Decline of Odyssey putters

[nova6868]

For several years now I have routinely gone to the store to check out the new lines of Odyssey putters. I used to really like Odyssey. They release lots of shapes, lots of different families, but now I end up disappointed with every single one of them. They have great ideas here and there but they can’t seem to combine them into a single putter. They always miss the mark somehow. Not only this but the quality control is sketchy, some of them sit flush on the floor but many of them don’t. Many of them sit very closed or open. Who's going to buy those? I’m not sure what in the build process is going wrong, but I don’t see this with other putter brands like Bettinardi, PING, TM, etc. So aside from sorting out their QC issues I think they need to combine some of their better designs with their popular inserts. They need to get back on track - Oh no please not Triple Track that's the wrong track.

 

Here’s my idea: White Hot Exo Stroke Lab 7s. Or just shorten the name and call it White Hot 7s. You could make other popular shapes like the 7s Mini, Rossie, Ten, #2, Double Wide, whatever. It has the WHP insert that all their touring pros seem to want, and has the EXO aluminum center section to boost MOI. The EXO was a really good design idea and they looked sharp in person – aside from the red. So here’s the kicker, much like TM and others do with customization – Let people make custom orders and decide what color they want the aluminum section to be. I think the original being bright red scared some people away, much like the current Triple Track design can be distracting. They get your attention in the store with all the bold colors but I don’t see many people actually buying them. If they can’t do the customization program then just make it black or grey.

 

[caniac6]

I recently got a Stroke Lab V Line putter, and have had two rounds with 5 birdies. Not on the decline as far as I'm concerned. 

[MattUtah]

If anything they have gotten better recently. New star insert feels great. Triple track isn’t a gimmick either but if you can’t stand it the black series looks great. 

[MattM97]

Here's the thing, in store especially big box golf store there are a lot of customers who don't have respect for anything and they'll bang around putters and what not especially kids who don't know any better. Those clubs get all out of whack on loft and lie and then you come along and can actually see it's not correct, this isn't Odyssey's fault it's just a byproduct of the putters environment in the store. 

 

As for loosing their way well I don't think that's going on. Still plenty of people buying Odyssey putters, lots of pros playing them as well, the Toulon line is getting more and more popular on tour and with hackers like us. 

[collindm1]

I think they're very hit and miss. I wouldn't say a decline. I'd say toulon line is very solid - not a Scotty, but a great putter - and I like some of their very simple white hot pro lines. I've never really been a fan of their grips, but they aren't awful. I think the EXO and Toulon putters are very, very good putters. I do think they get gimmicky and sometimes their putters feel a bit cheap and not as well balanced as they should be for the pricing. Not bad putters, just not as aesthetically pleasing as some, not as good of a feel, etc. Most of the pros are going with the original white hot insert and toulon putters now - very rare to see the new tech in play, although I've seen quite a few stroke labs in play...with white hot inserts. I think the pros have it right, stroke lab, with white hot insert or toulon putter with stroke lab.

[ZettyMcGoo]

I love the Toulon line but you didnt really mention that. 

[fujiman.757]

Toulon garage line is amazing a tour chocolate chicago H1 neck just kicked my Scotty to the curb feel is amazing!!!

[noodle3872]

Love my Odyssey putters. I have 4 different putters that all get time in the bag. I’m hoping Toulon does standard milling on the face soon as the diamond milling feels too soft to me. I suppose I could get use to diamond milling if I had to. Quite often I jones for a Las Vegas. 

[OrangeGravy]

I've played a white ice for a few years and liked the old white hot/pro putters. It seems like it always comes back to the insert with Odyssey. I understand thinking you need to keep coming up with something new, but they should've kept the innovation to the head shapes and shaft stuff. The inserts should only change when they really got a hold of something good that was widely adopted on tour. When everyone on tour uses the new head shapes with old inserts, it's hardly a selling point. I'm sure the "masses" just buy it and don't really care, but any discerning golfer will be annoyed by that. 

[hd.softail]

Definitely agree on some level, some of my gripes...

-Most pros play the White Hot insert, why not just keep that insert if it works so great?

-Why not offer the putters with our without a stroke lab shaft? They used to do this? For a guy who uses a putter at 33 3/4", I can't just simply cut down a stroke lab shaft.

-They finally reintroduced the Rossie head design and now it's already gone from the line-up.

 

Honestly though I think many of the MFGs have made bad changes to just make changes. I'd prefer they go with the concept, don't fix what's not broke!

-Scotty finally went back to milled and got rid of his insert. Not sure what he's doing with these deep ports and heavier (and expensive) weights though.  MOI on a blade, REALLY?

-Ping has been through at least 6 inserts in the last 10 years. Personally I REALLY liked that blue G5i insert they had, very similar to the white hot.

-Taylormade has killed it with the Spider but I have no idea what they are doing with this FCG, that thing will fail miserably. Bring back the copper and navy colors!

-Evnroll - get some adjustable weights in your putters and you'll kill it! a $400 putter should have adjustable weights.

-Bettinard - see Evnroll

[TheMoneyShot]

Loved the old “white hot” Odyssey putters and the newer Tank models.  I have not looked at Odyssey since they stopped making the Tank. Glad I stocked up on the older models. 

[thezinfan]

The worst quality putters from major companies is the TM Spider. I have 2, love them, but they are easily the worst quality golf clubs I've ever owned. The silver paint flakes off if you look at it wrong. But I've never putted better. Kinda hoping Toulon makes a fully machined non-painted spider style. I think the only current machined Spider style is the SIK FLO.

[RH82]

3 hours ago, thezinfan said:

The worst quality putters from major companies is the TM Spider. I have 2, love them, but they are easily the worst quality golf clubs I've ever owned. The silver paint flakes off if you look at it wrong. But I've never putted better. Kinda hoping Toulon makes a fully machined non-painted spider style. I think the only current machined Spider style is the SIK FLO.

The old ones were bad but I find the Spider X way better. I've got a ton of use on mine and no paint issues thus far.

[nsxguy]

20 hours ago, MattM97 said:

Here's the thing, in store especially big box golf store there are a lot of customers who don't have respect for anything and they'll bang around putters and what not especially kids who don't know any better. Those clubs get all out of whack on loft and lie and then you come along and can actually see it's not correct, this isn't Odyssey's fault it's just a byproduct of the putters environment in the store.

 

That's a byproduct of how the store manages itself. And I believe that's the exception, not the rule.

 

Biggest selection and putting green (in store of course) I've even seen is the PGATSS in Delray Beach and they have kids putters,,,,,, for the kids,,,,,,, and I can't say I've ever seen an adult mistreat a putter; other than maybe putting it back in the rack a bit carelessly; on top of another one.

 

Ironically, the V-Line putter craniac mentioned ? That model has been around for quite a while. I actually like the head, but the face-balanced version has NEVER sat flat on the floor behind the ball. It's always sat "closed". ALL versions that I've tried out.

 

I'm pretty sure there have been others, and from other manufacturers, but offhand I can't recall which ones.

 

 

[OrangeGravy]

6 hours ago, nsxguy said:

 

That's a byproduct of how the store manages itself. And I believe that's the exception, not the rule.

 

Biggest selection and putting green (in store of course) I've even seen is the PGATSS in Delray Beach and they have kids putters,,,,,, for the kids,,,,,,, and I can't say I've ever seen an adult mistreat a putter; other than maybe putting it back in the rack a bit carelessly; on top of another one.

 

Ironically, the V-Line putter craniac mentioned ? That model has been around for quite a while. I actually like the head, but the face-balanced version has NEVER sat flat on the floor behind the ball. It's always sat "closed". ALL versions that I've tried out.

 

I'm pretty sure there have been others, and from other manufacturers, but offhand I can't recall which ones.

 

 

I like the v-line head also. I actually demoe'd the R-Line arrow and loved that head to,very similar, but it sat closed as well when soled. 

[hondarob]

Why not just make your own putter with all of the best aspects! I am currently putting together a Versa 2 with a white hot insert.  Also i have pulled the shaft and will be replacing it with an atmos red 6 i have cut to fit.  The head weight will remain the same and you can pick up older odyssey putters for reasonable prices on ebay to use the insert.  Just my 2 cents.  

[RainShadow]

On 9/17/2020 at 7:48 AM, thezinfan said:

The worst quality putters from major companies is the TM Spider. I have 2, love them, but they are easily the worst quality golf clubs I've ever owned. The silver paint flakes off if you look at it wrong. But I've never putted better. Kinda hoping Toulon makes a fully machined non-painted spider style. I think the only current machined Spider style is the SIK FLO.

Yep, the TM Spiders just feel cheap in hand. The paint chips easily as well. They are overpriced for a made in China product, too.

They seem to be popular with their tour players, and I kinda like the roll. They just seem chinsey to me.

As for Odyssey, the new insert is a step up from the last one, for sure, but they just put out too much product. slow it down a little......

 

[MattUtah]

People on here love to talk about how much they love the old white hot pro putters. Guess what? You can still buy the WHP 2.0 models for $100 bucks. They aren’t selling very well. 
 

A few months back I put a like new mint condition WHP 1 original model with the PRO insert on the sale forum for $90 and I kept getting lowball offers of like $50 shipped. I said screw it and just took it off the ad and kept it. However, I’ve sold 3 stroke labs for full asking price. People want to buy new tech. Forum posters here are the outliers. New Odyssey’s are selling great. 

Edited September 18, 2020 by MattUtah