Odyssey Adds Ai-One Max to Square To Square Putter Line

Unless you don't spend much time playing golf, watching professional golf, or consuming golf content through any form of social media, there is a very good chance you've heard of zero-torque putters. But, if you're reading this, you probably have an idea of what I'm talking about.

But, for recap purposes, here's a little explainer: Zero-torque putters have a shaft axis that is positioned just marginally above the putter's center of gravity (which is part of the reason the shaft sits so far behind the face). This combination of putter CoG and shaft axis alignment helps to keep the putter face square to the path of the putting stroke to resist twisting and help the putter head stay on line into impact.

The result is a putter that works with your stroke, rather than against it.

Well, after successfully turning one of their most popular models - the Odyssey Jailbird (see above) into a Square-2-Square design, Odyssey is expanding the line once again to add new options with the Max and Max Stripe models.

Odyssey Max and Max Stripe

These new zero-torque putters from Odyssey are their most stable Square-2-Square designs yet and tip the scales at over 6300 g-cm2. This increase in MOI helps to generate extremely consistent ball speeds across the face, and when you add in the Ai-One insert, you putters that are easy to align and promote consistent distance control.

Just how much more consistent is the Ai-One insert?

Internal testing demonstarted that the insert helps produce putts that are 21% closer to the hole based on shots hit around the face. This is achieved by creating unique geometry behind the putter face (just like with the drivers) to limit ball speed loss.

(Behind the Ai-One Insert)

Speaking of alignment there are two options. The Max, which features a shorter alignment line towards the face, and the Max Stripe, which as the name suggests, has a ball width stripe that runs from the front to the back of the putter to go along with the shorter front line. In some ways the Max Stripe model is like Odyssey's triple track alignment on steroids.

The Elephant in the Room

Ok, so now that we've talked about these putters being zero torque, the Ai-One insert, and the built-in forgiveness, we need to have some real talk for a second about the design itself. First and foremost, I consider myself a journalist and I have to call it like I see it and I also have no plans to treat you, the reader, like you don't see it either.

The new Max and Max Stripe putters from Odyssey look a heck of a lot like LAB Golf's very popular DF3. It's a real "go ahead and copy my homework, but don't make it obvious" situation.

Now saying that, and acknowledging the fact that these new putters from Odyssey look a lot like those from LAB, I still believe they serve an important purpose in the market. Beyond the fact that they validate the LAB design, the Odyssey's also come in at a lower price point by maxing out at $400. The LAB DF3 starts at $450 and can quickly go up from there when you add in one of their graphite shafts or other custom options.

From my experience, and listening to golfers ask questions about Zero Torque putter designs, a lot of golfers are curious but fear the investment. Now I'm not saying that saving 50 bucks off a stock putter putter build is a reason to buy, but it could help a few more golfers find a putter that fits them better.

And, if you're ready for a little inside baseball, I have a feeling that some of this was push and pull from some of the biggest retailers in golf asking Callaway/Odyssey if they could produce "LAB like" putter design but at a lower price point to maybe entice consumers. I certainly don't know this for fact, but I wouldn't be surprised either.

My Take

At the end of the day, it's all about creating options for the consumer, and if Odyssey (Callaway) believes this is the best way to create more options for golfers, while offering their exclusive technology to help with distance control and improve feel, then its a win for golfers in my book.

Not only that, but the geometry of the MAX (which is really what were talking about here anyway) serves a technical purpose the same way a bumper style blade; Ping Anser, Scotty Cameron Newport, Odyssey 1, etc, does. The large rounded back area counters the mass at the front of the blade to allow the putter to balance in a zero-torque configuration. LAB achieves it with a hole in that section, while Odyssey's design is solid. This differientates the Odyssey and allows the Stripe model to have a large single alignment aid.

Price and Availability

So after all of that, here are the nuts and bolts details on the new Square-2-Square Max putters: They're available online and in-store today, May 9th, are priced at $400, and are available in right and left-handed.

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