This guide puts four premium mallet putters side by side: the Incred RFB® Black Mallet and SK1, the LAB Golf DF3, the Scotty Cameron Phantom 5 and the Evnroll ER8. Each one is built to fix a different miss. The robot data and each brand's own published specs show which miss each one fixes.
Quick answer
- If your main miss is off the center of the face: the Incred RFB®. In robotic testing that Incred commissioned, Incred putters averaged 0.13° of face twist on half-inch heel mishits. The best-selling field averaged 0.52°, and that field included a Scotty Cameron Phantom 5 and three LAB Golf models. Ball speed stayed at 99% half an inch off center.
- If your face opens and closes during the stroke: the LAB Golf DF3. LAB's Lie Angle Balance is built for that problem, and LAB offers the widest custom lie range of the four.
- If you have a nearly straight stroke and want a classic premium mallet: the Scotty Cameron Phantom 5. Scotty Cameron describes it as built for strokes that are "nearly straight-back, straight-through".
- If you want face technology and loft fitting at a lower price: the Evnroll ER8. It starts at $399, and the custom build lets you choose loft and lie.
If you are unsure which miss you have, take the 2-minute fit quiz and we will recommend a build.
The four mallets side by side
| Incred RFB® Black Mallet / SK1 | LAB Golf DF3 | Scotty Cameron Phantom 5 | Evnroll ER8 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How it handles a mishit | Reverse Face Balanced®: center of gravity in front of the shaft, head rests face-down | Lie Angle Balance: "It stays square by itself" | Compact wingback mallet, minimum toe flow, full-face Studio Carbon Steel insert | SweetFace 2.0 grooves, wider in the center and narrower toward heel and toe |
| In the Incred-commissioned robot test | Yes (RFB Black Mallet, RFB SK1 and other Incred models) | Yes (DF3, OZ.1 and Mezz.1) | Yes (Phantom 5) | No |
| Heel mishit face twist, half inch off center | Incred putters averaged 0.13° | Part of the 0.52° field average | Part of the 0.52° field average | Not tested |
| Stock specs | Stock: 33" to 35", lie 68° to 72°, loft 3° | 33", 34", 35", lie 69°, 3° effective loft | 33", 34", 35", lie 70°, loft 3.5° | 33", 34", 35", lie 70°, loft 2° |
| Custom fitting range | Length 31" to 38", lie 67° to 73°, 76° or 79°, head 350 g to 420 g; loft built to 3° | Length 28" to 38", lie 63° to 79.5° (standard length) | Length 32" to 37" in half inches | Length 30" to 37" in quarter inches, loft −1° to 5°, lie 66° to 75°, head 355 g to 415 g |
| Long builds | Counterbalanced, armlock, broomstick | Counterbalanced, ArmLock, Sweeper | Not listed for Phantom 5 | Not listed for ER8 |
| Left-handed | Bespoke build only ($1,999) | Yes, stock and custom | Phantom 5 is right-hand only; some other Phantom models come left-handed | Yes, stock and custom |
| Price per putter | $549 Stock · $799 Custom · $999 Premium · $1,999 Bespoke | $399 stock · from $499 custom | $549 | $399 stock · $419 to $439 custom |
| Ships | Ships in 10-15 days | Stock 1-2 weeks · custom 3-4 weeks (LAB's estimate) | "Estimated to ship within 3 weeks" (Titleist.com) | Stock 5-7 business days processing · custom up to 14 business days |
Competitor specs, prices and lead times are as listed on each brand's own US store on November 2, 2026. Incred Stock is the RFB SK1 and RFB Black Mallet only, right-hand, regular length. Armlock and broomstick builds add $200 at each Incred level. Robot figures are from testing that Incred commissioned and paid for.
Why these three rivals
We picked three premium brands from our competitor set. Each one stands for a different way to make a mallet forgiving.
- LAB Golf is our closest technical analog, a putter built around its own balance idea. Three LAB models were in our robot test.
- Scotty Cameron is the reference brand in premium putters. The Phantom 5 was in the same test field.
- Evnroll puts its forgiveness in the face grooves. It was not in our test, so its row compares published specs only.
For a wider field across blades, mallets and zero-torque models at every price, read Best Golf Putters 2026. This guide goes deeper on four mallets.
What the robot data shows
Every putter in the test was struck by the same gravity-driven robot at a controlled 8 mph. Strikes landed on the center, the heel and the toe, and Quintic Ball Roll Analysis captured each putt. Incred commissioned and paid for the test, and Blair Philip ran it.
| Reading, half-inch mishits | Incred average | Best-selling field average |
|---|---|---|
| Face twist, heel strike | 0.13° | 0.52° |
| Face twist, toe strike | 0.67° | 0.76° |
| Impact ratio, standard deviation | 0.005 to 0.01 | 0.01 to 0.035 |
| Ball speed retained off center | 99% | Not published as one figure |
| Forward roll | 62 to 66 RPM average | Not published as one figure |
The heel reading shows the biggest gap. On the toe the two are closer, at 0.67° against 0.76°. That is why we lead with heel mishits and report the toe figure beside it.
The test publishes no separate figure for the Phantom 5 or for any single LAB model. Each one sits inside the field average.
Those numbers are the basis for our headline claim: the RFB® is 500% more forgiving. A second, separate dataset backs up the ball speed and roll readings. Matt Saternus of Plugged In Golf measured the RFB SK1 on his own launch monitor. He wrote that its ball speed consistency was "on par with the best mallets in the game". He also reported "some of the best 'top spin at launch' numbers I've seen". His review notes one weakness: he struggled with distance control while learning the new technique. He did not test the 500% figure himself.
Read the full field test on the most forgiving putter page, or the physics on the technology page.
LAB Golf DF3: built for face rotation during the stroke
LAB Golf calls its design Lie Angle Balance. The head is balanced at your lie angle, and LAB says the DF3 "stays square by itself" as it swings. The DF3 is CNC milled from 6061 aluminum, with eight sole screws in steel or tungsten to set swing weight and balance. LAB machines the heads in the USA and assembles them in Creswell, Oregon.
Fitting is where LAB leads this group. The custom DF3 offers lengths from 28" to 38" and lie angles from 63° to 79.5° on a standard-length build, plus counterbalanced, ArmLock and Sweeper builds. Left-handed is available at stock and custom. Stock is $399, and custom starts at $499.
LAB solves what happens between takeaway and impact. Face-down balance solves what happens when the ball meets the face away from the sweet spot. Full detail is on Incred RFB vs LAB Golf.
Scotty Cameron Phantom 5: the classic premium mallet
Scotty Cameron describes the Phantom 5 as a compact modern mallet with minimum toe flow. Its mid single-bend neck suits strokes that are "nearly straight-back, straight-through". It has a full-face Studio Carbon Steel insert, a 3.5° loft and a 70° lie. Titleist.com builds it from 32" to 37" in half-inch steps, for $549.
The Phantom 5 is right-hand only. Scotty Cameron fits the putter to your stroke through the neck, and other Phantom models carry more toe flow for a stronger arc. Some of those come in left-hand. It is a reference putter in its class and belongs on any shortlist.
The Phantom 5 was in the robot field that averaged 0.52° of heel face twist. Incred putters averaged 0.13°. Both start at $549. Full detail is on Incred RFB vs Scotty Cameron.
Evnroll ER8: forgiveness from the face grooves
Evnroll puts its forgiveness in the face. SweetFace grooves are wider in the center and get narrower toward the heel and toe. Evnroll says the grooves allow "both center and off-center hits to travel the same distance" and redirects the ball down the target line. The ER8 is a compact square-back mallet, milled in Carlsbad, California, from 303 stainless steel, with 10° of toe hang.
The ER8 offers the most fitting choices at the lowest price of the four. Stock is $399 in right or left hand. The custom build, at $419 to $439, sets length from 30" to 37", loft from −1° to 5°, lie from 66° to 75° and head weight from 355 g to 415 g. Evnroll states that custom putters cannot be returned or exchanged.
Evnroll was not in our robot test, so we publish no Evnroll figures. The two designs take different routes to the same goal. Evnroll shapes the face, and Reverse Face Balanced® moves the mass in front of the shaft. Full detail is on Incred RFB vs Evnroll.
Where the Incred RFB® fits
Reverse Face Balanced® is the fourth way to balance a putter, after face-balanced, toe hang and toe-up. The center of gravity sits in front of the shaft, so the head rests face-down and resists twisting when you miss the center of the face. The design is protected by a granted U.S. patent.
Each head is machined from raw billet, with 8 to 12 hours of machining and 3 to 4 hours of hand building and balancing. Stock starts at $549 for the RFB SK1 and RFB Black Mallet. Custom, Premium and Bespoke builds are fitted to your length, lie, head weight, shaft, grip and face material, and every build ships in 10-15 days.
Two rows favor the rivals, and we keep them in the table. LAB and Evnroll offer left-hand at their entry price, while Incred builds left-hand at Bespoke only. Evnroll fits loft, while Incred builds every putter to the standard 3°.
Expect three to five putts before the stroke feels natural. Play the ball in the center of your stance, about an inch further back than with a traditional putter. One owner, Gregory Sauceda, moved from a Scotty Cameron to the RFB SK1. He said: "It took me a couple of weeks to feel comfortable about givng up my scotty… But now I'm never looking back."
Start with your miss. If your putts start off line from a good strike, look at a putter matched to your stroke, such as the LAB DF3 or the Phantom 5. If your putts come off the heel or toe and come up short or wide, face-down balance is built for that miss.
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Frequently asked questions
Which mallet putter is the most forgiving on mishits?
In robotic testing that Incred commissioned, Incred putters averaged 0.13 degrees of face twist on half-inch heel mishits. The best-selling field averaged 0.52 degrees, and it included a Scotty Cameron Phantom 5 and three LAB Golf models. Ball speed stayed at 99% half an inch off center. Evnroll was not in the test.
Is LAB Golf or Scotty Cameron better for a mallet?
They fit different strokes. LAB Golf's Lie Angle Balance is built to keep the face square during the stroke. The Scotty Cameron Phantom 5 has minimum toe flow for a nearly straight-back, straight-through stroke. If your bigger problem is striking off the center of the face, a face-down putter is built for that miss.
How does Evnroll compare with Incred?
Evnroll puts its forgiveness in the face, with SweetFace grooves that narrow toward the heel and toe. Incred moves the mass in front of the shaft so the head resists twisting. Evnroll was not in Incred's robot test. Evnroll offers loft fitting and left-hand builds from $399.
Which of these mallets come in left-hand?
LAB Golf DF3 and Evnroll ER8 come in left-hand at stock and custom. The Scotty Cameron Phantom 5 is right-hand only, though some other Phantom models come left-handed. Left-handed Incred putters are built at the Bespoke level, $1,999.
How much do these premium mallet putters cost?
On each brand's US store on November 2, 2026: LAB Golf DF3 $399 stock and from $499 custom; Scotty Cameron Phantom 5 $549; Evnroll ER8 $399 stock and $419 to $439 custom. Incred is $549 Stock, $799 Custom, $999 Premium and $1,999 Bespoke.
Can I get an Incred putter fitted to my length and lie?
Yes, every level above Stock is fitted. On a regular Custom, Premium or Bespoke build you choose length from 31 to 38 inches, lie from 67 to 73 degrees or 76 and 79 degrees, and head weight from 350 to 420 grams. Loft is built to the standard 3 degrees. Every build ships in 10-15 days.
How long does it take to get used to a face-down putter?
Most golfers need three to five putts. Play the ball in the center of your stance, about an inch further back than with a traditional putter, and let the putter swing on the lean of the shaft.
Blair Philip is an independent contractor. Mr. Philip does not endorse these products, is not paid to endorse these products, and is not affiliated with the company or enterprise in any manner. Testing was commissioned and paid for by Incred Golf.