Best Putters for Intermediate Golfers Review

Choosing a putter is very much like choosing cutlery – you get what feels the most comfortable and keep using it until it’s no longer usable. If you want the best results, you should definitely go and get a custom fit. However, not everyone has the money to splash out in such a manner, so approximately it is! In this best putters for intermediate golfers review, we’ll be looking at exactly that - some of the best putters for intermediate golfers - and anyone else looking for something to improve their putt game.

What Should I Look For?

Before we move on, let’s discuss briefly what things you should look out for when shopping a game-improvement (GI henceforth) putter. Forgiveness certainly comes to mind, but given that you’re probably looking to come from 15+ over par to 10 (or less) over par, you’ll want some feedback, as well.

On the other hand, let’s suppose that the problem isn’t in your wrists, but in your eyes – a good alignment system can mean a world of difference, and so can switching from blade to mallet (or vice versa). In fact, reading the putt properly is half the battle, so every bit of help in this regard is more than welcome.

Getting back to forgiveness for a sec, we should point out that buying putters with the Moment of Inertia (MOI) amped up to the max is always an option (and OEMs always find new and interesting ways to do that), but that doesn’t mean it’ll help you sink any more putts.

Best Putters for Intermediate Golfers Review

It’s a thankless task to make specific recommendations for such a sweeping subject, so what we did is make a short list of the best series, ranges, and families of putters, and why we think each has a shot at the title of the best putters for intermediate golfers.

We’ll kick off the list with one of the most popular putter lines not only for mid cappers, but for high and low players, as well. 

What sets this family of putters apart from the rest is the eponymous White Hot insert, which counts amongst the softest inserts on the market. Switching the old urethane for new elastomer, Odyssey made an insert that gives a buttery soft feel without sacrificing any feel.

With three blades and four mallets, the selection is rather decent (#1, #2, #9, on the one hand and #7, Rossie, V-Line Fang, and 2-Ball V-Line on the other, respectively).

Out of these, the latter is probably the easiest to set up, but the face balanced Rossie is also a great choice if you’re looking for the best blade game-improvement putter.

The aptly named Ping Cadence TR series is a great choice if you’re looking for a putter to improve your stroke rhythm (bonus points if you got the reference). You can choose from 19 flavours (if you count all the tweaked versions), which is both a blessing and a curse.

For example, the Anser 2 comes in three variants – Traditional, Heavy, and CB, and choosing the wrong one can have a very adverse effect on your short game. On the flipside, you do feel like a kid in a candy shop watching what’s on the table.

Two models that are good candidates for the title of the best putter for mid handicapper from this line are the Anser 2 CB and the Ketsch. Both flatsticks are good for high cappers, as well, thanks to the increased MOI – Anser 2 thanks to the counterweight, and Ketsch from the additional weight.

The Cleveland TFI 2135 family consists of seven flatsticks (2 blades and 5 mallets), one of which is a popular choice when it comes to putters for intermediate golfers – the Counter Balanced Elevado (the plumber’s neck #1 is also a nice choice).

One major selling point of the TFI 2135 and the second part of its name is the raised alignment line, which goes a long way to helping you line up the ball with a bit more consistency. What this design does is allow you to align the putt irrespective of the address position, as the line is raised to the ball’s exact center axis. Will you still misalign putts? You bet, but you should be able to see some improvement.

Another great feature (and the first part of the series’ name) is the True Feel Technology which combines a copper-infused face with a soft copolymer layer underneath. The end result is a soft, almost mushy face.

The SeeMore RifleScope Technology is probably one of the best, if not the best alignment systems on the market, and it’s so wonderfully simple you’ll think I wish I’d have thought of that!

 Basically, the system consists of a red dot flanked by two white lines – all you have to do is address the ball in such a way that the shaft naturally obscures the red dot, and you’re good to go. Provided your stroke technique is up to par (no pun intended), the ball will roll true.

As for the feel, it does take some getting used to, but those who like SeeMore putters like them a lot. The sound is crisp and informative, and if you hit the sweet-spot, it’s almost therapeutic (again, once/if you get used to it).

The O-Works Versa from Callaway (through Odyssey) is a big family of putters (11 members) and a great place to be looking for GI putters.

The 2-Ball and 2-Ball Fang are a popular choice due to, in most part, how easy they are to align, as well as the amount of forgiveness that comes from the increased MOI.

However, the rest of the family is not far behind in terms of visual cues. Another shared feature worth mentioning is the innovative Microhinge face insert (yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like). 

Basically, you have dozens of tiny stainless steel hinges that flex a wee bit at impact, sending the ball rolling surprisingly quickly after it leaves the face.

With the Evnroll ER Series, you get one of the “sweetest” face inserts on the market, which is pretty much how we’d describe it. 

The precise milling across the face lets the putter impart fairly even amounts of topspin on both center hits and those going slightly to the heel or toe. This, in turn, enables you to have excellent distance control across the board, irrespective of the range.

The alignment system is fairly no-frill and varies between models. In the two ER6 mallets and the ER7 you get three alignment lines on top, while the rest of the models in the line feature a single line with a couple of white dots to help position the ball.

If you’re looking for a specific recommendation for an intermediate golfer’s putter, the ER7 stands out for its balanced feel. Granted, it costs a pretty penny, but if money’s no issue, you might want to check it out.

The Futura Series by Scotty Cameron is certainly one of the priciest picks on our list, along with Guerin Rife’s Evnroll putters. The reasons are clear – in both cases, you’re paying a bit extra for the name. 

Now, that isn’t to say that Futura putters aren’t quality and a good pick for anyone trying to find the best putters for mid handicap, but it’s worth pointing out for the more budget-minded golfers.

On the flipside, if you’re a Scotty fan, then you’ll love the Futura’s perimeter weighting and the resulting forgiveness. It’s tough picking a favourite out of the seven mallet putters here, but the 6M and its race-car-like design come with such high levels of forgiveness that it really recommends itself.

The Final Word

In conclusion, when you’re looking for the best putter for intermediate golfers, you need to look for a few things, in order of relevance – alignment system, forgiveness (most mallets, face-balanced flatsticks, center-shafted, heel-shafted plumber’s neck, counterbalanced, 350+ grams, things like that), and feedback. Once you hit the trifecta, you’re good to go.

Before we wind up this article, here’s a nickel’s worth of free advice – if getting new gear isn’t a must for you, consider getting a used flatstick off eBay. Be mindful, though, that you’re getting no warranty with the purchase. But it might work out for you in the long run. Fairways and greens!