ClubTest 2024: We reviewed 7 new putter lines to help you find your match
Read full reviews of seven new putters below.
CLUB PHOTOS: COURTESY; DESIGN: TANYA DESELM
For the latest edition of GOLF magazine’s 2024 ClubTest, we crafted a two-pronged approach to deliver valuable insights into the new crop of drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, wedges and putters so that you can make better informed purchasing decisions. GOLF staffers tested the clubs ourselves to provide feedback and performance thoughts on gear from manufacturers big and small, while we also relied on the help of a swing robot and Golf Laboratories founder Gene Parente.
Below you will find our full reviews and test results for seven new putters from top manufacturers: Cleveland, Odyssey, Ping, TaylorMade and Scotty Cameron. See something you like? Click through and buy your new putter from Fairway Jockey today.
MORE CLUBTEST: 18 NEW DRIVERS REVIEWED | 22 NEW IRONS TESTED | 18 FAIRWAY WOODS REVIEWED | 13 HYBRIDS TESTED | 8 WEDGES REVIEWED
Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf.
BEST NEW PUTTERS OF 2024
Cleveland HB Soft 2 Putters
Cleveland HB Soft 2 Putters
NEED TO KNOW: The HB Soft 2 putters feature the latest iteration of Cleveland’s SOFT face, which takes a more granular approach by creating a distinct milling pattern that matches up with each head shape, center of gravity and weighting profile for all nine models.
Particular attention was also paid to different stroke types by designating an appropriate hosel, shaft and grip for both face-balanced and moderate toe hang models to ensure they match up with the golfer.
Many of the shapes are carryovers from the previous lineup, with a few exceptions. The most notable is the HB Soft 2 Retreve, a new mallet shape with a hole positioned in the middle that makes it possible to pick the ball out of the hole or off any surface without having to bend over and grab it.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF CLEVELAND’S HB SOFT 2 PUTTERS
Dunlop Never Compromise Reserve Putters
Dunlop Never Compromise Reserve Putters
NEED TO KNOW: The all-new Never Compromise Reserve putter experience is designed around a unique in-store length fitting process, with each fitting starting with an assessment of a golfer’s posture and setup over the ball. From there the fitter can discern the proper length for the putter — down to 1/4″ precision. Once the proper length is selected, golfers can then go through the process of selecting their preferred head shape based on alignment, stroke type, and finish. After that, the fitter can help the golfer dial in the ideal grip option and head weight with the help of the adjustable sole weights, and then it’s off to the course.
The Never Compromise Reserve line of putters are 100 percent CNC milled from soft 303 stainless steel and individually adjusted for weight during the fitting process. The goal of these features is to help golfers find the ideal balance based on the putter’s length.
The Never Compromise reserve line features five stroke-specific models to choose from with three options designed with more toe hang shapes for lighter arcing strokes, plus two face-balanced shapes for more limited arc putting styles.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF DUNLOP’S NEVER COMPROMISE RESERVE PUTTERS
Odyssey Ai-One and Ai-One Milled Putters
Odyssey Ai-One Putters
NEED TO KNOW: With a speed control problem to solve, Odyssey leveraged Callaway’s Artificial Intelligence design and super-computing capabilities to come up with a speed solution: the Ai-One insert.
The end result is two different inserts — Ai-One and Ai-One Milled. The former is a co-molded insert featuring a grooved urethane layer and aluminum backer that’s designed to produce a traditional White Hot feel. The milled offering, on the other hand, is made from titanium — and paired with a milled stainless steel head — to deliver a premium feel at impact.
Instead of showing tech images of the AI-inspired contours on the back of the insert, Odyssey decided to make its latest creation visible to pros and amateurs alike. The window is made from an automotive-grade polymer called “Panlite” that makes it possible to showcase the contours, while still maintaining a premium look. It’s important to note the window will only be available on the Ai-One; the Ai-One Milled has a more traditional cavity with the Odyssey logo affixed in the middle.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF ODYSSEY’S AI-ONE PUTTERS
Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Putters
Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Putters
NEED TO KNOW: The Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser line is built on the now-familiar AI-One platform, but with head weights and shapes designed to offer extra stability and, in some cases, slightly larger head sizes.
The line offers three putter configurations to help fit three different putting stroke types: Cruiser, for players looking for a counter-balanced style; Armlock, for those that putt with an arm-locking forward press; and Broomstick, for those that use a long-putter style.
The most important technology is the Ai-One insert, which is designed with the help of Ai to create various thicknesses to help normalize ball speeds on mishits. Although the insert is made from aluminum, it is co-molded with urethane to create a soft feel preferred by those who are familiar with the classic Odyssey White Hot insert.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF ODYSSEY’S AI-ONE CRUISER PUTTERS
Ping PLD Milled Putters
Ping PLD Milled Putters
NEED TO KNOW: The models in the 2024 PLD launch are the Anser, Anser 2D, Oslo 3, DS72, and Ally Blue 4 — all of which will be available at Ping retailers. On top of the new stock configurations, Ping’s online putter customizer tool gives golfers even more options to make their PLD Milled putter truly unique.
Other than the new Ally Blue 4, which is constructed with multiple materials, all of the new PLD Milled models are fully CNC machined from forged 303 stainless steel and treated with a gunmetal finish. They also feature Ping’s deep AMP (aggressive milling pattern) to provide a soft yet solid feel at impact and better control over speed and distance.
To get an idea of the precision that goes into each putter, more than four hours of milling time is required to make each head. The Ally Blue 4 is a fully machined, three-piece design differentiated by its square footprint and full-length top alignment aid. The strong-arc design consists of an aluminum body, stainless steel soleplate, and aluminum hosel to create an extremely high-MOI, easy-to-align mallet.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF PING’S PLD MILLED PUTTERS
Scotty Cameron 2024 Phantom Putters
Scotty Cameron 2024 Phantom Putters
NEED TO KNOW: Gearheads who are familiar with the dual-milled face technology found on last year’s Scotty Cameron Super Select line will notice the new milling process made the cut for Phantom. While the milling marks may have the appearance of something that leans towards the deep side, the putter’s feel falls right in the middle between shallow and deep.
The face itself (along with the body) is crafted from 303 stainless steel and combined with a lightweight 6061 aircraft aluminum sole plate and flange. A newly optimized vibration-dampening technology ensures that aluminum provides valuable weight savings without negatively affecting sound and performance.
With four head shapes (Phantom 5, 7, 9 and 11) in the lineup, Cameron spent extra time working on the alignment systems for each putter to ensure it was easy to align the head at address. For example, the angles on the heel and toe of Phantom 5 point toward the target and complement the milled sight dots (found on the 5 and 7 models) to create a clean path to the target.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF SCOTTY CAMERON’S 2024 PHANTOM PUTTERS
TaylorMade Spider Tour Putters
TaylorMade Spider Tour Putters
NEED TO KNOW: With TaylorMade’s True Path alignment system featured prominently on all five Spider Tour heads, designers set out to create distinctive shapes and weight setups for all swing types. Models include the Spider Tour, Spider Tour X, Spider Tour Z, Spider Tour V and Spider Tour S.
Take a peek at the face and you’ll find something familiar — with a twist. The molded Pure Roll insert, made from a combination of Surlyn and Aluminum, has been a staple since it was first introduced on the original Spider X. Situated directly behind the molded Surlyn is a piece of Hybrar that was most recently used on the Stealth and Stealth HD irons to dampen vibrations at impact.
The lightweight steel wireframe construction allowed engineers to open up the playbook and move the TSS (TaylorMade Swingweight System) weights around to dial in the center of gravity location for each head and putting style. For example, the weights are situated in the back wings on Spider Tour to increase stability; with Spider X, the weight was positioned further forward — just behind the face — for more face rotation.
READ THE FULL REVIEW OF TAYLORMADE’S SPIDER TOUR PUTTERS
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