Professional golfers use Odyssey putters the most. In 2023, eight major wins across all tours were made with these putters. The company says that its new Ai-One line is “changing the face of putting” and is widely thought to make some of the best putters possible.
Anyone can use the brand-new Ai-One and Ai-One Milled putters, no matter how good they are at the game. The Ai-One line has seven heads, some of which come with different hosel shapes. The Ai-One Milled range also has seven heads, and the famous Odyssey #7 type has two different hosel shapes.
Now, what’s new about this new Odyssey release? You can guess what it is because it’s called AI. Some of the best drivers on the market are made by Callaway, which is the leader in artificial intelligence. Now, Odyssey has used those super-computing powers to make what it calls “the most advanced insert in golf.”
The unique curves on the back of the face of the multi-material design keep the ball’s speed from dropping on off-center hits and make the sweet spot much bigger. Odyssey says that Ai-One makes putts that are up to 21% closer to the hole.
Read More: What you need to know about Odyssey Ai-One putters.
Odyssey added a White Hot Urethane to the hitting surface to give it their famous White Hot feel that players have loved for years. The back of the insert is made of aluminum.
In September, Jon Rahm tried out the new Ai-One Rossie S at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. This was the first time golf fans got a look at the lineup.
I could have chosen any of the Ai-One putters to review, but I chose the Rossie S. It’s good enough for me if it’s good enough for “Rahmbo.” A slant neck (‘S’) is available, and a double bend (‘DB’) version of the Rossie will be available in February 2024.
Even though the Rossie isn’t as big and heavy as some of the other best mallet putters, I like the round shape, and the back of the head has enough meat to make it one of the most flexible putters. A mallet putter gives me more flexibility when I’m out on the course, but I often wish I was good enough to use a blade putter. We do get good results when we practice with them.
There’s no doubt that all of the putters in both the Ai-One and Ai-One Milled lines look amazing. They have that “wow factor” that you only see in the best Odyssey putters. The blue PVD finish looks a bit different from other styles, and it does make the product look very high-end.
Read More: Five of the best golf clubs for people with high handicaps in 2023.
The Ai-One line has a window behind the face that shows off the shape of the insert on the back. This window is made of automotive-grade material, which means it won’t scratch and gives you a good look at what’s going on behind you. This window won’t help you make more putts, but it’s cool to see what’s going on “behind the curtain,” and I like this feature a lot. This window is only on the Ai-One line. The Ai-One Milled putters, such as the Ai-One Milled Two T putter, do not have it. I also did tests.
With the Ai-One putters, Odyssey has done just that. The goal is to make sure that even your bad shots get closer to the hole. Because I’m not a supercomputer, I can’t say for sure if this worked for me because it’s hard for humans to measure results. It figures out where most bad hits go off the face and then creates a face that can lessen the damage from those off-center hits.
With the Ai-One putters, Odyssey has done just that. The goal is to make sure that even your bad shots get closer to the hole. Because I’m not a supercomputer, I can’t say for sure if this worked for me because it’s hard for humans to measure results.
For the most part, though, my time with the Rossie S was great. I played it for the first time at Hurlston Hall in West Lancashire, which is my home course. I spent an hour on the putting green before playing nine holes quickly. I’ve also put it through a lot of tests at home on my fake grass putting green.
When used with a softer golf ball, I loved how it felt off the face. While putting with a Callaway Chrome Soft golf ball, I found it a bit too hard for my taste. But when using golf balls with a slightly lower compression, I loved the buttery feel and how quick it was. I really liked how easy it was to control the distance, and the roll was smooth and true. I think the supercomputer is to blame for that.
When I held the Rossie S, it felt a little lighter than usual, but that wasn’t because of the head. The toe hang is strong at 46 degrees. The light SL 90 steel shaft is a big reason for this. It levels out the weight in the butt end and lets you really feel the putter head as you hit it.
The head also has front weights that can be switched out. You can pick from 5, 10, 15, or 20-gram weights to get the feel you want.
Overall, this is a great putter from Odyssey. They keep raising the bar when it comes to how putter technology changes. It’s easy to see why Rahm put this in his bag right away, but I think it’s also one of the best putters for people with high handicaps.
It’s much cheaper to buy putters in the Ai-One line than the Ai-One Milled. Because of this, I think they’ll be some of the most popular putters in 2024.
