PXG Releases New Zero-Torque Hot Rod

PXG has gone rogue with their new zero-torque Hot Rod ZT mallet putter design. This design scheme is a new one for them. Considering how many zero-torque putters PXG is currently offering, the new design was a surprise.

If you count the number of zero-torque putters in the PXG catalog, PXG is second only to L.A.B. Golf in the number of zero-torque models offered.

By my count, L.A.B. Golf has seven Lie Angle Balanced models. Including this new model, PXG now has five zero-torque models. Bettinardi has four, Odyssey and Cameron each have three, Toulon has two and TaylorMade has one.

The numbers change a little if we include counterbalanced and long putter builds but PXG still holds the zero-torque runner-up position.

Every time I write about PXG putters, I bring up how they are perhaps the most underrated putter maker. The build quality and creativity found in PXG putters is top tier. They should get more recognition.

I keep waiting for PXG putters to take off with the golfing masses. Maybe the Hot Rod ZT will be the putter that revs up the consumer engine.

What is “rogue” about the PXG Hot Rod ZT?

Some of the elements of the PXG Hot Rod ZT are not rogue at all.

The majority of the multi-material head is milled to amazing tolerances from 6061 aluminum. The face is milled in PXG’s proprietary Pyramid Milled Face Pattern to improve interaction with the ball at impact and the resulting roll characteristics.

No surprises here. These are the things we expect from a PXG putter.

What is surprising is how PXG made the Hot Rod ZT a zero-torque putter.

Where is the S-Hosel?

The PXG Hot Rod ZT does not have the backwards S-Hosel that PXG has used to eliminate torque in their other zero-torque putter designs. Instead, they have gone with the much more industry-standard design of positioning the hosel near the putter’s center of gravity.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with this onset hosel position. That’s why other companies are building their zero-torque putters in a similar fashion. I just didn’t expect it based on the ubiquitous nature of the S-Hosel in their other zero-torque models.

Why the switch? If I was to speculate, I’d say there are three possible reasons.

First, the golfer in a shop could be more likely to recognize the Hot Rod ZT as a zero-torque design because it looks like other companies’ center-shafted zero-torque designs.

The second reason could be that the putter just looks better with a center shaft than it would with the S-Hosel. The overall look of the center-shafted Hot Rod ZT is very balanced.

The third, and most likely, reason for the hosel change is the shape of the head. It looks like the Hot Rod ZT body has a hole in the position where the S-Hosel would attach.

PXG engineers do amazing things with putters but not even they can attach a hosel to air.

If you want that cool Corvette Z06 shape, the hosel needs to go in the middle.

Is the PXG Hot Rod ZT a classic ride or a hooptie?

What do you think about the new PXG Hot Rod ZT? Does the design make you want to book a test drive at your nearest PXG retailer? Do you want to shift the Hot Rod ZT into gear or are you leaving it parked?

I want to take a test drive. (A new putter is released and I want to roll it. Shocking, I know.) Flatstick compulsion is not my only motivation this time. PXG makes great zero-torque putters.

I consider the PXG Allan ZT to be one of the best zero-torque putters in the marketplace. The Bat Attack ZT is a hot putter as well.

The Mustang ZT’s proportions are a bit too Picasso-esq for my taste but I know that one has its loyal followers.

Ultimately, the Hot Rod ZT gets my curiosity going. Dare I say, my engine revving. I want to see what the new hosel position is all about.

One issue with the center-shafted design is that it gets in the way of the excellent alignment schemes found in the other PXG zero-torque putters.

While they can’t magically hide the shaft, PXG is offering the Hot Rod ZT with two alignment schemes. The SL1 version has a line on the front section while the line on the SL2 version extends from the front to the rear of the putter.

By the way, left-handed versions of the PXG Hot Rod ZT will be available.

Again, I am curious to hear your thoughts. I have a Hot Rod ZT on the way and I will update this article with in-hand photos and my play experiences once it arrives.

Taking a few laps in the PXG Hot Rod

The PXG Hot Rod ZT hit my garage a couple of days ago. Naturally, I had to share some in-hand photos and preliminary play thoughts with you.

As far as the looks, the Hot Rod looks way better in person than it did in the release photos. As expected, the machining is top notch. What the photos didn’t show very well was the size of the putter.

For some reason, I thought that it would be about the size of the PXG Allan ZT. The Hot Rod is wider than the Allan, and longer by about a centimeter. It’s not as large as a L.A.B. Golf DF3, but it is larger than PXG’s other zero-torque putters.

While I initially found the rectangular shape of the grip off-putting, I gradually warmed up to its unusual contours. I’ve got the idea in my head that my accuracy improves with zero-torque putters if I space my thumbs apart horizontally on the grip. I believe that it helps me fight the accidental wrist twist. This grip works great for that hand position.

I really like the full sight line. Although the shaft gets in the way a bit, the line works so well for aiming the putter.

Because of the deviation from the S-Hosel, I didn’t really know what to expect from the Hot Rod ZT. I knew that it looked like the Black Knight satellite, but I wasn’t sure about how it would play.

On the green, the PXG Hot Rod ZT feels like a zero-torque putter should. If you don’t fight it during your swing, the Hot Rod ZT will arrive back at the ball the same way it left. Hopefully that means it just scooted the ball towards the hole.

I found myself increasingly curious and invested as I rolled balls with the Hot Rod ZT. It may be a different take on zero-torque for PXG, but they executed the design very well. Anyone familiar with the center-shafted putters from other companies will feel very comfortable rolling the new Hot Rod ZT.

It has a great feel off the face and is fun to roll balls with.

Give yourself a few balls to get used to the shape of the grip, and then you may find yourself with your 2026 zero-torque gamer.