Have you ever wondered what putters do pros use?
It’s a good question because golf is a rare sport where it’s possible to use the same equipment as your favorite player. Sometimes switching clubs might be just what you need – especially when it comes to putting – to playing your best.
However, in most cases we don’t recommend the everyday golfer switch to what other pros play like blade irons or extra-stiff, heavy steel shafts. But when it comes to putting, you might be able to use the same flat stick as your favorite pro and actually benefit.
Some pros use mallet putters, others use traditional blade putters, and some use mallet style putters. Today we’ll cover what putters pro golfers use and how to find the best putter for your game.
What Putters Do The Pros Use?
Most professional golfers have club contracts with big brands like Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, Ping, or PXG. These contracts typically require them to use a certain amount of their clubs – usually 10 to 11. This may or may not require them to use the same type of putter as well.
PGA Tour pros are very particular about choosing putters as it can play such a big role in their game and ultimately earning potential. In this Golf Digest article they revealed the putter that was used by the winner during the 2020-2021 PGA Tour season.
The results found that Scotty Cameron was the most used putter by the winners, followed by Odyssey, TaylorMade, Ping, and a few other brands toward the bottom.
Key Takeaways
- Scotty Cameron putters are the most popular brand among PGA Tour golfers with Odyssey, TaylorMade, and Ping as the other big three.
- PGA Tour pros use a variety of putters – from blades to mallets and even modern mallet (high MOI) putters.
- They also use a myriad of grips from traditional, cross handed, claw, and arm lock putting.
Keep reading to learn more about each of these putters and see if they might help your game.
Types of Putters
Before getting into each of the main brand pros use, it’s important to understand the different types of putters. The three main types are a blade style putter, mallet putter, and high MOI putter design.
If you’re like most golfers you know the first two but the high MOI is a newer putter design that is more forgiving. It is loved by PGA Tour pros and amateurs alike for it’s weighting, alignment features, and forgivness.
Blade putters used to dominate with PGA Tour players but more and more golfers are switching to mallet style putters. Why?
Because generally, a mallet or modern mallet is more forgiving with any type of putting stroke.
Aside from the design, payers also consider milled vs. insert, toe hang, face balanced putter, grip, length, lie angle, and more.
Scotty Cameron Putters
Scotty Cameron is a brand of Titleist and produces arguably the best putters in golf.
These milled putters are heavier than most and a lot of them have interchangeable weights too. Not only are they some of the most used on the PGA Tour, they’re also a staple among low handicap amateurs.
My Golf Spy found that more than 37% of golfers between a +5 and 5 handicap use Scotty Cameron more than any other brand.
The second closest was Odyssey – which was also the second most used putter that won during the 2020-2021 PGA Tour season.
Scotty Cameron has two primary types of the putters – the Super Select (blade putters) or the Phantom (mallet and modern mallet design). Of the Super Select most golfers are familiar with the Newport series as they’re used by tons of professional golfers.
Here’s how Scotty Cameron described this series.
“The Newport’s distinctive rounded features and a dual-milled face texture inspired by putters preferred by tour players. Precision milled in USA from 303 stainless steel, this putter has a solid face, misted stainless steel finish, adjustable performance sole weights milled from raw tungsten.”
While the Phantom line of putters are a much bigger design and great for players who don’t want much face rotation in the stroke.
Here’s what Scotty Cameron had to say about these putters.
“Developed with input from our game’s best players and hoisted to multiple victories on the worldwide professional golf tours, the Phantom X line presents a range of the most sought-after head shapes and neck/shaft configurations for golfers seeking today’s most advanced mallet designs.”
Odyssey Putters
Another top putter brand for both pros and amateurs alike is Odyssey – which is a Callaway Golf brand.
Like Scotty Cameron, Odyssey has tons of different styles to fit all types of players. One of the lesser used putters – a traditional mallet – has been used by Jon Rahm for the past few years.
Whether you want a blade, mallet, 2-ball or high MOI design, they have it for you. The White Hot OG putters are some of the most popular and have been for several decades.
The White Hot insert has a great feel and sound with a very traditional silver design on all types of putters. Here’s how Odyssey described them.
“This incredible lineup combines the benefits of our two-part urethane insert technology with a rich silver PVD finish, and a fine milling on all key surfaces. It’s available in our premium step-less steel shaft, or our Tour proven, major-winning, multi-material Stroke Lab shaft to help improve the consistency of your stroke.”
Ping Putters
Ping is another popular brand for all types of clubs, especially putters as that was where they gained so much popularity. The first Ping putter was the Anser and revolutionized the game.
Now, Ping has a huge lineup of putters including the PLD, G L33, Heppler, and other options. Ping is known for their blade putters more so than mallet but do offer a selection of both.
Some of the most popular players to use these putters include Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland, Harris English, Billy Horschel, and more. Some of the most common include the Ping Vault Oslo, Ping Scottsdale TR Piper, Ping Scottsdale Hohum, and others.
TaylorMade Putters
Another top name in the putting world is TaylorMade who revolutionized the game with the Spider Tour series.
These putters were a huge change from traditional mallet putters but are now some of the most popular putters in golf. The latest is their Spider GTX which is a high MOI putter that is very forgiving with amazing alignment features.
Here’s how TaylorMade described it,“The Spider GTX boasts a sleek, modern design that pays homage to the classic high-MOI Spider shape. Its fluid lines and sharp angles come together to create a visually striking frame that perfectly cradles the golf ball at address.”
The Pure roll insert helps improve topspin and produce a more consistent roll off the face. It’s interesting to note that these putters are very popular on the PGA Tour, despite being ultra-forgiving. Not to mention they’re significantly cheaper than a Scotty Cameron putter and might work great for your game.
They also have blade putters in the TaylorMade TP Juno lineup alongside different TaylorMade Spider X designs.
Other Putter Brands
The big four brands mentioned above are the most popular on the putting green for the PGA Tour and LIV. But there are a few other notable brands including:
- SIK Putters: Bryson DeChambeau – who is anything from traditional in terms of equipment – has used this brand of putters for several wins. Including his 2020 US Open victory.
- Bettinardi Putters: Bettinardi is a newer brand that doesn’t have the market share of top brands mentioned above but makes some very high-quality putters. They’re known for making great blade style putters.
Putting Length and Grip
The putter model is obviously very important but so is the length, shaft, and grip.
Putter Length is Extremely Important
You can have the best putter for your stroke but if the length is wrong it can mess everything up.
As Scotty Cameron said, “The proper length putter correctly sets eye position just inside the target line, and the correct amount of toe flow allows the putter to flow squarely to the proper arcing path throughout the stroke.”
The putter length can impact your posture and eye position which can impact stroke. Most pros play between a 34 – 35 inch putter and might add/remove a quarter or half inch.
In fact during the 2023 FedEx Playoffs Rory wanted to switch putters and make sure they were the right length. So he sent his caddy to a local golf store to have it cut down. Once the fitter learned it was for Rory he said this about the adjustment to Golfweek.
““Knowing it was Rory’s putter, knowing the stakes they’re playing for, you take a little extra time to make sure it’s perfect. Usually you measure twice and cut once. For this, I measured twice and cut twice, so I didn’t cut too much at first.”
Even though it was only ⅛ of an inch, it made an impact for Rory. Find the right putter length for your game here.
Most Popular Putter Grip
Finally, let’s not forget about the grip either.
Superstroke is the number grip on the PGA Tour with nearly 40% of the field choosing them over competitors.
I’ve personally used them for several years now and don’t see myself switching either. They’re very well constructed and last a long time.
What’s great about SuperStroke putting grips is that they have so many sizes and styles too. For example, they even have a grip that is made just for the claw putting style.
The other most common putting grips are Odyssey, Scotty Cameron, and Ping. A lot of golfers use the same putting grip as the manufacturer and once they find a good one, they tend to stick with it.
Don’t forget, changing putting grip sizes can make a big difference in your stroke and wrist action. It’s best to change grip sizes slowly to minimize the effect on your stroke.
For example, it’s better to go from a standard grip size (1.0) to a 2.0 instead of 1.0 to jumbo fat grip.
FAQs About Putting
Do you have more questions about putting? If so, keep reading through the most commonly asked questions and answers now.
What putter does Rory McIlroy use?
It’s easy to argue that Rory’s weakest part of his game is putting. His tee to green performance is nothing short of spectacular but his strokes gained putting could use some improvement.
Rory has used two main brands of putters over the last few years – Scotty Cameron and TaylorMade. He’s a very “week to week” putter and likes to experiment with different putters on different types of greens.
What is the number one putter used on the PGA Tour?
The most used putter on the PGA Tour seems to be Scotty Cameron.
They make a good range of putters from blades to mallets with their milled design. Not to mention some have adjustable weights and allow players to customize to their stroke perfectly.
What putter does Jordan Spieth use?
Jordan Speith is a Titleist golfer who uses a Scotty Cameron putter.
In a previous “WITB” (what’s in the bag) it was reported that Jordan used a Scotty Cameron by Titleist 009 putter. He used it to win the Valero Texas Open and picked up an astonishing +5 strokes gained putting.
What putter does Dustin Johnson use?
Dustin Johnson – who went to LIV Golf in 2022 – has used TaylorMade equipment for years.
The putter he used to win the 2020 Masters Championship was the TaylorMade Spider Tour IB. He’s used a variety of high MOI TaylorMade putters over the years for his consistent, free flowing stroke.
What putter does Cameron Smith use?
Cameron Smith is a wizard with the flatstick and seems to make more mid-range putts than anyone else on the golf course. He plays a prototype Scotty Cameron 009.
What putter does Tiger Woods use?
Tiger Woods is arguably one of the most clutch putters of all time and he hasn’t changed his equipment much.
Tiger has used a Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS custom putter for the majority of his career. This putter has helped him win more major championships than any other golfer besides Jack Nicklaus so it’s safe to say it’s not going anywhere.
His putter grip is nearly as iconic as the putter he uses too. The grip is a Ping PP58 (despite being a Scotty Cameron putter) and is one of the smallest grip diameters available.
Apparently this grip works well because it’s so small that it allows Tiger to close the putter.
As Golf.com noted, “Tiger has more face closure than most tour pros,” said Fully Equipped co-host Gene Parente. “He likes that closure, timing and feel to control it.
But with a larger grip, you’re going to get less closure. Your hands do not rotate as much, so you’ll minimize more closure and be more pendulum-like.”
My Experience
If there are two clubs you should get fit for in your bag it’s definitely your driver and putter.
Your driver is used 10–14 times per round while your putter is typically used on every hole. Not to mention putting is usually one of the easiest ways to improve your scoring average.
The easiest way to improve your putting is to make sure your equipment is right for you. That means liking the putter head, changing the weights (if possible), finding the right putter length, and grip to match how you hold the club.
I’ve tinkered a lot with different putters over the years but once I find something that works I stick with it. Remember, putting technology doesn’t change nearly as much as drivers or irons. If you find something that you like and gives you confidence over the ball, stick with it.
While I typically sell old golf clubs online – to eliminate clutter and earn some money – I never sell putters. In case I’m ever going through a putting slump it’s nice to have an old trusty putter just in case I need one.
Once you find a style – blade, mallet or high MOI – stick with it. Changing putter styles might impact your stroke so find a style you like and stick with.
Final Thoughts on Popular Putters Used by Pro Golfers
So, what type of putter should you buy?
Check out our guide to choosing between all the putters here.
Ultimately, playing what your favorite PGA Tour pro uses may or may not help your game. It’s important to consider your putting style, height, and other factors to find the right putter.
Mallet putters (like an Odyssey putter) tend to be more forgiving than blade putters and better for a stroke with minimal face rotation. While a blade style putter works better for golfers with a more arc stroke – which is why so many in the Scotty Cameron circle love the Newport series.
Once you find the right putter model, don’t forget to factor in putter length, if a toe hang putter design is right, and the grip. Then read these articles below to help take your putting to the next level.