What's the difference between an onset putter and a zero-torque putter?

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Sam Hodde

Q: Wyndham Clark won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson with what looked like a zero-torque putter, but commentators referred to it as “onset.” Is there a difference?

A: You bet there is. Although both tend to be center-shafted and in line with shaft axis, they deliver different results and work best with certain types of strokes.

Zero-torque technology allows the face to stay square to the target line as opposed to opening or closing. This is achieved by placing the center of gravity (CG) under the shaft axis to reduce head twisting. If you struggle to get the face back to square or struggle with inconsistent impact, zero torque helps in those areas.

Understanding that is key because hitting the ball on the toe or heel results in an open or closed face at impact, leading to a putt that is short, off line or both. No great results.

Onset putters, such as the Ping Scottsdale Tec Ally Blue mallet that Clark used, are designed with the shaft near the center line of the putterhead, behind the top rail and ahead of the CG. That provides golfers with a full-face view of the ball at address and encourages more of a pulling motion instead of a push-like stroke, which Ping claims is more consistent.

This pull-not-push theory was first employed by Ping founder Karsten Solheim, who often used a wheelbarrow analogy to make his point. He described how much easier and more stable it was to pull a wheelbarrow over a curb instead of pushing it over the curb.

“My grandfather was a firm believer in the role CG position plays in the performance of a putter,” says Ping President and CEO John K. Solheim. “We continue to apply that philosophy in all our designs. Ensuring proper CG placement relative to the shaft axis is critical to performance. Pulling the CG provides more stability through the stroke and helps keep putts on line.”

In addition to Clark, Ping staffer Tony Finau has seen significant improvement in his PGA Tour putting stats since going to an onset putter.

“I’ve always used a blade putter, but I was looking to try a mallet,” said Finau, who switched to a Ping onset model in January. “I tried the Ally Blue Onset and immediately fell in love with it. It sets up so square and makes it easier to know where the face is aiming. With the dot and line, I can line up in the middle of the ball, which is extremely important. When you’re making good strokes, you’re splitting the ball in half, which means it’s rolling end over end.”

Whether you should try an onset or zero-torque depends on numerous factors, but a starting point is what you’re trying to achieve. If you’re seeking less face rotation, zero torque helps that. If you have a stroke that rotates through the impact zone, you might want to look at onset.

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