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Let’s say you’re a beginner golfer and don’t want to spend too much on your first bag. Alternatively, you’re a seasoned budget golfer looking to break the habit of buying used clubs and get something new for a change. In case you found yourself in either of these two scenarios, you’re in the right place, as in this best putters under $200 review we’ll be discussing the 7 best putters under $200 available at this moment – brand spanking new putters, we might add.
Some Second Hand Advice
Now, if you insist on buying second-hand flatsticks, keep in mind that not all of them age well, and make sure to calculate an additional 30 per cent to your initial budget for restoration. Also (this is for the absolute novices among you), don’t go for anything that has a large glossy spot across the center of the face – scratches and chipped paint are fine, but this is a huge red light.
Best Affordable Putters Comparison Table
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Odyssey White Hot RX #7 Putter |
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Ping Karsten TR Anser 2 Putter |
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Best Putters Under $200 Review
For the sake of being efficient, we won’t be focusing on the best used putters, due to the sheer amount of such products on the market, but rather on new flatsticks (i. e. freshly out of the workshop). That said, even with this parameter in place it was tough to shortlist all the potential candidates for the title of the best reasonably priced putters, but we managed to do it. Enjoy the read!
1. Odyssey White Hot RX #7 Putter
Our Rating:
The Odyssey White Hot RX #7 comes, pretty much like the rest of the White Hot RX family, with one of the softest inserts on the market.
The face is somewhat deeper compared to the rest of the family, though, which gives it even more bite and helps the club impart more forward spin right out of the gate.
Another feature that sets the White Hot RX #7 apart from the rest of the affordable putters is that it has one of the most helpful alignment systems out there (short of the 2-ball).
From the three white dots, through the cut out the exact shape and diameter of a ball, to the black-lined wings that help frame the impact zone, everything on this club aligns (pun intended) to help you dial in the putt.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upRidiculously easy to align the putt
- thumbs-o-upExcellent distance control
- thumbs-o-upExceptionally soft feel for the money
- thumbs-o-upSurprising amount of feedback
- thumbs-o-upIdeal for SBST strokes
Cons
- thumbs-o-downNot everyone will appreciate the head style
- thumbs-o-downSome players may want more feedback on short putts
2. TaylorMade TP Berwick Putter
Our Rating:
The entire TaylorMade TP collection is a great source of reasonably priced putters, though if you twisted our arm, we’d have to go with the Berwick as the top pick. This midsize mallet looks all business – no bells and whistles, just a single alignment line and smooth, clean lines all the way.
Another major selling point of the Berwick is the fact it’s machine crafted from a 303 stainless steel billet and then fitted with a Pure Roll insert (somewhat smaller than you might be used to).
The combination gives it a nice medium feel, neither too firm nor too mushy, and most importantly, you get a true feedback on all of your hits and mishits. That said, this flatstick should mostly appeal to more advanced players looking for more response.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upGreat looking, clean lines
- thumbs-o-upFace milling does a nice job of reducing skids
- thumbs-o-upTons of feedback
- thumbs-o-upThe grips are rather nice
- thumbs-o-upNice and balanced, a bit head-heavy
- thumbs-o-upGood feel, a bit on the firm side
Cons
- thumbs-o-downNot really for high cappers
3. Wilson Staff Infinite South Side Putter
Our Rating:
If you’re looking for a nice counter balance putter under $200, the Wilson Staff Infinite family might just be the thing for you.
And if you’re the type of player who prefers center shafted putters, then the South Side is the way to go. Conversely, if you’d rather have the heel-shafted model, you might want to check out the North Side.
Now, what does the counter balance do for the South Side (and, in turn, you) in terms of playability? To put it simply, it moves the point of balance closer to your hands, which stabilizes the putter and increases its Moment of Inertia (MOI). For the absolute novices – it’s ridiculously forgiving and allows for great control.
Moreover, the face on the South Side is deep milled, which gives it more teeth and lets it grab the ball right out of the gates, allowing for more consistency and less skidding.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upLots of forgiveness
- thumbs-o-upAvailable for left-handed golfers, as well
- thumbs-o-upComes with nice oversized grips
- thumbs-o-upFeels solid, with a good amount of feedback
- thumbs-o-upConsistent distance even on mishits
- thumbs-o-upSurprisingly cheap
Cons
- thumbs-o-downA bit too busy visually
- thumbs-o-downNot everyone will benefit from the center shaft design
4. Wilson Staff 8802 Putter
Our Rating:
The Wilson Staff 8802 is a rare putter indeed with so much pedigree and history, and it’s even rarer that is still very much alive.
A couple of years back Wilson Staff revamped the trusted old flatstick in an effort to cater to a new audience, one that seeks a bit of a softer feel – hence the face milling.
The head is milled from a single billet of 304 stainless steel, and then the face is double milled in an effort to soften it up. Other than that, and the fact it’s a wee bit heavier, it’s still the same old heel-shafted blade putter.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upBeautiful and clean classic looks
- thumbs-o-upFluted steel shaft is quite responsive
- thumbs-o-upComes with anti-glare finish (not on the sole, though)
- thumbs-o-upGood forgiveness for the size
- thumbs-o-upVery comfy grips
Cons
- thumbs-o-downNot for high cappers and anyone struggling with confidence
- thumbs-o-downNo visual cues
5. Ping Sigma G Anser Putter
Our Rating:
The Sigma G Anser is a great choice for anyone looking for a reasonably priced blade putter. The major selling point of this puppy is the multimaterial technology, which is quickly becoming the standard in the industry.
There’s lots of “ping” off the face (pardon the pun) thanks to the elastomer insert that sits right behind the aluminum face, giving you a soft feel without sacrificing any of the ball speed. For under $200, this is a great find.
Other than that, the face on the Sigma G Anser features grooves that vary in depth in a pattern that allows it to keep the ball speed consistent across the face. In other words, even if you hit the ball somewhat to the heel or toe, you can still probably get away with it and roll it within tap-in range, at worst.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upNice, classic blade design
- thumbs-o-upAvailable in two finishes (Platinum and Black Nickel)
- thumbs-o-upPlenty forgiving
- thumbs-o-upGood consistency
- thumbs-o-upPlays best on slow greens
- thumbs-o-upReally tight roll
Cons
- thumbs-o-downSomewhat light in the head
6. SeeMore Original Milled FGP Black Putter
Our Rating:
SeeMore is known for being one of the two manufacturers (next to Bettinardi) to carry some of the most undervalued (and inexpensive, at that) putters on the market.
As for their Original Milled FGP, it’s a milled putter that comes in two flavours – blade and mallet. Other than the fact one favours arc strokes and the other straight back and through, there’s virtually no difference between them.
Both are milled, much like the rest of the SeeMore range, which gives them a nice and firm feel with a goodly amount of feedback. This is sure to appeal to any golf purists among you.
Granted, the aesthetics won’t make it the belle of the ball, but it’s worth pointing out that SeeMore has one of the most useful, if not the most useful alignment systems out there – the Riflescope.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upCrisp feel with tons of feedback
- thumbs-o-upSmooth rolls across the board
- thumbs-o-upRolls the ball like a charm
- thumbs-o-upExcellent alignment system
- thumbs-o-upGood customer service
Cons
- thumbs-o-downNot the prettiest putter out there
7. Ping Karsten TR Anser 2 Putter
Our Rating:
Named after THE (no misspelling there) Karsten Solheim, the Ping Karsten TR Anser 2 puts a new spin to the old design (as the name might suggest). It’s made with slight arc strokes in mind, and comes with a nice throwback finish (glossy on the sole, matte everywhere else).
That’s about it as far as the “old” goes. What’s new is the True Roll insert that Ping’s been adding to their putters. The idea here is to mill variable depth grooves (deeper in the middle, shallower to the sides) in order to make the ball speed consistent no matter what part of the face you hit it with.
If you’re a bit iffy about getting a classical blade, but still need something to suit your arc stroke, the B60 is also a nice choice, and one of the most popular mallet putters for under $200.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upThe bronze finish gives it a distinctive old-school look
- thumbs-o-upLots of forgiveness on mishits
- thumbs-o-upGood distance control from any range
- thumbs-o-upSoft feel off the sweet spot, light click off the toe and heel
- thumbs-o-upHard-to-miss sweet spot
Cons
- thumbs-o-downNot everyone will like the bronze finish
- thumbs-o-downOnly a slight difference between center and off-center hits
The Final Verdict
So, bottom line, when you’re looking for a budget putter, you basically have two options (just like any other thing, to be fair) – a used club or a new one. Either way, what you’ll end up doing is going to the range and test-rolling the club, and then walking off with the one that feels the best, right?
That said, when making our list, we included only new items not just because getting a used club is like getting a cat in the bag, but also because the prices may vary wildly, so setting the price limit under $200 would be pointless.
Still, if you’re adamant about buying that way, here’s a nickel’s worth of free advice – when you find the flatstick you like, check the manufacturer’s site before committing to purchasing, as they just might offer a discount that’s more forgiving on your pocket book.
Whichever way you decide to go about this, we hope reading this has helped you make an informed decision. Fairways and greens!
