Bettinardi Antidote SB1 Putter Review

Bettinardi Antidote SB1 Putter Key Features

• Simply balanced zero torque design
• Feel Impact Technology face milling
• Sapphire Blue anodised 6061 Aluminium pocket insert

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Zero torque putters have taken over in 2024 and Bettinardi has now officially joined the party with the new Antidote SB1 and SB2 putters. 

Bettinardi is one of the most well-respected names in golf, and the brand is most widely regarded for its putters. So, it only makes sense that it has jumped on the wave of popularity surrounding zero torque. 

The SB1 is Bettinardi's blade design, which is paired with the larger mallet SB2. This review will focus on the smaller SB1 to see how it compares to other zero-torque options on the market.

Bettinardi has achieved zero torque by placing the shaft into the centre of the head perfectly with the centre of gravity. By doing so, the brand has claimed that the putter will maintain dynamic balance for a smooth and consistent stroke. 

To test out the SB1 I played a handful of rounds and put it through its paces with Capto, an innovative measuring device that allows you to dig deep into the data behind every putt. 

Let's get into it.

Player Level

The Antidote is a very stable blade putter and thanks to the zero torque design it also offers a surprising amount of forgiveness. Due to its compact blade length, though, I would suggest it's best suited to experienced golfers who have a solid and confident putting stroke.

Bettinardi Antidote SB1 Putter Looks and Feel

The Antidote SB1 is a really gorgeous looking putter. The sole features a honeycomb design that has become synonymous with the brand, while the Antidote branding adds delightful contrast with a two tone light and dark blue finish to the text. 

from address the putter looks very compact from heel to toe, and the blade itself it quite petite from front to back. 

In terms of alignment the putter features a T line that is designed to square the ball with the face of the putter. 

While a number of zero torque designs we've seen over the years have been quite bulky, the SB1 is very refined, similar in many ways to LAB Golf's Link.1. 

I have to say I'm a huge fan of this design. The finer details really make it pop, while the simple yet effective blade looks very sophisticated both in hand and at address. 

If you're not used to a centre shafted look at address it may well take some getting used to, but as far as zero torque putters go, this is undoubtedly one of the best looking. 

In terms of feel, the SB1 feels soft yet powerful at the same time. Bettinardi has utilised F.I.T. (Feel Impact Technology) face milling on the face of the putter, and the result is a blade that's responsive and quite lively. 

Having used the SB1 for a decent portion of time, it's a feel that I have become quite fond of. There is a noticeable pop off the face from well struck putts that feels crisp and very satisfying. 

I would say the SB1 is slightly firmer than the likes of the Bettinardi Queen B #6, but it still offers a good level of softness.

The in hand sensation through the stroke is also amplified by the feel of the premium Lamkin grip that comes as standard. 

Bettinardi Antidote SB1 Putter Performance and Forgiveness

From an on course perspective I found the Antidote SB1 to be a fantastic putter, the feel off the face as mentioned was confidence inspiring, and the roll it produced was very smooth and consistent. 

One thing I did slightly struggle with however was alignment. I don't know whether it's because the shaft is centred or the flat alignment line threw me off, but my accuracy did see quite a bit of a dip.

Not to be deterred by some tough winter greens, I then went on to analyse the putters performance using Capto at an indoor putting studio. 

Interestingly, the results were quite similar to what happened out on the course. Using Capto's readings I could see that the putter itself is very stable and does a fantastic of remaining straight throughout the stroke.

it was in fact so stable that the readings it produced were superior to every other zero torque putter we tested. Despite that, my left miss was still very much in play. 

What I expericed on the course and indoor has lead me to believe the following. This putter is very good at doing what it says on the tin. It is indeed stable and is highly resistant to twisting. However if you do like the look of it, I would highly recommend getting fitted or at least testing it out first. 

For me, this putter technically performs very well, but on a practical level just wasn't quite the right fit for whatever reason. 

When it comes to forgiveness, the shorter blade length does mean you have slightly less real estate to play with, however from both heel and toe strikes I didn't notice any great loss in either speed or line.

Should you buy a Bettinardi Antidote SB1?

If you're looking to get into the zero torque game but prefer using a blade, then the Antidote SB1 should be right at the top of your Christmas list. 

The feel, roll and tech this putter can offer are superb. If you've got this far you know it wasn't quite right for me, but that certainly doesn't mean it's not right for you. 

As always we highly recommend trying before you buy, but I can tell you that there are very few if any putters that are quite as stable and twist resistant as the Antidote SB1.