Equipment
The best putters on the PGA Tour using mallet putters this season
The title says it all. Inspired by Dave Dusek’s breakdown of the irons gamed by the Tour’s best in that department over at Golfweek today, and going off some articles we did in the past, here are the top-eight golfers in Strokes Gained: Putting for the 2015-2016 season thus far who are using mallet-style putters and their weaponry (as well as links to their full WITBs, where applicable).
In-hand photos of players’ actual putters (where applicable). Exclusive to GolfWRX!
T13. Kevin Kisner (0.578 SG:P)
Putter: Odyssey White Hot Pro #7
Grip: SuperStroke Mid Slim 2.0 (Black/White)
T13. Brian Harman (0.578)
Putter: TaylorMade OS CB Spider
9. Martin Piller (0.610)
Putter: Ping Craz-E-R Heavy
7. Aaron Baddeley (0.666)
Putter: Odyssey Works #7CH
6. Harris English (0.690)
Putter: Odyssey White Hot Pro 2-Ball
4. Phil Mickelson (0.756)
Putter: Odyssey Versa #9 (WBW)
Grip: Odyssey by SuperStroke
3. Jamie Donaldson (0.784)
Putter: Odyssey White Hot Sabertooth
1. Jason Day (1.072)
Putter: TaylorMade Ghost Spider Limited Red
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Equipment
Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.
However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.
“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”
Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.
Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.
Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.
One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play one degree upright to help dial in his desired launch.
We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!
- Check out the rest of our pictures from the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open
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Whats in the Bag
Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)
- Zac Blair what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X
Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X
Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
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Whats in the Bag
Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)
- Martin Trainer what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX
3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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snowman
Aug 14, 2016 at 10:17 pm
I Like the Spider that Jason Day uses as it has no alignment lines or dots. I’d like to see more ‘plain’ putters like this as I feel that I do best by “aiming the face” and don’t want to look at alignment lines and such. The 2 Ball (without lines) and phils putter also meet this criteria to some degree.
Korean Slum Lord
Aug 11, 2016 at 10:09 pm
For maximum forgiveness and feel, try a Wilson 8802.
DaveyD
Aug 11, 2016 at 7:50 pm
Looks like Scotty Cameron mallets aren’t too popular in this ranking. Probably better known for their blades.
KK
Aug 10, 2016 at 11:27 pm
Phil’s putter is not a mallet, it’s a flanged blade according to Odyssey’s website. I consider it a rounded blade, definitely not a mallet.
George
Aug 10, 2016 at 5:06 pm
does this actually mean anything? If you gave thesew guys any putter I’m sure they would still be in the same position they currently are. Sponsorships or sponsorships
Charlie
Aug 11, 2016 at 11:20 am
So why not bend a lob wedge to 3* and have a completely matched set of irons? Putters are definitely not all the same. Height, weight, offset, toe hang, visual, audible, tactile, MOI, etc…
George
Aug 11, 2016 at 12:24 pm
the putter still needs to be fit to you sorry for not clarifying that. My point was that Mallet putters are not the reason these guys are the best putters out there. These guys are promoting mallet putters for their respective sponsors. If they were allowed to choose any putter they wanted they would still be in the same ranking as a putter. If you gave them a blade putter that was fit to their specs I am sure they would still be as good as they currently are. The mallet putter is just the new tools these companies have so they are making them use them
John
Aug 11, 2016 at 12:42 pm
Not sure I can agree. The Mallet stroke vs the Blade stroke are different. Most Mallets are face balanced and thus are best suited for a straight back straight through stroke. Blade are typically toe balanced and better suited to an arced putting stroke.
You have to use the tool best suited to your stroke.
George
Aug 11, 2016 at 1:29 pm
So those with a striaght back and forth swing are better putters?
George
Aug 11, 2016 at 12:27 pm
also I said putter not wedge
Anna
Aug 12, 2016 at 8:47 am
So much bad information on this comment. These are not the best putters out there. These are the best putters out there who do use mallet style putters, it’s in the title. Also, these players are not made to play a mallet style by there sponsors, they choose to play a mallet style from there sponsors offerings, they have a ton of models to chpose from and go with the one that suits them best.
nick
Aug 10, 2016 at 3:13 pm
I switched from a Newport 2 circa 2000 to a spider limited (red) and absolutely love it. it took about three rounds to get used to the line up at address, but the feel is unmatched. all preference, but I love the mallet I’m using now. whatever works, roll with it.
Justin
Aug 11, 2016 at 12:38 pm
I’ve used various blade putters over the past 20+ years and had 2 short stints in that time with mallets. For me, I could get the ball on line easier with a mallet, but felt that I struggled much more with distance control. Have you noticed that it’s taken some time to get used to the distance or do the new mallets have a much softer feel to them? I did try out a Ping Ketsch the other day and found that when I switched to cross-handed my distance control was much better. That in itself seems odd, but hey… whatever works!
Justin
Aug 10, 2016 at 2:27 pm
Would be interesting to include the other 5 players that make the top 15 who use blade style putters. It would also be cool to break down the top 25 putters by putting style… standard, cross-handed, claw, etc.