Bettinardi just unveiled two new Antidote zero-torque devices, demonstrating their continued commitment to the zero-torque market. This is no real surprise as zero torque devices are as hot as ever with consumers. Why won’t it continue to produce them?
Many companies, including Bettinardi, released zero-torque gauges last year. In many ways, releasing a second set of zero-torque gauges is more difficult than the first.
Most of us celebrate a first attempt at something, often being less critical than usual since it was the first attempt.
However, for a second period, customers expect more. The company has had a year to learn from their initial offering, so the future should be better.
Back to the new Antidote zero torque gear. Did Bettinardi learn anything from their initial Antidote designs? More importantly, did that new knowledge result in better players?
Do young Bettinardi Antidote players perform better?
I wanted to raise this question first so I could get it out of the way. That’s a question we’ll finally answer in about six months, when the 2026 Zero-Torque Most Wanted Buyer’s Guide is released.
Expectations are high since Bettinardi grabbed a leaderboard in the 2025 Buyers Guide. Antidote SB2 placed third overall. This is very good for a first view of the zero-torque model.
The Antidote SB1 finished more in the middle of the pack, but that wasn’t unexpected as zero torque blade performance often lags behind zero torque hammers.
If I were to make predictions for 2026 testing, I would expect the new Antidote SB3 hammer to do very well. The balance is spot on and the spins are as expected for line and distance. It checks all the deployment boxes.
I’m not as bullish on the smaller SB5 medium hammer, but that’s just a “me” thing, as small, round hammers are my kryptonite.
Are the new Bettinardi antidotes better looking?
I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge my growth as a person. Did you notice I talked about shooter performance first and looks second? Although unlikely, perhaps my shallowness of swallowing is dissipating.
Performance is what keeps a barrel in the bag, but its looks are what lead to its purchase.
Thanks to LAB Golf, the golf consumer is more tolerant of odd-looking but high-performing players than ever. Fill your fury LAB rats. I like the look of my DF3 too.
Bettinardi’s new Antidote shooters show us that a high-performance zero-spin shooter can also be attractive.
Bettinardi nails the aesthetic with both new Antidote models. I’m not too good with the SB5, but I like the look of it. The almost seamless integration of front and rear is a marvel of milling. Looks great behind the ball.
Antidote SB3 is great. The Bettinardi Antidote SB2 was an award-winning performer, but not really a looker. It was not a brick on a stick, but it was attached to bricks.
The SB3 has all the looks that made the Bettinardi Inovai 6 with similar fang a crowd favorite. To my eye, this gauge fits the Bettinardi design aesthetic better than the SB2. Ignoring the hosel, you’d probably think it was an Inovai model, not an Antidote.
That new axis plan
Let’s not ignore the hosel, though. Obviously, hose position is a key element involved in creating a zero-torque shooter. To eliminate torque, the shaft must be connected to the gauge at the center of gravity.
For the SB2 antidote, Bettinardi drilled a hole in the center of gravity and inserted the shaft. For this head shape, it was a good plan.
For the fang-shaped SB3, this axle connection plan would not work as the CG would be placed in the empty space between the fangs. As a result, Bettinardi added a metal bow to the rear of the front section and then took it out for the axle insert.
In true Bettinardi fashion, the grind around this new insertion point is sublime. Not only do the edges blend perfectly with the body, but the vertical mill marks add a nice aesthetic element.
At address, the SB3 and SB5 look fantastic. The eye gravitates to the lower line of sight and the anterior rim. The new attachment design simply blends into the head. Not once did I find it distracting when setting up.
Let’s take a closer look at the two new Bettinardi Antidote models.
Bettinardi Antidote SB3
As I mentioned, the SB3 looks a lot like a Bettinardi Inovai barrel, specifically the Bettinardi Inovai 6.
Making the Antidote SB3 look like the Inovai 6 was a smart move on Bettinardi’s part, given that The Inovai 6 was the best hammer thrower of 2024.
Unlike the Inovai, the Antidote SB3 is not a multi-material design. The front part and the rear sections are milled stainless steel. It blew my mind a bit that the blue back isn’t milled aluminum. It says 303 Stainless Steel on the fang, but I had to email Bettinardi just to make sure.
It is a significant achievement that Bettinardi was able to shift the center of gravity forward with stainless steel fins at the rear. Making the rear part stainless steel increases the MOI properties of the SB3. This is a great way to increase stability.
The inner lines on the flanges and the top center line combine in an effective alignment system.
In terms of sensitivity and spin, Bettinardi’s trademark FIT face mill works well with the head shape. The FIT faces are one of Bettinardi’s softer faces, yet the ones from the SB3 are still responsive and full of feedback.
My guess is that the extra stainless steel for the shaft location added a bit of solidity to the impact feel. Bettinardi balanced this new durability with the smoothness of the FIT face mill.
Whatever the motivation, the construction plan is good. I fully expect the SB3 to be in the running for best zero-torque meter of 2026.
I can see myself building a purple one in the new one Bettinardi Workshop.
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Bettinardi Antidote SB5
The Bettinardi Antidote SB5 is a mid-sized, zero-torque hammer. That fact alone separates it from many other zero-torque hammer offerings, which tend to lean more toward the stronger end of the size spectrum.
As with the SB3, the SB5 is milled entirely from stainless steel. I’m impressed with how the curves and lines relate to this head. It really looks like a normal shooter with a central axis.
The shaft sits just slightly back from the face.
Those of you who are turned off by the larger profiles of zero-torque setters will appreciate the smaller footprint of the SB5. Like the Antidote SB1, the SB5 feels like a precision instrument.
Maybe it’s just psychological, but you get a different vibe when you put the small SB5 behind the ball than you do with the larger SB3.
How this vibe is received depends on the person looking at it. Some will like the smaller profile; others will prefer a larger hammer.
Both of these gauges are zero-torque, but they feel and play very differently.
As a size reference, the Antidote SB5 fits into a blade style headgear rather than a hammerhead.
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Bettinard’s second success
Bettinardi has upped their zero-torque game with this new Antidote release. Both of these gauges are aesthetically appealing with the SB3 being Bettinardi’s most beautiful antidote to date.
With this release, Bettinardi has offered both familiar and new players. The SB3 looks like an Inovai and feels like a traditional zero-torque hammer when cranked. The SB5 also has a classic Bettinardi look. It can easily be confused with a Studio Stock center shaft.
As with the SB1, the feel of the SB5 is slightly different from other zero-torque devices. I’m not vague on purpose. It’s just hard to describe the difference. I find it has a more subtle feel than the SB3, but even that isn’t a full description of the difference.
Just go spin it when you see it in your store and you’ll see what I’m trying to say.
Speaking of shops, if you go to Bettinardi.com on Black Friday, you’ll be able to pick up watered-down versions of all four Antidote throw patterns. Don’t get tired. They will go quickly.
Pre-orders for the two new Antidote models begin today at Bettinardi.com with pretty much arriving in stores on December 2nd.
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