Six budget putters compared on putter type, head weight and shaft length, each with a spec table and a checklist for choosing.
All six putters below are in stock, and every figure comes from the manufacturer. The field runs from about 32 dollars to 129 dollars, which is roughly a tenth of what a tour putter costs, and the interesting part is how much of the real technology survives at that price: milled and CNC machined faces, face inserts, plumbers neck hosels and genuine high MOI head shapes all appear here.
Budget putters: blade or mallet, and what you give up
The first decision is head shape. A blade is narrow and rotates naturally through the stroke, which suits a player whose putter swings on an arc. A mallet spreads its weight to the perimeter, which raises the moment of inertia and stops the head twisting when you miss the middle of the face. That forgiveness is why most of the cheap putters worth buying are mallets: at this price the head is not going to be perfectly balanced, so a shape that tolerates error is worth more than a shape that looks classic.
The second decision is length. A 35 inch putter is standard for a taller player, 34 inches suits most adults and 33 inches is short. Putting from a length that forces you to stand up too straight or crouch too far is the fastest way to miss short putts, and it is easier to fix at the point of purchase than afterwards. Below you get three quick picks, then the table with all six, then each putter in detail.
- The one to buy if the budget stretchesCobra Classic Mallet
- Best blade in the listGoSports GS1 Tour
- Best face insert under 50 dollarsOrlimar Tangent T1
- Cheapest putter herePowerbilt XRT Series 2
| Putter | Head | Face | Length | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cobra Classic Malletbest overall | Mallet | CNC machined | Not stated | A machined face from a major brand |
| GoSports GS1 Tourbest blade | Blade, stainless steel | Milled | 34 inch | Reducing hand rotation with a fat grip |
| Wilson Harmonized X5shortest option | Large mallet | Not stated | 33 inch | Shorter players who need a short putter |
| Orlimar Tangent T1best under 50 | Mallet, high MOI | Soft TPU insert | 35 inch | Soft feel and a free headcover |
| PGM Anti Twist Malletbest alignment | Mallet, high MOI | Not stated | Not stated | A bold single line alignment system |
| Powerbilt XRT Series 2cheapest | Mallet, perimeter weighted | Grooved | 35 inch | The lowest price that still buys a real putter |
The six budget putters in detail
- Headmallet
- FaceCNC machined for precision and consistency
- Soundclean confident sound at impact
- Alignmentclean topline with a single sightline
- Shafttraditional steel
- Stabilitythe steel shaft keeps the head steady through impact
Best for: A player who wants a machined face and a major brand without paying tour putter money
A machined face is the one specification that reliably separates a good putter from a cheap one. Cutting the face rather than casting it means the grooves are the same depth everywhere, and that is what makes the ball come off the same way on every putt.
Cobra sells this one at 129 dollars, which is a lot next to the 32 dollar mallets below and very little next to a tour putter. The rest of the design is deliberately plain: a clean topline, a single sightline and a traditional steel shaft, which is heavier than graphite and resists the head twisting through impact. Cobra offers the same design in a blade shape if you prefer it.
Pros
- A CNC machined face, which nothing else in this list offers
- Cobra is a major manufacturer, so tolerances and finish are consistent
- A clean topline and one sightline, the least distracting alignment setup there is
- A traditional steel shaft rather than the lighter shafts used further down this list
Cons
- Around 129 dollars, four times the cheapest putter here
- Cobra publishes no length, loft or head weight for this model
- No face insert, so the feel comes entirely from the machined surface
- Headstainless steel blade with a milled face
- Grip1.3 inch diameter textured fat grip
- Length34 inches
- Handright
- Includedpadded headcover
- Origindesigned and tested in California
Best for: Anyone whose hands rotate through the stroke and who pulls short putts left
Oversized grips have taken over professional putting because a thicker grip stops the hands from rotating, and rotating hands are what turns a good stroke into a pulled putt. The GS1 Tour comes with a 1.3 inch textured fat grip fitted as standard.
The head backs it up. Stainless steel with a milled face is the same construction as putters costing several times as much, and milling is what makes the roll repeatable. GoSports designs and tests the clubs in California, includes a padded headcover, and sells this at under 70 dollars. If a fat grip does not suit you, the same head is offered with a traditional contoured grip.
Pros
- A genuinely milled stainless steel face at under 70 dollars
- The 1.3 inch fat grip minimizes hand rotation, the most common short putt fault
- A padded headcover is included rather than sold separately
- Fat grips alone often cost 30 dollars, so the value here is real
Cons
- Oversized grips suit a straighter stroke and feel numb to players who like feedback
- 34 inches right hand only
- GoSports is a value brand with effectively no resale value
- Headlarge mallet
- Length33 inches
- Handright
- Gripstandard
- LineWilson Harmonized
- ModelX5
Best for: A shorter player, or anyone who has been fighting a putter that is too long
Putter length gets ignored and then costs strokes. Standing over a putter that is two inches too long pushes you upright, moves your eyes inside the ball and makes it much harder to start putts on line. The Harmonized X5 is sold at 33 inches, which is genuinely short and hard to find at this money.
The head is a large mallet, so the weight sits well out toward the perimeter and the face resists twisting when you catch the ball off the toe. That is the right pairing for a shorter putter, because a shorter shaft usually means a slightly more upright, straighter stroke. Wilson publishes very little else about it, which is the main reservation.
Pros
- 33 inches, the shortest putter in this list and hard to find at this price
- A large mallet head, which is the most forgiving shape on off center strikes
- Wilson has made putters for decades and the Harmonized line has a long record
- Around 66 dollars for a name brand club
Cons
- Wilson publishes almost no detail here: no head weight, no loft, no face description
- 33 inches is too short for most adults of average height
- Right hand only
- Headmallet with a high MOI design
- Facesoft TPU insert for added feel at impact
- Hoselplumbers neck, offset to keep the hands ahead
- Alignmentcontrasting two color sightline
- Length35 inches
- Includedfree headcover
Best for: A golfer who wants a soft feeling putter and does not want to spend 100 dollars
The Tangent T1 is the cheapest putter here with an actual face insert. Soft TPU takes the click out of impact and gives the ball a slightly softer launch off the face, which is what most golfers mean when they say a putter feels good.
The rest of the design is more thought out than the price suggests. A plumbers neck hosel builds in offset so your hands sit ahead of the ball at address, which helps you strike slightly down on it and get the ball rolling rather than skidding. The head is a high MOI mallet for forgiveness, the sightline uses two contrasting colors instead of one painted stripe, and a headcover is included.
Pros
- A TPU face insert at under 50 dollars, which softens impact without deadening it
- A plumbers neck hosel gives real offset, so the hands stay ahead of the ball
- The two color sightline is easier to line up than a single painted line
- A headcover is included, which is unusual at this price
Cons
- 35 inches only, which is long for players under about six feet
- Orlimar does not publish a head weight
- Right hand only
- Headhigh MOI mallet that resists twisting on mishits
- Shaftprecision stepped steel shaft to minimize torque
- Weightinglow center of gravity to reduce skidding
- Alignmentbold single line contrasting alignment system
- Griptextured weather resistant with a shock absorbing core
- Suitsmen and women, right handed
Best for: A golfer who keeps starting putts offline and needs a clearer aiming reference
Aim is where most putts are lost, and the PGM leads with it: a single bold alignment line in a contrasting color, set on a high MOI mallet head that resists twisting when the strike misses the middle.
The shaft is the more interesting part. A stepped steel shaft is stiffer in torsion than a plain tube, so the face twists less during the stroke and returns closer to where you aimed it. Combine that with a low center of gravity, which reduces the skid at the start of the roll, and the design is coherent rather than a list of features. The grip is textured, weather resistant and built around a shock absorbing core.
Pros
- A bold contrasting alignment line that is easy to square to the target
- A stepped steel shaft reduces torque, so the face stays where you put it
- The low center of gravity reduces skidding and starts the ball rolling sooner
- A weather resistant grip with a shock absorbing core, unusual at 45 dollars
Cons
- PGM does not publish a length for this model, so check before ordering
- Right hand only
- A value brand with no resale market
- Headmallet with weight moved to the perimeter
- Stabilityhigh moment of inertia for off center strikes
- Facegrooved face to improve roll
- Hoselplumbers neck for correct hand position at address
- Length35 inches
- FinishNano White, right handed
Best for: A first putter, a spare, or a replacement for whatever came with a package set
For around 32 dollars the XRT Series 2 has no business being this well specified. It is a real mallet with the weight pushed out to the perimeter, which raises the moment of inertia and keeps the head from twisting when you catch the ball off the heel or toe.
The face is grooved, which helps the ball start rolling rather than hopping off the face, and the plumbers neck hosel gives the offset that puts your hands ahead of the ball at address. Powerbilt lists it at 35 inches with a right handed configuration and a Nano White finish, which looks striking at address and will pick up marks over a season.
Pros
- Around 32 dollars, the cheapest putter here by a clear margin
- Genuine perimeter weighting rather than a solid lump of a head
- A grooved face gets the ball rolling instead of skidding
- A plumbers neck hosel, the same offset design used on far more expensive putters
Cons
- No published head weight and no face material stated
- 35 inches only, which is long for many players
- A white finish shows scratches and grass stains quickly
Checklist: What makes a great Budget Putters
- Putter Type: Before choosing a putter, consider your preferred putter type. There are different types of putters such as Frontline Elevado, Blade, Square heel/toe design, Mallet, DFX Seven and Right-Handed Blade available. This is influenced by a golfer's individual preference and style of play.
- Putter length: Length of the putter is an important consideration, as it can affect the accuracy and consistency of your putts. Depending on your preference and height, the putter length can range from 34 to 48 inches.
- Putter Material: While choosing a putter, it's crucial to consider the material used in its construction. The putters are generally crafted from stainless steel, aluminum, and tungsten, which assure stability and durability. Higher quality materials generally provide better control and feel when putting.
- Putter insert: Give attention to the putter's insert. The quality of putter insert can affect the ball’s roll and the feel of the putter face strike. Inserts are produced from various materials, and each provides a different level of softness or hardness which can influence your putting.
- Weight: The weight of the putter has a significant impact on the control and feel of your putt strokes. Depending on the golfer's preference, the weight can range from lightweight to heavy. A golfer should select the weight that aligns best with their playing technique.
- Alignment features: Watch out for alignment features on the putter, such as horizontal or vertical lines on the putter head. They can aid in ball alignment, enhancing accuracy and precision during strikes. It's a valuable factor to consider when choosing a putter.
FAQ
What features should I consider when choosing a budget putter?
Look for the putter type, length, material, putter insert, weight, and alignment features such as horizontal or vertical lines on the putter head.
How does the length of a putter affect my game?
The length of a putter affects the accuracy and consistency of your putts; choosing a length based on your height and preference is recommended.
Why is the weight of the putter important?
The weight of the putter impacts the control and feel of your putt strokes; select the weight that aligns best with your playing technique.
