Best Beaded Putters
Updated How we research
Innova DX Aviar Putt and Approach 170-175g
Innova's DX Aviar at 170-175g, a classic beaded putt and approach disc in grippy DX plastic for all-round use.
Dynamic Discs Prime Burst Judge, Stable Disc Golf Putter, Gray, 170g
Dynamic Discs Judge in Prime Burst plastic at 170g or more, rated speed 2, glide 4, turn 0, fade 1. A straight, stable putter in a grippy baseline blend at a low price.
A bead is the small ridge running around the bottom outer edge of a putter. It changes how the disc leaves your hand and how it behaves on landing: beaded putters tend to feel more defined on release, hold a slightly more overstable finish and skip less when they hit the ground. Beadless models feel smoother off the fingers. Neither is better, and the choice comes down to hand feel and throwing style. We judged these on release consistency and how they finish, since that is where the bead actually shows up. Firmer beaded putters suit windy conditions and players who throw their putter on approaches. Softer beaded models keep the defined grip while grabbing chains better. If you push your putts, or discs tend to slide out of your hand, a bead is worth trying before you change anything in your stroke.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 7.0 to 8.5 out of 10.
- Best overall:Innova DX Aviar Putt and Approach 170-175g. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.5/10.
- Also great value:Dynamic Discs Prime Burst Judge, Stable Disc Golf Putter, Gray, 170g. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.4/10.
- Solid build:Kastaplast K1 Reko Putter Golf Disc. Build and materials score of 9/10, overall 7.6/10.
- Feature-rich:Discmania S-Line P2 Disc Golf Putter. Features score of 7/10, overall 7.8/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Innova DX Aviar Putt and Approach 170-175g8.5/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Dynamic Discs Prime Burst Judge, Stable Disc Golf Putter, Gray, 170g8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Discmania S-Line P2 Disc Golf Putter7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Gateway Wizard Putter Approach Disc - 5 Pack (SSS)7.7/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Discraft Magnet 167-169 Gram Putt and Approach Golf Disc7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Discraft Magnet 173-174 Gram Putt and Approach Golf Disc7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Kastaplast K1 Reko Putter Golf Disc7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 8.Innova R-Pro Pig Putt and Approach Golf Disc 170-172g7.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
| # | Product | Our score | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Innova DX Aviar Putt and Approach 170-175g | 8.5/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 2 | Dynamic Discs Prime Burst Judge, Stable Disc Golf Putter, Gray, 170g | 8.4/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 3 | Discmania S-Line P2 Disc Golf Putter | 7.8/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 4 | Gateway Wizard Putter Approach Disc - 5 Pack (SSS) | 7.7/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 5 | Discraft Magnet 167-169 Gram Putt and Approach Golf Disc | 7.6/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 6 | Discraft Magnet 173-174 Gram Putt and Approach Golf Disc | 7.6/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 7 | Kastaplast K1 Reko Putter Golf Disc | 7.6/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
| 8 | Innova R-Pro Pig Putt and Approach Golf Disc 170-172g | 7.0/10 | See on Amazon | Check price |
#1Innova's DX Aviar at 170-175g, a classic beaded putt and approach disc in grippy DX plastic for all-round use.
Fit for the job 10/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 10/10
- + Aviar's smooth, beadless rim gives a familiar, consistent grip on every putt
- + 170-175g weight is steady for putting and approaching in wind
- + Low-cost DX plastic makes a practice stack of Aviars affordable
- - DX plastic wears quickly when used for both putts and upshots
- - As a beadless mold, it lacks the bead grip cue some players prefer
#2Dynamic Discs Judge in Prime Burst plastic at 170g or more, rated speed 2, glide 4, turn 0, fade 1. A straight, stable putter in a grippy baseline blend at a low price.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 9/10
- + Ratings of speed 2, glide 4, turn 0 and fade 1, described as flying straight and handling speed without fading out
- + Prime plastic is described as keeping its feel and grip even when the weather makes discs hard to hold
- + Enough glide for tee shots and enough stability to fight wind, according to the listing, at a base plastic price
- - Prime is a baseline plastic and not one of the premium blends, so expect it to season with use
- - Sold in one gray color with a stamp color that varies, and weight is only given as 170g or more
#3Discmania's S-Line P2, a stable putter in premium S-Line plastic for firm putts and dependable approaches.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + P2 has a stable, reliable flight for straight putts and short upshots
- + S-Line plastic is durable and grippy, holding its flight longer
- + Popular putter shape that suits many players' grips and styles
- - Check the weight before buying, since it affects how it feels in the hand
- - Firmer S-Line plastic grabs chains less than soft putter blends
#4Five Gateway Wizard putters in the SSS blend, rated speed 2, glide 3, turn 0, fade 2. A practice stack of one mold for putting, short to medium drives and accurate approaches.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Five identical putters let you practice with one mold instead of walking to the basket after every putt
- + Flight ratings of speed 2, glide 3, turn 0 and fade 2 describe a stable putter with a dependable finish
- + Listed by Gateway as a best choice for putting, short to medium drives and accuracy approaches
- - A five pack is a bigger outlay than a single putter, and disc and stamp colors are random
- - The listing does not state weights or explain the SSS firmness grade, so check before ordering
#5Discraft's Magnet at 167-169 grams, a soft, straight putt and approach disc for players who want gentle chain grab.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Magnet has a straight, forgiving flight on short and mid-length putts
- + Soft plastic grabs chains and grips well in the hand
- + 167-169 gram weight is easy to control for spin and push putting
- - Not the most overstable option for approaches into strong wind
- - Lighter weight drifts more than heavier putters when it is gusty
#6Discraft's Magnet at 173-174 grams, a heavier soft putter with a straight flight for steady putting in wind.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + 173-174 gram weight adds wind resistance on firm push putts
- + Soft plastic gives good chain grab and a tacky, confident grip
- + Straight flight keeps putts on line with less guessing
- - Soft plastic gets scuffed and bent when used for long approaches
- - Heavier copy may feel sluggish for players who spin putt softly
#7Kastaplast's K1 Reko putter, a straight putter in premium K1 plastic with a smooth, grippy rim feel.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 9/10 · Value 8/10
- + Reko flies straight, making it easy to trust inside the circle
- + K1 plastic is durable yet grippy, lasting for years of practice
- + Smooth rim feel suits both push and spin putting styles
- - Check the weight before buying to match it with your putting stack
- - Beadless rim will disappoint players shopping for a beaded putter
#8Innova's R-Pro Pig at 170-172g, an overstable putt and approach disc in soft R-Pro plastic for fading upshots.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 6/10 · Value 8/10
- + Pig's overstable flight makes wind approaches and hyzer upshots reliable
- + R-Pro plastic is soft and grippy for a secure release in cold weather
- + 170-172g weight stays steady on approaches into a breeze
- - Strong fade is less ideal for straight putting than neutral putters
- - R-Pro plastic scuffs and wears quickly on rocky courses
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- DX plastic wears quickly when used for both putts and upshots (Innova DX Aviar Putt and Approach 170-175g)
- Prime is a baseline plastic and not one of the premium blends, so expect it to season with use (Dynamic Discs Prime Burst Judge, Stable Disc...)
- Check the weight before buying, since it affects how it feels in the hand (Discmania S-Line P2 Disc Golf Putter)
- A five pack is a bigger outlay than a single putter, and disc and stamp colors are random (Gateway Wizard Putter Approach Disc - 5 Pack...)
- Not the most overstable option for approaches into strong wind (Discraft Magnet 167-169 Gram Putt and...)
- Soft plastic gets scuffed and bent when used for long approaches (Discraft Magnet 173-174 Gram Putt and...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among beaded putters?
Innova DX Aviar Putt and Approach 170-175g is our top overall pick. Innova's DX Aviar at 170-175g, a classic beaded putt and approach disc in grippy DX plastic for all-round use. It earns our score of 8.5/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Dynamic Discs Prime Burst Judge, Stable Disc Golf Putter, Gray, 170g is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Dynamic Discs Judge in Prime Burst plastic at 170g or more, rated speed 2, glide 4, turn 0, fade 1. A straight, stable putter in a grippy baseline blend at a low price.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Disc Golf Nest independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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