As strange as it may sound, for some golfers, the crucial thing about a putter is its looks. Come to think of it, it does make some sense. For example, a nice mallet will always look more confidence-instilling to a novice than a blade, and a nice alignment system will make or break a putt. However, some want unique golf putters, as they love to revel in getting heads a-turning and hearing an occasional “What the F-bomb is that?” when they’re putting. For those golfers, we made a unique golf putters review with a list of the 25 weirdest looking putters.
Now, though the selection is, admittedly, somewhat subjective, we relied on the overall impression the putters left on the forums and in the tour shops when they appeared, so there’s a degree of objectivity.
Gamer Putters and Collectibles
For our purposes, we’ll make a distinction between gamer putters and collectibles. The distinction should be pretty straightforward, but in case anyone’s still in doubt, here’s the deal – gamer putters are the ones you’d consider actually playing on course and expect results, while the collectibles have a more cosmetic aspect to them.
Although you’ll be well able to game those as well, for one reason or the other, they won’t be a viable option (too expensive, impossible to find, too gimmicky, take your pick).
The 25 Most Unique Putters
So, as we pointed out above, we’ll be discussing gaming putters and collectible putters, though not in relation to one another. Rather, we’ll focus mainly on the former, and then move to the latter, and giving a sentence or two about each. Enjoy the show!
Gamers
1. AccuLock ACE Putter
Our Rating:
Designed by BioMech Sports, the AccuLock Ace came out in 2016, just in the right time to help golfers struggling with finding the way around the anchoring ban. It’s certainly one of the most unique gamer putters around, and it may actually be useful to those who favour arm-lock putting (that one’s still not illegal).
The putter requires a lot of forward lean at address, which puts the butt of the shaft nice and comfy on your left (or right, depending on your dominance) forearm. It also forces you to open up your stance (15ish degrees).
The blue finish with gray accents does look sharp, but it’s way too futuristic, and probably only a minority of golfers will actually take a liking to it. Speaking of looks, the AccuLock features a deep blue finish, which will definitely turn some heads.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upGreat substitute for belly putters
- thumbs-o-up47 inches uncut shaft
- thumbs-o-upAvailable in LH and RH
- thumbs-o-upSolid feel, plenty info on mishits
Cons
- thumbs-o-downTakes some getting used to (to put it mildly)
- thumbs-o-downSomewhat pricey
2. Nike Method Concept Putter
Our Rating:
It’s sad that Nike is out of the club-making business, because their Method line of putters was really something, and the Concept was exactly that – something. It didn’t really appeal to quite as many golfers as the 009, but it left an impression.
On a more serious note, if we do get past its looks, which was neither a mallet nor a blade (it classifies as the former), the Concept is surprisingly easy to align once you get used to it (takes about a week, though). The feel is fairly crisp, and the insert is so well tucked away that you wouldn’t even know it was there.
However, the key selling point about the Concept was/is the distance control you get with it, irrespective of the range. Not many people like the putter, but those who do, they are in love with it for its distance control.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upCan be found cheap
- thumbs-o-upGreat for those who play straight-back-straight-through
- thumbs-o-upExcellent distance control
Cons
- thumbs-o-downSome might prefer a softer feel
- thumbs-o-downNot good looking
3. Toulon Design Indianapolis Putter
Our Rating:
The Indianapolis is one of Sean Toulon’s newer creation, one which he designed for Odyssey. The design and name both come from the IndyCar Series (specifically, the design was inspired by the nose cone of an Indy car), the idea being to… make the putter go faster?
Seriously, though, the Indy has an ultra-high Moment of Inertia (MOI) design that promotes forgiveness. The back wings carry a single tungsten or stainless steel weight each, which boosts the stability and helps keep the stroke smooth start to finish.
There are also two counterbalanced variants – the AR (Aggressive Release, comes with 45-gram weights) and the MR (Moderate Release, packs 35-gram weights). Either is good if you’re trying to find a substitute for a belly putter.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upNice distance control
- thumbs-o-upStable throughout the stroke
- thumbs-o-upAvailable in three flavours, two of which are counterbalanced
- thumbs-o-upComes in LH and RH
Cons
- thumbs-o-downToo much going on, the look is a bit distracting
- thumbs-o-downCosts a pretty penny
4. TaylorMade Spider Tour Putter
Our Rating:
The TaylorMade Spider Tour is one of the tamer weird putters on our list, and comes in three distinct flavours – Red (designed for Jason Day), Black (made for Dustin Johnson), and Platinum (the mass-produced one).
What’s unique about these putters is the design, mostly, but you wouldn’t want to write off the Pure Roll inserts, either. As for the former, you’re looking at a mallet with plugs in the back (detachable in Red and Black, fixed in Platinum).
Of course, the purpose is not purely cosmetic (although that’s sure a part of it) – the idea behind it is to stabilize the putter and increase the MOI.
Regarding the inserts, from softest to firmest, the line goes – Red (Surlyn – a polymer), Black (80/20 silver), and Platinum (aluminum).
Pros
- thumbs-o-upSpot on distance control
- thumbs-o-upGreat feel on the Platinum
- thumbs-o-upPlenty of forgiveness
- thumbs-o-upNot too pricey
- thumbs-o-upPerfect for better players looking for some forgiveness
Cons
- thumbs-o-downLooks like a seatbelt buckle
- thumbs-o-downNo sightline on Red or Black
5. Directed Force Reno Putter
Our Rating:
Despite what you may feel about its looks, the Directed Force Reno is a nice choice for any golfer looking for more stability and better tempo in their stroke. Another big part of this putter is the forced forward lean, which might not sit right with everyone.
On the flipside, if you have no problem with the way it looks at address, you’ll find it’s a nice and stable mallet, with a built-in forward lean that helps you keep the face square. The weird thing is that it looks a lot heavier than it is, so you might be surprised with how light it is.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upPlays beautifully on short putts
- thumbs-o-upVery stable
- thumbs-o-upAllows a more aggressive play
- thumbs-o-upEvery putter is custom-fit
Cons
- thumbs-o-downUgly-looking flatstick
- thumbs-o-downWill take some getting used to
- thumbs-o-downSomewhat pricey
6. Cleveland TFI 2135 Elevado Putter
Our Rating:
What makes the Cleveland TFI 2135 putter unique is the last part of its name (yes, the marbles are all in place, thanks for asking).
What we mean by this is that the entire TFI 2135 line has a sightline that is raised by 21.35mm, which is exactly half the diameter of a regulations golf ball. What this does is allow you to line your putt consistently, irrespective of your position or stance.
Another thing that makes this mallet stand out (the blade has the same tech, but it’s not nearly as wild-looking) is the copper-infused aluminum insert. In addition to looking nice, it gives you a soft, albeit a bit hollow feel.
The Elevado is a bit hefty (370 grams without counterbalance), which should make it appealing to those looking for some extra stability in their stroke.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upFoolproof setup
- thumbs-o-upGood feedback
- thumbs-o-upStable
- thumbs-o-upReasonably priced
- thumbs-o-upAlso available in LH
Cons
- thumbs-o-downMight feel too busy to some
- thumbs-o-downSome might prefer a lighter flatstick
7. Odyssey O-Works 2-Ball Putter
Our Rating:
Odyssey’s 2-Ball was a real game-changer when it came out back in 2001 and has really brought mallets under the spotlight. Today, we have dozens of different takes on the design, but the Odyssey O-Works 2-Ball takes the proverbial cake.
This odd-ball putter (no pun intended) is not special only because of its alignment system, but also to the new microhinge insert from Odyssey (it’s exactly what it sounds like, a hundred or so little steel hinges protrude from the face). The idea behind the insert is to give a bit more bounce at impact and send the ball rolling faster. So far, it seems to be doing the trick.
Pros
- thumbs-o-upAvailable in LH
- thumbs-o-upRidiculously easy to align
- thumbs-o-upGood bounce off the face
- thumbs-o-upGreat on 20 yards and in
Cons
- thumbs-o-downCould be a bit cheaper
- thumbs-o-downSome folks might prefer a heavier head
Collectibles
1. Black Swan Putter
You may have seen it on the 2013 British Open in Sandy Lyle’s hands – it’s a ginormous mallet putter, four balls wide, and purportedly gives a matching amount of forgiveness.
Designed by David Kargetta, an automotive engineer, the Black Swan (along with its smaller cousin, the Black Hawk) is one of the, if not the biggest and most stable heads to ever grace the tour.
2. Chase Glenn Putter
The Chase Glenn is an interesting new take on putters, since it’s got a rounded face. The idea is, basically, that the roundness makes the putter angle irrelevant, and thereby, increases forgiveness. So far, it’s got mixed reception.
3. Clearview Putter
The Clearview lives up to its name and then some. It’s a see-through acrylic putter with some funky alignment system (there’s a video on YouTube where they show how to use it). Interestingly enough, it comes with adjustable weights, which might perk up some ears.
4. Cure Putter RX3F
The RX3F is, by all accounts, one of the biggest putters out there. This binocular-looking flatstick packs a lot of forgiveness and stability, and it’s even reasonably priced. The only thing it’s not up on the other list is the dead feel.
5. Dead Aim 3D Mallet Putter
Mallet putter. With laser. And it’s regulations conforming. Enough said.
6. Fourteen BR-III Putter
Another mallet (you’ll be seeing lots of those in this section), the BR-III comes with an oversized head and a shape that’s reminiscent of a glockenspiel.
That said, the design follows the same line of reasoning as the Odyssey Backstryke (shaft in the back, high MOI), and if you can get past the looks, it might even help your putt-game.
7. Fussell XciTour Putter
The XciTour looks like a cross between the Bobby Grace Amazing Grace and Odyssey’s 2-Ball SRT. It’s a high-MOI mallet, not even that bad-looking, but like the Nike Drone, it’s got too much going on.
8. Heavy Putter D1-DF (The “Camelback”)
One of the heftier putters on the market (850 grams), the D1-DF certainly lives up to the brand’s name. It’s even a decent gamer, though made with a specific purpose, so you can see why not many players will go for it.
9. Impulsion Putter
The Impulsion somewhat reminds of the Odyssey Backstryke, what with the shaft in the back and the high MOI, but it hasn’t got a whole lot of traction. Still, the red looks nice.
10. Kari Lajosi Lizsert Putter
The Lizsert here refers to the lizard-shaped insert rather than an actual model Kari makes (here, it’s on a DD-201 blade). It’s purely a cosmetic tweak, but well worth the money.
11. Kramski Putter HP330
German engineering, limited edition, expensive as all hell. The former two are enough to attract many, the latter is an effective deterrent.
12. Mizuno Draino Putter
The Draino wasn’t much of a seller back in the day, and maybe almost impossible to find one today, but they are an oddity that might just be worth a lot of money down the line (kind of like the Inverted Jenny for stamps). Lots of MOI, soft feel, but not quite up to par with other Mizunos.
13. MXV Golf Putter
The MXV putter falls in line with the Chase Glenn in that both rely on a round face to increase the forgiveness of the putter. It never really took off, but the snow sled design (probably unintentional) looks cute.
14. Nike Method Core Drone Putter
Even during its heyday, the Drone didn’t really garner that much attention. Yes, it’s got high MOI, yes, it has a nice feel to it, but it’s got too much going on to really be useful.
15. Penta Putter Woody
Every golfer deserves a laugh now and then, and the looks of the Penta Putter can bait a chuckle. As you can guess, the head is pretty much entirely made of wood (Hinoki wood, to be specific, a highly prized wood in Japan, where this puppy originates from).
16. Pinfire Liberty Putter
The Liberty is tough to find these days, so if you do land it somewhere, it’ll probably be on the cheap-cheap (less than $50). It’s even a decent gamer, albeit a bit weird-looking.
17. Profound Putters Dark Ace Putter
This Norway-made mallet created quite a buzz at its inception (back in 2007). It has some unique alignment aids, as well as a good amount of forgiveness, but for some reason, it never really took off.
18. Odyssey 3-Ball Putter
Odyssey really hit the nail on the head with the 2-Ball, but the 3-Ball (aka Triball) was an almost complete flop. Yes, it’s big, sort-of easy to align and feels nice, but the surprisingly lightweight and dull feedback turned away many a player.
Conclusion
All in all, if you’re trying to find the world’s most unique golf putter, look no further than your bag – it’s as unique as it gets.
Some of the putters we listed here are just there for the shock value, others are quite playable (especially the seven models we highlighted), but in the end, it will all boil down to what feels best to you (as vague as it may sound, it actually does more good to your putter selection than getting into the science of putting). Just be sure not to spend more money than necessary.
As a final note, if you feel we left out an interesting putter (or dozen), please, feel free to leave a comment and get the snowball rolling. Until then, keep calm and sink the putt!
