Cleveland HB SOFT Milled 1 Putter Review

The Cleveland HB SOFT Milled 1 Putter is an Anser-style blade with a milled face designed to keep your speed consistent wherever you hit it. I played seven rounds with the UST ALL-IN shaft version and practiced with it on my backyard putting green. Distance control was the standout, and my playing partners kept commenting on my speed control.

Cleveland has made milled putters for a while now, and the HB SOFT Milled line adds a face technology and a premium shaft option to a classic shape. This is the version I tested.

Face milling and distance control

It looks like another Anser-style putter, but the face milling does what Cleveland says. SOFT stands for Speed Optimized Face Technology, and the milling is different across the face. Dead-center hits keep their speed under control, while off-center hits get a little extra speed, so every putt travels about the same distance.

That’s what I saw on the course. Putts rolled the same distance with contact just about anywhere on the face, and my playing partners noticed my speed control round after round. I give the face the credit, because that kind of consistency didn’t happen by accident.

Looks and head shape

The HB SOFT Milled 1 has a traditional Anser look. The lines, milling and shaping are all excellent, and the putter looks as refined as I’d expect from a high-end model.

If you want a higher-MOI head (one that twists less on off-center hits), prefer a different head shape or have a different stroke, Cleveland offers other models in the line. You can fit the putter to your stroke by head shape and stroke type.

The UST ALL-IN shaft

My putter had UST’s ALL-IN shaft. It’s a two-piece, two-material putter shaft, a style that’s catching on, and UST designed it to control weight, decrease torque and improve feel. Less torque means the shaft twists less during the stroke.

I think the ALL-IN also helped my distance control. More putts than normal stopped near the hole with the combination of face milling and shaft. If you don’t want the UST shaft, you can order the putter with a regular steel shaft and save the upgrade cost.

Grip and headcover

The putter is finished with a Golf Pride PRO ONLY Red Star Pistol grip. It’s large but not oversize, and it feels good in the hands. The headcover is nicely stitched and uses magnets to stay on the head.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you want a milled Anser-style putter with excellent speed control. The Cleveland HB SOFT Milled 1 Putter gave me consistent distance from almost anywhere on the face, and I think the ALL-IN shaft helped too. In my view it has the features of a high-end putter at around half the price or less.

Skip it if you want a higher-MOI head or a different head shape, because other Cleveland models cover those and different strokes. Our best putters guide lists more options.