Is a $197 Zero-Torque Putter Any Good?

A first-time zero-torque experience, a few raised eyebrows—and some surprisingly good putting
I’ll start with a confession: this was my first real zero-torque putter. I’d read about them. I’d watched videos. I’d nodded along while smarter people than me explained why reducing torque through the stroke makes sense. But actually putting one in the bag—especially one I’d never heard of until recently? That felt like a leap.

Then the Lazrus Golf LAZ2 zero-torque mallet showed up. And if you’re wondering why we tried it, the answer is simple: it’s the most affordable zero-torque putter on the market. That alone made it interesting. Everything else made it impossible to ignore.

First Impressions: “That’s … actually really nice”

Let’s address the elephant on the putting green. When you pull a “random” putter out of the bag—especially one without Tour validation or a luxury price tag—you feel it. You feel the side-eye. You feel the quiet judgment. I felt it immediately.

Then I set it down behind the ball.

The LAZ2 is murdered-out black with a matte finish, clean lines and a shape that looks purpose-built instead of flashy. No glare. No gimmicks. Just confidence at address. Coming from a guy whose gamer is a Scotty Cameron Circa 62 Model 3 from about 15 years ago, the look at address was my biggest concern in making the switch. Taking the headcover off and setting it behind the ball removed any doubts I had about that.

And before I even rolled a putt, the internal monologue kicked in: “OK. I could actually game this.”

The first roll (and the first looks)

Zero-torque putters are supposed to keep the face stable. That’s the pitch. What I didn’t expect was how immediately obvious it felt. My stroke has always felt—and has recently been proven—to swing on a pretty pronounced arc. I tend to open it up going back and then release it moving through so lightening my grip pressure a bit and just letting this thing swing produced a different feel for me immediately.

The head just wanted to stay square. No manipulation. No steering. Like the putter was quietly saying, “Relax. I’ve got this.”

After a few putts, something else happened. The looks changed.

Someone asked, “What putter is that?”
Then, “Mind if I roll a few?”
Then, “Wait. How much did you say this costs?”

That’s when you know you’re on to something.

Diving in headfirst (Tournament round, why not?)

At some point, you stop pretending you’re just testing. I had a tournament round coming up and instead of easing into things like a responsible adult, I did what any sane golfer would do—I put it straight in play. No backup plan. No “just in case.” Because, why not?

If the zero-torque concept was going to work, this felt like the right environment to find out.

On-course performance: Stability for days

Over four or five rounds and several practice sessions, the story stayed consistent.

• Stability was off the charts
• The face stayed square through impact
• Mishits lost less energy and less direction
• The roll was exceptionally clean
  

The ball didn’t jump. It didn’t skid. It just hugged the ground and got into its roll quickly. Distance control—especially on longer putts—was better than expected. Short putts felt automatic in a way that’s hard to explain until you experience it.

It wasn’t flashy. It was calm. Reassuring.

Which, frankly, is exactly what you want from a putter.

The price-versus-reality disconnect

Here’s the part that still messes with my head.

Nothing about the LAZ2 feels like it should cost what it does.

• Build quality? Legit.
  
• Finish? Clean and durable.
  
• Performance? Comparable to much more expensive zero-torque options.
  

This is where the Lazrus story really lands. It’s not just affordable; it’s disruptively affordable. The kind of price that makes you re-evaluate what you’re actually paying for elsewhere. A quick search finds a leader in the zero-torque space with a similar head style priced at about $500. That difference ain’t nothing.

The full-circle moment

After a few weeks, the same people who initially gave me that “interesting choice” look were now asking to borrow it. More than one of them has a Lazrus in the bag now. It’s easy to give subjective feedback and opinions but when you put this in the hands of golfers and they end up buying one, that’s a solid endorsement.

Final thoughts

The Lazrus LAZ2 was my introduction to zero-torque putters and I can honestly say that I’m a fan. It’s stable. It inspires confidence. It looks fantastic in the bag and behind the ball. And it does all of that at a price point that feels almost unfair.

If you’ve been curious about zero-torque putters but hesitant to commit, this is the easiest recommendation I’ve made in a long time. Sometimes the underdog putter just keeps draining putts while everyone else asks to try it.

Unfortunately, the LAZ2 is out of stock, but they do have a limited supply of the newly released LAZ2.5 in stock (pink head only with a -2 length). We will keep you updated on restocks as soon as we know more.