You’ll be able to rock your shoulders like a normal stroke and produce a more fluid movement when using armlock putters because these putters have a longer shaft (usually 40–42 inches long, compared to standard-length putters, which are around 33–36 inches) and a longer grip (between 17 and 21 inches) that is secured against your leading forearm.
However, if you’re considering switching to arm lock putters, there’s one problem. Choosing the right armlock putter for your game can be like finding a needle in a haystack. I tested and reviewed some of the most-loved armlock putters on the market and here are the top five I will recommend in a heartbeat.
Here’s a list of the best arm lock putters worth your consideration and reasons why I recommend them:
- The best armlock putter for experienced golf players: Bettinardi Studio Stock #28 Putter
- Best value for money armlock putter—Cobra King 3D Printed Agera Putter
- The best premium armlock putter is the Lab Golf Directed Force 2.1 Armlock Putter.
- Best armlock putter for alignment: Odyssey 2-Ball Ten Putter
- Best armlock putter for topspin and feel—Betinardi Inovai 8.0 Putter
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- If it’s your first time trying armlock putters, I recommend the Odyssey 2-Ball Ten Putter. These putters are impressively forgiving and consistent, so you should improve on the greens if you switch. It’s also the most affordable on the list.
- Bettinardi Studio Stock #28 Putter has high-quality construction and a comfortable grip for many more advanced players. The high price tag is also more justifiable if you have skins in the game already.
- Want good value for money? You can’t go wrong with the Cobra King 3D-printed Agera Putter. It might lack the feel for purists, but its unique 3D-printed design, affordable price, and forgiveness are worth it.
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Different golf enthusiasts have varying views about arm-lock putting; it became especially controversial following Xander Schauffele’s recent comments about this style.
I recently started to mess around with one my younger brother bought—the Odyssey Stroke Labs Double Wide Armlock—which required some getting used to before I became comfortable with it.
Arm-lock putting is a viable option if your concern is stability and consistency on short putts. But the model you pick can make or mar your game improvement.
Before we dive into the full review of our top recommendations, below is a table comparing the best armlock putters across a few relevant factors that can help you make an instant decision in case you’re in a hurry.
| Image | Product | Detail | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Bettinardi Studio Stock #28 Putter |
| $450 |
 | Cobra King 3D-Printed Agera Putter |
| $350 |
 | Lab Golf Directed Force 2.1 Armlock Putter |
| $585 |
 | Odyssey 2-Ball Ten Putter |
| $200 |
 | Bettinardi Inovai 8.0 Putter |
| $400 |
1. Bettinardi Studio Stock #28 Putter
Bettinardi Studio Stock #28 Putter
$450
- Exceptionally soft feel upon impact, thanks to the Tour-preferred Face Impact Technology (FIT) face milling.
- 100% milled construction for quality.
- The 17″ Winn Grip feels solid and ensures long-lasting durability.
- Signature F.I.T. face milling for a consistently smooth roll and valuable feedback.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Neck: Spud Neck
- Weight: 400 grams
- Material: 303 Stainless Steel
- Finish: Diamond Blast
- Face Milling: Roll Control Face
- Grip: 17″ Winn Grip
- Loft: 5°
- Lie: 71°
- Toe-Hang: 1/8
Crafted from a single block of soft carbon steel, the Bettinardi Studio Stock #28 Putter delivers an exceptionally soft feel upon impact, thanks to the Tour-preferred Face Impact Technology (FIT) face milling.
The 100% milled construction and proven PGA Tour designs that have won over 70 worldwide since 1998 attest to its quality.
The 17″ Winn Grip feels solid and ensures long-lasting durability. The Bettinardi Studio Stock #28 Armlock Putter earned a 2017 Golf Digest Hot List Gold Medal.
The signature F.I.T. face milling sets this putter apart, offering a consistently smooth roll and valuable feedback with each stroke.
The armlock design stabilizes the putter against your forearm. This gives you enhanced control and accuracy.
This putter is your best bet if you’re an advanced player willing to invest in a high-quality tool.
What I like about this armlock putter
- High-quality construction
- Comfortable grip
- Impressive aesthetics
What I don’t like about this armlock putter
- not ideal for beginners.
2. Cobra King 3D-Printed Agera Putter
Cobra King 3D-Printed Agera Putter
$350
- Tailored for armlock setup with a 41″ length for a consistent stroke.
- SIK aluminum face inserts with Descending Loft Technology (DLT) ensure a consistent launch angle, offering accurate and reliable rolls.
- Unique 3D-printed design, and impressive forgiveness.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Tip Size:.370
- Shaft Weight: 125g
- Taper: Armlock Stepless Chrome
- Loft: 4-7°
- Lie: 72°
- Length Hosel: 41″
- Toe Hang: 0°
- Head Weight: 380g
This putter is tailored for those who prefer an armlock setup, and it comes in a 41″ length, which promotes a consistent stroke.
Allowing the grip and shaft to rest against my lead forearm eliminates variations in shaft angle during my putting stroke.
What sets this putter apart is its multi-material construction.
It features a 3D-printed nylon lattice cartridge, a 291g steel frame, an 18g aluminum cap, and 42g of tungsten on the perimeter, providing exceptional stability for greater consistency.
The 3D-printed nylon cartridge optimizes weight distribution, maximizing the moment of inertia (MOI) for added stability.
The SIK aluminum face inserts with Descending Loft Technology (DLT) ensure a consistent launch angle of 1.5 degrees for every type of putting stroke, offering accurate and reliable rolls.
The visual markers on the putter make alignment a breeze, and each stroke feels clean, reducing those annoying bobbles and bounces on impact with the ball.
My one-putt finishes have increased, especially from the 10-foot range. However, I did encounter a quality control issue with the grip, which was poorly installed, causing the club to sit 20 degrees open at the address.
Despite this hiccup, the Cobra King 3D-printed Agera armlock putter offers stability and consistency to take your putting to the next level.
What I like about this armlock putter
- Great value for money
- Unique 3D-printed design
- Impressively forgiving
What I don’t like about this armlock putter
- The look may not be appealing to every golfer.
3. Lab Golf Directed Force 2.1 Armlock Putter
Lab Golf Directed Force 2.1 Armlock Putter
$585
- Enhanced stability and “pendulum-like” putting stroke for golfers.
- Specialized ArmLock grip for a comfortable and secure hold.
- Includes an alignment aid for better-putting precision.
- Innovative lie-angle balancing, which keeps the putter head square through the ball without manual adjustments during the stroke.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Lie Angle: 69°
- Length: 34″, 35″
- Head Weight: 370–415 grams, depending on length and lie angle.
- Swing Weight: F0-G5, depending on length and lie angle.
- Loft: 3.5 degrees of static loft (0.5 degrees of effective loft).
- Grip: Armlock Grip
- Alignment Aid: #1
LAB Golf has tackled a major issue in putting, the natural rotation of the putter head, with their innovative solution, lie-angle balancing.
Putting is all about getting the right face angle, and it turns out that face angle contributes to nearly 85% of putting success, while putter path accounts for the remaining 15%.
The shorter the putt, the more critical the face angle becomes.
LAB Golf’s answer is their groundbreaking lie-angle balancing, which keeps the putter head square through the ball without manual adjustments during the stroke.
This means a more stable, “pendulum-like” putting stroke for golfers.
With lie-angle balancing, your body’s smaller, less reliable muscle groups relax, allowing your stronger muscles to maintain control over swing speed and path.
The result is improved stability, precise ball direction, and better distance control, leading to more successful putts.
The DF 2.1 ArmLock putter has customization options, including lie angle, length, head weight, and swing weight.
Plus, it features a specialized ArmLock grip and an alignment aid for better-putting precision.
What I like about this armlock putter
- Lie-angle balancing
- Premium look
What I don’t like about this armlock putter
- Expensive
4. Odyssey 2-Ball Ten Putter
Odyssey 2-Ball Ten Putter
$200
- Lightweight design, not heavy on the hands.
- The 2-Ball model stands out as one of the best made by Odyssey, providing an excellent framing of the ball at address.
- Exceptional alignment systems, including 2-Ball and Triple Track options, enhancing alignment for a more accurate putt.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Head type: mallet
- Loft: 3°
- Availability: RH and LH
- Standard length: 33″, 34″ or 35″.
- Lie: 70.0°
- Offset: full shaft
- Toe Hand: 0°
- Head weight: 365G
The exceptional alignment systems offered in these putters, including the 2-Ball and Triple Track options, caught my attention immediately. The sleeker and more forgiving head construction enhances the alignment experience. The 2-Ball model, in particular, stood out as the best they’ve ever made, allowing you to frame the ball at an address like never before.
But the improvements don’t stop there. Odyssey has introduced a new version of its tour-proven Stroke Lab shaft. This shaft is lighter, stiffer, and more stable, promoting better tempo and consistency in your putting stroke. I noticed a positive difference in my stroke while using it.
The Microhinge Star Insert in these putters is engineered to provide immediate forward roll for improved speed and control. I could feel the difference as the ball came off the face with the microhinge technology.
What I like about this armlock putter
- Easy to align and nice feel
- Light, not heavy
- Great for beginners
- Affordable
What I don’t like about this armlock putter
- None so far.
5. Bettinardi Inovai 8.0 Putter
Bettinardi Inovai 8.0 Putter
$400
- Fresh and sleek look with a Stealth Black anodized 6061 Military Grade Aluminum body and a Diamond Blast finished 303 Stainless Steel front piece.
- Combination of stainless steel in the front piece and military-grade aluminum body for optimized weight distribution and high MOI numbers.
- Distinctive alignment lines for improved accuracy.
- Ideal for players with a straight back and straight-through putting stroke, emphasizing accuracy and performance on the greens.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Dexterity: RH, LH
- Lengths Available: 32″-36″
- Finish: Diamond Blast Stainless Steel
- Stealth: black anodized
- Loft: 2°
- Lie: 70°
- Offset: 3/4 Shaft
- Face Milling: Roll Control
- Weight: 358g
I like to think that this putter is a revelation for those seeking accuracy and performance on the greens, as Bettinardi described it as the ideal mallet putter for players with a straight back and straight-through putting stroke.
The 2022 INOVAI Lineup brings a fresh and sleek look thanks to its Stealth Black anodized 6061 Military Grade Aluminum body and a Diamond Blast finished 303 Stainless Steel front piece.
Combining stainless steel in the front piece for that coveted PGA Tour feel and a military-grade aluminum body to optimize weight distribution ensures high MOI numbers.
The Inovai 8.0’s milled face-balanced mallet design offers impressive forgiveness and a unique chrome leading edge.
It is paired with a dark aluminum body and provides distinctive alignment lines.
If you prefer an armlock putter, you’ll be delighted to know that the Bettinardi Inovai 8.0 can be customized to your ideal height.
What I like about this armlock putter
- It has a great feel, thanks to the quality milled face.
- It’s impressively forgiving.
What I don’t like about this armlock putter
- The head of the mallet is somewhat small.
Final Thoughts
If you’re trying armlock putters for the first time, I strongly recommend buying one from a place with a proper putter analysis setup (read: quintic).
I say this because I can recall when I tried an armlock for the first time and got extreme dynamic loft numbers. So, I had to make significant changes to my putter loft for an ideal launch.
But if you’re looking to change your current armlock putter or are familiar with this style, you can make decisions easily.
Most importantly, these recommended armlock putters will best favor you if you struggle with overactive hands during the putting stroke since anchored putting strokes are no longer in the good books of golf.
