsiveness
- Dynamic mid-to-long range control
Cons
- Smaller blade requires timing for clean contact
Cleveland’s Huntington Beach Soft 4 ranks among the best putters for beginners due to its outstanding craftsmanship and host of solid features that benefit amateurs.
Features include a precision milled face that delivers immediate feedback, a high-contrast alignment line that keeps your putts accurate, and a slight offset that helps you get over the ball at address.
Putters like this are rarely forgiving, but the good folks at Cleveland have crafted this putter to maintain speed along the target line.
The Cleveland model works exceptionally well regarding soft blade putters, providing first-rate feedback at impact. It also is one of the most forgiving putters I’ve ever tested for a lightweight blade-style putter.
If you are interested in blade putters but want the best golf putter regarding feel and responsiveness, my choice is the Huntington Beach Soft 4, an impressively dynamic flatstick well worth your time.
Cleveland Frontline Elevado Putter
Best Value Mallet Putter
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Specifications
- Head: Forked Mallet
- Loft: 3 degrees
- Length: 33-35 inches
- Head Weight: 370 grams
Pros
- Forward weighting produces high stability
- Wide alignment guide provides accuracy
- Optimized face technology with milled insert
Cons
- Larger forked shape could be too oversized
Cleveland’s Frontline series has many fans, including myself, and their great mallet, the Elevado certainly earned its spot among the best putters for beginners.
With the forked mallet head, you can use the offset shaft to help you get your hands in front of the ball at impact. Placing a little forward press with the Elevado lets you keep the putter face square while maintaining a smooth forward roll without bouncing and hopping.
Cleveland’s speed face technology appears with this putter, providing consistency from various distances on the green. The double-milled face insert, although relatively small, offers a nice mixture of touch and feel with outstanding responsiveness.
At address, the Elevado offers a 3D appearance to golfers. While that may seem distracting, the forked wings help funnel your sight to the center, directly behind the ball. Its alignment ranks as one of the best on the list, as the guide provides a clear vision for the path of the putt.
Although I wish the insert stretched across the entire face, the Elevado brings too many exciting things to the table for the putter to be considered anything other than helpful for beginning golfers.
TaylorMade Spider SR Putter
Best Distance Control Mallet for Beginners
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Specifications
- Head: Forked Mallet
- Loft: 3 degrees
- Length: 33-35 inches
- Head Weight: 355 grams
Pros
- TPU insert produces optimal forward roll
- Two 50-gram weights provide balance and feel
- Unique alignment guide offers a ball-width path
Cons
- Smaller insert on the face demands accurate impact
One of the best putters regarding alignment, the TaylorMade Spider SR offers an exciting mixture of feel, responsiveness, and control.
Featuring the soft TPU insert to enhance feel, the putter utilizes the 58-gram weights along the heel and toe to increase MOI and keep the head stable through the impact zone.
What I adored about this mallet comes from the craftsmanship. Although it might seem like a simple putter at first glance, TaylorMade has put together a clever combination of features to improve accuracy and roll.
When it comes to the best putters for beginners I’ve tested from long-range distances, the Spider SR proudly stands alongside them. It offers impressive control on lag putts from over 30 feet, making it easily one of the best putters to save strokes.
One of the best features of this new putter comes from the company’s patented white True Path arrow. By placing a white arrow at the heart of the alignment guide, golfers can naturally envision the path of the putt, creating a more accurate roll on putts with slope.
Regarding beginner putters, the Spider SR’s ability to create better roll with more accuracy makes it a top option for amateurs.
Wilson Staff Infinite Buckingham Putter
Best Feel Mallet for Beginners
Specifications
- Head: Mallet
- Loft: 3 degrees
- Length: 33-35 inches
- Head Weight: 365 grams
Pros
- Dark matte finish contrasts nicely with the ball
- Double milled face produces forgiveness
- Simplified alignment guide delivers accurate rotation after impact
Cons
- Design lacks an impressive modern appearance
From the Wilson Staff collection comes the Infinite Buckingham putter, a mallet that offers sophisticated loft technology to help control the putt’s length and produce better accuracy from short and long-range distances.
What I liked about the Buckingham, and one of the biggest reasons I included it on my best putter for beginners list, is that the company moved the balance point closer to the hands. This feature provides a better, more controllable stroke, especially when putting off the green.
I also believe the Buckingham’s milled face helps this offset putter produce a better feel and more responsiveness, which helps beginners learn how to control their putting.
But even though this putter comes from the Wilson Staff collection, the criss-cross alignment design doesn’t offer the “wow” factor most golfers want in a new putter.
If you are looking for value when buying a mallet-style putter, the Buckingham certainly ranks high as one of the best putters for beginners.
Pinemeadow Golf PGX Putter
Best Budget Putters For High Handicappers
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Pros
- Very affordable
- Alignment design is good
Cons
- Cheap construction
The Pinemeadow PGX putter may grab your attention for looking a lot like some popular TaylorMade or Ping putters that it’s modeled after.
And at a price under $50, it’s awfully tempting! However, I found a few major flaws that actively detracted from the performance.
The first thing I noticed right off the bat was that the putter face looked closed when I took my usual putting grip and stance.
While I didn’t see too much effect on short putts, when I got outside of 10 feet I confirmed it: the grip wasn’t aligned properly to the clubface.
Sure, this can be corrected by buying a new grip, but once you’ve paid for a new putter grip and installation, you’ve added at least $20 to the price of the club.
Being budget conscious shouldn’t mean getting a product that will actively inhibit the ultimate goal of making putts and shooting better scores.
S7K Standing Putter
Best Putter for Improving Alignment
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Pros
- Stands on its own behind the golf ball to give golfer look at target line
- Looks like blade putter, but feels like mallet putter with wide sole
- Heavier putter head helps keep putts along the intended path
Cons
- Expensive putter that helps with alignment, but doesn’t have look of top-tier putters
Featuring one of the most unique designs, the S7K Standing Putter can stand on its own behind the golf ball. Its ability to hold in place allows you to view how the putt will break and make adjustments to the club.
It also boasts the look of a blade putter but the weight and feel of a mallet-styled flatstick. By having a heavier head, the S7K provides a gentle stroke for the golfer to keep the putter along the target line.
Expert Advice
Many first-time golfers don’t realize how vital the putter is for their game. A golfer can expect to take anywhere from 30-40 putts per round, making the putter the most used club in their bag.
The putter provides terrific value for the cost when considering how often it is used during an 18-hole round.
While all golfers should stay within their budget, allotting more money for a higher-end putter does pay off in the long run because of its frequent usage and how important putting is to lowering scores.
If you’ve heard the adage, “you get what you pay for,” in the case of the putter for new golfers, it is actually true.
FAQs
What style of putter is best for a beginner?
Mallet putters tend to have better accuracy for inexperienced golfers, making them the best style for beginners.
A mallet putter offers a heavier weight, better distance control, and the ability to move the head on a straight-back, straight-through putting stroke that helps eliminate errors and mis-hits.
Mallet putters also provide large alignment lines to help beginner golfers find the center of the putter face to create a pure roll, leading to more made putts from shorter distances, helping save strokes.
Is a blade or mallet putter better for beginners?
We believe a mallet-style putter offers a better chance for beginning golfers to make more putts from short and mid-range distances, where many strokes pile up per round.
While most golfers may think that strokes are lost on the tee box and from the fairway, the truth is missing short, makeable putts causes high scores to inflate.
Blade putters, although lighter, requires more consistency and experience because these putters demand an arc stroke where the putter face comes to the inside before returning to square at impact. This stroke causes more off-center strikes for beginner golfers.
What style of putter is most forgiving?
For high handicappers and beginners, mallet putters offer the most forgiveness. A mallet is a high MOI putter, helping new golfers keep the face square throughout the putting stroke.
Because of its size, shape, and weight, the mallet is a great putter for beginners, helping them find better consistency, preventing bouncing and skipping after impact, plus allowing for contact from the sweet spot for a more consistent roll.
The best putters for beginners provide exceptional feel, dependable ball speed, and the correct loft technology to help produce better forgiveness.
What is the most forgiving putter in golf?
The Odyssey White Hot OG Rossie wins our award as the top putter for providing the most forgiveness. Featuring their patented White Hot Insert, the OG Rossie delivers a soft feel, a smooth, consistent stroke with top-tier forgiveness, and pure roll.
The White Hot OG Rossie also provides a wide alignment guide that perfectly lines up with the outer edges of the golf ball, helping beginning golfers find the sweet spot with consistency.
But if the ball strikes off-center, the putter’s stability and high MOI work hard to maintain ball speed and keep the putt along the target line.
The putter also comes with perimeter milling that creates friction with the ball’s outer layer to create an immediate forward roll without hopping, helping golfers control the ball more easily.
Conclusion
For beginners and high handicappers, our top putter for forgiveness is the Odyssey White Hot OG Rossie S putter.
For fans of the straight-back stroke, the OG Rossie S golf putter provides a soft insert that cushions the golf ball at impact, helping your putt find the target line without popping or skidding.
It also provides affordability with its high-grade performance, helping beginning golfers save money for other vital areas such as their woods and irons.
Easily one of the most forgiving and best putters for beginners we’ve ever tested, the White Hot OG Rossie S offers a classic half-mallet with outstanding features that will help you save strokes around the cup.
You might be interested in our step by step guide: How to Build a Putting Green at Home
