New releases of blade putters have been few and far between over the past six months, with zero torque putters seemingly demanding the spotlight followed closely by traditional mallets. The majority of these putters have been presented in larger head designs that some may feel aren't the most aesthetically pleasing, so I was delighted to see Bettinardi had released a more blade-like zero torque putter in the shape of the Antidote SB1 putter.
While putter trends come and go, I do feel like zero torque putters are here to stay and so seeing more compact head shapes introduced into a brand's lineup, such as the Antidote SB1 ($430), is what I think will have more golfers tempted into trying the new concept. While I understand these specific putters are designed to make putting easier by keeping the face square to the path, they certainly take a while to get used to how they look and perform.
To create a zero torque putter, the shaft axis has to run directly through the CG placement. This has resulted in most of the putters benefitting from this technology to be center-shafted with a good amount of onset. While I can’t say I’m a huge fan of this look, the Bettinardi Antidote SB1 oozes a level of class thanks to the precision milling and diamond blast finish across the head.
The ‘T’ alignment aid stood out to me on this putter. Despite being considerably smaller than most of the best zero torque putters, I found it particularly easy to set up to my target and the milled 303 stainless steel face, featuring the Bettinardi F.I.T. (Feel Impact Technology) resulted in an extremely soft feel and sound through impact. Designed by removing 55 percent of the face surface through a deep groove pattern, this putter sees less of the ball hit the face at impact, reducing vibrations and therefore producing the remarkably smooth feel that you would expect from a premium milled putter.
My distance control was superb with this putter, particularly from 30-plus feet. This surprised me a little as I’ve found there is often not as much forgiveness on off-center hits with center-shafted putters, particularly those as compact as the Antidote SB1, but this was right up there with some of the most forgiving putters I have tested. I struggled a little more from inside 15 feet, but I’m putting that down to slower, winter greens and the extremely soft feel from the face. I felt as though I had the right line on a lot of putts, yet struggled a little getting the ball to the hole.
Overall, I was really impressed with what the Bettinardi Antidote SB1 putter had to offer. A zero-torque blade putter design, complemented by stunning aesthetics and the precision milling we’ve come to expect of a Bettinardi putter. For those seeking a mixture of looks, feel and performance with the latest in putter technology, the Bettinardi Antidote SB1 is a great option.
