New Putters 2026A gear nerd averaging 72 compares ten models by material and construction and picks one

Head weight is the most important number for how a putter feels, but among the 2026 releases only a few publish it: the TaylorMade Spider ZT MAX (379 g), the PING SCOTTSDALE TEC (350–370 g) and the Mizuno M.CRAFT City (about 365 g / about 380 g), for example.

A typical putter head is around 350 g, and the heavier it is, the steadier the stroke tends to be; the lighter it is, the easier to feel distance with your hands. For models with no published figure, hold them side by side in a shop. My putter-buying guide explains how to compare weights.

A zero-torque (low-torque) putter works by choosing the position and angle of the shaft so the face is less likely to open and close on its own during the stroke. That covers the Odyssey Square 2 Square, the TaylorMade Spider ZT / ZT MAX, all of L.A.B. Golf, and the Scotty Cameron OC (the maker says "low torque, not zero-torque").

As a gear nerd, I'd note that because the design starts from the shaft angle, changing lie or length a lot after purchase can easily change the intended effect. If you want to change length or lie, it's safer to ask the shop or maker before taking it to a club builder yourself.

One-piece soft iron (such as the S25C of the Mizuno M.CRAFT City) or stainless can often be bent at the neck by a club builder to fit lie and loft.

On the other hand, composite heads that combine aluminum and stainless (the PING SCOTTSDALE TEC, Scotty Cameron Phantom 12, L.A.B. Golf DF3i and others) can be hard to adjust by bending, and in some cases it isn't recommended. With these, the safe route is to decide length and lie before you order.

The 2026 version puts a carbon-steel insert in every model, with a deeper face and a rounder top line. The 2024 version was milled with no insert. From the build, the feel may have moved in a different direction. Lengths are 33, 34 and 35 in, loft 3.5°, lie 70°.

If you like the milled feel of the 2024 version, don't replace it just because the name is the same. Hit both in a shop before you decide.

The Spider ZT MAX is a zero-torque large mallet in 33 and 34 in, with a long (46 in) version too. The SYSTM2 is made from 304 stainless by MIM (a process that sinters metal powder) with a milled face. At ¥41,800, it's the lowest price among major makers' new putters.

The Ai-DUAL changes from the previous Ai-ONE's "resin + aluminum" to an insert of two resin layers of different hardness. The TRTL is Odyssey's first mid-size head in a zero-torque design. The DAMASCUS MILLED combines the first Damascus steel insert since 2013 with a milled stainless body.

An aluminum body with a stainless sole plate and a PEBAX insert. On the "onset" models, where the hosel sits behind the face, the maker says it aims for the control of a blade with the forgiveness of a mallet. Lengths from 31 to 36 in are available.

The DF3i adds a stainless insert to the previous DF3, and the maker says ball speed is 2% faster. The price rose from ¥99,000 to ¥129,800. The LINK.2.1 is a blade-type zero-torque with the shaft attached toward the heel, and its price fell from the previous LINK.1's ¥121,000 to ¥99,000.

The Odyssey TRTL, released Aug 7 (¥53,900; ¥69,300 for the Square 2 Square version). The Scotty Cameron Phantom 12 also came out on Jul 23.

As of September 2026: Odyssey (Square 2 Square, TRTL Square 2 Square), TaylorMade (Spider ZT, Spider ZT MAX) and L.A.B. Golf (DF3i, LINK.2.1 and others). Scotty Cameron's OC is described by the maker as "low torque."

Among those lined up in this article, the TaylorMade SYSTM2 at ¥41,800.

According to the maker, the 2026 version puts a carbon-steel insert in every model, with a deeper face and a rounder top line. The 2024 version has no insert.