Zero Torque: Is this the future of putting?

We all want to hole more putts and be more consistent on the greens.

Easier said than done, right?

Of course, that means arming yourself with the right putter, and there are lots of considerations that go into that: toe weight, head shape, forgiveness to name just three.

Now, though, there might be a different solution. 

Allow us to introduce Zero Torque…

What is a Zero Torque putter? 

In short, a Zero Torque putter is designed to present the face back to square at impact, giving you the best chance of holing more putts and starting the ball online. If you’ve ever seen the L.A.B. DF3 putter – pictured below – you’ll probably already be familiar with it.

Hang on… torque? 

Torque is the amount of twisting or rotation a club has during the stroke. This is controlled both the lie angle and also the shaft. In the case of the L.A.B. DF3, the shaft used is a TPT. The longest hitters in the world use one of these in their drivers, so having something less stiff and with lower torque should allow you to get that putter face back to square at impact with ease. 

How does it work? 

L.A.B stands for Lie Angle Balance, which is what makes the putter face return to square at impact and maintain a square face throughout the stroke. L.A.B says “the latest research shows that 83% of a putt’s starting direction is influenced by the direction of the putter face at impact. The other 17% is influenced by the path of the putter head”.

How can you tell if your putter is Zero Torque? 

Like most putters, you can check the toe balance. If it’s face balanced, it should point to the ground. A Zero Torque putter, however, will point to the sky (you might also hear this referred to as ‘toe-up’). 

How do you test this? 

L.A.B. uses something called a ‘revealer’. Made from aluminium, it has a small hook and swivel at the top and a small notch with felt at the bottom where a putter can sit in this device and move freely when connected to it. This effectively shows how much rotation or movement the putter has from start to finish.

Do any other brands make a Zero Torque putter? 

PXG recently released its own Zero Torque putter called the Allan. This design has an S hosel, which positions the CG under the shaft axis.

And so has Odyssey! The brand has launched their Square to Square line up, which features three head shape, all of which have Stroke Balanced design technology. 

Okay, so is Zero Torque the future of putting? 

For the everyday golfer, who probably gravitates towards a higher MOI mallet design and wants more forgiveness and consistency, this is an absolute game-changer. Simple as that.

Also, if you want a different mallet design or a blade design then L.A.B has you covered, and so does Odyssey with their three head shapes.

They might still be pretty pricey, but Odyssey’s release comes in at £289, which is certainly in the ball park you’d expect for a premium putter. If you can, give a face balanced putter a shot. They might just make the difference.

Want more new gear? Check out the bunkered YouTube channel for all the latest reviews!

James Tait is bunkered’s Gear Editor. Want to know how the latest Callaway driver, Vokey wedge or Scotty Cameron putter performs? He’s the guy to ask. Better yet, just watch his videos on the bunkered YouTube channel. One of the biggest hitters in the UK, James also competes on the World Long Drive circuit and is a descendent of former Amateur champion Freddie Tait.

Gear Editor