When it comes to putters, I often wonder if amateurs truly grasp the level of success and dominance that Odyssey golf achieves not only with each release, but over decades. Take the fact that for the last 13 years they have been atop the PGA Tour and have also been #1 on the LPGA, DP World Tour, and PGA Tour Champions for the last twenty.
Impressive for sure, but to take it even further, in 2023 Odyssey Golf won more worldwide Tournaments than all other putter manufacturers combined. It wasn’t just wins either, they also took the honors in eight Major Championships. Now, before you yell about paying more players to play their putters, you should know that 70% of the Odyssey’s in play on worldwide Tour’s are from non-staff players.
With all that success, how do you continue to grow and improve? For Odyssey golf it all centers around making speed more consistent across the face, and that centers around A.I.
Bringing Artificial Intelligence to Putters
There is little doubt that if you are reading this article, then you understand that the putter is a different animal than any other club in the bag when it comes to performance and innovation. It is for that reason that it may not surprise you to know that the putter now has the longest lifespan in the bag without changes for most golfers, about 2.5 years according to Odyssey’s research. So, to take that on and inspire golfers of all skill levels to change, they knew they needed to live up to Ely Callaway’s mantra of creating something “Demonstrably Superior and Pleasingly Different”.
So, with the success that the company has had using artificial intelligence in every other club in the bag, it was time to invest it into putters to improve the most critical element for golfers across the spectrum, speed control and consistency. By applying A.I. to the putter, Odyssey was able to test thousands of shapes, inserts, materials, and any other thing you could think up and then apply that knowledge to create unique topographies within an insert to increase speed retention. How much of an increase? Robot testing claims it to be 21% closer to the hole on miss-hits.
Percentages are great, but Odyssey knew the application and adoption would be the key, and if you are one who pays attention to all the Tour pictures that float around the internet, then you know some of the best tour pro putters in the world have already made the switch. From the Tour Champion who had never switched putters in his PGA Career, to LPGA Major winners, and even the man himself, Jon Rahm, adoption has been swift.
A key to that was Odyssey being able to show players just what 21% closer would mean for their game in a career where 0.9 strokes gained per round is the difference in making the Tour Championship or losing your Tour card. Using Rahm as a reference, Odyssey was able to use Shot Link data for 2023 and show that a player who won four times (including a Major) could have cut his 3-Putt total in almost half from 30’ and out by changing nothing but the insert. How significant is that really? Try around 2.5 million dollars and moving his strokes gained 2 shots, taking him from 23rd on Tour to tied for 8th.
Odyssey likes to use the word “Transformative”, and with the new Ai-ONE and Ai-ONE Milled lineups, it is possible they have taken it to levels not seen before in putting. This journey started in 2019 for Odyssey, and it is finally time to fully unveil what’s behind the curtain.
Odyssey Ai-ONE Putters
First and foremost, the Ai-ONE will be the option which appeals most to those who are long time Odyssey insert design users. Those who are familiar with the White Hot (greatest insert of all time) will find that the company went through significant design work to ensure that the same feel/sound which so many of the best putters on the planet know and love is still present.
This time however, it is a White Hot Urethane insert which has been co-molded to an aluminum backing. That aluminum is the “secret sauce” if you will, showcasing the A.I. designed contours which are responsible for the previously discussed 21% better proximity to the hole on missed putts. The front of the insert is noticeably grooved this time, another part of ensuring that the feel is correct for what golfers expect out of Odyssey given the aluminum behind the White Hot material.
Visually, Odyssey is showing off this new Ai-ONE technology in the blade models by using an “Ai-Window” that is made of Panlite, an automotive grade polymer, to literally give golfers a window to see what makes the new putters perform. The body of the putter is finished in a deep Navy Blue PVD and paired with the new SL90 Stroke Lab design (featuring blue accents) that is now 20g heavier than the previous SL shaft but still allowing for 20-30g of counter-balance weighting. Additionally, the putters will utilize interchangeable forward sole weights which will be available in 5, 10, 15, and 20g options.
The Ai-ONE putters will be priced at $299.99 and are part of a split launch. The #1, Double-Wide DB, Rossie S, and #7 CH as well as S will drop on 11/3/2023. Meanwhile, the #2, Double-Wide CH, Rossie DB, #7 DB, and the 2-Ball (DB/CH) as well as much desired Jailbird Mini (DB/CH) will hit on 2/9/24.
Odyssey Ai-ONE Milled Putters
While the Ai-ONE will undoubtedly be the model which catches the most eyes, and potentially play, the Ai-ONE Milled is Odyssey going all in on providing something for everyone, as the topography of this insert is entirely different than the other. Not to mention, the Milled segment is where Odyssey sees the most room to make headway because though they have had some milled putters be successful, they have never achieved the Tour presence that they would like. The Ai-ONE Milled design seeks to rectify that.
The entire body of these are 100% milled from stainless steel and showcase a Titanium insert. The base putter is finished in the same deep Navy Blue PVD as its sibling line, but on the milled frame Odyssey believes the putter looks as premium as any milled putter on the market. The eye catcher will of course be that titanium insert with its gorgeous champagne finish and refined big tuna like milling.
That titanium insert is the engine that makes the Ai-ONE Milled putters go. Featuring its unique topography designed via artificial intelligence, this design also tested within the massive claims of hole proximity via its more consistent speeds on misses. There is no Ai-Window in this one in order to keep the premium milled look, and that is also part of the equation that Odyssey claims has ensured the sound/feel is right in line with what milled putter users are accustomed to.
Shapes for the Ai-ONE Milled lineup are the One T, Two T, Three T S (akin to the Toulon Atlanta), Six T (New shape for Odyssey), Seven T (DB/CH), Eight T (S), and Eleven T (DB). The putters feature interchangeable forward sole weights in 5, 10, 15, and 20g. Each will also come paired with the new SL95 shaft in blue accents, while the SL70 will still be available for custom orders in both models. The Ai-ONE Milled putters are priced at $449.99 and will all hit retail on 11/3/23.
Keep an eye on the THP community as we will have much more on these two putter lineups as myself and Off Course’s own Dan Edwards will be in attendance for the release. What do you think of the new direction from Odyssey? Does the story catch your imagination? Jump into the discussions and let us know!
