I’m all for DTC brands that can outperform the big names in testing. Better prices, more options and major brands should earn their premium. When the performance is there, it’s a win for golfers.
In ours 2026 Most Wanted Shooter Testing we got a real look at the Sub 70, testing three models in all three categories: the 007W blade, the 010P hammer, and the zero-torque 011-SQ. What we found was one of the most instructive stories in this year’s data: the category you choose matters more than the brand.
One thing to know before we dig in: zero torque was our most competitive test. When you combine all three putter categories and rank each putter by PuttView HCP, the top 15 slots belong entirely to zero-torque setters. No single blade or traditional hammer cracks that list. Performing well at zero torque is a real statement.
of 007 W there are many things about him in the paper. Black PVD finish, wider profile than standard 007 for more forgiveness, adjustable heel and toe weight and CNC milled 1045 carbon steel. It is designed for strong arcing which is the right call for a blade.
In testing, it finished 18th out of 24 with an HCP PV of -2.2 and a 40.8 percent production rate.
of Mizuno M.Craft Osaka led the category at -5.5 me Scottsdale Answer 4 of PING AND 2D AND LA GOLF Bel Air II DW all in the -3.7 to -4.5 range. 007W was nowhere near that group. Blade shooters generally reward close shot match and in a wide population test, a specific strong bow design can take a hit in the numbers. That said, it finished third in the bottom.
of 010P is a traditional winged plumber’s neck hammer with a double face and an adjustable weight at $199.
It ranked 25th out of 29 hammers with an HCP PV of -2.6 and a 42.7 percent production rate, putting it in the bottom five of the most crowded category we tested.
of Bettinardi BB 6.0 and BB 7.0 led the way with Ben Hogan, Golf sausagesAND T squared all post scores in the -5.0 to -6.3 range.
The 011-SQ is the ultimate $229 zero-torque Sub 70 MOI, built to stay square throughout the stroke. It finished second in the zero-torque category at PV HCP at -7.7, just behind Odyssey Ai-Dual S2S #7 (-8.1). More importantly, he led the entire field with zero turnovers in production percentage at 50.5 percent.
No other player in this category made more shots. In fact, no other Test player took more shots. Its average drop of 16.0 inches was among the toughest in the test.
For context, this production rate is nearly 10 percentage points better than the 007W blade. At $229, it undercuts most of the competition near it on the leaderboard.
All numbers
Here’s how the three Sub 70 shooters compare to their category field averages at short, medium and long range. You’ll see that for blades and hammers, the average shot performance is what really hurts the overall results.
| Putter | Category | Short | Medium | Long | In general |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 70 007W | blade | -4.2 | +4.7 | -5.1 | -2.2 |
| Blade pitch average | -2.8 | +1.6 | -6.6 | -2.6 | |
| Under 70 010P | commodity | -3.8 | +5.0 | -7.4 | -2.6 |
| Mallet Field Mess | -3.9 | -0.7 | -7.5 | -4.0 | |
| Under 70 011-SQ | Zero torque | -8.1 | -4.9 | -9.7 | -7.7 |
| Zero mean torque field | -6.7 | -3.3 | -8.4 | -6.3 |
Final thoughts
Worth noting is the sub-70 performance in the zero-torque test. If you’ve been in the market for a new zero-torque gauge, this should be on your list.
For the full picture of how these metrics stacked up across the 2026 field:
