Equipment

Odyssey’s new Red Ball putter is built for better alignment

Published

6 years ago

Jul 10, 2018

A 5,000-plus MOI face balanced mallet, Odyssey’s new Red Ball putter pushes the limits of MOI for maximum putter stability. Odyssey has gone with the popular White Hot RX insert for the Red Ball’s face, coupling it it with high-contrast Versa alignment technology.

The centerpiece of the Red Ball is, as the name suggests, a red ball in the scope of the putter, which offers immediate feedback to let players know when they’re set up properly (and consistently).

Sean Toulon, Odyssey general manager and senior vice president at Callaway Golf told Golf Digest’s Mike Stachura, “We think it satisfies a definite need in the marketplace,” he said. “I guess there’s never really been a super game improvement putter that’s come to the marketplace, but that’s kind of what this is.”

Odyssey says helping players to set up to the ball and align to their intended target lines are the key focuses with the new Red Ball.

“We’ve put a distinct Red Ball inside the scope of the putter so that it’s incredibly easy to align the face to the intended start line on every putt,” the company says.

Exhibit A: Improper alignment

Exhibit B: Proper alignment

“It’s not just that golfers get in an improper setup, it’s that their setup changes from round to round, and sometimes from hole to hole,” said Luke Williams, Odyssey’s senior director of product and brand management for putters. “When you get the ball too far forward, you tend to aim left, and if you get it too far back, you tend to aim right. Having your eyes too far inside the ball or too far outside the ball affects the way you see the line as well.”

The Red Ball is available at retail 7/20 for $179.99.

Click here for more photos and discussion.

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24 Comments

topsuggests

Sep 13, 2018 at 12:39 pm

I really like your awesome idea that you have given here. thank you so much

Reply Report comment
Joe

Aug 21, 2018 at 11:46 pm

Getting awful technical nowadays. Whats next, an Iron Byron putting machine?

Reply Report comment
The voice of reason

Aug 14, 2018 at 10:31 am

the hater-aide is strong in this group…what gives? Sheesh I tried the thing at the pro shop the other day and it feels a lot like a TM spider another ugly duckling that seems to work well, the algnment aide is helpful- gives you confidence and one less thing to worry about. If the ball goes in the hole- it’s a good putter.

Reply Report comment
jim

Jul 16, 2018 at 3:43 pm

My local pro let me use one at the hallway demo day a month ago. Really nice feel, really easy to putt. Its a bit more hectic than most but t thought it worked well. And what putter is under $200 these days?

Reply Report comment
shawn

Jul 12, 2018 at 2:48 pm

If you want to slobber over this ridiculous putter, go to the WRX main forum where all the geerheeds post their twitter-sized blurts reflecting their feeeelings and love for their clubs…. and post their WITB goodies they polish daily and play once monthly.

Reply Report comment
Jack

Jul 12, 2018 at 12:14 am

Time and again new clubs have made us all better (looking) golfers. Buy on people!

Reply Report comment
Jim McPherson

Jul 11, 2018 at 11:56 am

People don’t want to practice putting. They are continually told they can buy a better putter that will fix their lack of skill. Sadly, they will buy this gimmick.

Reply Report comment
- shawn
  
  Jul 12, 2018 at 2:45 pm
  
  Red ball… the height of stupidity that gullible golfers will buy because their clubs are simply toys to own and flaunt to other equally gullible golfers.
  
  Reply Report comment
David

Jul 10, 2018 at 7:13 pm

I’ve always been drawn to ugly putters. I was an early adopter of the Directed Force putter, which means, sadly, I will likely buy one of these….

Reply Report comment
ogo

Jul 10, 2018 at 3:25 pm

This is a 99% zinc die cast putter… except for the red ball which is made of rare-earth metal called “neodymium” as a spherical magnet that interacts with the earth’s geomagnetic field and stabilizes the putter against gravity. Most of the world’s commercial neodymium is mined in China… where the putter head is made no doubt.

Reply Report comment
ogo

Jul 10, 2018 at 3:15 pm

You must align the red ball to the ring only with the dominant eye because that’s the only eye that provides true alignment vision. Do not open both eyes after alignment otherwise you will lose it in the backstroke. Open both eyes after you start the putting motion and focus on the ball and only the ball. It’s an eye switcheroo putting method.

Reply Report comment
- bob
  
  Jul 10, 2018 at 11:26 pm
  
  Not only that, once the putter is moved into the stroke all alignments are lost and there is no guarantee that alignment at address will assure alignment at impact. If you can’t align your body to the putter and the putting line, you are pathetically incompetent.
  
  Reply Report comment
cody

Jul 10, 2018 at 3:04 pm

at over 200 dollars, i am not seeing these sell over the Oworks, or exos.. not sure why this is needed. they have some great putters out right now.

Reply Report comment
- rymail00
  
  Jul 10, 2018 at 8:14 pm
  
  I believe it said at the bottom it comes out July 20 at $179.
  
  Reply Report comment
Te

Jul 10, 2018 at 12:42 pm

That red ball is too small, I need a bigger one so I can see. Wait – Ill just make one and call it Blue Ball – get it? lmao

Reply Report comment
Golf64

Jul 10, 2018 at 11:50 am

Only thing I like about this putter is the insert. The rest is ugly and too busy for me!

Reply Report comment
alexdub

Jul 10, 2018 at 11:28 am

Try suing us now SeeMore

Reply Report comment
- Rob
  
  Jul 11, 2018 at 12:03 pm
  
  This wins the internet today!!
  
  Reply Report comment
greg taylor

Jul 10, 2018 at 11:02 am

The Two ball and #7 looked hideous as well. Now look at them. #1 and #2.

Reply Report comment
coops

Jul 10, 2018 at 10:52 am

“I guess there’s never really been a super game improvement putter that’s come to the marketplace…..” – is this GM & Vice President ignorant, stupid or just lazy?

Ping Doc 17 from 2004 just to give one example… MOI > 10,000.

Pic any Seemore to see where these geniuses got their revolutionary alignment concept from.

Reply Report comment
moses

Jul 10, 2018 at 9:46 am

Gimmucks sell.

Reply Report comment
pkn17003

Jul 10, 2018 at 7:54 am

Looks hideous

Reply Report comment
- ogo
  
  Jul 10, 2018 at 3:28 pm
  
  …. but it’s a godsend for golfers struggling on the greens. Finally a Super Game Improvement putter for the golffing masses who can’t putt worth a snot… 😉
  
  Reply Report comment
- faq
  
  Jul 10, 2018 at 6:16 pm
  
  Hideous sells…. golfers want to own anything that will get a yuk from buddies… like clubhead covers that look like tigers, colleges, brand logos. Golfers are gullible suckers.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

14 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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