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Sam De'Ath from Golf Monthly takes a deep dive into the best zero torque putters of 2025!
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00:00So zero torque putters are certainly the end thing in golf right now. It seems as
00:04though every manufacturer is making one. So what's the technology, which model
00:08is going to be best for your game, and ultimately which one offers the most
00:11stability? Let's put them to the test and find out.
00:27So before going into the looks, it's worth a brief explanation on what zero torque putters
00:32are. The idea is that the shaft runs through the center of gravity, and then the face stays
00:37square relative to your path the whole way throughout. Minimal twist, minimal torque, and
00:43therefore you should find the center of the face more often. Right, what do I think is the best
00:49looking putter model on the market this year?
00:56Now, as is the case when choosing any golf club, looks are super important, and especially when
01:02it comes to putting. Confidence is massive when you're on the greens. It's going to help you
01:06hold more putts. If you feel like you're going to hold the putt just from looking down at the putter,
01:10that alone counts for so much. Now, obviously, even within the zero torque category, there are
01:15different shapes, sizes, and models. Now, the first one I want to talk about is the Odyssey
01:20Jailbird square-to-square. I feel like Odyssey have done a great job of producing a putter here that
01:25resembles the normal model. Obviously, you've just got this square-to-square technology where the
01:30shaft runs directly through the center of gravity. Aside from that, the head itself looks exactly like
01:36the original Jailbird, so that would be a very easy transition for those who play a normal Jailbird
01:42but want the additional technology of square-to-square. Now, for those who really do want more of a blade
01:49or a double-wide style model, there are a couple on offer. You have the Odyssey double-wide, which I
01:56would
01:56say is slightly, it's got a longer blade length than the normal double-wide, but it's still, as you can
02:01see,
02:02the same shape, and it's got a top line on the top there to help with alignment. And then you've
02:07got
02:07the Evenroll Z2S as well, so this is obviously designed by Guerin Reif. It's got one of the best
02:13feeling faces, but down behind the ball, you've got this long alignment aid on the top and this kind of
02:18reverse plumber's neck as well, which I would say is similar to a standard plumber's neck in terms of
02:25the way it presents itself, but obviously, you've got the benefits of zero-torque technology within that.
02:30But if I was to pick one that I thought was a standout favourite in terms of the looks of
02:34these
02:34zero-torque putters, that would have to be the LAB OZ 1i putter. Now, I feel like the previous models
02:41released by LAB were a bit eccentric, they were very large, but the OZ 1 just is more of a
02:47compact
02:47kind of mid-mallet looking shape. It's a bit futuristic with its sharp lines and edges, but I
02:52think, especially with this kind of T-bar alignment aid on the top there, down behind the ball, this putter
02:57looks spectacular, is a perfect transition from those using a normal putter into zero-torque and
03:03will just really inspire confidence down behind the ball. So, for that reason, the LAB GOLF OZ 1i
03:09is the putter that I think is the best-looking zero-torque model.
03:20Now, like the looks, the sound and feel of a putter is very subjective, but it's important
03:25that you get one that you do like the sound and feel of in order to ensure confidence and
03:30it will also help with distance control. And I've highlighted three models here that sound and feel
03:35slightly different, so you can identify which one may be best for your game. Now, let's start with
03:40the Evenroll Z5S. Now, all the Evenroll models here are CNC milled from 303 stainless steel, so they
03:47offer a really solid feel-through impact. It's like any other premium milled face, they feel as though
03:55the ball kind of compresses and stays on the face for a long time. Now, I would say they sound
04:00quite loud,
04:01so it's quite a ping when you hit the ball. It's not something that I particularly love, but I like
04:07the
04:07feel, so that's where you have to weigh up whether the feel or sound is more important for you and
04:12your
04:12putting. Now, the next model I want to talk about is the Odyssey Square-to-Square Jailbird. Now, these
04:19putters feature this white-hot insert here, so it provides a really, really soft cushioned feel for
04:25impact. This would probably be great for those that play on faster greens to enable that your distance
04:31control is more accurate and you don't get the ball kind of springing off the face and it becomes,
04:35the ball speed becomes too fast essentially. You do have AI-1 technology within this putter as well,
04:41which means the insert itself has variable kind of face thickness, so off-center strikes should come
04:46off at the same ball speed as those that are struck out the middle. Hopefully, we've put a microphone down
04:52here and I can hit a putt with this putter and you'll be able to see the difference between this
04:57and the even roll in terms of how it sounds coming off the face.
05:03As you can tell, much, much softer. There was no ting in there at all, but there is one putter
05:09that kind of offers, I would guess, like a halfway stage between those two and that is the LabGolf Mez
05:16-1
05:17Max putter. Now, the main bulk of this body is crafted from stainless steel, but then you do have
05:23this aluminum kind of face to it as well, so it offers a really soft feel, but you still get
05:28the
05:28milled sensation off the face of this putter. I would say, in terms of frequency, it kind of falls
05:34between the two, but in terms of softness, it's right up there with the Odyssey. Again, let's hit a
05:40putt here. Hopefully, you can hear this as it comes off the face. So, somewhere right between the two.
05:53Now, Lab obviously now has the Oz-1i model, which we will obviously go into more detail in this video,
05:59that does have a 303 stainless steel insert in there for a much firmer feel, but if you want a
06:06putter
06:06that offers what I think is the perfect blend of sound and feel, then the LabGolf Mez-1 Max model
06:13is the way to go. Now, as you can tell by the pure surfaces I am rolling these putts on,
06:19I am not,
06:19in fact, in the UK during the winter. I've popped over to the beautiful La Hacienda Links golf course
06:25here in Spain. So, if you're enjoying the video, enjoying the scenery, make sure you click a like on
06:29this video and subscribe to Golf My Police YouTube channel, so you don't miss any future videos. If you like
06:35any of the products that you've seen in today's video, I will also put the links to the best
06:38prices in your area in the description box below. Right, before we dive fully into the performance
06:43of these putters, I started my collection of data back at Custom Golf Works in Woking with putter fitter
06:49and coach Jackson Massey. Let's head over there now and see how we got on.
07:06We are going to talk through all the zero-torque putter options and discuss via Capto which ones have
07:13kind of the best readings when it comes to face twist, which ones actually do produce
07:18kind of the most stable face throughout the stroke.
07:23We're going to start with the Bettanardi and this is the antidote and this is more in a blade style
07:28where most of the putters actually we've seen in this kind of technology, in this putter sphere,
07:33are actually larger mallet heads. So, it's going to be quite interesting to see how we get on with this.
07:38Haven't heard it.
07:43That was nice there. 0.62 of twist.
07:49So, anything generally sub-60, so whether it's a plus or minus, depending on what side you're
07:54providing that torque, is generally quite stable, right? If you moved into more of a toe-hang putter,
07:58I'm sure you'd see that number really creep up. So, anything, like I said, negative of 60,
08:03you're keeping that face relatively square to that part.
08:07We've got minus 6.2 of this one, so that's really stable, right?
08:11That's very stable, very stable.
08:23Well, we've tested the Bettanardi. Let's dive into the lab, see what results they give me and
08:30whether they're kind of the gold standard when it comes to zero torque putters.
08:42That felt like a really good roll.
08:44Yeah, minus 0.4. That was brilliant.
08:46Really good.
08:46That's one of the lowest ones we've seen, right?
08:48100%.
08:49You're going to have to forgive me here if you can see these putts.
08:51A lot of them aren't actually going in, but it's not so much about hole in putts today,
08:54because that is definitely down to me just aiming the putter in the right position in the first place.
08:58It's more about seeing how much twist we're getting in the face,
09:01and that's what we're seeing from the data on the screen here.
09:13Oh, we've made one.
09:14Should we move on to the Lab Oz?
09:17Yep.
09:17We'll do a direct comparison now between that and kind of their latest model.
09:28Just pulled that one.
09:40That one felt really good.
09:42Plus 21.
09:43So very interestingly, when you're looking at this, if you looked at those
09:45six putts as a whole, generally probably like to have that awareness of rotation,
09:49even though they're still very consistent, the amount of twist that you're applying
09:54may be fractionally higher, but results a little bit more consistent, right?
09:58Yeah.
10:03I have not hit that putt.
10:07I have to say, it feels amazing off the face.
10:10That was really good.
10:11Minus 18.
10:12That was really good.
10:19That sounded great.
10:23I haven't quite hit it.
10:39Hold one there.
10:40I hit that one with a bit more authority.
10:42Yeah.
10:42And it's interesting that the face actually stayed more square on that one.
10:46Yep.
10:50Okay.
10:50Let's move on to the Odyssey square to square range.
11:08That was miles out of the zone.
11:10That's actually our furthest one out, right?
11:12That's our highest one we've had.
11:14Yeah.
11:14Plus 68 on that one.
11:16But we hold it.
11:27That was great putt.
11:28That was your best putt of the day.
11:46Minus four.
11:47Brilliant.
11:48Brilliant.
11:48That was a good one to end on there.
12:09Those numbers there are pretty, pretty outrageously good.
12:14Okay.
12:14So we've got the PHG Allen putter here.
12:35Okay.
12:36Jackson, thank you so much for having us here today at Custom Golf Works, being able to talk
12:40through some of the data.
12:42What are your findings from this testing session?
12:46I think there is a lot to be said for them.
12:49I definitely think they are more stable.
12:51But how that directly affects performance, I think you have to try it.
12:56You know, like we've been chatting the whole way through, each putter will feel different.
13:00It's going to rotate in different ways.
13:01And more than anything, it's how you react to that.
13:04You know, like there is definitely evidence in the numbers to say that it is more stable.
13:08The closer you get to that zero torque, the tighter generally those numbers we're getting.
13:13But equally, all of them were still stable.
13:17And that the higher ones don't necessarily mean that you're going to putt worse.
13:21And the lower ones doesn't necessarily mean you're going to putt better.
13:24Just like everything in golf is player dependent.
13:26Absolutely.
13:27And that's what I've found here today.
13:28Right. Thank you, Jackson.
13:30Thank you, Custom Golf Works.
13:31Let's jump back to La Hacienda.
13:36So as we saw from the data at Custom Golf Works, there was very little splitting the performance
13:42when it came to face resistance and twist between all the models.
13:45Yes, the Odyssey square to square jailbird counterbalance was a lot more stable
13:49due to all the technology thrown into one putter.
13:52But like we've talked about in this video, there's much more to putters than just data.
13:56And in the performance category, there are a few select areas where you need a putter that performs well for
14:01you.
14:02Now, if your distance control isn't the best and you find you're leaving these nervy five footers all day long,
14:08you're going to want something that's very stable and gives you a lot of confidence over the shorter putts.
14:12There were two models that stood out for me in particular.
14:15And the first of those is the Lab Golf Oz 1i model.
14:19I just find this mid-mallet shape frames the ball really well.
14:22It feels fairly heavy.
14:23And this natural forward pistol two degree shaft lean press grip really helps get your hands and body
14:31in a nice comfortable position.
14:37Now, the second model I found to be really good over a short distance is the Odyssey square to square
14:44Jailbird Cruiser. This 38 inch putter just sits behind the ball and the large mallet head with this Versa technology
14:51frames the ball really well as well.
14:53It feels so stable when just putting it down.
14:56You can literally just take your grip, rock the shoulders,
14:58and it feels like you can't miss from inside five foot.
15:03Now, we've talked about the putters that will help you over the short distances
15:07because you've left yourself the five foot.
15:08But if you've left yourself the five foot in the first place, you're probably not a great long distance lag
15:14putter.
15:14Now, there are two putters that I thought were exceptional when putting from, let's say,
15:18over 30 feet up towards 50 feet.
15:21And that was the Lab Golf Mez 1 Max.
15:24Now, the precision weighting that comes with these putters after a custom fit in is absolutely incredible.
15:30And it really helps you improve your tempo with the balance of the putter,
15:35enabling you to create an equal stroke back and through.
15:39And the second model that I thought was particularly impressive over longer distances was the PHG Allen.
15:45Now, the pyramid grooves on the face here really ensured a consistent and quick roll.
15:51It got the ball rolling very quickly after it left the putter face,
15:54which increased the roll and helped me improve my distance.
15:57It's quite a firm feel off the face.
15:59So that does take a bit of getting used to if you're used to putting with something with an insert.
16:04But once you do get used to it and you struggle with your longer distance putting,
16:09I can assure you this will help.
16:15So there you have it.
16:16I have put all the best zero torque putter models to the test.
16:20But there was one clear standout for me.
16:22And that was the Odyssey Square to Square Jailbird Cruiser.
16:25We proved it with the data at Custom Golf Works.
16:28We've got a 38 inch putter here that feels super balanced.
16:32You've got Versa technology, square to square technology and an AI1 smart face for all your
16:37performance needs.
16:38I think it frames the ball really well.
16:41And for that reason, this model is my favorite zero torque putter on the market.
16:46Remember, if you like one of these or any of the putters you've seen in today's video,
16:49hit the description box below where you can find the links to the best prices in your area.
16:53We'll see you in the next video.
16:54We'll see you in the next video.
16:55We'll see you in the next video.
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