Dec 29

Dec 29 Top 5 Best Putters of All Time

The Sporting Blog

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The Top 5 Best Putters in Golfing History

Although the goal is to take as few strokes as possible with the flat stick, the reality of the situation is you’ll use a putter more per round than any other club in your bag.

The Scotty Cameron Newport 2 - Takes some beating

The good news is that there is no shortage of great options to pick from when making your putter selection.

Thousands of models have come and gone since the game’s inception, but only a few have made their mark on the game forever, and we’ll cover a few of those below.

These are the 5 best putters in the history of Golf.

5. Ping Anser

We start off this list with a truly revolutionary putter model.

Not only was the Ping Anser way ahead of its time when it was first introduced in 1966, but the original design concept can be found in plenty of putters still being made today, including another one you’ll find later on this list.

The entirely brass club was the first putter to feature an offset hosel, allowing players the ability to more consistently square up the clubface at impact. Original marketing plans pegged it as the “Anser” to your putting woes.

Interestingly enough, adding the W was not feasible, as 6 letters were one too many to fit on the club. The club made up for it with plenty of W’s, coming by way of being the putter of choice for over 500 PGA Tour Victories, including 19 major championships.

Ping Anser Specs

Length: 35.5” - Head Weight: 310-320g - Loft: 4° - Lie: 71°

4. Taylormade TP Red Ardmore

The Ardmore is a classic blend between mallet and blade. A mallet with a bit more control, this club has seen its fair share of Tour wins. It features a smaller clubhead than a traditional mallet but has plenty of forgiveness for players of all skill levels.

In particular, we’re looking at the Red prototype that has caught on as a trend when it comes to Taylormade’s putters. Legend has it, it was Jason Day who approached Taylormade for them to make him a Red putter, as it would provide him with a bit more contract when lined up against the white golf ball and the green grass.

Jon Daly was also famed to use a red putter for the same reason.

The TP Red Ardmore Specs & manufacturer notes

The TP Ardmore Red Collection incorporates TaylorMade’s striking Tour Red finish into a long, modern-shaped mallet design. Featuring an expansive array of shaft, sightline, and hosel options to choose from, TP Ardmore Red provides golfers with added stability, a variety of alignment aids, and club specs that can be personalised for any stroke.

With clean aesthetics, adjustable sole weights, and TaylorMade’s Pure Roll insert, the TP Ardmore Red will inspire confidence on the green for all players.

Length of the TP Red Ardmore

34”/35” - Head Weight: 355g - Loft: 3.5° - Lie: 70°

3. Wilson 8802

Formerly known as the Wilson Arnold Palmer, this is a nod to the traditionalists of golf. With a simple, elegant, and efficient design, this club has proven to be timeless throughout the history of the game.

Originally designed for Arnold Palmer, the putter went through a re-brand to the 8802 it is still known as today when Palmer left Wilson in 1963. While its design is likely to take you back a few decades, the 8802 has withstood the test of time, and been a staple in Phil Mickelson’s bag for the better part of his career.

Wilson 8802 Specs & manufacturer notes

That elegant, timeless treasure adored by aspiring amateurs and Major WINNERS alike. It's back, and it's beautiful. Make your own history with the new 8802. With the same Heel-shafted head shape, the new 8802 is milled from 304 stainless steel for the ultimate in precision, feel, and feedback with a double milled facing to be perfectly flat for true roll.

Length of the Wison 8802

35” - Head Weight: 335g - Loft: 3° - Lie: 71°

2. Odyssey 2 Ball OG (White Hot Insert)

When you think about a putter’s design reinventing itself, you have to think about the Odyssey 2 Ball. The 2 ball mallet was much larger than any other club on the market when it was invented in 2001.

Throughout the years, plenty of manufacturers have mimicked the 2 ball concept. The idea behind it is that it would provide golfers with a better aid when visualising and executing the putt, allowing them a straighter and more consistent swing path. Nearly 2 decades later when Odyssey coupled the design with their renowned “White Hot” insert, they came as close to perfection as you can get with the flatstick.

Specs & manufacturer notes on the Odyssey 2 Ball OG

This incredible line-up combines the amazing benefits of our two-part urethane insert technology with a rich silver PVD finish and fine milling on the finishes. It’s available in our premium stepped steel shaft, or our Tour-proven, major-winning, multi-material Stroke Lab shaft to help improve your stroke.

With White Hot OG, you’re getting one of the most renowned putter innovations of all time in an unbelievably high-performance package.

Length of the 2 Ball OG

3-35” - Head Weight: 355g - Loft: 3° - Lie: 70°

1. Scotty Cameron Newport 2

Although the design is a copycat of the Ping Anser we covered above, Scotty Cameron has to get credit for perfecting it! Scotty C ameron is the gold standard when it comes to putters, although they have received backlash for their lack of originality, as they do their best work when maximising already popular models.

The Newport 2 is most famous for being Tiger Woods’ “Elder Wand”, accompanying him for all but one of his 15 major championships.

Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Specs & manufacturer notes

Rarely does an iconic model such as the Newport 2 putter get a full-scale design overhaul.

Rather, it may undergo significant, yet subtle, modifications to raise the bar and take it to its logical next level of design and performance.

Long-trusted for its angular, mechanical profile, Scotty refined the topline radius milling for a slightly thinner appearance from address. He also honed the plumbing neck dimensions, edges, and angles for a cleaner, squared-up look from address.

Updated graphics extend the Select line’s iconic three-red dot theme to the face and sole for a clean, race-inspired look.

The Scotty Cameron Newport 2 can certainly lay claim to being the best putter of all time.