Finding the Best Putter(s) for Beginners

We’re taking a look at the clubs you rely on to get your ball in the hole and what you should pick when you’re first starting

There’s this indescribable feeling golfers get, when they finally see the flag flapping in the gentle breeze signaling they are closer to the hole. That they might just hit par, or heck even go under. The anticipation builds and the closer you get, means the closer you get to walking over to your golf bag and pulling out the club you’ve been waiting to use since you set the ball off with a swing from your driver at the start: the putter. 

The putter is a signifier, one letting you know that you are within but a short distance of the hole and your goal to improve your skills with a new record number written down on your sheet. Lining up the shot, holding your breath, and swinging with just enough force to make it count, you wait, hoping nothing goes wrong and BAM, the ball sinks into the hole with a satisfying clink. The putter is a club we rely on to make our dreams come true. 

Every golfer chases this feeling, from old to new, and that’s why we’re here today, to find you the best putters for beginners so you can sink your shots with the greatest clubs out to offer. 

• Let’s Learn: What is a putter?
• The best putters for beginners
• Where you can get reliable golf clubs

No we aren’t talking about these putters, but they are the best introduction to golf.

Let’s Learn: What is a putter?

The first introduction most people have to the sport of golf happens when they are a kid, and that’s through the game we all know and love- (though some despise it because they find they can’t quite get a handle on it): mini-golf. Mini-golf is when we start to learn the mechanics of the game, even if it’s with swinging your putter to get your ball through a windmill and fake water feature. 

But yes, mini-golf is a staple amongst many and the club you use is technically a putter which means that you’ve been playing with them longer than you have any other club in your bag. 

Putters are clubs you use for precision, they are for short controlled shots for your ball to roll along the green and get in the hole in as few strokes as possible. It’s an important shot, in fact “on average, professional golfers require approximately 40% of their total strokes on the golf course for putting.” So as you can see, having the right putter can make a world of difference when you’re playing your own game(s).

There’s also the debate of “mallet” vs “blade” as putters can come with more than one head style. Some swear on the mallet, some the blade, and others just think it’s whatever hits good at the moment. There is definitely a visual component that comes with each that may have some sway over the other, but ultimately the debate comes down to “moving weight in the putter head to increase MOI” (moment of inertia aka how much movement is needed to swing the club). So really the best method here is to test both and see what works with your brain the best.

The Best Putters for Beginners

When you’re shopping for putters as a beginner there are three things you should know: 

1. Always buy used first, (unless you find a really good deal otherwise or are sure of yourself that you’re going to be hitting the greens enough to warrant the purchase). Golf is expensive, we don’t need to tell you that, and as a beginner it’s always better to get used as they are hundreds of dollars cheaper and still just as good as newer models.
2. Putters last pretty much forever. Unlike drivers or other heavyweights in the golfing world, putters don’t see a lot of wear and tear which means when it comes to “upgrading or replacing” it you won’t really need to. Actually, many of the greats you see on TV will still have the same putter they used at the beginning of their career. So when you do buy a putter, you’re going to be investing in great returns. 
3. Go test some putters at a local golf store. Many golf-dedicated stores (or big-box brands) will have a putting green you can practice on so you know what feels best in your hands. Lot’s of golfers will say that you will test and test until you find “the one” and they aren’t wrong.

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s take a look at the best putters for beginners. 

The Cleveland Huntington Beach Line

Many golfers will point your nose in the direction of the Cleveland Huntington Beach putter line-up as it is quite possibly the universal pick for beginners. The consistent stability at address will have you feeling good about your chances of making the ball sail smoothly into the hole with no surprise wobbles or unsuspecting left turns. We have two models we love and have recommended before:

The Cleveland Huntington Beach 4

Not a fan of the mallet? No problem.

The 4 blade putter hits smoother than butter, its stability is often talked about and will leave your ball happily wanting to get in the hole before you eleven swing. Here is one model from our storepage:

This is the Cleveland Huntington Beach 4 Putter 35" Mens RH which was $105.18 and is now $83.79. This club is pre-owned, has been hit with, and has marks on it from normal use, but is overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Right-Handed
• Club Length at address: 35.00"
• Shaft Flex: Putter
• Shaft Material: Steel
• Shaft Brand: Cleveland
• Shaft Model: Stock
• Head Shape: Blade
• Quality Standard Grip in Good condition 
• Headcover not included

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

The Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 11

Hitting the ball closer to the hole has never felt this good.

And if you aren’t one for blades, then the Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 11 (mallet) is the one for you. You may be curious on what we mean by “soft” - well, most beginners won’t notice the difference between “soft” and “hard” but the more you play and learn about the sport, you’ll notice that “soft” clubs mean the ball will stay on the face for a little longer. While regular or “hard” clubs will have the ball snap off the face quicker. Here is one from our storepage:

This is the Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 11 Putter 35" Mens RH which was $129.99 and is now $96.19. This club is pre-owned, has been hit with, and has marks on it from normal use, but is overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Right-Handed
• Club Length at address: 35.00"
• Shaft Flex: Putter
• Shaft Material: Steel
• Shaft Brand: Cleveland
• Shaft Model: Stock
• Head Shape: Mallet
• Cleveland 1.25'' Standard Grip in Good condition 
• Headcover not included

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

Odyssey White Hot 2

Another beloved brand making its way onto our list.

Besides Cleveland Huntington models, another putter brand that’s made waves over the years for being “the best” has been Odyssey, or more specifically Odyssey White Hot models. These babies perform like no other, they’re relatively inexpensive, and can last a lifetime. Played with by PGA pros and regulars, we gotta shout-out the Odyssey, here is one from our storepage:

This is the Odyssey White Hot 2 Putter 35" Mens RH which was $95.66 and is now $75.09. This club is pre-owned, has been hit with, and has marks on it from normal use, but is overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Right-Handed
• Club Length at address: 35.00"
• Shaft Flex: Putter
• Shaft Material: Steel
• Shaft Brand: Odyssey
• Shaft Model: Stock
• Head Shape: Blade
• Stock Odyssey Standard Grip in Good condition 
• Headcover not included

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

Looking to buy new? Try the Odyssey Ai-One Square 2 Square Jailbird Cruiser Putter

The latest (and greatest?) model to hit the shelves.

Look we get it, sometimes getting the newest of something just hits different than getting it second-hand/used. So obviously we had to add a pick on here that’s been popular in golfing circles and is new to the scenes and it just so happens to be inline with the previous putter because it is another Odyssey. 

This time it's the much talked about Odyssey Ai-One Square 2 Square Jailbird Cruiser Putter. It’s a zero torque putter that has both stability and consistency in spades, and comes with Versa technology which helps you line up your shots so you will hardly ever miss ?. We actually currently have one available in our store at the moment (with more always as a possibility):

This is the Odyssey Ai-One Square 2 Square Cruiser Jailbird Putter 36" Mens RH HC which was $349.99 and is now $266.79. It has only been hit a couple of times so we consider it mint condition, there is little to no markings, and the headcover is brand new. Here are the specs:

• Men's Right-Handed
• Club Length at address: 36.00"
• Shaft Flex: Putter
• Shaft Material: Steel
• Shaft Brand: Odyssey
• Shaft Model: Stock
• Head Shape: Mallet
• Quality Standard Grip in Good condition 
• Headcover IS included

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 9.5 (Mint Condition)

The Ping Anser 2

An old model doesn’t mean it’s bad, it’s the opposite!

This is possibly the oldest model on our list and it’s possibly also our favorite. The Ping Anser 2 has been a regular in the golf bags of many. The heel-toe weighting offers both needed stability and forgiveness which is what every putter should strive for. Here is one from our shop:

This is the Ping Anser 2 Putter 35.5" Mens RH which was $70.48 and is now $65.19. This club is pre-owned, has been hit with, and has marks on it from normal use, but is overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Right-Handed
• Club Length at address: 35.50"
• Shaft Flex: Putter
• Shaft Material: Steel
• Shaft Brand: Ping
• Shaft Model: Stock
• Head Shape: Blade
• Stock Ping Standard Grip in Fair condition. It is playable, just old and cracking. 
• Headcover not included

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

Scotty Cameron Putters

The myth and the legend has finally entered the chat.

There are many famous names in the golf world and one such name is Scotty Cameron which is the name that has helped “secure hundreds of victories, including more than 45 major championships. This record of global success has solidified Scotty Cameron's reputation as the world's premier putter maker.” You can’t go too far down a recommendations list without seeing a Scotty Cameron on it, so we of course had to have it on here as well. 

One popular option is the Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2.5 which have been in and have stayed in the golf bags on many. Here we have the Scotty Cameron Select Newport 2.5 2016 Putter 35" Mens RH which was $379.99 and is now $274.59. This club is pre-owned, has been hit with, and has marks on it from normal use, but is overall in good condition. Here are the specs:

• Men's Right-Handed
• Club Length at address: 35.00"
• Shaft Flex: Putter
• Shaft Material: Steel
• Shaft Brand: Scotty Cameron
• Shaft Model: Stock
• Head Shape: Blade
• Super Stroke Tour 1.0 Standard Grip in Good condition 
• Headcover not included

Overall Condition: Used - Grade: 8 (Good Quality)

About Stick Hawk

Our story is a simple one, what started out as a side-venture in the highs and lows of selling shoes on eBay, has now turned around to be a business with 20 full-time employees, a 15,000 square foot warehouse, and relationships with private golf courses all over the U.S. At StickHawk you can make your putting dreams come true as we sell quality drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, iron sets, single irons, wedges, putters, complete club sets for those who need the basics to play today, and accessories.

We want to match you with the golf club(s) of your dreams. You can take our “Club Decider Quiz,” which is clickable on the bottom right hand side of our website, and it will help you decide the exact right make and models you need to feel good while you’re on the course. 

One aspect, amongst many, that makes us stand out from the crowd is our fast and reliable shipping. There’s no need to worry about finding the right club and then not getting it in time to go on the greens. We want you to get out and play just as much as you do, that’s why we offer free shipping on all domestic orders, (unless you choose expedited shipping at checkout).

Find your used golf clubs here at Stick Hawk!

With this selection of the best putter(s) for beginners, you too will be able to go into your next round of golf with much more confidence and ease than you might have had before.