50 Words or Less
The 2022 Bettinardi BB46 has a premium feel and updated look. Improved materials, deeper face milling. Made in America by one of golf’s most well-established putter makers.
Introduction
Proudly American-made, Bettinardi is one of the most recognizable and reputable names in the world of premium putters. The company chooses to focus more on improving its standing among putter aficionados with high quality craftsmanship and R&D than with a large stable of tour pros. Adherents to the brand know what to expect. The BB46 is the latest iteration of the brand’s mid-mallet from its BB series of putters.
Find our review of the Bettinardi 2022 INOVAI 8.0 HERE
Looks
Compared to the previous iteration of this putter [review HERE], the BB46 has taken a huge leap forward in terms of looks. This year’s iteration has a new PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) finishing technology, which shows off the intricate milling work and lets the craftsmanship of the putter shine. It is also made of a single piece of 303 Stainless steel. Together, it’s a handsome combination.
In terms of the shape of the putter head, it’s a little deeper and more rounded than previous versions. The topline and bumpers also have gently rounded edges.
I do have two small aesthetic complaints. The first is that the finish smudges very easily, as you can see in the photos. This won’t impact performance, but I don’t want to spend time wiping down my putter in order to keep it distraction-free.
My second issue is that the stock headcover, while very nice in terms of the material, stitching, and design, is clearly the same as the blade headcover. Consequently you really have to work hard to get the BB46 in and out of it. If I were to game this putter I’d have to find a better fitting headcover in order to minimize my frustration.
Sound & Feel
The Aggressive Fly Mill face milling is noticeably deeper than it has been in the past, and this comes through at impact. With a premium ball, the feel off the face is soft but nowhere near mushy. The sound of impact is a lower register ‘tock’. Overall, striking a putt produces a very pleasing sensory experience.
In terms of forgiveness, I was impressed. The sound isn’t quite as sweet, but I practiced hitting putts further off the heel and toe than you’d ever want to do on the golf course and was surprised by the consistency of results in terms of line, if not speed control.
Performance
The ball rolls off the face beautifully. Nearly face-balanced, it feels almost effortless to take the putter straight back and through. With a 350 gram head (each putter in the 2022 BB series carries the same weight) it feels easy to control but not cumbersome in any way.
In terms of forgiveness, the feel is diminished on off-center hits, but performance isn’t punished as much as you might expect it to be. For me, this doesn’t feel like a putter where you need laser precision in terms of strike location to get the most out of it.
For the past few years I have been putting almost exclusively with slant neck mallets. However, this style of putter has piqued my curiosity, specifically the single bend shaft and shorter length front to back. My initial comfort level with this putter and the consistent results have me thinking maybe this style is actually a better fit for my stroke.
Conclusion
For me, the BB46 represents a beautiful middle ground between an Anser-style blade putter and a mega-modern jumbo-sized mallet. This year’s version is visually stunning and has the performance characteristics to match. If you’re in the market for a putter in 2022 and are interested in exploring mid-mallets, the BB46 should be on your list.
Visit Bettinardi HERE
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