Sub 70 Sycamore 004 Mallet Putter

Mallet Putter

Most mallets are built for straight-back-straight-through strokes. The Sub 70 Sycamore 004 breaks that rule on purpose. It pairs a mallet body with mid toe hang, which means you get the stability and head weight of a larger shape without giving up the arc most golfers naturally putt with. If you've been told you're a blade player because your stroke has some rotation, but you like the look and forgiveness of a mallet, this is the club that ends that argument.

Sub 70 sells direct from Sycamore, Illinois, which is where the putter line gets its name. No retail markup, no tour pro endorsement fees baked into the price. What you're paying for is the milled head and the fitting options, and that's it. The 004 came out in 2021 as part of a Sycamore lineup that quietly earned a following among golfers who found out a small Illinois company was making putters that hang with the big names.

One thing to know up front: there's no alignment aid on this head. That's not an oversight. Plenty of good putters aim better with a clean topline than with lines and dots telling them where to look. If you're one of them, the 004 will feel like a relief. If you rely on alignment features to square the face, keep reading, because the whoItsFor section matters here.

Design

The head is a compact mallet with clean, simple shaping. Nothing on the crown competes for your attention at address, just the shape of the putter itself framing the ball. Sub 70 mills their Sycamore putters rather than casting them, and the feel reflects that. Contact is soft but with enough feedback that you know when you've caught one off-center. The mid toe hang is the defining spec. Face-balanced mallets resist rotation, which fights an arced stroke. This one releases through impact the way a blade does, so the face rotates open and closed naturally instead of feeling locked. In practice, that makes the 004 a mallet for blade players. You get more forgiveness on mishits than a thin Anser-style head offers, and your stroke doesn't have to change to get it.

Who It's For

• Players with a slight to moderate arc in their stroke who want mallet forgiveness without switching to a face-balanced head.
• Anyone who aims better with a clean, distraction-free crown and finds alignment lines more confusing than helpful.
• Value-focused golfers who want a milled putter at a direct-to-consumer price instead of paying big-brand retail.

Technology

About Sub 70

Sub 70 brings a distinctive approach to putter design, focusing on quality materials, precision manufacturing, and performance-driven engineering.

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sub 70 Sycamore 004 good for an arced putting stroke?

Yes, and that's the whole point of the design. The mid toe hang lets the face rotate naturally through the stroke, which suits players with a slight to moderate arc. Most mallets are face-balanced and fight that rotation. The 004 works with it.

Does the Sycamore 004 have an alignment line?

No. The crown is clean, with no line or dot. Some golfers aim better this way, using the shape of the head and the topline to frame the ball. If you depend on an alignment aid to square the face, another model in the Sycamore line may fit you better.

Is the Sub 70 Sycamore 004 milled or cast?

Sub 70's Sycamore putters are milled, and it shows in the feel. Contact is soft with enough feedback to tell center strikes from mishits, which is what you want from a putter at this level.

Who is Sub 70 and can I trust a putter from them?

Sub 70 is a direct-to-consumer golf company based in Sycamore, Illinois, which is where the putter line gets its name. They skip retail distribution and sell straight to golfers, so the price stays lower than comparable milled putters from the big brands. The build quality has earned them a loyal following since the late 2010s.

Should I choose the Sycamore 004 or a face-balanced mallet?

It comes down to your stroke. If your putter face rotates open and closed as you swing, the 004's mid toe hang will feel natural. If your stroke is straight back and straight through with minimal rotation, a face-balanced mallet will be easier to control. A quick stroke analysis at a fitting, or even balancing the shaft on your finger to watch how the face sits, will tell you which camp you're in.

Alternatives to the Sub 70 Sycamore 004 Mallet

Other mallet putter models from different brands, closest to its model year.

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