Key takeaways
- The SK1 and the Black Mallet share the same Reverse Face Balanced® design, so both heads rest face-down and resist twisting on off-center putts.
- Price, fitting options and lead time are identical: both start at $549 Stock, $799 Custom, $999 Premium and $1,999 Bespoke, and every build ships in 10-15 days.
- The clearest difference shows from behind: the Black Mallet has a solid back with a long white line behind the shaft, and the SK1 has an open back between two wings.
- The SK1 is the more compact head, with a short sight line and three round ports on the heel side.
- The published robot figures were measured on the Black Mallet, and Plugged In Golf measured the SK1 on its own launch monitor.
- Choose by what you want to see behind the ball: the Black Mallet has the longer alignment line, and the SK1 has the more compact look.
This Incred putter review compares the two most popular heads in the Incred RFB line, the SK1 and the Black Mallet. Both use Reverse Face Balanced® technology and offer the same fitting options. Their head shapes and alignment markings differ. The Black Mallet is a large head with a long line behind the shaft. The SK1 is a compact, squarer head with a short sight line.
This guide compares the two side by side: what they share, how the heads differ, what the testing and the reviews say about each, and how to choose.
SK1 vs Black Mallet at a glance
| RFB SK1 | RFB Black Mallet | |
|---|---|---|
| Head shape | Square front bar with two rear wings forming an open U | Wide mallet with a stepped, chamfered back |
| Alignment aid (as pictured) | Short sight line on the top edge | Short mark above the face, longer line behind the shaft |
| From behind | Open back between the two wings; three round ports on the heel side | Solid back with an INCRED nameplate; round ports at the rear corners and slotted pockets on the sides |
| Balance | Reverse Face Balanced®: rests face-down | Reverse Face Balanced®: rests face-down |
| Face | Black PVD steel, or copper from Custom up | Black PVD steel, or copper from Custom up |
| Styles | Regular, counterbalanced, armlock, broomstick | Regular, counterbalanced, armlock, broomstick |
| Price (regular build) | $549 Stock · $799 Custom · $999 Premium · $1,999 Bespoke | $549 Stock · $799 Custom · $999 Premium · $1,999 Bespoke |
| Armlock or broomstick | +$200 at Custom, Premium and Bespoke | +$200 at Custom, Premium and Bespoke |
| Ships | 10-15 days | 10-15 days |
What the SK1 and Black Mallet share
Both putters use Reverse Face Balanced® (RFB®). Most of the head's weight sits in front of the shaft, so when you lay the putter on a table the face rests down. That forward weight resists the twisting that happens when you strike the ball toward the heel or toe. Incred holds a granted U.S. patent on the design. The technology page walks through the physics.
Everything you choose in the configurator is the same for both heads:
- Length: 31" to 38" on a regular build, up to 50" on a broomstick.
- Lie angle: 67° to 73°, 76° or 79°.
- Head weight: 350g to 420g on regular and counterbalanced builds, 450g to 560g on armlock and broomstick builds.
- Shaft, grip and face material, with more shafts at Premium and Bespoke.
- Loft is set at the standard 3° on every putter.
The Stock version of each is already built as a regular putter: black PVD steel face, 33", 34" or 35", and a lie of 68° to 72°. Left-handed putters are built at the Bespoke level.
How the SK1 and Black Mallet heads differ
From the front, both heads show a wide, flat face. The real difference shows from behind.
The Black Mallet is the larger head. Its flat top runs well back from the face and steps in toward a chamfered rear edge. The pictured Black Mallet has a short white mark above the face and a longer white line behind the raised block where the shaft enters. Bespoke builds offer other sight-line options. From behind, the back is solid, with an INCRED nameplate, a round port at each rear corner and slotted pockets along the sides. It is Incred's flagship and the putter most Incred golfers order.
The SK1 is a squarer, more compact head. A solid front bar carries the face, and two wings run back from it to form an open U, with the shaft entering through an angled neck in the gap. A short sight line marks the center of the top edge. From behind, the SK1 is open: the round neck sits in the gap between the wings, and three round ports sit on the outer side of the heel wing.
At address, the Black Mallet fills more of your view and shows a longer line. The SK1 shows you mostly the front bar and a short line, which looks closer to a compact mallet.
What the robot testing shows
Incred paid for robot testing on a gravity-driven rig at a controlled 8 mph, with Quintic Ball Roll analysis on center, heel and toe strikes. The headline figures were measured on the Black Mallet: 0.13° of face twist on heel mishits against a field average of 0.52°, with 99% of ball speed kept. The SK1 was in the same test. The full results are on the most forgiving putter page.
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.
The SK1 also has an outside measurement. Matt Saternus of Plugged In Golf tested it on his own launch monitor against the putters he has reviewed before:
"With regard to ball speed consistency, the RFB SK1 was on par with the best mallets in the game."
He also reported some of the strongest topspin-at-launch numbers he has measured.
He also wrote: "I didn't feel a good sense of connection with the putter, and that led to very poor distance control." Incred's guidance is three to five putts before the stroke feels natural, because the head squares itself and the hands have less to do. Adjustment time varies, and distance control can take longer.
What SK1 and Black Mallet owners say
Gregory Sauceda, a golfer of 30 years, moved to a copper-face SK1 from a Scotty Cameron and had also putted with a LAB Golf OZ.1i:
"Shorter putts feel like they are on rails. 3ft-5ft putts align amazingly well without any effort."
"There is no more leaving my putts short with the SK1."
Boone Gartman, a Black Mallet owner:
"The RFB Black Mallet has taken over my TaylorMade Spider's spot in the bag."
He found it more forgiving and said he now holes more long putts. More owner reviews are on the reviews page.
Which one suits you
Choose the Black Mallet if you like a large head behind the ball and a long alignment line. It is the head most Incred golfers pick, and the one the robot figures were measured on.
Choose the SK1 if you prefer a squarer, more compact look with a short sight line. It suits golfers who prefer less head behind the ball.
Both are built to the same fitting options and the same price, so the choice comes down to which shape you trust over the ball.
If you are still choosing between a mallet and a blade, read mallet vs blade putter. If you want a recommendation from your own answers, the 2-minute putter quiz will suggest a model.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SK1 or the Black Mallet more forgiving?
Both use the same Reverse Face Balanced® design, which puts most of the head's weight in front of the shaft so the face resists twisting on heel and toe strikes. The published robot figures, 0.13° of face twist on heel mishits with 99% of ball speed kept, were measured on the Black Mallet. Plugged In Golf measured the SK1's ball speed consistency as on par with the best mallets it has tested. Choose by the head shape you prefer to look at.
Is the SK1 a mallet or a blade?
The SK1 is a compact mallet. A solid front bar carries the face and two wings run back from it in an open U, so it looks smaller and squarer than the Black Mallet at address. Like every RFB putter, it rests face-down when you lay it on a table, which is the opposite of a traditional blade's toe hang.
Can I get the SK1 or Black Mallet left-handed?
Both putters come left-handed. Incred builds left-handed SK1 and Black Mallet putters at the Bespoke level, $1,999. The Stock, Custom and Premium levels are right-hand only. The configurator shows the left-hand option once you select Bespoke.
Is there a ready-built version of either putter?
Both putters have a ready-built version. Each comes as a regular $549 Stock putter with a black PVD steel face, in 33", 34" or 35" and a lie of 68° to 72°. Every other option on the Stock version is preset. For a copper face or your own choice of head weight, shaft and grip, choose Custom at $799 or above.
Do both putters come in counterbalanced, armlock and broomstick styles?
Both heads come in regular, counterbalanced, armlock and broomstick builds. Armlock and broomstick heads are heavier, 450g to 560g, and those builds add $200 at the Custom, Premium and Bespoke levels. A broomstick build runs from 40" to 50".
How long does it take to get used to an SK1 or Black Mallet?
Incred's guidance is three to five putts. A face-down balanced head squares itself through impact, so the hands have less to do than with a traditional putter. Adjustment time varies: Plugged In Golf's reviewer found distance control the hardest part, while SK1 owner Gregory Sauceda said he felt at home after a few putts.
Build your SK1 or Black Mallet
Pick the head, then choose your length, lie, weight, shaft, grip and face in the configurator.