In a year when drivers, wedges, and irons are just doing… fine, the quiet hero of your golf bag—the putter—is having a serious moment.
According to new numbers from Golf Datatech (a Circana company), putters are leading the charge in U.S. golf club sales for 2025. From January through June, putter sales in golf specialty stores and green grass shops jumped 23% over the same stretch in 2024. Even at mass retailers and sporting goods stores, where high-end gear usually moves slower, putter sales rose 17%.
No other club category is even sniffing double-digit growth right now. So what gives?
A lot of the buzz is being driven by innovation in the “zero torque” category. Several brands have jumped into the mix with putters designed to stay square and stable through the stroke—technology that’s not just for the gear nerds anymore. More players are realizing that the biggest game-changer in their bag might not be a $600 driver, but the putter they reach for 30 times a round.
“The putter is a great case study for how new tech can drive real excitement—and sales,” said Phil Barnard, VP at Golf Datatech. “That said, we’re also seeing unit sales slow a bit in the mass retail world, likely because of rising price points.”
Translation: Putters are getting better, but they’re also getting more expensive. And while that’s working for core golf shops, it’s a harder sell in big-box stores. So the challenge now becomes how brands can keep pushing performance without pricing out everyday players.
Zooming out, the overall golf equipment market had a strong start to the year, with specialty and green grass shops seeing a 14% sales boost in January compared to 2024. But momentum has cooled slightly as consumers brace for potential tariff fallout. By June, year-to-date growth settled around 7%.
Within specialty stores, club sales were up 6%, and consumables like balls and gloves ticked up 3%. Meanwhile, big-box retail channels barely budged—up just 1% overall. Club sales in those stores managed a 5% lift, but that was offset by a dip in boxed club sets. Golf balls were up 3%, and gloves actually outpaced them with 5% growth.
Still, the headline here is clear: putters are having a breakout year. Whether it’s tour pros adopting the tech or weekend warriors looking for a putting edge, this once-overlooked club is finally getting its due.
