Few things annoy a golfer more than missing a three-foot putt for par. We’ve all been there, and eliminating these mistakes from your game will help your handicap and, most importantly, reduce your frustration. One approach to getting the ball into the hole is to consider one of the best counterbalanced putters on the market. They’re designed to increase control and reduce wrist movement for more consistency on the green.
We’ve worked with our community and team of testers to find the top performers for seniors, to shave those strokes on the green. Here they are.
Quick List: Best Counterbalanced Putters
Why Buy a Counterbalanced Putter?
A counter balance putter has additional mass and weight in the upper portion of the shaft and the clubhead. This creates a higher balancing point on the shaft, which I found increased moment of inertia (MOI). That helped me anchor the putter at contact stabilizing the face and generate consistent topspin and ball speed.
I have noticed that a counterbalanced construction sports a heavier putter head than a standard model. The head weighs 50 grams or more than standard heads, placing them among the most forgiving, consistent flat sticks out there.
How Do Counterbalanced Putters Work?
A counterbalanced putter works by slowing the shaft down and accelerating the club head to increased momentum through the stroke.
Back in the day (when it was legal), if you used to “anchor” your putter against your body, then you may like the feel of a counterbalanced putter.
The shaft is more stabilized, and the club head swings with more inertia when there’s additional load on both ends of the club. The counterbalanced style putter can benefit the type of golfer who tends to be more “handsy” or have a lot of wrist action.
Since there’s more weight spread on the head and bottom of the club, this raises the rotation position of the club. In short, a counterbalanced putter will increase your putting stability.
🏆 Overall Best Counterbalanced Putter
Senior golfers who use their wrists excessively in the stroke will welcome the stability of the TaylorMade Spider ZT Black Counterbalance putter.
Like the Cobra Supernova, the insert prompted a consistent, clean roll, thanks to the angle of the grooves. Adding to the experience was a high degree of MOI, which helped me control the putter face through impact to send my ball on the desired path.
What I also appreciated was the option of two shaft lengths, which is often not on the table with counterbalanced putters. While the 36-inch is a good option for shorter players, most golfers will be fine with the 38-inch construction.
For the price, quality, and overall feel – our senior testers felt the TaylorMade Spider held a slight edge over the rest.
- Smooth feel
- Attractive appearance
- Improved putting stroke
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Best Feel
The Bettinardi Antidote SB2 won’t win any awards for its looks, but it will for its performance. It’s a chunky mallet head design that might deter the traditionalists. However, it’s best not to judge a book by its cover, as the aluminum body and precision-milled center insert produce a clean, buttery soft feel on each touch.
SB2 counter-balanced putters are heavy, but that’s the point; they’re built to reduce wrist activity and keep your putter head square at contact. The result is a truer roll, with more accurate results.
- Soft feel
- Generates a smooth roll across the putter face
- Priced at a premium
- Not suited to extremely arched strokes
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Best Roll
Discerning veteran golfers who prioritize roll over price will want to give the L.A.B Golf OZ.1i a look. It consists of premium materials, was crafted on the advice of Adam Scott, and offers faster speed off the putter face, which experienced, lower handicappers often prefer. While the feel is firmer than the other counterbalanced putters we tested, you can find softer options if you so desire.
Where the OZ.1i falls out of the running for many seniors is its premium price tag, but we do see the value. The ball rolls straight and true off the face, the materials are of a high calibre, and this putter will serve you for years, justifying the cost.
I was also impressed with the robust alignment aid design, which simplified reading putting lines. The design helped me frame my ball and line, making it easier to start my ball on target for improved accuracy. These features combined make it a suitable option for high handicappers seeking an affordable, forgiving putter.
- The counterbalanced design produces a fluid stroke.
- Attractive
- Glare resistant
- Enlarged alignment aid
- Forgiving
- Not suited to heavily arched strokes
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
🎯 Most Forgiving
By nature, counterbalanced putters are forgiving, as they increase the control of the putter face for the average player. The Ping Scottsdale Craz-E Counterbalance flat stick takes forgiveness to the next level by employing perimeter weighting. Off-center strokes still give the ball enough power and speed to roll up to your target, improving distance control on the green.
The PEBAX insert produces a softer feel than I was expecting from a polyether, and overall, I enjoyed each stroke. What also impressed me was the affordable price tag for a putter that suits a variety of senior golfers.
- Premium finish
- I experienced limited skid
- Clean alignment aid
- Suits a straighter stroke
- You have to fit it with a counterbalanced grip
- It’s Ping. It’s expensive.
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Best Value for the Money
Counterbalanced putters for golfers over 50 typically cost an arm and a leg, thanks to their abundance of technology.
However, Cobra has thrown their hat into the ring, with a value-for-money option in the form of the Supernova Counterbalanced putter. It’s half the price of the L.A.B OZ.1i, and gave us the same consistent stroke.
Granted, it doesn’t feel as smooth as the OZ.1i, but it does produce a smooth roll. The Descending Loft Technology stood out as the unique selling point, as it helped my ball roll cleanly across the green, no matter where I made contact with it.
- More affordable option of the new top butters
- Helps with stability; super lightweight and easy to align
- We like the pistol grip
- Adjustable weighting system
- Not as stylish as some of the others
We may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you.
Final Thoughts on the Best Counterbalanced Putters
Putting is hard, and it’s where most amateur lose strokes and add to their handicap. Once you learn how to control your putter, you’ll start delivering better distance control and accuracy on the greens.
While the best way to improve your shot game is to put the hours in on the practice green, it also helps to have the right tools for the job. Start by testing the top counterbalanced putters for seniors and see if it’s the answer to you draining more putts.
During our testing, we found that the Bettinardi Antidote SB2 was the top pick for performance and value for money. However, we were also impressed by the results of the Cobra Supernova Counterbalanced putter, given its price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you know if a putter is counterbalanced?
You can spot a counterbalanced putter thanks to its longer shaft length, and grip that stretches past your hands.