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.
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…