Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft Putter Review: Which Model Fits?

I’ve stood in a golf shop rolling putts with a reasonably priced Cleveland and wondering why I would spend more on the expensive putter beside it.

The Cleveland felt good. Good enough to make me pause and take another look at the price tag. That’s a satisfying moment when you’re shopping for a club: maybe the one you like doesn’t have to be the one that stretches your budget.

Then I looked at the rest of the rack.

Huntington Beach SOFT. HB SOFT 2. A black version that cost more. Several heads looked similar, but the shafts attached in different places. What started as a promising find became a harder decision. Was I comparing different generations? Was the more expensive version meaningfully different? And which of those small details would actually matter once I got it onto a real green?

A few putts in a shop can tell you that a putter deserves a closer look. They don’t answer every question about whether it belongs in your bag.

That experience is why this guide starts with the names and differences that are easy to miss. We’ll sort out the Cleveland Huntington Beach family, explain how the head and neck choices differ, and help you decide what’s worth trying before you spend your money.

How we reviewed the range: The opening reflects Rob’s personal golf-shop experience. The model comparisons use manufacturer specifications, product descriptions and listed prices. We have not conducted a formal head-to-head test or measured strokes gained. Buying advice is our interpretation of the specifications, not a claim of tested performance.

First, Know Which HB SOFT You Are Buying

Huntington Beach SOFT: the earlier family

The original SOFT range already used Speed Optimized Face Technology and head-specific face milling. Those ideas did not begin with HB SOFT 2. Older listings can still be worth checking, but identify the exact model and inspect the face, shaft, grip and any modifications.

HB SOFT 2 is the newer family to compare against. Do not assume an older Model 11 has every specification of the current Model 11, or that a used bargain remains cheaper after a new grip and length adjustment.

Check Huntington Beach SOFT Model 4 on Amazon

Status: Earlier Huntington Beach SOFT family. Linked configuration: Model 4 blade, right-handed, 34-inch. Check the selected model and seller condition before ordering.

HB SOFT Milled: a separate range

HB SOFT Milled is its own product line. Cleveland describes its manufacturing process as casting followed by CNC milling. That is a useful reminder that a putter can have a milled face without its entire head being cut from one solid block.

The name also does not establish that it will feel better to you. Compare the actual head, neck, shaft and grip. We are not treating HB SOFT Milled as another name for HB SOFT 2.

HB SOFT 2 and HB SOFT 2 Black

Standard HB SOFT 2 combines the SOFT face pattern with model-specific hosels, alignment markings and stock grips. The Black version adds a different finish and an ALL-IN shaft. Compare the same head and length when deciding whether that extra cost is worthwhile.

For example, standard Model 1 versus Black Model 1 is a more useful comparison than standard Model 1 versus a Black mallet. Otherwise, you are changing several things at once.

Check HB SOFT 2 Black Model 1 on Amazon

Status: Current manufacturer-listed option. Linked configuration: Black Model 1, right-handed, 35-inch. Confirm the selected hand and length before ordering.

CB and BROOM are further variations with different setups. They should not be treated as ordinary 34- or 35-inch versions of the same model. Try those configurations deliberately rather than buying one because the head number looks familiar.

What the Face Technology Does, and What It Does Not Prove

SOFT stands for Speed Optimized Face Technology. Cleveland varies the groove spacing across the striking area and adjusts the pattern for different heads. Its stated aim is to reduce variation in ball speed when impact moves away from the center.

That is a design claim, not a guarantee that every mishit will finish beside a centered putt. Your strike, delivery, starting line and read still matter. We do not have a controlled test establishing that this range beats an Odyssey, Scotty Cameron or Spider.

Likewise, the word Soft does not mean a soft polymer insert. These HB SOFT 2 models use a milled metal striking face. Take your usual ball to a fitting and compare the sound and response with an insert putter. Neither construction wins on feel for everyone.

Choose the Shape and Neck Together

Cleveland labels the standard models for straight or slight-arc strokes. Use those labels to build a shortlist, then test aim and pace. Our face-balanced vs toe-hang guide and putter hosel guide explain the terms if they are unfamiliar.

Model 1: a traditional blade

Model 1 pairs a plumber’s neck with moderate toe hang and one alignment line. It is the straightforward place to start if you like a compact blade and Cleveland’s slight-arc setup.

Try it alongside your existing putter at short and long distances. A simple alignment line may suit you better than a busy mallet, but that is a preference to test. For alternatives beyond Cleveland, see our putters for an arc stroke guide.

8C versus 8S: similar outlines, different setups

Both use an enlarged blade shape. The 8C is center shafted and face balanced, with three alignment lines. The 8S has a slant neck, moderate toe hang and one line.

Choose between them by comparing the view at address and how you deliver the face. The C is not an upgraded S, and center shafting is not evidence of a remedy for the yips. These are different fitting options.

11, 11C and 11S: the neck changes the choice

The standard Model 11 is a winged mallet with a single-bend shaft and face-balanced design. The 11C places the shaft in the center and is also face balanced. The 11S uses a slant neck and moderate toe hang.

That gives you a useful comparison within a similar head family. Do not order a generic Model 11 listing until you know which neck it contains. The face-balanced versions use three alignment lines; the 11S uses one.

10.5 P and Model 15: two more looks to compare

The 10.5 P gives you a plumber’s-neck option with moderate toe hang. Keep the P in your search: HB SOFT Milled 10.5S and other generations carrying 10.5 are different putters.

Model 15 is an angular full mallet with a single-bend shaft and face-balanced setup. If the outline of the winged 11 is not for you, the 15 gives you another visual option to try. A different outline can change your preference without proving one head more forgiving.

RETREVE: ball pickup is the distinguishing feature

RETREVE combines a face-balanced, single-bend mallet with a head designed to pick up the ball from the ground or hole. If avoiding repeated bending matters to you, try the pickup action as well as the putting stroke.

Convenience is a valid buying reason. It does not establish that RETREVE is the most forgiving model or will improve your scoring more than the 11.

HB SOFT 2 Model Comparison

This chart covers standard HB SOFT 2 configurations. It is a fitting reference, not a ranking, and does not substitute Black, CB or BROOM specifications. RH means right hand; LH means left hand. Listed hand options are manufacturer specifications, not a promise of current inventory.

The stock specification chart lists 34- and 35-inch lengths. Cleveland also notes a 20g counterbalance weight for shafts 35 inches and longer; that is separate from the head weights above. Check the exact build if comparing a modified or used putter.

The chart links open specific right-handed product configurations; the linked length appears below each shopping button. Other hand and length options depend on the listing. Confirm the full model, neck, finish, hand, length and condition before buying.

What We Like, and What to Check Carefully

Reasons to put it on your shortlist

There are useful choices within one family, so you can compare several necks without jumping immediately to a premium price tier. The standard range also lets you compare one-line and three-line alignment systems.

RETREVE offers a practical ball-pickup feature, while the 8C and 11C provide center-shafted choices. Those are concrete differences you can assess in a shop.

Reasons to pause before ordering

Handedness varies by model. In Cleveland’s standard chart, left-handed choices are Model 1, Model 11 and RETREVE. Do not assume every shape comes in both hands.

Customization is not identical across the range either. Cleveland’s custom-build notes exclude loft and lie adjustments for the 8C and 11C. If those adjustments matter to your fit, confirm the options before paying.

Finally, a low price should not overrule what you see and feel. Compare short-putt aim, several longer putts and a few off-center strikes with your usual ball. Our lag-putting guide gives you a practical way to work on pace.

Older Models Still Worth a Look

These alternatives appeared in the earlier version of this review. They remain useful comparisons when the price, condition and configuration suit you. They are not evidence that one brand outperforms another.

Odyssey White Hot OG

White Hot OG gives you an insert-face alternative to Cleveland’s milled metal face. The Seven DB, for example, is a double-bend, face-balanced mallet using the White Hot urethane insert.

Compare its feel with HB SOFT 2 Model 11 if you want similar balance in different head and face designs. We are removing the old blanket claim that White Hot OG feels firmer and costs $100 to $150 more. Exact offers and personal response determine that comparison.

Search Amazon for White Hot OG Seven DB

Status: Earlier Odyssey range, listed in Callaway’s pre-owned catalog. For newer choices, see our best putters for the money guide; its current insert option is a comparison, not an identical White Hot replacement.

Scotty Cameron Special Select Newport 2

The Special Select Newport 2 is an archived generation with a 303 stainless-steel head and plumbing neck. If you find a used one you like, compare it with the HB SOFT 2 Model 1 for aim, feel and total cost.

It should not be confused with the newer Studio Style Newport 2. A premium badge or a solid milled face does not establish a scoring advantage, and this review has no test showing that most amateurs will perform equally with both.

Check Special Select Newport 2 on Amazon

Status: Archived Special Select generation. Linked configuration: Newport 2, right-handed, 35-inch. Our Odyssey vs Scotty Cameron comparison discusses newer Studio Style and Phantom models.

TaylorMade Spider GT

Spider GT offers a different mallet construction and insert response. Its short-slant version has 21° of toe hang, while the single-bend version is face balanced. The family is not limited to one stroke category.

Compare the short-slant GT with HB SOFT 2 11S, or the single-bend GT with Model 11, before deciding which feel and alignment you prefer. We have no measured basis for the old claim that Spider GT is more forgiving and Cleveland is close behind.

Check Spider GT Single Bend (Left-Handed) on Amazon

Status: Older generation. Linked configuration: Spider GT single bend, black, left-handed, 35-inch. This offer is for left-handed golfers; confirm the selected hand, length and seller condition before ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Cleveland Huntington Beach Soft putter good for beginners?

It is worth trying if the price and fit suit you. Beginners can compare the blade Model 1 with the mallet Model 11 to see which is easier to aim and pace. There is no need to select a model solely because of your handicap.

What is the difference between Huntington Beach SOFT and HB SOFT 2?

They are different generations. The earlier SOFT range already used speed-optimized face milling. HB SOFT 2 has its own model lineup and combinations of neck, alignment and grip. Compare exact models rather than assuming every newer version is a direct replacement or a proven performance upgrade.

Is HB SOFT 2 Black worth the extra money?

It may be if you prefer the black satin finish and ALL-IN shaft. Compare the same head and length with the standard version. The difference in components is real; a better result for your stroke still needs to be tested.

Are all HB SOFT 2 mallets face balanced?

No. Model 11S is a winged mallet with moderate toe hang. Model 11 and 11C are face balanced. The neck and exact model matter as much as the general head shape.

Does a center-shafted HB SOFT 2 help with the yips?

This review does not establish that the 8C or 11C treats or resolves the yips. Choose a center-shafted model because its setup and performance suit you when tested, not because the shaft position promises a cure.

Can I change the length or grip?

Options depend on the model and seller, and used putters may already be modified. Cleveland offers custom builds, but its listed adjustment limits vary. Check the selected length, grip, loft and lie options before ordering, particularly for the center-shafted models.

The Buying Decision

Start with the version and neck, then compare the head shape and alignment. If you like a traditional blade, try Model 1. If you prefer a winged mallet, compare 11 and 11S. Choose 8C or 11C only after trying the center-shafted view, and consider RETREVE if ball pickup is useful to you.

The right Huntington Beach putter is the one you can set down comfortably, aim confidently and use to judge pace. Spend extra on a different version only when you can identify what you prefer about it.

Once you have a suitable putter, consistent practice matters. Best Ever Putting Tips covers setup and practice habits you can build around the club you choose.