Professional Golfers Using Zero Torque Putters: Full Tour

Professional golfers using zero torque putters include J.J. Spaun, Adam Scott, Lucas Glover, Brian Harman, Phil Mickelson, Will Zalatoris, Rickie Fowler, Hyo Joo Kim, and Nasa Hataoka. Spaun made history at Oakmont, becoming the first player to win a men's major championship with a zero torque model, a L.A.B. Golf DF3, sinking a 64-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to seal his U.S. Open title.

That single putt changed the putter market. L.A.B. Golf reported "total pandemonium" in sales afterward, and mainstream brands like TaylorMade, Odyssey, and Evnroll now build their own zero torque designs.

But which pros actually trust these putters week to week? And should you? Let's break down the full picture with real tour results, honest player feedback, and the data behind the trend.

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What Is a Zero Torque Putter?

A zero torque putter aligns the shaft axis directly through the putter head's center of gravity. Traditional putters attach the shaft ahead of that point, which creates twisting forces during the stroke.

By removing that twist, the face naturally stays square to your stroke path. You don't have to manipulate the face with your hands, because the putter resists rotation on its own.

Key design traits at a glance:

• Shaft enters the head slightly behind the face, creating an "onset" look
• Balance test: the toe points straight up, unlike toe-hang blades
• Most models use precise weighting (steel or tungsten screws) to balance each head individually
• Many builds include forward shaft lean to preset a slight hand press

L.A.B. Golf (short for Lie Angle Balance) pioneered the category in the U.S. market back in 2018 with its Directed Force putter. Today nearly every major manufacturer offers a version.

Tour Players Currently Using Zero Torque Putters

Adoption keeps climbing across every professional tour. Turn on any broadcast and you'll spot at least one zero torque model in play.

Here are the most notable names and their setups:

A few important context points:

• Rickie Fowler and Gary Woodland have tested zero torque prototypes, including custom Scotty Cameron designs
• Viktor Hovland has used one in competitive PGA Tour rounds
• Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler still play the traditional TaylorMade Spider Tour X, proof the category isn't for everyone

The Win That Legitimized the Category

Spaun's U.S. Open victory deserves its own section, because it answered the biggest question hanging over zero torque putters: can they win the biggest events?

On the final day at Oakmont, one of golf's hardest courses, Spaun rolled in 136 feet of putts over his final seven holes. That included a 40-footer at the 12th, a 22-footer at the 14th, and the walk-off 64-foot bomb at the 18th.

Interestingly, Spaun later benched that famous DF3. He switched to L.A.B.'s heel-shafted OZ.1i HS after struggling with alignment as the platinum finish wore down, and immediately gained more than a shot per round on the greens at the Charles Schwab Challenge.

The lesson for everyday golfers: even within the zero torque family, fit and visual confidence matter as much as the physics.

What the Pros Actually Say: Honest Feedback

PGA Tour player Michael Kim gave one of the most candid public assessments of gaming a zero torque putter. His takeaways:

• Biggest benefit: Starting putts on line becomes dramatically easier
• His result: Became one of the tour's best putters inside 8 feet, where start line matters most
• The trade-off: Longer putts are more speed-dependent, and some players feel less feedback on lag putts

That matches the broader consensus. These putters shine on the short-to-mid range putts that make or break a scorecard. They're less transformative on 40-footers, where touch and green reading still rule.

Zero Torque vs. Traditional Putters: Quick Comparison

Who Should Consider One?

Think about how you'd answer these common frustrations:

• "I push putts even when my read is perfect."
• "My 6-footers feel like coin flips."
• "I've got a case of the yips and I've tried everything."

If any of those sound familiar, you're the target player. Lucas Glover is the proof case. After years battling the yips, he switched to a L.A.B. long putter and won twice in back-to-back weeks.

Zero torque putters work best for:

• Golfers with straight-back, straight-through strokes
• High and mid handicappers seeking stability on mishits
• Players who overthink mechanics and want a "quieter" stroke
• Anyone whose misses cluster on one side (chronic pushers or pullers)

They're a tougher fit for players with strongly arced strokes or those who prize traditional feel above all else.

Browse our putting accessories collection to complete your green-side setup, and check our golf training aids if you want to groove a straighter stroke first.

Common Mistakes When Switching to Zero Torque

Avoid these traps that catch most first-time buyers:

• Skipping the fitting: lie angle balance only works at your lie angle; an off-the-rack build can cancel the benefit
• Judging it in one round: the onset look takes 3 to 5 rounds to feel normal at address
• Keeping an arced stroke: fighting the putter's natural square path defeats the design
• Ignoring grip choice: many builds assume a forward press grip; Spaun famously swapped his for a conventional Scotty Cameron grip, so experiment
• Expecting magic on lag putts: the gains show up inside 10 feet, not on 50-foot bombs
• Buying on hype alone: even Spaun changed models when alignment stopped working for his eye