Odyssey blends a new insert and zero torque to help golfers enhance consistency

AI-assisted summary
• A new Ai-DUAL urethane face insert with angled grooves aims to improve distance control and create a more consistent roll.
• Odyssey's new S2S Tri-Hot putters are designed to minimize face rotation for a more stable putting stroke.
• The putters feature a forward center of gravity, achieved by adding a 140-gram tungsten weight to the front.

Gear: Odyssey S2S Tri-Hot putters

Price: $549.99 each, $599.99 (Jailbird Cruiser)

Specs: Multi-material mallet putters with tungsten weights and urethane inserts.

Available: Oct. 31 (pre-sale), Nov. 7 (in stores)

Who it’s for: Golfers looking for a better roll, enhanced distance control and the consistency of a zero-torque mallet in a Tour-inspired shape.

What you should know: The S2S Tri-Hot line uses multi-material constructions to move most of each putter’s weight forward, under the topline, which also shifts the center of gravity forward. The result is a zero-torque family of putters with reduced shaft lean that also benefits from a new, dual-urethane face insert.

The Deep Dive: Zero-torque putters like Odyssey’s Square 2 Square offerings attempt to do something that many golfers find challenging with their stroke — keep the rotation of the face to a minimum and help golfers get their putts started on the intended target line more often. If that goal is achieved, golfers should benefit from a steadier stroke and more predictable results without forcing a wholesale change in setup or aim.

With the development of the S2S Tri-Hot putters, Odyssey is taking things a step further by combining a better roll and enhanced distance control with the benefits of zero torque.

Odyssey has been using inserts for decades, with the popular White Hot insert over 20 years old, but the brand recently developed a new one, Ai-DUAL, with the help of artificial intelligence. It uses a soft outer urethane layer atop a firmer inner layer to fine-tune sound and feel. However, the real story with the Ai-DUAL insert is the addition of Forward Roll Design (FRD) grooves. Angled downward at 19 degrees, they help create topspin and work to get the ball rolling instead of skidding or bouncing, regardless of whether the impact is ideal or not.

According to Odyssey, the dual-urethane layers, combined with the roll-enhancing grooves, help golfers create a truer, more consistent roll while also improving distance control.

That feature could be helpful for any golfer, but the S2S Tri-Hot putters also feature zero torque and an updated look in the address position.

Odyssey research told the brand that one of the big reasons why golfers choose not to stick with zero torque putters (or never consider them at all) is that they don't like the look of putters with a significant amount of forward shaft lean or onset. But to create the zero-torque condition, the shaft of the putter has to enter the head right on the putter’s center of gravity (CG) location, which is typically slightly behind the hitting area and leading edge.

To get around that, Odyssey designers added 140 grams of tungsten weight to the front of the S2S Tri-Hot putters, split between heel and toe weights, and machined the back aluminum piece to be as light as possible. By relocating a significant percentage of the head's mass forward, under the topline, the CG shifts closer to the face, allowing the shaft of the S2S Tri-Hot putters to enter in the topline and for the shaft to go straight down from the golfer's hands instead of leaning back. This overcomes one of the significant barriers many golfers felt with zero-torque designs.

The rest of the S2S Tri-Hot putter details come straight from tour feedback. The Black PVD SL 120 shaft is heavier and stiffer than the SL 90 shaft that Odyssey has used in the past, and it is paired with a new mid-size Pistol Plus grip with crisper edges to improve hand placement awareness. For players who like a counterbalanced feel, the Jailbird Cruiser comes standard at 38 inches with a heavier head, a longer and heavier SL140 shaft, and a 17-inch grip. 

The lineup is tight and familiar: Rossie, #7, Jailbird, and Jailbird Cruiser. They are all mallets and shapes that already resonate with a wide range of players. Standard head weight is listed at 365 grams (Cruiser 385 grams), with 3 degrees of loft and a 72-degree lie angle. All of the putters are available in right-handed models, while the #7 is also available in a left-handed version.