While the majority of the top golfers, including Rory McIlroy are switching to mallet putters, Ludvig Aberg still trusts the orthodox way and uses a blade.

Both McIlroy and Aberg were questioned about their putter choices during their appearances at the Genesis Invitational pre-event press conference on February 18. The golfers voiced the reasons behind choosing different styles of putters. Here’s what their individual opinions were.

Ludvig Åberg’s Take: Trust What You Know

Åberg was asked whether he feels pressure to switch, especially with so many top-10 players opting for mallets, Scottie pretty famously. Do you feel a pull towards the mallet at all, or messing around with a mallet, or sticking with the blade? 

“I think I saw something about every top 10 player in the world is using a mallet at this time… A blade is sort of all I know. It's all I've ever known,” Aberg explained.

Rather than chasing trends, Åberg is focused on performance data and personal comfort. “For me, as long as the ball comes out the way I want it to, that's the most important thing,” he said. He indicated that testing on Quintic devices was done to keep track of the face angles and launch. He even adjusted to a lower-lofted head to improve roll characteristics.

While acknowledging that “some guys like the mallet, some guys like the blade.” But he made it clear that “I'm pretty pleased with where I am.” This shows that he is confident in his mechanics and unwilling to change simply because others are doing so.

Rory McIlroy’s Take: Forgiveness Wins

Rory McIlroy’s switch happened years ago, and it was deliberate. As the question was framed very well, “It's pretty rare to see a blade putter out there these days. What was your kind of final straw five years ago when you sort of made the switch?”

“I started with the Spider seven years ago, 2019, Kapalua,” he said. The reasoning was straightforward: “It's just more consistent.”

What convinced him was the forgiveness of mishits. “I've made enough bad strokes with the Spider where the ball still went in the hole from inside six feet… it's a lot more forgiving.”

Interestingly, McIlroy still practices with a blade. “When you practice with a blade a little bit and then you go back to the Spider, it feels just that little bit easier,” McIlroy explained. But in competition, the mallet stays in the bag.

He also referenced performance trends, as he said, “Look at Scottie, look at Tommy Fleetwood last year… you look at the trajectory of their putting stats, mine as well, it's definitely a big help.”

So, Åberg prioritizes familiarity and precise feedback, while McIlroy values forgiveness and statistical improvement. 

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Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Souvik Roy