The Most Wanted Putter 2026 test covered 79 putters in three categories: blade, hammer, zero torque. When the data was settled, the history of the category was difficult to argue.
Zero Torque Average -6.29 PuttView Handicap in 26 Barrels. The Mallets came in at -3.99 at 29. The Blades finished last at -2.65 at 24. That’s a 2.3-stroke gap between zero torque and the next best category.
The category verdict is straightforward: the zero-torque performed better, and it wasn’t particularly close. However, I wanted to look a little deeper at the individual player level. There were no players teh as their best overall category and only two had the hammer as their best.
The best shooter in the test has improved yet
These are the averages of the best player in the test in all three categories. Zero torque it was technically his best, but his spread between worst and best was just 1.49 strokes.
| Category | Average | Pool average | Best against Pool |
|---|---|---|---|
| blade | -8.26 | -2.47 | +5.79 better |
| commodity | -9.11 | -3.80 | +5.31 better |
| Zero torque | -9.75 | -6.57 | +3.18 better |
Zero torque still moves the needle, even for good shooters
Another strong shooter in the test had a blade average of -6.09 and a hammer average of -5.22.
Zero torque pushed it to -10.97. It was the lowest average of a category in the entire group of testers. That’s a 5.75 stroke swing from his blade average at ZT, nearly four times the gap of the best test shooter in the same three categories.
Both players are good shooters. Someone has something in their stroke and technique that zero torque putters are built to change or improve.
| probative | blade | commodity | Zero torque | ZT Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tester A | -8.26 | -9.11 | -9.75 | 1.49 hits |
| Tester B | -6.09 | -5.22 | -10.97 | 4.88 hits |
So does zero torque matter if you’re already great?
Zero torque was the best performing category in the test. When you get to the player level, the gap between what zero torque does for one player versus another can change. The bottom line is that both players (who were already good players) got better. Your stroke and technique will always come into play. If you haven’t gone for a shooter rig recently or experimented with different players, it might be worth a try to see how much of an impact it has on your game.
