We sometimes use affiliate links to products and services on retailer sites for which we can receive compensation if you click on those links or make purchases through them.
Has it been worth the wait? Jonathan Taylor reviews the new Milled Series 001 putter from Zebra.
The iconic Zebra putter was born in the mid-1970’s, and sprung to prominence when Ray Floyd wielded one to such good effect in winning the 1976 Masters. Nick Price also used a Zebra putter when he won The Open at Turnberry in 1994.
The brand then became dormant for a number of years before returning in 2023 with the AIT (standing for Artificial Intelligence Technology) Series of putters – using AI to optimise MOI and CG for the putter head.
The latest offering from Zebra, the Milled Series, features a small range of putters designed by former Odyssey guru, Larry Tang, and are made from a single billet of carbon steel. This review is of the 001 mallet head putter, one of two from this series that I have tested.
Zebra Milled Series 001 Putter Review: First Impressions
My usual putter of choice is the traditional Anser/Newport shape of head. I’ve dabbled with any number of mallet-style face-balanced putters but always drifted back to a blade.
So this full sized rounded mallet, which can be ordered as face-balanced or toe hang (I was supplied with the face-balanced option) is not the sort of putter that I’d be particularly attracted to.
However from the Winn AVS midsize Pistol grip down the 34inch double bend shaft (not the short hosel depicted on the website!) to the black putter head with no less than seven alignment lines, this looked like a quality product. I am old enough to remember the original Zebra putter, and the alignment lines and head shape of the 001 do bear more than a passing resemblance to the original.
My putter was fitted with 2 x 10gm weights and there is the option to swap into 5 or 15gm weights to fine tune according to your preference. I should add at this point that Zebra putters are supplied direct to consumer ( or DTC) which means that you don’t get the opportunity to demo the product before purchase, although Zebra do offer a 30 day returns policy.
Advertisement
Ok, let’s find out how the 001 performed on the course.
Zebra Milled Series 001 Putter Review: NCG Review
The first time I took the 001 out on my home course, where I know the greens well, I putted extremely well, holing a number of 5-15 foot putts and leaving everything else a tap-in distance away.
I quite liked the crisp feel offered by the carbon steel head (with no insert). Being a mallet shape, there was more forgiveness than from my usual blade putter. I found distance control and alignment to be very straightforward. I was also happy with the standard 2x10gm weight option in the head. I was so excited that I put the 001 in my bag for a trip to the Lisbon area for 4 rounds of golf just to sharpen my game for the season ahead.
The second time I took the 001 out on beautiful and breezy Praia d’El Rey, with unfamiliar sloping and quick greens, I putted pretty poorly, and became rather tentative, missing several putts inside 6 feet. I was cursing my bold decision not to bring my usual putter out with me on this trip.
However over the subsequent three rounds, as I got used to the greens, my putting improved but not quite enough to displace my usual short stick on a longer term basis.
I did like the easy alignment offered by the design and I was able to obtain good end-over-end roll of the ball, which in turn offers good distance control.
However I do feel that, in the putter market dominated by the usual suspects, along with the DTC model of sales, it’s going to be tough for Zebra to make inroads here.
Advertisement
I do think that’s a shame because the 001 is a very nice putter , and offers something a bit different from the big players in the putter sector. It also comes in at a reasonable £249.99 which is almost half the price of some competitor brands.
And for that £249.99 you get a superb Winn AVS Pistol grip and a leather-look velcro-closure Zebra headcover, enabling you to stand out from the crowd. And with a 30 day moneyback guarantee, you have nothing to lose!
