Considered one of my favourite issues to do with our Most Needed testing knowledge is break it all the way down to the person degree. When a tester participates in all three putter class checks (blade, mallet, zero-torque), you get a uncommon have a look at how putter kind impacts efficiency for an actual golfer. More often than not the development is predictable. This one wasn’t.
This tester was higher with blade putters than he was with mallets. That’s a uncommon discover in our knowledge. However there’s extra to the story.
First, the large image
Throughout testers who accomplished all three classes within the 2026 Most Needed, zero-torque was the dominant class by a large margin. Right here’s the way it broke down by finest class:
One tester didn’t comply with the script
His blade common of -3.67 beat his mallet common of -2.01. That’s a 1.66-stroke hole in favor of the blade. Throughout the complete tester pool, no person else completed with blade as their finest class.
The opposite factor value noting in his mallet outcomes: medium-distance placing was an issue. A +2.59 common within the mid-range is a big leak. The mallet class wasn’t simply underperforming blades general; it was dropping strokes at a key distance.
His finest particular person blade outcome was the PXG Brandon Battle Prepared II at -10.9. His finest mallet was the Edel Array F-1 at -11.2. Shut sufficient that you might make a case for both. However the class averages had been clear: blades had been the higher match.
Then zero-torque confirmed up
His zero-torque common landed at -8.62, a 4.95-stroke enchancment over his already higher blade outcomes. And in contrast to his mallet efficiency, there have been no tender spots by distance. Quick, medium and lengthy all improved. His finest particular person outcome within the class was the Odyssey Ai-Twin S2S #7 at -13.8.
The medium-distance subject that plagued his mallet placing? Gone. Zero-torque fastened it at -6.79 in comparison with +2.59 with mallets and +1.85 with blades.
The actual query isn’t blade versus mallet anymore
For years, the putter dialog has centered on one debate: blade or mallet. This case examine is an efficient reminder that the talk itself is outdated. Zero-torque must be a part of the dialog now no matter which aspect of the blade/mallet line a golfer falls on.
This tester is an efficient instance of why. His blade outcomes genuinely had been higher than his mallet outcomes. However it didn’t matter as soon as zero-torque entered the image. It outperformed each classes by a margin that’s onerous to disregard and it did it throughout each distance.
No single putter class works for everybody. However at this level, there’s a considerable physique of testing proof behind the zero-torque idea not only for this tester however throughout the pool. If you happen to’re struggling along with your placing, no matter whether or not you’ve all the time been a blade man or a mallet fan, it’s value making an attempt a zero-torque putter.
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