Equipment

WRX Spotlight: Odyssey EXO 2-Ball putter

Published

5 years ago

Feb 22, 2019

Product: Odyssey EXO 2-Ball putter

Pitch: The company united three technologies in one putter — EXO, Stroke Lab, and 2-Ball — to maximize forgiveness and ease of alignment.

Our take on the Odyssey EXO 2-Ball putter

Odyssey brought out the EXO line of putters just about a year ago. The EXO line is the pursuit of ultimate forgiveness. Like the previous EXO putters, the long awaited 2-Ball uses 17-4 Stainless steel on the perimeter and a lightweight 6061 Aluminum center structure. Not only does this design move weight to the outside of the putter, it also moves the CG lower in the club head.

I will start by saying that I have never been a big 2-Ball fan. For whatever reason, the 2-Ball alignment aid has never fit my eye, I tend to be a bigger fan of straight sight lines. To me, the EXO 2-Ball seems to be the best looking 2-Ball Odyssey has produced in its long history. I think it might be the outside structure around the 2 Ball alignment that helps it fit my eye. If you are a 2-Ball fan, then the EXO should be an easy transition into your bag. The darker perimeter structure goes well with the red aluminum and white circles. The EXO 2-Ball also comes with Odyssey’s new Stroke Lab multi-material shaft.

On the green, the EXO 2-Ball really does have the feeling of being extremely stable through the stroke. I have tried a couple different Stroke Lab models, and that tech does help slow my tempo, making me a little more confident on those short breaking putts. The EXO 2 Ball has Odyssey’s White Hot Microhinge insert that was created to offer a very soft feel while promoting better forward roll and less skidding.

The White Hot Microhinge insert is a little soft for my liking. But again, insert sound and feel is very personal, and if you like a little softer feel and sound the White Hot Microhinge will please your senses. I didn’t notice a huge difference in initial roll or skidding, the ball went exactly where I aimed. The EXO 2-Ball is pretty much point and shoot, if you read the line right the ball goes in the hole!

It is a face-balanced putter, and during the stroke this putter almost eliminates twisting of the head. The EXO 2-Ball really shines on mishit accuracy as well. Shots struck on both the heel and toe tracked towards the target, only missing the cup by small amounts. Distance on those mishits did drop more than I anticipated, barely making it to the cup. The feel on those toe and heel hits also has a firmer feel and I think that is a good thing, adding to responsiveness.

Overall the EXO 2-Ball is a very stable and forgiving putter. And on the whole, players looking for something to help with their putting accuracy should really give the EXO line a try.

Odyssey’s EXO 2-Ball will hit retail on March 29, and it’s available for pre-sale on March 15.

More photos of/discussion in the putter in the forums.

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Equipment

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

Published

4 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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