Bettinardi Antidote SB5 Putter

Mallet Putter

The Bettinardi Antidote SB5 is a face-balanced mallet built for the golfer who wants Bettinardi milling and feel without paying Studio Stock money. It sits in the more accessible end of Bettinardi's lineup, but it still carries the things that make the brand worth talking about: a soft, responsive face and a shape that actually helps you aim. For 2024 the SB5 leans into stability, with a wider footprint and an alignment aid that gives your eyes something to lock onto at address.

Face balanced is the headline spec here, and it tells you most of what you need to know. This putter wants to move straight back and straight through. If your stroke has very little arc, the SB5 will feel like it was set up for you. It resists twisting through impact and holds its line, which is exactly what you want out of a mallet in this class.

What you give up, compared to Bettinardi's top-shelf milled models, is some of the single-block, hand-finished character. What you get in return is a putter that feels expensive on the greens and doesn't punish a stroke that isn't perfect. That trade works for a lot of golfers.

Design

The SB5 uses a mallet head with a fuller rear section to push weight back and out, which is where the face-balanced stability comes from. The alignment aid runs over the top of the head to frame the ball and set your line before you ever start the stroke. It's a clean look at address, not busy, and the sightline does its job without cluttering up the crown. Bettinardi's face milling gives the SB5 a soft feel and a muted sound at impact, softer than you'd expect from a mallet at this price. The result is decent distance feedback on lag putts and a face that doesn't feel dead on shorter ones. It's a putter that reads as premium in your hands even though it's positioned below the milled flagships.

Who It's For

• You have a straight-back, straight-through stroke with minimal arc and want a face-balanced head that matches it.
• You miss putts because of alignment, not speed, and want a clear sightline to set your aim.
• You want the Bettinardi feel and milled face without stepping up to Studio Stock pricing.
• You're moving from a blade to a mallet and want more forgiveness on off-center strikes.
• You play fast greens and want soft feedback that helps you dial in speed on lag putts.

Technology

About Bettinardi

Bettinardi is one of the few brands that still mills every putter in their own facility. Their signature honeycomb face milling and one-piece construction create exceptional feel and consistency.

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bettinardi Antidote SB5 face balanced or does it have toe hang?

It's face balanced. The face points straight up when you balance the shaft on your finger, which means the head resists rotation through the stroke. That suits a straight-back, straight-through motion. If you have a strong arc to your stroke, a toe-hang putter will usually feel more natural.

Does the SB5 have an alignment aid?

Yes. There's a sightline over the crown to help you set your aim at address and frame the ball. It's a clean design that helps your eyes square up the face without cluttering the top of the head.

How does the Antidote line compare to Bettinardi's Studio Stock putters?

The Antidote sits below Studio Stock in price and finish. Studio Stock putters are milled from a single block of carbon steel with more hand work and a higher-end finish. The Antidote SB5 still gives you Bettinardi's soft face feel and a stable mallet shape, just without the top-tier detailing and cost.

Is the SB5 a good putter for high handicappers?

It's a reasonable choice if your stroke is fairly straight and you want help with alignment and forgiveness. The mallet shape and face-balanced weighting hold the line on mishits better than a blade. Golfers with a heavy arc may want to look at a toe-hang option instead.

How does the SB5 feel at impact?

Soft and muted, thanks to Bettinardi's face milling. It gives you enough feedback to judge speed on longer putts without feeling harsh on short ones. It feels more premium than most mallets in its price range.

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