Pushing the boundaries of design and innovation, Bettinardi is a putter brand growing in popularity and achieving notable success out on the leading world Tours. In fact, their founder, Robert Bettinardi, was a pioneer when it came to producing one-piece milled face putters and was so well known that almost every player in the 1990s was seeking his work after Bettinardi were contracted to produce putter for all PGA Tour players.
It would be accurate to suggest that Bettinardi makes some of the best putters in the game, with players like Matt Kuchar, Jason Kokrak, Freddie Couples, and 2022 US Open winner, Matt Fitzpatrick, all using them.
The brand is most famous for producing a number of iconic putter series, which include some of the best mallet putters and blade designs that all deliver a smooth roll and consistent feel. In fact, Bettinardi is also well known for producing the patented Honeycomb club face design, which provides a unique feel at impact.
If you're after a new flatstick to improve your performance on the greens or simply you like to collect attractive but premium putters, Bettinardi is a brand you've almost certainly had in mind. We've been blessed to have been able to test and review all of their best offerings in recent years and have decided to create this guide documenting our favorites, detailing which putter could potentially suit your game and why.
If Bettinardi isn't for you, then why not also check out our guides on the best TaylorMade putters, best Odyssey putters and the best Ping putters.
The Quick List
This premium putter build provides plenty of stability and forgiveness and could provide especially helpful for those that need help on their shorter putts, no matter the skill of the individual.
The INOVAI 8 boasts big visual improvements from previous iterations whilst also combining with excellent levels of forgiveness and user-friendliness for better results on the greens.
The BB28 'Spud' is a lovable blade, finely milled from a single piece of soft steel for a clean look that is easy to fall in love with.
The BB28 'Spud' has a unique name but not a unique look - this classic-looking blade is beautiful on the eye and is a putter we can see many users falling in love with almost instantaneously as a result.
Another blade putter that is easy on the eye, Bettinardi's BB1-W offers great stability for a blade putter thanks exceptional feel and advanced face groove technology.
One of the prettiest putter on the market, the Queen B might be the most iconic Bettinardi putter. It performs as well as it looks, boasting a unique bronze finish that looks fabulous.
Best Bettinardi Golf Putters
Most stable
The INOVAI has four separate head options, and this is the most unorthodox of the lot. The unique fang design might not be for every solely based off the looks, but we urge you to try it out before dismissing it if it doesn't suit your eye. We think it looks great, with the slick and more compact look providing a premium feel and performance to match.
A constructed hexagonal shape and fangs are designed to optimize the putter’s MOI (Moment of Inertia) thanks to triangular vents that save weight, which is then distributed to the perimeter to help provide stability and forgiveness. What's more, as it's built from 303 Stainless Steel front piece and a 6061 Military Grade Aluminium back piece, we knew that we were getting consistent results time after time.
This putter sat beautifully square at address and I particularly liked the added color in addition to the dual alignment lines which led to easy set up behind the ball before the strike. Ultimately, one should opt for a mallet putter in the chase for forgiveness and this is a model that provides that in abundance, making this easily is one of the most forgiving putters on the market.
- Read our full Bettinardi INOVAI 6.5 Putter Review
Most forgiving
Like the INNOVAI 6.5, the 8.0 offers a lot of forgiveness thanks to the milled face-balance and weight of the mallet head. The chrome leading edge combines with a dark 6061 military-grade aluminum body to create distinctive alignment lines which make it perfect for those who struggle with their accuracy on the greens. Such was the performance, it features in our Editor's Choice awards.
Like with every putter in this guide, this feels like an ultra-premium option that gives beautiful feedback thanks to the milled grooves on the face. The milling means minimal points of contact with the golf ball through the strike, allowing for a more consistent roll and a lovely audio feedback through the stroke.
There are plenty of customization options are on offer as well. Shaft lengths, grips and hosel types can all be tweaked with when ordering, whilst the 8.0 is also available as an armlock putter for those that want to try something different. If you're unfamiliar with the arm-lock technique, check out our guide for the best SIK golf putters for a bit of education!
- Read our full Bettinardi Innovai 8.0 Putter Review
Best looking
Not only is the BB28 Spud the best looking putter on this list, it's also got the best name - however we do not think it's dedicated to the vegetable.
It might not provide the same level of forgiveness as the two mallet putter we have included above, but this remains a very user-friendly putter, especially considering it is a blade. So much so, we'd consider it one of the most forgiving putters in the blade category. The graphite gray finish looks superb - beautifully simple but classy at the same time. The double-wide shape also ensure it sits lovely behind the ball, giving it a premium look and feel that will inspire confidence in golfers of all abilities.
The aggressive Flymill face milling design provides a soft feel on the greens that will give a nice level of feedback on strike location. This helped us lock in consistent long putts during testing thanks to the responsive feedback. Ultimately, we thought the putter allowed us to start the ball on line regularly once alignment was correct and its premium looks make this one of the best mallet putters we have tested.
- Read our full Bettinardi BB28 Spud Putter Review
Best for consistent role
Milled from a solid block of 303 stainless steel, the BB1-W is one of the most premium-feeling putters available from any brand. There are five different head shapes to choose from as well as an armlock, flow neck and centre shafted options to fine tune your putter to suit your stroke.
The BB1-W gets the 'W' added because of the width on offer which helps the putter sits beautifully at address. It's this sort of variety that makes us lopve Bettinardi as a brand as the brand continues to up their levels of customization to provide one of the best custom putter experiences on the market.
There's no arguing that this is one of the best blade putters released in 2024, with the stability and feedback impressive and precise. There is indeed a slight difference on mis-hits but, when struck correctly, it produces a feel that is neither too soft, or too firm.
- Read our full Bettinardi BB1-W Putter Review
Best premium model
This might be one of the prettiest putter on the market of any category and is easy to fall in love with, something I really value with a putter. The unique bronze finish and nat d-shaped head of the Queen B 11 oozes premium class, with the ball looking as good behind the ball as it does when in the bag. The rustic look really catches the eye but is subtle at the same time.
The looks are an obvious plus, but this putter performs as good as it looks. The bronze finish comes with a glare-resistant paint that will come in handy on those sunny days on the golf course, whilst the overall weight of the putter in your hand is something we noted during testing. It's slightly toe-heavy, great some those who tend to close the face during the impact zone of putts. The half moon shape is appealing and reminds us of Phil Mickelson when standing over putts. It offers lovely feel and feedback.
The new honeycomb milling is 8% smaller than the honeycomb milling on some of the older Bettinardi models. This smaller impact area allows better connection with the golf ball, leading to a softer but equally more responsive feel on each putt - just like you might find on some of the best Scotty Cameron putters.
I thought this putter excelled with longer putts during testing. The single sight line on the crown proved a great help with alignment and will help players improve their accuracy no matter their ability. Ultimately, this is a premium putter that we really enjoyed using and matched up with many of the best golf putters available right now.
- Read our full Bettinardi Queen B 11 Putter Review
How we test putters
When it comes to product testing, our reviews and buyers' guides are built upon a rigorous testing procedure as well as the knowledge and experience of the test team. Headed up by expert tester Sam De'Ath, we ensure our putter testings are conducted over multiple rounds of golf across multiple days at different golf courses. We also try our best to test the putters out in different weather conditions to ensure the most thorough and fair test possible to really put each product through their paces.
Due to the fact we test so many products here at Golf Monthly, we are often in the position to test multiple items at once. For example, if Sam is testing one of the best golf rangefinders or best golf stand bags he can also test out the latest Bettinardi putter during the same round. This ensures we get as much playing time with the product as possible, meaning we put ourselves in the best position to accurately rate the club, giving you both the pros and cons of the performance.
Also, because Sam heads up the putter division of our review team, he also has the pleasure of testing some of the best putting mats on the market. This means not only does Sam get plenty of practice with the short stick, it also means he gets plenty of time to try out the best putters from the comfort of his own home. This allows him to test each putting mat with a new putter due for review at the same time!
Getting into specifics, we test the putters both outdoors and indoors with premium golf balls to get a thorough understanding of design features, feel, sound and looks. Ultimately, we aim to be as insightful and honest as possible in our reviews so it is important to acknowledge that no manufacturer can buy a good review. This is because our team tells it how it is.
How to choose a new putter
The putter is perhaps the most important club in your bag. It is ultimately the club that you want to use the least. But on a bad day could be the club you use the most. Getting the right putter for your golf game can go a long way to ensuring you cut out those costly three-putts on the green. For that reason, I've put together a list of important considerations you need to keep in mind when purchasing your next golf putter.
1. Type (Blade/Mallet/High MOI)
Depending on your skills, confidence and preference, the type of putter you use can be a hinderance or a game changer. As the general rule goes, more experienced golfers are likely better off using a bladed putter, simply because they are less forgiving than mallet or high MOI options. But that doesn't mean the latter are worse off or won't help you drain putts from 30-yards out. In fact many Tour professionals use high MOI and mallet putters. Ultimately it comes down to how you swing the putter and the smoothness of your stroke. These putters offer greater control and forgiveness on off-centre shots. For that reason, they are an excellent choice for any player, but particularly those with higher handicaps.
2. Size
The size of your putter can seriously affect how you swing through the golf ball. If a putter is too long for you, then you'll find yourself hitting your putts fat, adding unwanted spin on the ball and preventing it from rolling true. Conversely, if your putter is too long, you may top the ball and send it flying in the wrong direction. My best advice, when buying any new club for that matter, is to test it extensively before you buy it.
3. Feel
Different putters come with different club faces that will, in turn, deliver a different feel on the golf ball. Depending on what you're looking for, whether thats a dull sound or an aluminium touch, feel is an important factor to consider when buying a putter. It's also worth noting the loft of the clubface. SIK's putters are designed to deliver true rolls with any swing type, thanks to their patented Loft Technology, which makes SIK a great brand to consider if you're struggling to put a smooth roll on the golf ball.
4. Alignment tools
It's also worth thinking about the alignment tools the putter offers. While some golfers may not prefer to have any aiming guides on the back of their putters, most players can seriously benefit from having an aiming line on the back of their putter which can also help to improve your focus on the ball and help you strike through the shot more square.
5. Price
Our final tip is to think about price because while there are some premium designs out there, there are also some models which offer excellent value, as the selections above show. Sometimes less experienced players should steer clear of the more expensive offerings currently on the market which may actually not be very forgiving and may not be suitable for your swing style.
But if you're still stuck on what putter to choose, why not take a look at what some different brands have to offer and check out our best TaylorMade putters buying guide or our best Scotty Cameron putters guide for more information on the types of clubs different manufacturers can offer.
FAQs
Is Bettinardi owned by Mizuno?
Bettinardi and Mizuno were partners a few years ago, but Robert Bettinardi decided to part ways with the Japanese sports brand, making Bettinardi it's own brand.
Should I use a mallet putter or a blade putter?
Depending on your preferences, experience and swing type, you can use either a mallet or a blade putter. Blade putters tend to be more suitable for lower handicap golfers who have more experience and better control over the shots they're hitting. Mallet putters, meanwhile are much more forgiving and are great for those with less experience, who might struggle with consistency around the greens.
Do any Tour Professionals use Bettinardi Golf Putters?
2022 US Open Champion Matt Fitzpatrick is one of several golfers who uses a Bettinardi putters. Other notable players include Matt Kuchar, Fred Couples and Edoardo Molinari.
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