The performance gap was not subtle. There were seven shots.
Meaning of “PutView Handicap”
The PuttView Handicap is the number behind each score in our test. Think of it like a round of golf, just for putting.
Each tester hits hundreds of putts from five, 10 and 20 feet. The PuttView system tracks direction, speed and proximity to the hole, then converts that data into a handicap-style number that reflects how many strokes a player would gain or lose using that putter.
A score of –7.6, as we saw from LAB OZ.1imeaning the average player would gain roughly seven strokes over the course of a round compared to their baseline. A score closer to zero means no advantage.
The numbers behind the story
Here’s a look at how those numbers stacked up and how they looked in the short, medium and long shots.
At any distance, OZ.1i produced smaller errors, truer spins and better distance control. The images below show the difference in distribution between these two setters.
Why zero torque works
Zero torque furs like OZ.1iare designed to keep the face square throughout the stroke. Traditional putters twist open and close as you swing the club, relying on perfect timing to square the face at impact.
Remove that torque and you remove the need for perfect timing. This is the concept on which the LAB is built and it is proven in the results of tests like these. Testers who tried LAB OZ.1i had the following to say about their experience.
“Easy to spin, great distance control and loves the press grip.”
“The angle was perfect in the setup – it just rolls off the bottom every time.”
“It feels different at first, but once you see how straight the ball is rolling, it’s hard to go back.”
Why this matters to you
If you’ve played a blade shooter your whole life, you know how good it can be smelt but you also know what happens when time slips or the face shakes open under pressure.
The data shows that a zero-torque design removes that variable. Every golfer, regardless of handicap, benefits from a golf putter that resists twisting through impact.
If you haven’t tried a zero-torque thruster yet, it might be time.