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Spotted: A new Odyssey “Stroke Lab Three” prototype putter

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Correction: This story originally reported this putter was in Patrick Reed’s bag. After further investigation, it was not.

Spotted at the 2018 Tour Championship at East Lake was an Odyssey Stroke Lab Three prototype putter. The putter appears to have a milled head and Odyssey’s familiar White Hot Microhinge face insert.

Stroke Lab may be a familiar name for some who know the Stroke Lab putters from around 2017. Mostly only available in the Japan Domestic Market (JDM), the Stroke Lab putters weighed heavier in the head — about 15 grams — and lighter in the shaft (about 29 grams), according to descriptions from True Spec Golf.

Is this a sign of things to come from Odyssey, or just a one-off? It would seem given the familiar name that it’s more the former than the latter, but only time will tell. What do you think about the Stroke Lab Three putter? Do you think it will be available in America at some point?

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17 Comments

17 Comments

  1. Barry Boyd

    Oct 7, 2018 at 5:32 pm

    There hasn’t been a putter made in the last 25 years that I’ve found that gives you a real “pop” at impact…you want some “pop”, pick up a used Cleveland Ken Giannini putter. Wouldn’t trade mine for the world.

  2. TM

    Oct 5, 2018 at 2:38 pm

    What’s with the TM driver colorway?

  3. Walt Pendleton

    Sep 21, 2018 at 11:14 am

    Putters with softer insert can be taken too far causing a player to loose feel on longer putts. For me these softer inserts are harder to match ball speed with alignment on putts running over 10 on the stimp. Secondly, I don’t like the “dead hit” feeling at impact…it makes me feel like I missed the sweet spot on the putt, reducing feedback and therefore control on ball speed around the cup. Give me feel at impact thank you!

  4. Tom54

    Sep 19, 2018 at 5:51 pm

    I have a #7 odyssey with the micro hinge insert and I was wondering if anyone other than myself thinks it’s almost too soft. Most of the time it seems like I have to hit it harder. It’s definitely a soft feel. I definitely like the grey/black color scheme

  5. Tucsonsean

    Sep 19, 2018 at 12:34 pm

    Ping gets ripped off again–it looks like the old Ping Specify putter from the last decade, except with a few too many ‘bells and whistles.’

  6. NormW

    Sep 19, 2018 at 12:25 pm

    Putter reviews should always include a view of the top of the putter. That’s what you see when you use it.

  7. adan

    Sep 19, 2018 at 12:14 pm

    Looks like my #6 Odyssey with a different paint job. Not crazy about inserts. Prefer milled face.

  8. rolf

    Sep 18, 2018 at 11:51 pm

    Odyssey Stroke Lab Three Putt putters?

  9. D Mack

    Sep 18, 2018 at 8:46 pm

    This micro hinge insert is much better feeling than the original version. Glad to see it in different head selections. Could be good.

  10. Tom

    Sep 18, 2018 at 1:48 pm

    WOW!!! so different from anything else ever introduced, amazing!!!

  11. gunmetal

    Sep 18, 2018 at 8:46 am

    Liked it until I saw the face.

  12. uhgolfguy1

    Sep 17, 2018 at 10:52 pm

    Oh how the Ping Anser 4 has evolved over the decades. Lots of new bells and whistles but still the classic anser head shape.

    • Bart Broesamle

      Sep 18, 2018 at 3:04 pm

      The same old comment.Every blade style heal/toe weighted putter from hear to eternity will be a copy of a Ping.So,should we all get rid of our other putters and just play Ping because they were the first. That means all football players should go back to leather helments and we should go back to crank telephones.

      • Tucsonsean

        Sep 19, 2018 at 12:37 pm

        Sounds like someone who paid too much for a Scotty Cameron.

  13. Barkley Charles

    Sep 17, 2018 at 10:18 pm

    I hope so! I like what I see.

    • xox

      Sep 18, 2018 at 2:39 pm

      This has got to be the stupidest putter design with it’s silly face that tries to ‘hinge’ on to the ball. It should be banned from golf.

      • gunmetal

        Sep 27, 2018 at 12:28 am

        It’s just marketing fluff man. Don’t get too hot over it.

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/26/24): Artisan 0521 custom putter

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for an Artisan 0521 custom putter

From the seller: (@Nobody2): “$775 -Artisan 0521 custom putter PVD (black finish) with sweep neck hosel.  There are no personal stampings other than my player # in very small print on the side of the hosel (all Artisan products have this along with the date it was made). This putter looks absolutely amazing and has only been used for 3 rounds. It has a black steel shaft and has a very Cam Smith look to it.  The putter looks new and has no wear marks anywhere on the putter.  It comes with extra weights (one set of of 5 gram weights and one set of 15 gram weights). The head cover is a a navy blue ‘quilted blade putter cover.’  If you are wondering why I am selling…I flat out have the yips and the only thing saving me is a broomstick.  New, this putter is $1085, so if the specs work for you (grip, length and lie can certainly be tweaked) it will save you some good money and 2 month wait time.

Specs:

Loft               2.75  degrees
Lie                  69  degrees
Length           35.25″
offset             .300 slightly less than full shaft offset
head weight     350 grams
Toe Hang          20 degrees
Grip                   Ionic Classic Pistol”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Artisan 0521 custom putter

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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

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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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Whats in the Bag

Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)

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  • Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.

Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Black 80 TX

Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour Rescue (22 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 6.5 100

Irons: Srixon ZX7 Mk II (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Cleveland RTX6 ZipCore Tour Rack (50-10 MID, 54-10 MID, 58-10 MID, 60-06 LOW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Mid Tour Issue X100, S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron

Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4

Check out more in-hand photos of Alejandro Tosti’s WITB in the forums.

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