pinemeadow - Golf Gear Geeks

What is the Best Mallet Putter?

When picking your ideal putter you should pay attention to your stroke style. If you have an inside-to-inside putting stroke, a blade putter, normally toe balanced, will probably work best for you. If, on the other hand, you have a straight-back-straight-through putting stroke, you should go for a mallet putter which is normally face balanced. Mallet putters have increased MOI (Moment of Inertia) which works best with that putting stroke style.

Assuming you are the latter, let’s look at five of the best mallet putters on the market:

The Best Mallet Putter – Top 5

Pinemeadow Golf Men’s PGX Putter

The immaculate white finish on Pinemeadow Golf’s PGX mallet putter really makes it pop against the backdrop of the green grass. You will have no problems lining up the ball to the alignment lines on the putter head.

The putter is “tour-weighted” at 380g, 40g more than other putters, making it well suited for the more common faster greens. Putts are smooth with even forward spin and less skid making for a nice stable putting game all-round.

The weight is well balanced; however, there is a lot more power compared to a traditional blade putter. We suggest you practice with it at the range before taking it onto the course. The extra power will surprise you and you could end up overshooting the cup without striking any harder than you are used to.

It comes with a very handy custom PGX headcover, which you may want to use since some users report that the white paint finish is prone to chipping if left unprotected in your bag.

For a mere $40, this is one of the best deals on the market today! If you are looking for a great mallet putter, then makesure you check out the Pinemeadow PGX!

Buy the Pinemeadow Men’s PGX Putter here!

Wilson Staff Men’s Harmonized M5 Mallet Golf Putter

This mallet style putter from Wilson has soft-feel grip designed just for Wilson and the grip is larger in diameter. The grip is quite stylish with the vertical seam design. It has a unique and very comfortable feel the moment you pick it up.

The face has multiple density areas in the micro injection insert. It is well balanced, although it is not as heavy as it may look at first glance. The weight is not that much more than that of a blade putters. If you are a beginner and on a budget, this is one of the best mallet putters you can buy yourself.

Buy the Wilson M5 Mallet Golf Putter here!

Odyssey Metal X Dart Long Putter

The Odyssey / Callaway brand is well renowned for making the best putters on the market. Their Odyssey Metal X Dart is available in three shaft lengths: 43”, 48” and 50”. It features a Metal-X insert with a lightweight aluminum outer layer with oval depressions that take full advantage of the automatic lock with the golf ball dimples. This creates a lower takeoff with improved top-spin for less skidding and the most accurate roll available.

The club head has a midnight black finish created by a high tech process that results in a long-lasting, glare lessening surface. Optimized weights in the sole create an ideal balance to get the best feel, control and precision on every stroke.

More experienced players will love the thinner and smaller pistol shaped grip. Manufactured using Lamkin’s patented 3GEN material, a soft synthetic rubber compound, there is very little vibration from the club and excellent feedback. If you have nothing against long putters (officially banned by PGA starting 2016), then you should definitely consider the Odyssey Metal X.

Buy the Odyssey Metal X Dart Long Putter here!

Cleveland Golf Men’s Smart Square Heel Shafted Mallet Putter

Not worried about spending a bit cash? Then the Smart Square Heel Shafted Mallet Putter by Cleveland Golf could be the best mallet putter for you! It looks fantastic with its jet black colorway, and is available in 33”, 34”, 35” and 39” shaft lengths.

The Dual Axis Alignment features help you get perfectly aligned to the ball, and two perpendicular lines immediately inform you if you are hitting the ball square or not. This makes accurately setting up your putt much faster and simpler than most other putters.

Thanks to the Consistent Roll Co-polymer face insert every stroke has an improved sound and feel and it produces a smooth and accurate roll with enhanced distance control. The specially designed head ensure that your putt rolls the right distance, even on off center hits.

The Cleveland Smart Square looks great, and is easily overall one of the best mallet putters available. If you are not a beginner, and don’t mind spending $140 on your putter, then this is money well spent!

Buy the Cleveland Smart Square Mallet Putter here!

TaylorMade Spider Mallet Putter

Truly not worried about your budget? Then check out this beautiful mallet putter from TaylorMade. The Spider Mallet putter comes in two shaft lengths: 35” and 38”. The design is truly amazing with exquisite attention to detail. The lines, curves and color combines to make this putter as close to a work of art as you can get with a mere putter.

The combination of the white topline and the mirror-black ion-plated sole is very eye catching. Feedback and smooth ball roll is excellent thanks to the new ‘Pure Roll’ insert made from 80% Surlyn and 20% aluminum. An accurate aim is assured by the high contrast topline and bold parallel lines on top. Improved grip and feel is provided by a premium TaylorMade grip. The grip is 130 grams and perfectly counterbalances the heavy head which has incredible heel-toe weighted stability. The increased MOI lets you control the club and keep it on your intended line for improved put accuracy.

Buy the Taylor Made Spider Putter here!

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Ready to shave strokes off your score? Then pick one of best mallet putters available and start improving your putting game!

What are the Best Beginner Golf Clubs?

If you are just starting out, buying a high end set of golf clubs may not necessarily be the way to go. Apart from forking out a substantial amount of cash, you’ll probably be buying a set that far surpasses your skill level. You’d be better of investing in a set designed specifically for beginners that will allow you to naturally improve and develop your game.

The best beginner golf clubs will be a complete set consisting of a driver, three wood and five wood (or hybrids), the basic range of irons (3-9, PW), a putter and a bag. You’ll usually also get head covers for the driver and the woods and the bag will have a carry strap and kick-out stand. Let’s take a look at a selection shall we?

The Best Beginner Golf Clubs – 5 Picks

Wilson Sporting Goods Ultra Complete Package Golf Set

This 14-piece set from Wilson Golf includes a driver, fairway wood, hybrid, irons, PW, putter, bag and head covers. The set is designed for all swing strengths and the graphite shaft driver and fairway wood offer a high launch to for better accuracy. As a beginner you will get very good distance out of this set.

Some buyers feel that the quality of the grips and bag are not quite up to par, but this is only when compared to high end clubs from the big manufacturers.

The bag also has a comfortable carry strap and loads of pockets for all you bits and pieces. This is a great starter set that won’t break your budget.

Buy the Wilson Ultra Golf Set now on Amazon!

Callaway Strata Men’s Complete Golf Set with Bag

Callaway is of course one of the top brands and manufactures of golf equipment and their beginner 12-piece set definitely is no light weight either. The driver is maximum sized (460cc) with a big sweet spot that will help you launch your ball off the tee like a pro. The fairway wood will give you lots of loft and distance and the 5-hybrid is a great replacement for the more difficult long irons beginners often struggle with. The 6 iron to PW are made from stainless steel and the putter has a progressive mallet shape to improve accuracy.

There are a few cases of the driver head denting when you badly duff a shot, but so far the manufacturer has been more than obliging to replace the set should this happen.

It’s a set you can certainly improve your game with and build on over time as you learn what suits you best. If you are starting out, and want to use a top brand name, then this may be the best beginner golf club set for you!

Buy the Callaway Strata Complete Golf Set here!

Also check out the 16-piece and 18-piece versions if you want a more complete set.

Pinemeadow PRE Men’s 16-Piece Complete Golf Set

This is a complete 16-piece set with bag and head covers. It features a titanium-enhanced 10.5 degree driver with graphite shaft, a 15 degree fairway 3 wood also with graphite shaft, a 21 degree 3 hybrid, stainless steel irons (4-9), a PW and pre mallet putter. The bag has a dual strap with an integrated kick stand.

Whether you are just starting out or getting back into the game after a long absence, this Pinemeadow set should be the perfect fit. They are a little higher priced than other sets on this list, but they are exceptionally forgiving and will have you keeping up with more experienced golfers in no time. After the Callaway Strata set, these may be the best beginner golf clubs on the market for the price you pay.

Buy the Pinemeadow PRE Men’s Complete Golf Set here!

Knight Men’s XVII Complete Golf Set

This complete set from Knight comes with a 460cc driver, cavity-backed oversized irons, high visibility alignment lines on the putter for accuracy, matching head covers for the woods and hybrids and a 6 way graphite safe top.

The bag has a large pocket for golf balls, a garment pocket and enough other pockets for all your accessories. It has an umbrella holder and a comfortable carry strap.

This is a very good looking set of clubs and they perform excellently as a beginner set. At the price of just $150, they are great value for money and a strong contender for best beginner golf clubs.

Buy the Knight Men’s XVII Complete Golf Set here!

LINKSMAN GOLF Mens X7 Golf Club Set

This standard +1 length set from Linksman is best suited for taller men (6’1” to 6’7”). It has 17 pieces including steel shafted uni-flex irons & putter and oversized irons and woods for maximum forgiveness. The bag has a dual strap and a kick stand.

This is a great beginner set for a taller guy. Especially at this price as most other standard +1 sets are much more expensive. You’ll notice a difference in the amount you have to bend over and your game will benefit almost immediately.

Buy the LINKSMAN Golf Mens X7 Golf Set (+1″) here!

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That’s our selection for the best beginner golf clubs and there is something to suit every budget and every beginner. Remember it’s almost always better to underspend than overspend when you are starting out. You’ll be much more satisfied when you build up your set with the perfect clubs as you start finding your groove.

Picking the Best Lob Wedge

Not all wedges are made equal. If you are a low handicapper that plays a little aggressively, then you want a wedge that will offer you less bounce, more backspin and give you the ability to play the ball no matter what the lie. If you are a beginner or a high handicapper, looking to improve your short game, you want some of the same things. You may want a little less backspin on your shots, until you can properly control it. On our list below you will find the best lob wedge for your needs.

Factors to consider:

Loft – A lob wedge typically ranges from 58 degrees to 65 degrees of loft. The higher degree will allow you to hit steeper/higher shots that land on the green with little or no roll. Higher degree clubs also tend to be harder to master, and require a lot of practice before you can be confident enough to use in pressure situations. If you are still mid-high handicapper, the maximum loft you should get is 60 degrees.

Bounce – A club’s bounce is the angle between the sole of the club and ground. There are usually 3 choices for bounce: high, low, or standard bounce. High bounce clubs prevents the head from digging into the ground and enables the head to literally ‘bounce’ out of sand/rough . Higher bounce is generally better for soft conditions (i.e. sand or high grass, deep rough), while a lower bounce is better for harder conditions (fairway, hard sand). You should choose the bounce recommendations depending on the course conditions you usually play, as well as your swing style.

The Best Lob Wedge – 5 Recommendations

Cleveland Golf Men’s 588 RTX Black Pearl Wedge

If you struggle to generate spin on those all-important chips, pitches, shots from the rough or the sand, then Cleveland has the perfect solution. The 588RTX has U-Grooves that are 16% bigger allowing you to control the ball and maximize the spin. Surface and impact friction is increased by rougher, longer lasting laser milling. The wedge has an S-Sole which features a wider width at the heel and a narrower sole at the toe. This means the club is more adaptable than ever while also improving performance in the bunker.

This club gives you great control over your chips and pitches and even if your swing is a bit inconsistent it is very forgiving. Not only does it make it easier to hit the green, but the extra spin you can generate helps the ball hold the green every time. Cleveland is famous for their wedges, and you will not be disappointed if you purchase one from them.

Buy the Cleveland Golf Men’s 588 RTX Black Pearl Wedge here!

Callaway Forged Wedge (Dark Chrome)

From Callaway, producers of some of the best golf gear available, this forged wedge has a “tour-inspired shape” with 21 closely spaced tour CC Grooves and “TripleNet” forging. This gives you a bit of extra yardage and a more controlled flight path. The “C” shape relieves the heel and reduces the width of the sole resulting in a straighter leading edge allowing you to make precision shots. If you are a low handicap and like to play aggressively around the greens this is the best lob wedge for you. Higher handicappers may want to look at a slightly more forgiving wedge as these are quite stiff.

The finishes are exquisite and really eye catching. Holding this wedge at address really inspires confidence.

Buy the Callaway Forged Wedge here!

Check out the Copper colored version here!

Bridgestone Men’s Tour B XW Black Oxide Wedge

This Bridgestone wedge produces very little bounce on the toe and heel sole areas thanks to their trademarked Variable Bounce Technology. The face of the club is rougher, which increases the spin, as a result of machine milling. They look great in a non-glare / matte black oxide finish and the classic head was designed with input from tour staff. The True Temper Dynamic Gold Spinner shaft gives great feel on every shot and the ball control and spin you achieve is superb. The shaft is forgiving and is the best lob wedge for a higher handicap player.

Buy the Bridgestone Golf Tour B XW Black Oxide Wedge here!

Pinemeadow Golf Men’s Pre Nickel Wedge

Want to save some money? Then this budget wedge from Pinemeadow could be the club for you. Similar to the other wedges on this list, the Pinemeadow Pre-Nickel wedge features U-Groove technology. Thanks to a tapered sole from the heel to the toe, it offers a more forgiving hitting surface. No matter your lie, this club will allow you to hit accurate shots and control the ball.

The club also feels great in your hands and you will be amazed at how much control you have over getting the ball on the green. The best part of this club, is that it costs less than $37!!! (on Amazon)

If you are looking for a cheaply priced wedge to fill out your bag, then you can’t go wrong with this.

Buy the Pinemeadow Golf Men’s Pre Nickel Wedge here!

TaylorMade TP ATV Wedge

TaylorMade’s ATV (All-Terrain Versatility) Wedge , was designed to excel in all types of shots from all terrain conditions. It is the most versatile wedge on the market, and can be used for pitches, chips, bunker shots, shots out of the rough, shots off hard surfaces, bump n’ runs, and flop shots.

The toe, heel and edge were designed to reduce resistance and reacts differently on turf and sand, depending on your positioning. The new groove design generates nearly as much spin as its infamous Z grooves (banned by USGA a few years ago).

If you want one wedge that can do it all, then the TaylorMade TP ATV Wedge could be the best for you.

Buy the TaylorMade TP ATV Wedge here!

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These manufacturers are all household names and their technology and manufacturing processes are cutting edge. They work with the pros on their tour staff and everything they learn filters down to you. Pick the best lob wedge for your bag for that boost your short game needs.