50 Words or Less
The Evnroll ZERO Z1 putter features FaceForward Technology for a zero torque design. Soft feel and consistent performance. Excellent craftsmanship.
Introduction
At the start of 2024 I was already familiar with zero torque, having reviewed an Axis 1 [full review HERE] putter a few years back, but the term certainly wasn’t common place. Fast forward to the end of 2024 and zero torque putters seem to be everywhere. Guerin Rife, CEO and Chief Designer at Evnroll even called it a “craze.” But Mr. Rife also recognized the forward leaning shafts of most models were “awkward” and set out to design torque balanced putters that were more traditional looking. That effort produced the new ZERO line which includes the Evnroll ZERO Z1 of this review.
Looks
At address, the Evnroll ZERO Z1 has a great rear winged modern mallet look. The solid black field of the top allows the wide white alignment lines and white circle to take center stage. It was only when I noticed the backward plumbers neck that it hit me the Z1 was indeed face forward.
Face on, the Z1 putter has a similar shape as the Evnroll Neo Classic ER5 putter [full review HERE] I tested – slim in height and nicely tapered. On the heel side, a white “Z” replaced the logo “E” that I was fond of. Regardless, the all black face looks sharp.
Prefer a traditional head shape? Check out the Evnroll ZERO Z2s HERE
Flipping the putter over, the sole reveals plenty about the design and manufacturing of the Evnroll ZERO Z1. A detail that had eluded me while taking photos was the fine milling lines in the wing cavities. Impressed with that milling, I realized the entire head was milled – including the beautiful curvatures at the circular center. The two weight ports convey a high MOI design. And finally, the signature logo “E” I’d been looking for.
I need to give a quick nod to the embroidered penguins on the headcover. My research came up empty on why they are present, but they look really cool. If you know the back story please leave a comment.
Sound & Feel
With putts struck between the top alignment lines of the Evnroll ZERO Z1, I found the sound to be a medium volume ‘tock.’ The tone is quite pleasant and varied only slightly as I rotated through a couple brands of balls. Contact towards the toe shifted towards, but not all the way to, a ‘tick.’ Off the heel, the tock wasn’t as crisp.
After my first three putts, I wrote down ‘soft’ and never considered any other descriptor. I suspect it’s the combination of face milling and aluminum that give the ZERO Z1 the soft feel. It took a pretty good miss from center to register any tactile feedback – but that’s to be expected in a high MOI, zero torque design.
Performance
Even with zero torque being a current “craze” it’s worth a brief refresher on what the design term entails. The key to recognizing a zero torque design is looking at the face positioning while balancing the shaft on your fingers – it points left (for a right handed putter). Toe up, face left – just like when positioned at address. The basic concept is that the face stays square to the putting arc without manipulation.
That last bit – manipulation – can be a little tricky for golfers like me who are used to putters with toe hang. But I found the Evnroll design felt less awkward than the PXG Allan putter [full review HERE], and I was able to quickly adapt a wrist neutral type stroke. End result was a tight dispersion from the super easy to aim Evnroll ZERO Z1 and a simplified stroke. Straight putts felt like money.
The face forward, reverse offset hosel is key to the zero torque Evnroll design. However, another technology is tried and true – SweetFace. This groove design extends the putter’s sweet spot across the full width of the horizontally milled section. The V shaped grooves vary in width – wider in the center and narrowing progressively towards the heel and toe. The design keeps ball direction straight off the face with additional energy when off-center. What I observed was a beautiful, and repeatable roll that was very consistent in distance control.
And I have to finish by stating that the Evnroll ZERO Z1 can retrieve your golf ball from the green. With a gentle push down, the center hole gently secures the ball – nice job Evnroll.
Check out another modern shape with the Evnroll ZERO Z5s HERE
Conclusion
ConclusionWhen you visit the Evnroll link below, the first screen reads “Experience nothing” in huge letters, followed by “ZERO face rotation, ZERO mishits, ZERO torque, ZERO excuses.” That’s a lot of bravado, and quite clever. There’s no zeros in the price of an Evnroll ZERO Z1 – it retails for $449. A steep price, but potentially a bargain if the Z1 can get your misses closer to zero.
Visit Evnroll HERE
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19 Comments
A new putter and indoor mat to practice
On. That’s a great xmas.
# gifts
I like the various EVNROLL putter designs.
I like the various EVNROLL putter designs.
Gotcha check this one out!
#gifts
What we need is a comparison test of all the zero torque putters .
Gary,
What comparisons/metrics would be meaningful to you?
Best,
Matt
I heard the penguins might be a nod to zero degrees. As in zero degree toe hang.
Agreed on the Zero Torque putter comparison. I don’t know what would be meaningful, but maybe just the Plugged In staff/testers all goes out a hits 20 different putts at various lengths and holes etc. The problem with Zero Torque putters are that they’re all very expensive (except the new Callaway S2S) and difficult to get your hands on to test for any meaningful time. (At least in rural Idaho). Perhaps some kind of comparison test would help us know how to focus a search. Meaningful metrics could be makes, and avg distance from hole, etc. Perhaps data on short, medium, and long putts as well.
I currently use an Evnroll 11v2 and like it, but am looking for Zero misses.
I previously owned an Odyssey Toe Up #9 putter. I look forward to trying out the new zero torque putters. #Gift
#Gifts
Great review. Just bought the counter balance version on the Z1. Love it so far. Played twice with it plus a few practice sessions. Coming from a Scotty Cameron mallet, the Z1 feels great and the face tech is no joke, everything just seems to roll true and on line. The zero torque/face forward tech definitely makes putting easier. My start line is much more consistent on putts from 10 feet and in. I would definitely recommend the Z1 to anyone who looking into getting a torque free putter.
I would like to try this putter. #Gifts
Okay, so Evnroll copied LAB’s DF3 Gimme Hole to pick up the ball. The Evnroll hosel looks odd to me. I’ve owned Evnroll Putters in the past and while they kept on line on not so sweet contact, contact felt “hard.” I’ve also owned an original LAB and now the DF3 – big improvement and very sweet feel off the face.
The LAB to me looks cleaner, but looks are a matter of opinion, I like the LAB’s automatic forward press of the grip without forward pressing. It seems the reviewer was putting down the LAB without spending much time with that putter. C’est la vie.
And remember, for these zero torque putters to work best for you, one must take out hand and wrist manipulation. One must pay attention to ball placement at address, and the stroke is shoulder blade back, other shoulder blade back, to take our hands/wrists and develop consistency. Also, a light pressure on the grip helps and the correct lie angle – good luck not getting fit for zero torque as to lie angle. Zero torque will be an adjustment for most. Be patient.
Envroll had the center ball pick up years BEFORE the LAB DF-3.
I own the DF2.1 and went to local PGASS and had opportunity to roll the Z1 Tour spec38 along with the DF3 CB and the Mezz1Max38 CB. I did this on several occasions and the Z1 for me rolled the best. The DF3 to me was not as good as the DF2.1 for being automatic. The Mezz1 with the stainless steel insert came off much crisper for me. At the end of the day I felt the Z1 rolled best for me and I could see the line better as well. Cant go wrong with either one but I ended up getting the Z1.
My understanding of the groove technology is that because the groves are wider in the middle, there is less contact area, and this less energy transfer than off center, where the groves are narrower. But doesn’t that essentially mean that the center of the face is more “dead” than away from the center?
You could describe it that way Ben. But it doesn’t sound like a good marketing tag line ;)
– Meeks
This seems like a great topic for Myth Busters! Anyone who follows golf equipment is no doubt at lease interested in the concept of face balanced or no torque putters. While putters are very individual in terms of preference, it would be interesting if there was a trend or no trend towards zero torque putters as a group or even one particular “winner.”
George,
It’s definitely something we’d like to do, the question is how to give it a fair run. What do we test zero torque against? If we run a zero torque against someone’s gamer (which, presumably, is “traditional”), that’s not a very fair shot for the zero torque given the user’s experience with their gamer. There’s also the question of which zero torque to use. LAB really focuses on the proper fit, and we can’t practically have fit putters for each tester. But, again, it’s something we’d like to try, as it’s definitely an interesting topic.
Best,
Matt