Let it be known that Odyssey Golf listens. They listen to their Tour staff, their professional staff, sales team, and they listen to us. Why do I lead with this? Because finally, the company is giving us what so many have asked for, the White Hot is back!
That said, in the immortal words of one LL Cool J, “Don’t call it a comeback, I been here for years”.
For 2021 Odyssey Golf is officially releasing the White Hot OG lineup of putters, and this putter nerd who has been screaming from the rooftops for years about officially bringing the greatest putter insert of all-time back couldn’t hold back the excitement even if I wanted to.
Let’s dive in.
Legend of the White Hot
Before we get to the White Hot OG line, it is worth diving into just what makes the re-release of this insert such a big deal. Normally, if a company goes back to the well then there will be keyboard warriors and squeaky wheels whining until the cows come home, but the White Hot isn’t just tech, its legend, and from THE #1 putter company on Tour for the last decade that is saying a lot.
I realize writing this, that though some will fondly remember the White Hot and hold it in the same regard as so many of us do, after all Odyssey admits to hearing a desire for this insert to come back for years upon years, others may not have been around to experience the heyday. If that is the case, I bet you have still seen the insert either on a course somewhere or just on TV as over half of the company’s Tour staff uses the White Hot insert retrofitted into their modern putter head-shapes.
The White Hot insert came about when Odyssey’s putter designers were looking for insert materials and had a conversation with Callaway’s golf ball engineers. In that conversation they were lead to the also legendary Rule 35 golf ball and its urethane material. The material itself is a two-part urethane that is firm to the initial touch, but under impact performs much softer and these traits allow it to have better rebound and faster speed compared to other soft feeling options. This is what gives the White Hot insert its legendary feel and roll combo.
For years now, the company has tried to replicate the feel of the White Hot while improving the roll, and to do that they continuously tried to match the hardness as closely as possible, but even as they have accomplished that, something was still off feel and sound wise. Turns out, when they looked at the flex of White Hot compared to their other inserts, though the various designs may have had the same hardness, none of them compared to the White Hot in how it flexes. What does it mean? Basically, that the White Hot was the perfect storm, and though they have designed many inserts since that put a better overall performance roll on the ball, the White Hot remains the be-all for many.
So here we are, 20 years later, and the White Hot is back. Not only is it back, Odyssey wants it made clear, this isn’t a new take on the original, this is the original. The formula, composition, processes, and the way it is cast into sheets and then cut for the models is all the same. It is truly the OG.
Odyssey White Hot OG
While the insert is clearly the star of the show here, Odyssey didn’t want to just throw it into any old head design, nor did they want to miss on the looks. So, they went through their arsenal and selected some of their most popular designs, then they focused in on milling the heads and finishing them with a classic satin silver PVD. With major attention paid to the edge radii of the putters as well as fine milling marks, the company vehemently believes when combined with sole weights, clean graphics, as well as an all-new Stroke Lab (SL) shaft and popular DFX grip in grey, that they will make a lot of golfers incredibly happy.
While the putters will be available with steel shafts for a lower price, the new Stroke Lab is sure to turn some heads. Some of you have spotted a couple on Tour already and the Candy Apple Red upper section is a major departure from the stealthy black of the previous iteration. The new SL has a shorter stepless steel section, is 7 grams lighter, and is a stiffer overall profile which has led to Odyssey’s testing to show 6% more consistent time to impact, 9% more consistent impact location, and a 6% more consistent swing arc.
As for the head shapes, the ever popular #1 and #1 WS (wide sole) make up the blade models alongside the classic #5 SB (single bend) for the mid-mallet option. For mallets, the Rossie with a thinner topline and modernized overall flow is returning in a double bend and slant neck, and naturally their most popular shapes of all time the 2-Ball in double bend, #7 in double bend, and slant neck are also coming to the party.
The Odyssey White Hot OG putters will drop on 1/28/21 and come in at $219.99 for steel and $269.99 with the new Stroke Lab. Do not miss our THP Showcase next week featuring testing of each of these new putters and so much more.
7s inbound here too ?
The head cover is great with magnetic close! Feels super premium.
Putter looks amazing, really clean lines, love the milled finish.
Weighting is so different to my original, feels like the centre of gravity is below ground level in comparison.
Still love the insert!
First game with it, super happy with my line, need to get used the weight, but hopefully now sorted for the next 20 yrs!
For years I clamored for them to bring it back and I’m not disappointed at all. Using the 1 during the KINETIXX testing has been a hoot. Actually need to extend the 2-ball this weekend but it remains one of the easiest putters ever to line up.
Anyone else getting, got, or pondering one?
Totally agree, the feel of this insert is legendary for a reason!
Ever get the feeling they were developed after some guy at Odyssey was just bouncing two golf balls against one another and said to himself…. “hey, wait…. what if…..”
Hahaha, well I actually got to tell the story a bit in the article of the first post. Isn’t it wild that the Rule 35 changed both golf balls and putter inserts forever?
Since I will be at the shop this weekend anyway I might as well roll a few, right? :drool:
Amen brother
I have an Odyssey #6 White Hot Long Neck. I had bought some used clubs from a buddy which included an A wedge. After the transaction he kept moaning about how much he missed that wedge! Then he let it slip that he had ordered a new Odyssey putter. After a round, he told me that the putter was in, and he would pick it up the next day. That’s when I "popped the question" and asked him if he still wanted that A wedge. He said absolutely, and I told him I would trade if for his old putter, the #6 White Hot Long Neck! Why not? I wanted that putter and couldn’t hit that wedge worth a crap!
He had the biggest Super Stroker grip on it, which was too big for my hands, and it was getting a little old and slick. So I took it to the local Golf Headquarters, and went through every putter grip they had. I finally had a slightly oversize Lamkin paddle put on it, and I can’t tell you how much I love this putter! I putt better now, at 68 years old, than I did 40+ years ago when I was a near scratch player!
You’re right. It simply will NOT allow me to line up incorrectly!
its ordered. not sure when it’ll ship though. i got the UT to ship. I wonder if its in the same box. ordered through a different shop which is why i’m not 100% sure.
Which shape did you grab again?
#1 Stroke Lab!
Oh that red SL is gonna be ?????
its gonna be a little match between faces. Toulon SD vs White Hot – both have stroke lab.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the new stroke lab, I like the changes they’re touting
The insert is as good as I remembered it. But the finish and attention to detail Odyssey put on these from a quality standpoint is next level.
It’s my favorite insert of all time, and I can’t wait to try it out again.
Im pumped they brought it back in such a classy way too. So well done, and I’ve long been super critical of Odyssey at times for their quality of finish.
i have a picture in my high school yearbook. me and the first white hot. Played all throughout the 3years i was on varsity. while this white hot will bring quite a bit of nostalgia back, i hope it’s the same just improved.
Nice thing is that they used the EXACT recipe and processes to make the inserts, very cool that they didn’t try to overthink it.
Initial thoughts: It sets up nicely and it has a nice feel, even with the range rocks they have in the putting area.
We’re returning to the range again tomorrow morning. I won’t neglect the putters this time.
That red Stroke Lab shaft is straight ??? too.
They’re as good as one could ever remember for sure. But in an aesthetic package that’s as high end as I’ve seen out of an odyssey putter. Not sure you’ll find anyone who thinks they look “cheap”, nothing that isn’t sleek and slick about them.
The only thing I don’t like is the look of the weight. I’ve disliked that look/design of the weight since it came out in the O Works I believe. That’s just a personal thing though but I agree with the rest of the package, it’s extremely well done.
That’s more than fair, I just chalk the weights up to that it lets the be interchangeable across models which is kinda nice for some I’m sure. But the milling lines and the finish are impeccable.
Do you know if there will be more options for lefties soon?
As far as the 1WS, 5, and Rossie? No clue, I know they went with the three most popular shapes for LH. Down the road, who knows!
Answer: buy both in the snow/cold
Are these interchangeable weights available for purchase?
Or are they going to be like the Toulon weights; they exist, but only tour players have access to them.
They’re the same weights as the Stroke Lab kits on their site:
Odyssey Standard Stroke Lab Weight Kit | Putter Weight Kits
http://www.odysseygolf.com
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oh my goodness. This beauty showed up today. I’ve never used a putter with a White Hot in it before. First impression is this thing is PURE. I’m like a kid at Christmas right now with this thing rolling putts. Not the best pictures but I’m having too much fun rolling this to take better ones lol
Welcome…to the most successful and best feeling insert of ALL time!
I can see what all the enthusiasm is about! It’s an addicting feel
I can see what all the enthusiasm is about! It’s honestly an addicting feeling hitting one pure
I know you were looking at a Chicago in the Toulon thread. Chicago is my favorite putter I’ve ever used which is why I went with the 1WS and I couldn’t be happier!
Now the question is Chicago or 1WS??? I’m sure it’s too early to tell.
But let me ask this. Is the 1WS wider than the Chicago? One reason I want a Chicago is because it isn’t all that wide. Plays like a blade with a little more forgiveness.
Definitely too early to tell. Especially since I’m only able to putt on a mat until late March early April. But I did just make 64 in a row from six feet so it’s making a really spectacular first impression!
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looks to be a smidge wider but it wouldn’t be noticeable unless they were side by side like right here
Thanks man. Looks to be a smidge longer as well. Odyssey seems to have nailed it with this line, and I typically hate putters with inserts.
I took another one just to make sure since my first one was just a quick one. Sorry about the shadows lolView attachment 8992872