This is our review of the best putters for beginners & high handicappers in 2023.
I’m an avid golfer, an 8ish handicap on my way to a 2 (been a 5.6), and frequent tester of golf clubs and equipment since 2015.
I asked one of the experts at Curated golf for his recommendation for putters for beginners and/or high handicappers.
He recommended 6 and, to date, we’ve tested 6 of the putters from the major manufacturers. I’ve tested them at my course and at home on one of my awesome Wellputt putting mats.
Attributes I like to see in beginner putters –
- Forgiveness (at least a little).
- Easy to align.
The good news is golf club manufacturers don’t make unforgiving putters anymore.
The bad news is they don’t give them away, either.
So, it comes down to whatever putter works with your stroke, personal preference, and how much you are willing to spend.
In this best putters for beginners review we discuss, benefits and features, our recommendations, and any deals or discounts I can negotiate.
Our #1 Recommendation – Cobra King 3D Agera
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- Large Sweet Spot
- Solid & Stable on Off-center Contact
- Easy to Align
- Good feel & sound
- Expensive
Rest of the Best Putters for Beginners & High Handicappers in 2023
Best Beginner & High Handicap Putters Reviewed
#1 Cobra King 3D Agera
The Cobra King 3D Agera is our #1 recommendation for beginner & high-handicapper putters. (or anyone that wants to make more putts)
What we like.
- Solid and stable at impact even on contact toward the toe and heel and keeps your ball rolling on line. (Bigly sweet spot)
- Rolls the ball consistently no matter your angle of attack at impact.
- Good sound and feel at impact.
I expect decent feel and a good roll on center contact with any quality putter. The Agera rolls the ball just as well and feels just as good with contact slightly toward the toe and heel. (not true of every putter on this page)
Credit the 3D printed lattice cartridge, steel chassis, forged aluminum crown, and 4 tungsten weights for the high MOI (stability & forgiveness).
And, credit the collaboration with SIK putters for Descending Loft Technology (DLT) to produce consistent launch (yes, the ball launches, not rolls, immediately when it leaves the putter face) whether you have a descending, neutral, or ascending stroke.
Customer Reviews: Buyers seem to agree that 3D Agera’s main benefit is it just makes putting easier.
Bottom Line – This is a steep investment for the beginner golfer, no doubt. But, it’s worth a look if you’ve got the money.
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- Large Sweet Spot
- Solid & Stable on Off-center Contact
- Easy to Align
- Good feel & sound
- Expensive
#2 Odyssey Eleven 2-Ball Tour Lined
The Odyssey Eleven 2-Ball Tour Lined is next on our list of best putters for beginners & high handicappers.
What we like:
- Solid and stable at impact on center contact & contact toward the toe and heel and keeps your ball rolling on line.
- Soft and solid feel at impact.
- Alignment is a no-brainer.
- Large sweet spot for added forgiveness.
What we don’t like:
- Shaft angle – I prefer a more upright putter.
- Skinny grip that comes standard.
The Odyssey Elven 2-Ball (and all Odyssey putters tested) have the best feel on this list. The old-school softish white insert feel never gets old.
The two-ball alignment aid is time-tested and effective. There’s a reason they brought it back. The line helps, but it isn’t crucial. The balls do most of the work with alignment. Choosing a version without the line should still work well for you.
Customer Reviews: Literally one review at callawaygolf.com. But, it’s 5-star.
Bottom Line – Make sure you get the shaft angle you like and you should be good to go. A steep investment for beginners. (and me too)
- Large Sweet Spot
- Easy to Align
- Good feel & sound
- Solid & Stable on off-center contact
- Shaft lie angle too low
- Stock grip too skiny
#3 Odyssey White Hot OG 7DB Putter
The Odyssey White Hot OG 7DB is next on our list of best putters for beginners & high handicappers.
What we like:
- Solid and stable at impact on center contact & contact toward the toe and heel and keeps your ball rolling on line.
- Soft and solid feel at impact.
- Easy alignment with the line and forks.
- Large sweet spot for added forgiveness.
- Upright shaft angle.
What we don’t like:
- Skinny standard grip.
Another Odyssey putter so another putter with excellent sound and feel. Rolling the ball on my line was easier with this putter because of the shaft angle. I putt on a slight arc – about 12 degrees because I train on that arc. The upright shaft helps me achieve that.
I think my experience would have been even better if I had put one of my fat grips with Tourna grip on it.
The head is on the small side but I consider it a forgiving putter. I purposely hit balls toward the toe and heel (like I did with every putter on this page) and it still rolled the ball on line and at the hole.
Customer Reviews: Literally one review at callawaygolf.com. But, it’s 5-star.
Bottom Line – Not the most forgiving-looking, but it is forgiving. Make sure you get the shaft angle you like and you should be good to go.
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- Good Feel & Sound
- Solid & Stable on off-center contact
- Rolls ball well
- Easy to align
- Prefer more upright lie
- Thin grip
#4 Odyssey White Hot OG Double Wide DB Putter
The Odyssey White Hot OG Double Wide DB is next on our list of best putters for beginners & high handicappers.
What we like:
- Solid and stable at impact on center contact & contact toward the toe and heel and keeps your ball rolling on line.
- Soft and solid feel at impact.
- Easy alignment with the line and forks.
- Large sweet spot for added forgiveness.
- Upright shaft angle.
What we don’t like:
- Skinny standard grip.
I prefer mallet-type putters over blades for the most part. I like the heft of a mallet and I prefer the extra weight. Plus, they look more hittable and forgiving to me.
But…I could get used to this “Double Wide” blade putter concept from Odyssey. (Don’t know if they invented it, but I like it).
Like all Odysseys tested, it feels great at impact and puts a good roll on the ball. The sweet spot is great, but you can miss a touch toward the toe and heel and still get good results.
The only thing I would change is putting a big old fat grip on it and wrapping it with Tourna grip. (my solution for sweaty hands in the Summer)
Customer Reviews: None to be found at Callaway golf.
Bottom Line – Nice big putter that looks and is forgiving. Reasonable price too.
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- Good Feel & Sound
- Solid & Stable on off-center contact
- Rolls ball well
- Easy to align
- Thin stock grip
#5 TaylorMade Spider X HydroBlast #3 Putter
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What we like:
- Solid and stable on center contact.
- Stable with good roll with contact toward the toe.
- Soft and solid feel.
- Alignment made easy with the white accent paint and black alignment line.
- Generous sweet spot.
What we don’t like:
- Lacks stability and good roll with contact toward the heel.
- Flatter shaft angle.
I think I would have loved this putter if I could have gotten it with my preferred upright shaft angle. I’ve owned a spider putter and really enjoyed it. The Spider X has a more compact head and isn’t quite as forgiving.
Still, it’s a popular putter with pros and amateurs alike.
Customer Reviews: 17 reviews and 17 5-star reviews at taylormadegolf.com.
Bottom Line – Nice big putter that looks and is forgiving. Reasonable price too.
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- Good Feel & Sound
- Stable & Solid on contact toward heel
- Rolls ball well
- Easy to align
- Less stable & solid on contact toward toe
#6 Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 10.5 OS Putter
The Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft 10.5 OS is next on our list of best putters for beginners & high handicappers.
What we like:
- Solid and stable with good roll on center contact.
- Nice feel and sound.
- Not hard to align.
- Bargain price
- Upright shaft angle.
What we don’t like:
- A notch or two down from the premium competition, but not a bad putter and a good choice at the price.
The Cleveland is a solid putter but lacks the refinement and feel of the more expensive competition on this page.
It doesn’t do great on off-center contact, but it’s not punishing. You’ll do well if your stroke is reasonably good. It just won’t correct mishits as well as those on the top of the list.
That said, I putted well with this putter and I promise you I could put it in play today if I had to. Certainly worth testing.
Customer Reviews: 1 review on Cleveland’s website and it was 5-star.
Bottom Line – Perfectly acceptable putter that will sink putts if you know what you’re doing. There’d be no shame in putting it in your bag.
- Ok sound & feel
- Good roll on center contact
- Not as forgiving on off-center contact as competiton
- Couple notches lower on sound and feel
FAQs
How do I choose a beginner putter?
Look for putters that at least look forgiving. Then hit putts with them. See how missing the sweet spot affects the roll and line of your putts. Make sure to hit short and long putts.
Pull the trigger once you find one you like.
Can beginners use blade putter?
Yes, beginners can use a blade putter. We recommend this one.
What is the easiest putter to align?
Are Spider putters good for beginners?
Yes, Spider putters are good for beginners. You should test a few of the many models to see which one(s) work for you.
Verdict on the Best Putters for Beginners & High Handicappers in 2023
We like the Cobra 3D Agera that’s on our list. But, Cobra makes other Agera models that you should look at.
My #1 suggestion is to test before you buy. Either at your local golf store or take advantage of Global Golf’s Utry trial program. I use it and recommend it.
Thanks for checking out our review of the best putters for beginners & high handicappers in 2023.
Get 8% off from Global Golf with Code: GolferGeek
- Large Sweet Spot
- Solid & Stable on Off-center Contact
- Easy to Align
- Good feel & sound
- Expensive
