[Putting Variety④] "Blade vs Mallet"... Which Putter Suits My Body?

Blade excels in long putting distance with 'Arc-shaped Stroke', Mallet effective in short putting with 'Straight Line Progression'

The straight-bladed putter favored by Tiger Woods excels in distance control during long putts.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "Blade vs Mallet."

There are two main types of putter heads: the blade, which is straight, and the mallet, which is rounded. Their performance on the green is similar. The choice depends on personal preference and stroke path differences. The blade creates a small arc, while the mallet maintains a straight line. In the past, 'experts' preferred blades, but recently mallets have been gaining popularity again, which is interesting. The final fourth part of focuses on head design.

▲ Blade 'Arc', Excellent Distance Control on Long Putts = In golf, every shot counts as one stroke. Whether it’s a 300-yard drive or a putt less than 1 meter, it’s the same. Putting especially accounts for about half of the standard par 72 strokes, making the putter very important. Let’s first look at the blade. When you place the middle part of the shaft on your palm, the toe of the head points downward at an angle of more than 45 degrees. This is called a 'Toe Hang Putter.'

The stroke creates an image of a small arc. The toe opens and then slightly moves toward the body during impact, naturally drawing an arc. The blade is thin, with a relatively high center of gravity, so precise center hits and control require a keen sense. Tiger Woods (USA), the 'Returned Golf Emperor,' is a representative user. Consistent practice is essential. If the backswing wavers, you can easily miss short putts.

Lee Jeong-eun 6 used a mallet putter with a thick head and fitted it with a thick grip.

▲ Mallet 'Straight Line', Effective for Short Putts = The mallet’s face points upward when placed on the palm, and it maintains a horizontal line from toe to heel. This is known as a balanced putter. Originally starting as a half-moon shape, it has evolved into semi-mallets with slightly larger blades, square shapes, and even complex designs reminiscent of spaceships. It can be further subdivided by shaft position: T-shaped when inserted in the center of the head, and L-shaped when near the heel.

The stroke is a straight line. The face is thicker than a blade’s, resulting in a larger moment of inertia (MOI), and the wide back shape makes it easier to align the target during address. The gaze is placed directly above the ball, focusing on keeping the face square at all times. If you use your wrists a lot, you can reinforce with a heavier head or thicker grip. The larger grip area helps stabilize the stroke.

The blade (left) has a small arc-shaped stroke path, while the mallet is straight.

▲ Shaft 'Based on Arm Length, Loft Starts at 4 Degrees = 34 inches is the standard. For those under 170cm, 33 inches is suitable; for those over 180cm, 35 inches fits better. Shaft length is actually based more on arm length than height. It allows a comfortable gaze line slightly inside the ball and an elliptical putting path. If too short, the gaze shifts outside the ball, pulling left; if too long, it moves inside, pushing right.

Putters usually have 4 degrees of loft to lift the ball to an appropriate height. If the loft is too high, the ball lifts too much off the ground, causing backspin and shorter distance; if too low, the ball bounces excessively. On fast greens, 3.5 degrees is acceptable. If the ball tends to go left in actual play, a putter without offset is better. Although sensitive, it improves contact speed and reduces left-pulling errors. If the ball tends to go right, a putter with more offset is recommended.