AI One Square 2 Square is coming. This is a new putter in the “Zero Torque” space. What is Zero Torque? Before we go there, please understand a few things. First, and most importantly – IF you are going to have Square 2 Square in your shop next year (or now), YOU need to understand the technology and the theory behind it. If you can’t explain it, you can’t sell it. If you can’t sell it, why would you stock it?? Spend the time NOW to understand the technology, and what it does. Spend the time NOW to putt with it and see for yourself. You WILL sell some putters if you have them, understand them, and can explain them. OK, maybe you just need to understand this thing. LOL
MyGolfSpy did a test with Traditional putters vs. Zero Torque, and 80% putted better with Zero Torque. 80% were more accurate, and everyone improved their strokes gained – putting with Zero Torque putters. 80%!! 80% of people don’t agree on anything. In traditional putters, mallets outperformed blades, and the only blade tested was the worst performing in the test. Is your mind pondering yet? The traditional putter hasn’t changed dramatically in 60 years. Yes, we added mallets, but they are a bigger version of the same thing. If you wanted to play your best golf, would you use a driver or a golf ball or a set of irons, or wedges from 60 years ago?? Of course not!! I might not even use a bag from 60 years ago. Ha
So, what is Zero Torque? It’s not new. We have done several versions of this over the years. Remember the BackStrike putter, or Toe Up? Similar, but slightly different. These allowed the head to balance with toe up. With the toe pointing up, the face is square to the target line. That sounds important… These, however, didn’t sell particularly well 10 years ago when we had them, but the primary reason was we didn’t know what they were, who they were for, or how they worked. Don’t let history repeat itself.
Got it, but what is it??!! Zero Torque putters are designed to eliminate rotation caused by torque. These putters are designed to eliminate the rotation caused by torque in the putter design. During the stroke, zero torque putters stay square to the stroke path – regardless of the players natural stroke (Straight back or Arced). The idea is to allow the player to completely take the hands and wrists out of the stroke – BUT, even if the player has a little hand or wrist action (providing unintentional forces on the head), the putter resists turning and tries to stay square on the path throughout the stroke. Theoretically, traditional putters make it harder to putt. Consider this… If your face is 2* open at impact, you will miss a 5-foot putt without the ball even touching the hole. A 10-footer is only +/- 1* to make on a lip in. a 20-footer is .25* to roll within the width of the hole. Holy moly, WHAT?? A quarter of a degree from 20 feet. No wonder the average Touring Professional only makes 1.2 putts from 20 feet – per TOURNAMENT (they only average 4.4 per tournament from 10-feet). This is crazy, right?
The best way to say it is that the putter wants to stay aligned with the path. You know what that means… if your path is left or right of your intended target line, you’re not going to make it. It does help a player eliminate variables though. Simplifying things gives a player better chances of getting it right.
So how is it done? Imaging taking a raw head – any head could theoretically work. Draw a line perpendicular to the face that goes directly through the center of the Center of gravity (CoG) of the head. This line will identify the sweet spot of the putter as well. Now, draw a line parallel to the center of the face that goes through the CoG. Where those two lines meet is the CoG of the head. Insert the shaft there. But… The shaft is inserted 3/4″ back from the face and in the center of the head? Yep. Now, to achieve the zero-torque sensation, the hitting area shifts forward, meaning there must be a forward press at address. Square 2 Square is designed to be used with a 3.5* forward press.
Still with me? We all know how to balance a putter – put it on your finger and see how the toe orients. We call this face balanced or in some degrees of toe hang. If you try to spin the putter, it will always return to its balance point. With Square 2 Square, you can spin the putter, and it will always land in a different direction because it is perfectly balanced in EVERY direction (if anything, it will tend to orient with the toe pointing UP – meaning it is square to the target line). This also means the putter will not rotate if hit off center. Remember Gear Effect? If we hit a ball on the toe, the head will spin open, launching the ball to the right (for a RH player), and it will put the opposite spin on it (since the two CoG’s don’t line up) – meaning hook spin on a toe strike. Not with Square 2 Square. The head stays square and the ball rolls straight.
If you understand the concept, let’s figure out who is this for. If you are a good putter, this may not help you. If you have been playing for a long time and you are used to a putter that is balanced another way (like all of us), this may not help you. After all, your stroke has evolved to a point where you putt how you putt with the putter that you have. Here’s the easiest way to see. Get a ball with an alignment line on (OK, get a Chrome Soft ball with Triple Track, or better yet, one with triple track 360). Use a putting matt with a line on it. Aim the line on the ball down the line on the matt. Stroke a few 8-10 footers. Does the line on the ball roll true along the line on the matt? If not, your stroke could be the issue, and stroke to stroke could help. If the putts go right AND left, Square 2 Square WILL help. If they start right and hook into the hole or start left and slice into the hole – this indicates a FACE and a PATH problem, and it MIGHT help by eliminating one variable and making it easier to fix the other one.
Consider this: Rickie Fowler switched to one over the summer. At that time, his Strokes Gained Putting was -.043 – ranking him 110th on the PGA Tour. Since switching, his Strokes Gained Putting is up to 3.765 – 19th on tour. This is incredible. Keep in mind that Rickie was using a Cruiser style putter before this – a HEAVY putter – meaning there are probably some hand, wrist, and stroke issues going on there. That level of success is hard to ignore.
What is Square 2 Square? This is a line of putters that is extremely stable, and it will work for a variety of players regardless of their stroke type or issues on the greens. From a design perspective, there isn’t a lot of opportunity for the head to deviate too far off line regardless of where impact occurs. We use our normal head shapes here – Double Wide, Seven, and Jailbird. We use AI face technology. The forward press is built into the hosel (not the grip). The grip is oversized. The result is a traditional looking putter that carries a $299 retail price tag. This is VERY attractive at retail. In the spring, we will have Cruisers (38″ and counterbalanced), and 48″ broomsticks available.
Want more? Watch this video from David Dusek at GolfWeek.
Or this one from Cool Clubs. This is testing Square 2 Square vs. a traditional putter
Folks, don’t sit this one out. This WILL change the putter market once again. Is it a niche market? Perhaps, but when it gets traction on tour, it will find its way to retail success. You can get these now. I would…
Jim Yeager Golf 
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