Odyssey: Innovate or Die?

[xjohnx]

First off, I’m a solid Odyssey fan and have played a few O works models exclusively since their release. Even ordered a new one today. 
 

That said, I can’t help but notice how uninspiring their line has been lately. For a company that made hats, covers, bags etc with the slogan “innovate or die” only a few years ago, their two biggest things this year are a re-release of a 20 year old series and a TM Spider putter with their name on it. Not much innovation going on right now? 

Edited March 4, 2021 by xjohnx

[MattM97]

I mean people have been demanding/begging for the White Hot insert to come back, so they gave them what the customer wanted. They have also included their new Stroke Lab technology onto these putters. 

 

Not sure how much more innovations they can do. They've had how many different faces? How many different head shapes? How many different ideas? They have innovated but they can't go leaps and bounds, inch by inch is good enough as well. 

[meliaant]

I would consider them the most high-tech putter (mainstream) putter company out there, considering the other popular ones just milled chunks of steel.

[xjohnx]

Both fair points, I just say an old headcover with that slogan and it got me thinking. Ya know?

[MattUtah]

Who is more innovative than Odyssey? There are a few companies that hang their hat on one gimmick but I don’t think anyone is more innovative overall. 

[TwistedSister]

Why would I care if they don't change the putter?  I found the one that works..  Only the 5 th putter I have used in 52 years of golf... Will be with me until I am Dead!!

[MillerTime859]

Red Ball and the red and EVO both seemed to be a flop.  Seems like Truss, Ping’s adjustable shaft, etc have too.  

 

10 series is full of tech.  I think they’ll be a winner.
 

I think the OG series is great.  Timeless looks, classic shapes, great insert mixed with a stability staff and improved weight distribution within the classic shapes.

 

 

Edited March 5, 2021 by MillerTime859

[jomatty]

The blend of the 10 at the two ball seems like a winner... stroke lab shafts aren’t for everyone but it’s definitely doing something different.  I think there’s only so much you can do when the most popular putters are still basically the same thing ping was making in the 60s...

[Jota_Jota]

1 hour ago, dhacker56 said:

Why would I care if they don't change the putter?  I found the one that works..  Only the 5 th putter I have used in 52 years of golf... Will be with me until I am Dead!!

What putter is it?? 

[TwistedSister]

Odyssey 2 ball Fang

[03trdblack]

They messed up by not offering the white hot insert in the two ball ten though, especially when Rahm went with that insert. 

 

I like the hinge insert in terms of innovation but prefer the softer feel of the OG white hot. 

[ASN21]

They started going downhill when they lost Austie and Sean started taking over more, IMO.

[nsxguy]

7 minutes ago, 03trdblack said:

They messed up by not offering the white hot insert in the two ball ten though, especially when Rahm went with that insert. 

 

I like the hinge insert in terms of innovation but prefer the softer feel of the OG white hot. 

 

You think the white hot insert is softer than that in the 10 ?

[03trdblack]

7 minutes ago, nsxguy said:

 

You think the white hot insert is softer than that in the 10 ?

 

Direct quote from Odyssey:

 

"On the other hand, Odyssey believes the Microhinge Star to be their best-performing insert, so why abandon it? This insert is also very popular on Tour, likely because it features the firmest feel and promotes the most top spin. Obviously, you keep an insert like that around."

Edited March 5, 2021 by 03trdblack

[Jota_Jota]

2 hours ago, dhacker56 said:

Odyssey 2 ball Fang

Damn. I already tried that model 

[Dogman15]

That 2 ball fang is so good, particularly in a slant neck. I bought a brand new back up on eBay just in case... 

[roundersmitty]

14 hours ago, xjohnx said:

First off, I’m a solid Odyssey fan and have played a few O works models exclusively since their release. Even ordered a new one today. 
 

That said, I can’t help but notice how uninspiring their line has been lately. For a company that made hats, covers, bags etc with the slogan “innovate or die” only a few years ago, their two biggest things this year are a re-release of a 20 year old series and a TM Spider putter with their name on it. Not much innovation going on right now? 

You are familiar with the o works and ordered a new o works? IMO the o works was the bottom of the line on their offerings.  Since then the wh Microhinge, Microhinge star and original wh are all better were released.  The stroke lab many people swear by and now they added a more stable shaft. Toulon has many milled head options and lots of finishes to choose from.  They do take in public opinion and give people what they want 

[Scotty1140]

16 hours ago, xjohnx said:

First off, I’m a solid Odyssey fan and have played a few O works models exclusively since their release. Even ordered a new one today. 
 

That said, I can’t help but notice how uninspiring their line has been lately. For a company that made hats, covers, bags etc with the slogan “innovate or die” only a few years ago, their two biggest things this year are a re-release of a 20 year old series and a TM Spider putter with their name on it. Not much innovation going on right now? 

 

The answer is right in your own post. "Innovate or Die" was a slogan....a few years ago. Meaningless now. It's all about release cycles and what angle you're going to come from/push/promote. Regardless of a slogan, the goal is actually to sell the most putters more so than it is to make the best putters. What do we think is going to sell this time everyone? Innovation? Bringing back a classic? A continuation of the previous release? 

 

Also, I believe Sean Toulon owns a number of patents including the Spider putter. So at this point TaylorMade is kind of using HIS design.

 

 

[roundersmitty]

28 minutes ago, Scotty1140 said:

 

 

Also, I believe Sean Toulon owns a number of patents including the Spider putter. So at this point TaylorMade is kind of using HIS design.

 

 

Interesting to know.  I guess he designed it but TM owns the rights. Change one thing a little bit and it’s not copying anyways and patents run out fast.  Everyday when Odyssey puts out Facebook posts how many people are quick to jump on and say “spider copy”

Edited March 5, 2021 by roundersmitty

[MG_TX]

I think Odyssey is sitting on some built up credit and just coasting right now. Sean designed the spyder, so it was only a matter of time before Odyssey rolled out their version. I thought the EXO line and the micro hinge insert were great, but feel like the current WH Star insert took a step back. Bringing in the OG White Hot made a lot of sense since most tour players have that insert in other models, but like the OP I feel like they are hitting a bit of a wall in terms of offering anything new or revolutionary. The bigger issue imo was letting Austie go & that has cost them more than they probably care to admit. 

[nsxguy]

14 hours ago, 03trdblack said:

 

Direct quote from Odyssey:

 

"On the other hand, Odyssey believes the Microhinge Star to be their best-performing insert, so why abandon it? This insert is also very popular on Tour, likely because it features the firmest feel and promotes the most top spin. Obviously, you keep an insert like that around."

 

So is that a "Yes" ?

 

Actually that appears to be a direct quote from a writer, not Odyssey.

 

That aside, note the words "likely", and "firmest feel". Firmest feel compared to WHAT ? The article doesn't say. "Best performing insert" ? "performing" = "firmest" ?

 

Anywho, regardless what a machine might tell you about the firmness of an insert, "feel" may be the most subjective of all measurements vis-a-vis golf equipment.

 

To me, the White Hot OG insert feels firmer than the Ten's hinge insert. Whether or not that is literally true matters not at all,,,,,,,,,,, to me,,,,,,,,,,, YMMV

 

 

 

Edited March 5, 2021 by nsxguy

[ASN21]

2 hours ago, Scotty1140 said:

 

The answer is right in your own post. "Innovate or Die" was a slogan....a few years ago. Meaningless now. It's all about release cycles and what angle you're going to come from/push/promote. Regardless of a slogan, the goal is actually to sell the most putters more so than it is to make the best putters. What do we think is going to sell this time everyone? Innovation? Bringing back a classic? A continuation of the previous release? 

 

Also, I believe Sean Toulon owns a number of patents including the Spider putter. So at this point TaylorMade is kind of using HIS design.

 

 

He does not own the patent to the Spider lol

[Scotty1140]

You sure?

Edited March 5, 2021 by Scotty1140

[ctmason_98]

18 minutes ago, Scotty1140 said:

You sure?

There are more than 30 patents related to the Spider putter line. Some of which do not list Toulon as an inventor. 
 

Every one of the 31 individual applications and patents I searched are assigned to Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. 

[SkrappyHacker1]

They literally listened to and answered to exactly what customers have been wanting for years.

 

What's not to like about that?

[Scotty1140]

43 minutes ago, ctmason_98 said:

There are more than 30 patents related to the Spider putter line. Some of which do not list Toulon as an inventor. 
 

Every one of the 31 individual applications and patents I searched are assigned to Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. 

Good info thanks 

[cmporto10]

Give us a Toulon 2-Ball you cowards!

[Mitchell]

Well, Austie is no longer there so hardly surprising 🤔

[PEI_Golfer]

How many more Anser styled milled putters do we need before we can get a thread like that?  Where is the "innovation" in that?

 

They do rehash basically everything, but what else can you do.  They are really good at making horrible looking putters as well as good ones.  

[roundersmitty]

On 3/5/2021 at 10:04 PM, cmporto10 said:

Give us a Toulon 2-Ball you cowards!

You can get a Protype 2 ball Odyssey milled from carbon steel that came out 2012 I think.  Pick them up used for $50 and would feel close to a Toulon