Ram FX-02 CNC Milled Mallet Putter Review: a no-nonsense mallet that feels more premium than its price

I’ve been rolling the Ram FX-02 CNC Milled Mallet Putter (35”, right hand) for a few rounds now, plus a bunch of practice on the putting green and a cheap indoor mat at home. I bought it because I wanted a mallet with a milled face without dropping big-brand money. I wasn’t expecting much from a lesser-known brand, especially one made in China, but I was curious to see if it could hang with my usual mid-range putter.

Out of the box, it looks like a serious club, not a toy. The head has that classic mallet shape, face-balanced, with a black finish that’s actually pretty practical in bright sun. I’ve been using it in mixed weather: overcast, bright sun, and a bit of drizzle. No rust, no weird marks so far. I’m not babying it either – it’s been tossed in the bag with the rest of my irons, and I only use the headcover maybe half the time.

The first thing that stood out was the weight. At 350g, it’s not a sledgehammer, but it’s definitely on the heavier side compared to older blade-style putters I’ve owned. On short putts inside 6 feet, that weight helps keep the stroke steady. On very long putts, it took me a couple of rounds to dial in the distance, but once I got used to it, the roll was consistent. The face milling doesn’t feel like a gimmick – the ball comes off with a pretty predictable speed.

Overall, my first impression was: this feels like more club than the price suggests, but it’s not perfect. There are a couple of weak spots, mainly the grip and the fact that it’s not adjustable in any way. Still, for a casual golfer or someone looking to move from a basic blade to a mallet, it’s a pretty solid option that does the job without trying to be fancy.

For me, the main selling point of the Ram FX-02 is value. You’re getting a CNC-milled stainless mallet with a decent finish at a price that’s well below the big-name brands. If you compare it to entry-level putters from boxed starter sets, this is definitely a step up in feel and consistency. If you compare it to high-end Odyssey, TaylorMade, or Scotty Cameron models, of course it’s not at that level, but the price difference is huge, and for many casual golfers the performance gap won’t justify spending two or three times more.

In real use, the putter gives you stable performance, a good roll, and a clean look at address. That’s most of what matters in a putter. Yes, the grip is a bit cheap, and there’s no adjustability, but those are compromises I can live with at this price. A grip swap for a few extra euros/pounds/dollars basically fixes the main complaint, and you’re still way under the cost of a premium tour-style putter. The fact that it comes with a headcover is also a small plus, because plenty of budget putters don’t.

The Amazon rating of 4.8/5 from early buyers lines up with my experience: people like the weight and stability, and the only recurring negative is the grip quality. That’s consistent with what I’ve seen and felt. For someone building a bag on a budget or upgrading from a very basic putter, this Ram FX-02 hits a sweet spot: good performance for the cash, with obvious but manageable compromises. If you’re a gear nerd chasing the latest tech, you’ll probably want something fancier. But if you just want a reliable mallet that rolls the ball straight without emptying your wallet, the value here is pretty strong.

To sum it up: great value if you’re realistic about what you’re buying. It’s not a tour icon, but it’s a solid, honest putter that punches above its price bracket in the areas that matter – head quality, roll, and stability – while cutting corners mainly on the grip and accessories.

Design-wise, the FX-02 is for people who like a traditional mallet shape. No crazy spaceship wings, no giant holes, no neon colors. It’s a rounded mallet with a fairly wide footprint, which gives you a decent amount of visual confidence when you stand over the ball. At address, the black head with white alignment line creates a clear contrast with a white ball. I’m not fussy about looks, but I do care about how easy it is to line up putts, and this one is simple and effective.

The premium black finish is more than just cosmetic. On bright days, it really does cut down glare compared to my older silver putter. You don’t get that mirror reflection in your eyes, which sounds minor, but over 18 holes it’s nice not to be distracted. After several rounds, the finish is holding up well: no major chips or scratches, just tiny wear on the sole from normal use. If you slam it into other clubs or drop it on concrete, obviously it will mark, but treated reasonably it looks like it will stay decent for a while.

The putter is face-balanced, which you can see if you balance it on your finger – the face points straight up. That’s good for a straight stroke, less so if you naturally open and close the face a lot. The head shape also feels stable through impact. On mishits towards the toe or heel, there is some feedback in the hands, but the head doesn’t twist wildly. I’ve had cheaper mallets where a slight mishit would send the ball way off line; this one is more forgiving than that. Not magic, but clearly better than entry-level box-set putters.

One thing that’s pretty basic is the branding and aesthetics. The Ram logo and markings are plain, almost generic. If you like clubs that look expensive or flashy, this isn’t going to impress you. Personally, I don’t care about that on a putter; I care more about alignment and feel, and in those areas the design is practical and user-friendly. In short: simple look, functional layout, and a finish that actually helps in real conditions.

Comfort with a putter is mostly about weight, balance, and grip feel. This Ram FX-02 sits in that medium-heavy range with its 350g head, and you really notice that when you first pick it up. Compared to my older, lighter blade, the stroke feels more deliberate and slower, in a good way. On short putts, that extra head weight helped me keep the putter on line and reduced my tendency to jab at the ball. After about one round, the weight felt natural.

The face-balanced design also plays into comfort. If your putting stroke is fairly straight back and through, the putter almost wants to stay square for you. I have a slight arc, so at first I felt like I was fighting it a bit, but after a couple of practice sessions I adapted. On long putts, the weight and balance give a smooth pendulum feel – you don’t have to force the stroke. If you’re used to super-light putters, you might find it a bit tiring at first, but most average golfers will probably like the stability.

The main weak point for comfort is the stock grip. It’s standard diameter and reasonably shaped, but the rubber just feels a bit basic and not very cushioned. If you have larger hands or you like the thick, oversized putter grips that are popular now, this one will feel small and a bit harsh. I don’t have huge hands, but I still found myself gripping a bit tighter than I’d like, especially on bumpy greens. That’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s something you notice after a few rounds. Again, a grip change would easily fix this.

In day-to-day use, walking 18 holes with it in the bag, the putter doesn’t feel awkward or out of place. The 35” length is pretty standard and worked fine for me at 5'10”. If you’re much taller or shorter, you might want a different length, but that’s true for any stock putter. Overall, comfort is solid once you get used to the weight, with the only real downside being a grip that doesn’t feel as nice as the rest of the club.

On paper, the materials are straightforward: stainless steel head, alloy steel shaft, standard rubber grip. Nothing exotic, no carbon inserts or fancy face inserts. The selling point here is the CNC-milled face, which basically means they’ve used a machine to cut the face precisely instead of just casting it and polishing. In the hand, the face milling is visible and you can feel it with your fingers – light grooves that are consistent across the surface.

The stainless head feels solid. It doesn’t ring or sound hollow on impact like some cheaper cast putters. The sound at impact is a dull “tock” rather than a high-pitched click, especially with softer balls. That sound and feel combo gives you decent feedback on whether you struck the center or not. I’ve used it in slightly wet conditions and wiped it down after, and there’s no sign of rust or staining so far, which is what you’d expect from stainless but still worth mentioning.

The alloy steel shaft is standard fare. No visible flaws, no weird flex. For a putter, I’m not super picky on shaft materials as long as it’s straight and doesn’t feel flimsy. This one feels stable, even on longer lag putts where you put a bit more motion into the stroke. What stands out more is the grip. It’s a standard-size rubber grip that feels on the cheaper side. The texture is okay, but it doesn’t have that tacky, cushioned feel you get on higher-end grips. After a few sweaty rounds, it’s still usable, but if I keep this putter long-term, I’ll probably swap it for a mid-size or a softer grip.

So in terms of materials, the head and shaft feel solid and trustworthy, while the grip is clearly where they saved a bit of cost. For the price bracket, I think that’s a fair trade-off. You’re getting a properly milled stainless head, which is the important part, and if you care about the grip, it’s relatively cheap to replace with something you really like.

Durability is always a question mark with lower-priced clubs, but so far the FX-02 has held up better than I expected. The stainless steel head still looks good after being in and out of the bag, dropped a couple of times on the practice green, and used in light rain. The black finish on the top line and back is intact; the only noticeable wear is on the sole where it naturally scrapes the ground. That’s normal and not something that bothers me.

The shaft hasn’t shown any signs of bending or corrosion. I’ve wiped it down after wet rounds, but I’m not obsessive about it. For a putter, the shaft usually isn’t the failure point unless it’s really cheap, and this one feels perfectly fine. No rattles, no looseness where it connects to the head. The connection point looks clean, with no visible glue overflow or gaps, which is reassuring.

The weak link long-term will probably be the grip and the headcover. The stock grip, as mentioned, feels on the cheaper side. After some rounds, it’s already lost a bit of its initial tackiness, and I can see it getting shiny and slick over a season if you play a lot. The good news is that a grip replacement is cheap and easy. The included headcover is decent enough, padded and matching the putter, but the stitching and material feel like they’re built to a price. Mine is still fine, but I wouldn’t be shocked if it started to fray with heavy use.

One positive detail is the 1-year manufacturer warranty, which at least gives a bit of peace of mind if there’s a defect. Overall, for a budget-friendly putter, the durability feels solid. The head and shaft should last several seasons without drama if you treat them normally. You’ll probably end up changing the grip before anything else, but that’s true of most clubs. So I’d say structurally it feels reliable, with the cosmetic bits (grip, cover, sole finish) being the only parts that might age faster.

Performance-wise, I’ve used the FX-02 on three full rounds plus a couple of long practice sessions on a putting green. The CNC-milled face does what it’s supposed to: the ball comes off the face with a consistent roll, and there’s no weird bouncing unless the greens are rough. On decent greens, the first roll starts pretty quickly, which gives you good control over distance once you’re used to it. Compared to my older cast-face putter, I noticed fewer “hot” or “dead” spots across the face.

In terms of forgiveness, this mallet is clearly more stable than any basic blade I’ve owned. On slight mishits toward the toe or heel, the putter still keeps the ball fairly close to the intended line. You do lose a bit of distance on obvious mishits, but it’s not drastic – you end up with a makeable second putt instead of leaving it way short. The face-balanced design also helps keep the club from twisting. For someone who struggles with pushing or pulling short putts, this extra stability can give some confidence.

For distance control, the 350g head weight is a plus once you dial it in. On long putts (30+ feet), I was able to get the ball into a good two-putt range most of the time. First round I left a few putts short because I was still adjusting to the heavier head, but by the second round I was pretty much in my usual comfort zone. I wouldn’t say it magically makes you a better putter, but it gives you a predictable response, which is what you want. The sound and feel on center strikes are clear enough that you can tell when you’ve hit it well.

One thing to be clear about: this is not some high-tech tour-level weapon. There are better putters out there if you’re ready to spend double or triple. You won’t get adjustable weights, face inserts, or super-fancy alignment systems. But for the price, it performs solidly: good roll, decent forgiveness, and stable distance control. If your putting is average and you want a steady mallet that doesn’t fight you, it does the job very well for the money.

When you order this Ram FX-02, you’re getting a pretty straightforward setup: one 35-inch mallet putter, right-handed only, regular flex steel shaft, standard grip, and a black head with a matching headcover. That’s it. No weights to swap, no fancy tool kit, no alignment gadgets in the box. If you like simple gear that just goes straight in the bag, that’s fine. If you’re into tweaking lie angles and swapping grips out of the box, you’ll probably end up modding it.

The head is 350g with 3° of loft and a 72° lie, which is basically in the normal range for a mallet putter aimed at average golfers. It’s face-balanced, so it’s better suited if your stroke is more straight-back-straight-through than a big arc. I have a slight arc and it still worked, but I can feel it wants to stay square. The shaft is alloy steel, nothing fancy, no visible defects or weird bends. Finish on the shaft is standard chrome, which is what you’d expect at this price.

The brand itself, Ram, isn’t exactly the one you see all over tour coverage, but they’ve been around for a while in the value segment. This model has a 4.8/5 rating on Amazon with only a handful of reviews, so it’s not super popular yet, but the feedback is generally positive: people mention the good feel and stability, and one person calls out the grip feeling a bit cheap. After using it, I agree with that comment – the grip is usable, but it’s not the kind of grip that makes you go “nice”.

In practice, the presentation is pretty clear: this is a no-frills, budget-friendly mallet putter that focuses on the basics – milled face, face-balanced head, black anti-glare finish, and a basic cover. If you’re expecting lots of tech talk and adjustability like the big brands, it’s not that. If you just want a solid putter that you can pull out of the box and start using, it gets the job done.