About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the golf club, which I tested for two days in November of 2022.

My take

The Taylormade TP HydroBlast Bandon 3 has a soft face that allows for consistency within 10 feet. It is for the more advanced golfer with a higher budget.

About the club I tested

• Model: 2021 Taylormade TP HydroBlast Bandon 3
• Shape: Mallett
• Hosel Neck: Plumber
• Balance Point: 12in
• Shaft Length: 35in
• Grip Type: Standard
• Finish: Silver

About me

• Average Score: 79
• Handicap: 7
• Experience: 22 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Left-handed
• Stroke Type: Straight back and straight through
• Golf Ball Used: 2021 Callaway ERC Soft
• Height: 5’10’’

Test conditions

• When I tested the putter: November 2022
• Days tested: 2
• Where I’ve used it: Turf and outdoor practice greens
• Weather and Wind Conditions: Warm, sunny, slightly damp
• Green Speed: Slow to medium
• Grass Type: Bent grass

How it performs

What I was looking for

I prefer mallet putters over any other type of putter, so I wanted to give the Taylormade TP HyrdoBlast a try just because it is one of the more popular styles on the PGA Tour. I like that it’s aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Second, I am a feel putter, so I wanted something with a soft face that would allow me to feel the putt through contact more consistently.

Why I chose to test this club

I tested this club because I currently play an Odyssey mallet putter and wanted to see how it compared. I’ve seen this putter style quite a bit on television and wanted to see if it would be a good fit.

What I love about it

• Face Feel: The face technology has a balancing feature that really allows me to feel the club striking the ball, which gives me more confidence to make more putts.
• Forgiveness: Even when the putt isn’t stuck perfectly, it still rolls pure and allows shorter putts to hold their line and farther putts to lag their way close to the hole.
• Alignment: The club boasts sharp alignment with its double lines on the side and dotted line down the middle of the club head when viewed from above.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Pulling this out of the bag is a nice feeling. The steel shaft down to the silver mallet head really makes the putter stand out.
• Grip Feel: The grip feel was solid. It has a pistol grip that is stock and is comfortable regardless of hand placement. I wouldn’t change this grip personally as it has a relaxing feel to it.
• Other: The overall balance on this putter was consistent. I felt that when I went back and through on my putts it allowed me to make consistent contact on the center of the face, which allowed me to make those 5–7 foot putts.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Weight: The weight was lighter than I would have liked, as it weighs 355g versus what I am used to at 365g. This caused me to bring back my putter crooked on a few occasions.
• Customization: I would have liked to see how a 34-inch putter would have performed, as I fluctuate between that and 35 inches as being my preferred length of putter. I wasn’t able to test a 34 inch, as they did not have any in stock.

Best Putt or Round with this Putter

During my testing session, I was averaging around a 90% make rate 5–7 feet away from the hole and 80% from 10 feet. I would say the softness and feel within the face of the club allowed me to feel the ball off the face and ultimately become more comfortable and confident standing over each putt.

Value for the money vs. other options

I think this is worth the money. I tried cheaper options—both the DFX Seven and the DFX 2 Ball putters by Odyssey—and they weren’t as forgiving and the face didn’t have the same feel. I think for a serious golfer spending the extra money, this club is well worth it.

Final verdict

I believe this putter will create more confidence in people’s game on the greens to lag those long putts close and make more putts within that knee knocker range of five to 10 feet.