One of my favorite things to do with ours Most wanted test data it’s breaking it down at the individual level. When a tester participates in all three putter category tests (knife, hammer, zero torque), you get a rare look at how putter type affects performance for a real golfer. In most cases, progress is predictable. This one was not.
This tester was better with a blade gauge than a hammer. This is a rare finding in our data. But there is more to the story.
First, the big picture
Across all testers who completed all three categories in 2026 Most Wanted, zero torque was the dominant category by a wide margin. Here’s how it broke down by best category:
One tester did not follow the script
His blade the -3.67 average beat his hammer average of -2.01. That’s a 1.66 shot gap in favor of the blade. Across the entire tester pool, no one else finished with the blade as their best category.
The other thing worth mentioning in it wooden hammer results: middle distance placement was a problem. A +2.59 average in the middle range is a significant leak. The hammer category wasn’t just underperforming blades in general; was missing shots at a key distance.
His individual best blade score was PXG Brandon Battle Ready II at -10.9. His best stick was that Edel Array F-1 in -11.2. Close enough that you can make a case for either one. But the category averages were clear: blades were the best.
| Category | Average PV HCP | Short | BETWEEN | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| blade | -3.67 | -4.52 | +1.85 | -7.52 |
| commodity | -2.01 | -2.89 | +2.59 | -5.09 |
Then zero torque appeared
His zero-torque average dropped to -8.62, a 4.95 stroke improvement over his already best blade scores. And unlike his sledgehammer performance, there were no soft spots in the distance. Short, medium and long all improved. His best individual result in this category was that Odyssey Ai-Dual S2S #7 at -13.8.
The mid-range issue that plagued his hammer placement? Gone. Zero torque pegged it at -6.79 compared to +2.59 with the hammer and +1.85 with the blade.
The real question is no longer blade versus hammer
For years, the kiss conversation has centered on one debate: blade or mallet hammer. This case study is a good reminder that the debate itself is outdated. Zero torque should be part of the conversation now, regardless of which side of the blade/steel line a golfer falls on.
This tester is a good example of why. His blade scores were indeed better than his hammer scores. But it didn’t matter when zero torque entered the picture. He topped both categories by a margin that’s hard to ignore, and he did it at every distance.
No single shooter category works for everyone. But at this point, there is a substantial body of test evidence behind the concept of zero torque not just for this tester, but across the pool. If you’re struggling with your putting, whether you’ve always been a blade guy or a hammer fan, a zero-torque putter is worth a try.
