Zero-Torque, Maximum Feel – Inside Bettinardi’s Antidote Putter Series

Zero-torque has been one of the most exciting and fastest-growing trends in putter design over recent years. For players looking for greater consistency when it comes to starting putts on the desired line, zero-torque is a popular solution.

Basically, zero-torque putters are designed to eliminate the twisting force of torque, minimising rotation and keeping the putter square through the stroke.

It’s an idea that makes a great deal of sense and a number of manufacturers have developed zero-torque models over the last few seasons. These putters deliver strong results when it comes to directional consistency, but many have faltered when it comes to feel and responsiveness.

A new line of zero-torque putters from Bettinardi – the Antidote series – delivers when it comes to feel and responsiveness.

Family-owned company Bettinardi has been doing things their own way since they were founded by Bob Bettinardi in 1998. With that in mind, it’s little wonder the Chicago based firm is breaking new ground when it comes to zero-torque.

Bettinardi’s Antidote series takes the concept of zero-torque and marries it with the company’s famous milled craftsmanship. The result is a zero-torque putter range offering the feel and consistency of strike that most other zero-torque putters lack.

The idea behind the Antidote series was to build Bettinardi’s feel and craftsmanship into a putter that suits all swing paths and, quite simply, makes putting simpler! The results are impressive.

Offering beautifully crafted putters designed, milled and assembled in the USA, Bettinardi has forged a unique path, and their products are trusted by top pros, including Matt Fitzpatrick and Francesco Molinari. The company can boast more than 100 professional victories worldwide.

Over the last quarter of a century, Bettinardi has established itself at the forefront of putter and golf equipment concept, design and production. They retain an individual and independent presence within the upper echelons of golf manufacturing.

From the turn of the century, Bettinardi has set the benchmark for putter manufacturing with their exceptional one-piece putter milling process. Bettinardi’s R&D, design and production teams are renowned for innovation, and they continue to shape the future of putting by delivering products at the cutting edge of golf science and technology.

The Antidote series packs exciting technology into each model, but the key idea is that blend of zero-torque with milled feel.

This video gives more detail on the Antidote series.

Keeping the putters square is Bettinardi’s Simply Balanced™ Zero-Torque Technology. It uses engineered geometry and precise shaft location to balance the putter around its centre of gravity. That keeps the face square regardless of swing path.

Then, for maximum feel and consistency, Bettinardi has built in its renowned F.I.T Face or Feel Impact Technology. Each putter is milled 303 stainless steel, and 55% of the face material is removed for a soft, responsive feel.

A combination of those technologies means the Antidote series offers the best of both worlds. A technically sound and scientifically proven zero-torque putter with the feel and feedback of classic Bettinardi.

It sounds pretty good and it performs well too. It’s no surprise that the Antidote series is now of Bettinardi’s best-selling lines.

And that is aided by the strong aesthetics offered by the Antidote models. They come in Diamond Blast and Sapphire Blue finishes with a Tour-grade shaft, Lamkin or Winn grip and magnetic headcover. The Antidote putters look as good as they perform.

A selection of models is available within the Antidote line to suit the eye of all players. The SB1 is a blade style putter, SB2 is a squarer mallet, SB3 is a fang-style mallet and SB5 is a rounder, more traditionally shaped mallet. Each of the SB models has a retail price of £439.

In addition are the Hexperimental models #7 and #9 with durable, two-tone Black Armor TPT finish. They have a retail price of £549.

Feel and Consistency

For golfers seeking more consistency in their putting, the zero-torque concept is a solid one and that’s why it has become so popular in recent years.

What Bettinardi’s Antidote series does so effectively is to deliver a complete zero-torque putter package – All the benefits of a “one putter for all swing paths” design, together with the exceptional feel and feedback offered by a precision-milled Bettinardi putter.

If you’re looking for zero-torque consistency but don’t want to give up on feel and responsiveness, the Antidote series from Bettinardi is well worth exploring further.