There are some tangible benefits to longevity and a track record of innovation in the golf industry. While a concept may not strike gold right away, there may come a day when that idea is fully embraced by consumers, and when that day comes, said companies can take full advantage.
Odyssey finds itself in that position right now, as the trend of “zero torque” putters is more popular than ever, both on Tour and with consumers. Some of you that have been around awhile may remember two Odyssey lines from the 2010’s. One was called Backstryke and the other was called Toe Up. While both were quite different from each other visually, each relied on similar technology. The basic idea is to take away toe hang and face rotation to produce a putter that wants to stay square throughout the stroke. In theory, a putter that wants to square itself requires less manipulation by the golfer, resulting in a higher level of consistency and more holed putts.
Of course, Odyssey wasn’t the only company that knew about this. In fact, there are a couple companies that built their entire identity around it. Regardless of whether or not the zero torque concept worked for consumers, mainstream success was just never fully there until recently.
That brings us to today. Odyssey has seen the growing consumer interest and decided to act. Rather than bring back rehashes of their two previous lines, they redesigned three of their most popular shapes and put them together in a line they are calling Ai-ONE Square 2 Square. Ai-One Square 2 Square will feature the #7, Double Wide, and Jailbird shapes, each a modern center shafted design that is statically balanced and incorporates a range of technologies they think will help you make more putts.
The challenge Odyssey has in front of them is communicating to consumers exactly why they should pick the Ai-One Square 2 Square line over their competitors. Odyssey is quick to note their massive R&D staff and industry-leading manufacturing capabilities will ensure they are able to consistently produce the “toe up” effect that consumers are looking for. Still, while we’ve seen other companies focus more on the level of static balance (there are degrees of “zero” torque) their putters offer, Odyssey is leaning more on factors they know have Tour proven success.
First, they’ve incorporated their very-popular Ai-One insert into the Square 2 Square line. Ai-One was designed with the help of Artificial Intelligence and that resulted in an insert that Odyssey claims will result in being 21% closer to the hole on mishits. It’s a very familiar feeling White Hot insert co-molded with an aluminum backer that produces consistent ball speeds across the face. Tour adoption of Ai-One has been incredibly strong, and the insert quickly gained wins, including Majors, after making it to the various professional tours.
Of course, Square 2 Square wasn’t designed in a lab and sent directly to store shelves. Rather, prototypes were introduced on Tour in the hopes that Odyssey’s staff could provide feedback. This feedback resulted in a 3.3% forward press shaft, which puts the hands in a familiar spot, despite the shaft being so far back in the putter head. The visuals here are vital, as it’s very easy to inadvertently open the putter face when adding forward press yourself.
To ensure the best performance, Square 2 Square putters have a special steel Stroke Lab 90 shaft. It’s somewhere in the area of 30 grams lighter than a standard shaft, which allowed Odyssey to redistribute weight elsewhere in the putter. Specifically, this discretionary weight was put into the head and under the grip, which provides a counterbalance effect that encourages a smooth, consistent stroke.
We mentioned that Odyssey chose three of their most popular head styles for the Square 2 Square line, but they also point out that these are the larger versions of the shapes, which naturally results in an increase in MOI and stability. By incorporating the SL 90 shaft into the design, it was much easier to build the line with these large and more stable heads. Each head has the popular Navy Blue PVD finish from the Ai-ONE line, while the Jailbird features the classic Versa alignment system.
At this time, Odyssey is releasing the three standard models we highlighted above. While we don’t have firm dates just yet, we are told Cruiser and Broomstick versions will be coming in 2025.
Details
- Pre-Sale Date: 11/15/24
- Product At Retail Date: 11/29/24
- Models: Double Wide, #7, Jailbird
- Pricing: $299.99
For more information check out their website at odyssey.callawaygolf.com.
