Our Odyssey Stroke Lab putters review took place at the brand’s launch event at their Carlsbad headquarters in California.
We spent time with their R&D team to get the lowdown on the new technology in the Stroke Lab putters which we have seen Phil Mickelson and Danny Willett, among others, using.
Back in Leeds, we went over to Moor Allerton to spend some time on the course with three of the new models.
Odyssey believe their Stroke Lab technology is a huge breakthrough and will improve the consistency of your putting.
But what is it? How does it work? And how is it going to finally put an end to your three-putting?
Odyssey Stroke Lab putters review: First impressions
Odyssey are the No. 1 putter brand on tour and much of that is down to the way they offer all their performance-enhancing technology in a wide range of head shapes.
They’ve focused a lot on alignment and face technology over the past few years.
They introduced the two-ball, black and white Versa tech, and more recently inserts like the white hot and microhinge versions.
All the while still having dozens of head shapes to choose from.
But now the brand, part of Callaway for those who didn’t know, have moved in a new direction focusing on shaft technology.
So the theory is that most putter brands, including themselves, have been focused on trying to improve the performance on mishits rather than focusing on improving the stroke and consistency of the stroke.
And their answer to that is their Stroke Lab shaft technology.
But what is it and how does it work?
Odyssey Stroke Lab putters review: The technology
The new Stroke Lab line of putters incorporates a method of weight distribution designed to improve the physical dynamics of the stroke.
This change in weight distribution made possible by an innovative new shaft.
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The Stroke Lab shaft is a full 40 grams lighter made possible by an innovative new multi-material design that combines a graphite body with a steel tip.
Most of the mass is concentrated in the tip but there’s two sole weights in the head and more added to the end of the grip.
Odyssey say the effect of this weight distribution is improvements in the consistency of backswing time, face-angle at impact, ball speed, and ball direction.
They say feel for the putter head becomes more acute, helping the golfer repeat the same, smooth stroke time after time.
The Stroke Lab line-up consists of 10 head shapes – six mallet and four blade – all with Odyssey’s newest White Hot Microhinge insert.
So that’s the lowdown on the technology involved, but how did these putters perform? Find out on the next page…
Odyssey Stroke Lab putters review: The results
I love the idea of these putters and if there’s not an Odyssey head shape you can get along with then I suggest you book yourself in for a lesson as soon as possible.
These also look premium as well which is an important factor considering the price.
I tested three head shapes – #7, #3 and a Double Wide – at Moor Allerton in December.
The greens were wet and slow but I was very impressed with how the ball was rolling and it wasn’t an effort to get it up to the hole at all.
Myself and the team have been doing a fair bit of indoor testing with these as well and everyone loves the feel off the face and the consistent roll.
Of the three head shapes, the #7 is the one for me as it has blade-like precision while still offering a bit of stability and forgiveness.
So does the Stroke Lab technology work?
Well, it’s far too early to draw any meaningful conclusions as I think you’d need to do a lot of testing with a Stroke Lab putter and compare the data with a putter which doesn’t include that tech.
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What I can say is that these three putters all seem to be working very well but we’d like to put them through their paces a bit more before concluding they are going to change our games.
So will the Odyssey Stroke Lab putter be going in our expert’s bag? Read his verdict on the next page…
Odyssey Stroke Lab putters review: NCG verdict
As well as out own testing we will also wait and see how many tour players put Stroke Lab putters in their bags – because if the technology works as well as Odyssey say then you’d be a fool not to use it right?
Either way, it’s nice to see a brand investing in trying to help golfers improve rather than just trying to improve the performance of their bad shots.
We’ll come back to you with results from some more in-depth testing later in the year.
The details
Heads available: #7, #7S, Marxman, Marxman S, 2-Ball Fang, 2-Ball Fang S, Red Ball, Red Ball S, Tuttle, Tuttle Flow, V-Line, V-Line ang S, V-Line CS, #2, #3; #9, Double Wide, Double Wide Flow
Lengths: 33-, 34- and 35-inch
SRP: £239/£269 (R-Ball and 2-Ball Fang)
On sale: February 8
More information can be found on the Odyssey website.
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