About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the putter, which I tested for one day in March of 2023.

My take

The Cleveland HB Soft Milled #1 Putter is a tremendous putter with a great feel and consistency. This putter would be ideal for that golfer looking to take that next step in their game, whether breaking 90 or winning their club championship.

About the club I tested

• Model: 2023 Cleveland HB #1 Soft Milled Putter
• Shape: Blade
• Hosel Neck: Plumber
• Balance Point: 12 inches
• Shaft Length: 35 inches
• Grip Type: Regular
• Finish: Silver

About me

• Average Score: 79
• Handicap: 7
• Experience: 22 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-Handed
• Stroke Type: Straight back and through, traditional grip
• Golf Ball Used: 2022 Titleist Practice Ball
• Height: 5’10’’

Test conditions

• When I tested the putter: March 2023
• Days tested: 1
• Where I’ve used it: Indoor and outdoor practice greens
• Weather and Wind Conditions: Outside - damp
• Green Speed: Medium
• Grass Type: Bent grass, Turf

How it performs

What I was looking for

I prefer mallet putters over any other type of putter, though I wanted to give the HB #1 a try for a few reasons. One, it is very aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Second, I am a feel putter and wanted a club with a soft face that would allow me to feel the putt through contact more consistently.

Why I chose to test this club

This putter is top of the line from its appearance down to its performance. The soft feel in the face paired with its balance allows the ball to roll pure off the face with consistency. Putting is all about feel, and this putter checks all the boxes for me.

What I love about it

• Face Feel: The Speed Optimized Face Technology has a balancing feature that really allows me to feel the club striking the ball—which is exactly what I want in a putter. The milled face design is a soft metal that is one of the softest in the market. “Feel” putters over mechanical putters are going to enjoy what this putter has to offer.
• Forgiveness: Even when a putt isn’t stuck perfectly, it still rolls pure and finds itself rolling out close to those hit in the center of the face. This is in large part due to the cross grooves in the face allowing consistent rollout each time.
• Weight: The base head weight is 355g, which is ideal for allowing me to bring the putter back and through straight more often than not.
• Alignment: This club features sharp alignment, with a silver finish and a white line going back through the head of the putter. It creates a simple visual that allows for confidence to be had stepping over each putt.
• Length: Being 5’10”, I prefer a 35-inch putter, which allows me to swing my arms back and through easily.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Amazing. Pulling this out of the bag is a nice feeling. The steel shaft down to the silver blade really makes the putter stand out.
• Grip Feel: The grip feel was solid. It has a pistol oversized grip which is comfortable regardless of hand placement
• Balance: The putter has a higher MOI (Moment of Inertia) that creates an even balanced stroke regardless if it's within 10 feet or over 20+ feet.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Customization: The only downfall for me is that I am not used to a blade putter, and it was visually hard for me to get over that.
• Adjustability: There are also no weight adjustable features to this putter. Some of the other putters on the market (Mizuno M.Craft Series, Odyssey Triple Track Wide) have weights that can be added or subtracted to find that ideal weight for each person.

Best Putt or Round with this Putter

I demoed this putter on two different occasions to gain a feel for how it would perform. Consistency was the name of the game. I made five five-footers in a row and seven out of eight 10-footers. I will take those numbers all day for a guy who doesn’t play as much as he used to.

Value for the money vs. other options

The HB Soft Milled #1 is one of the better values on the market. I tried the Odyssey DFX series and the Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft series, which both are less expensive options. While these two putters are more budget-friendly, making the jump in price for the Soft Milled #1 is well worth it based on its feel and overall consistency.

Final verdict

Overall this putter unlocks potential. The potential to make more long putts and be even more consistent knocking down those 5–10 foot pressure putts without breaking a sweat.