I Tested Marco Penge’s New PXG Putter And It Might Stay In My Bag

As interest in zero-torque technology continues to grow among golfers seeking more consistency on the greens, the Hot Rod ZT represents PXG’s latest attempt to cement its position as a maker of some of the best putters on the market.

While PXG has dabbled in high-stability designs before, the Hot Rod ZT is the brand's first zero-torque putter released with a conventional (by zero-torque standards) neck configuration, marking a step change from previous models like the Allan putter and the Mustang.

The Hot Rod ZT has already gone straight into the bag of the big-hitting Marco Penge following his move to PXG's PGA Tour roster at the start of this season. Curious to see if it lived up to the tour-level hype, I took the Hot Rod ZT out on the course to analyse its performance.

Straight out of the headcover, the Hot Rod ZT poses a striking look, featuring a modern precision-milled 6061 aluminium head with a sleek black finish. The head distributes mass through a high-MOI mallet shape that frames the ball cleanly at address and the overall size, along with the alignment cues, will inspire confidence over a putt for those who need it.

While there aren’t anywhere near as many custom options as with competitors such as L.A.B. Golf and the DF3i and Oz.1i, I like that PXG hasn't forced golfers into a single visual box, offering this putter in two distinct alignment options. I tested the SL2, which features an elongated sightline, but there is also an SL1 option that offers a clean line from the face and a blank back cavity for those who prefer a less busy look.

The Hot Rod ZT features a new center-shafted setup with an integrated forward press that naturally positions your hands at address, albeit a little too much for my liking on the model I tested. The putter is engineered with 6° of measured loft, although it only plays around 3° thanks to the integrated forward press grip on the putter.

It’s a large, box-like forward press grip that helps neutralise the loft, but I found it to be fairly uncomfortable in my hands and would definitely opt for one of the other custom options if I were ordering one from the website.

Out on the greens, the stability was instantly noticeable when putting from inside 10 feet. The Hot Rod ZT felt almost automatic, and thanks to the easy alignment and zero-torque design, it allowed me to just rock my shoulders and trust the face to return squarely to the ball. Off-center strikes were also incredibly forgiving, largely thanks to the concealed tungsten and four interchangeable sole weights, which raise the MOI significantly in this large mallet.

In fact, this putter impressed from all distances and it certainly freed me up to think about fewer things over the ball, relying on my subconscious to the ball to (and into) the hole at a above-average rate.

Sound and feel are often where zero-torque putters divide opinion, but PXG’s Pyramid Milled Face Pattern is one of the things that I love on this putter. The face minimizes the amount of face in contact with the ball, delivering the satisfyingly soft sound and feel players typically associate with insert putters, all without sacrificing the premium feedback and responsiveness of a fully milled face.

Every detail of the Hot Rod ZT feels as though it’s shaped around confidence, both visually and within its performance. If you are looking for a switch-up with your flatstick and want to embrace the zero-torque revolution without compromising on premium feel, the PXG Hot Rod ZT is one of the putters you should test this year.