What you need to know: Odyssey’s new S2S Tri-Hot putter lineup might look like a familiar face, but under the hood, it’s a total rethink of how a putter should feel, set up, aim and swing.
The putter brand that’s owned the No.1 spot on tour for a quarter of a century is pushing its zero torque concept forward – literally – with a design built to help golfers set up square, aim square and stay square throughout the stroke.
Introducing Tri-Hot Square 2 Square 🔥
A BREAKTHROUGH in Zero-Torque design. We moved the shaft forward so it aims and stays square without the need to forward press. pic.twitter.com/vifBQKwFaa
Price/availability: Tri-Hot Square 2 Square RRP: $899.99; RRP: $NZ1,069.99. Tri-Hot Square 2 Square Cruiser RRP: $999.99; RRP: $NZ1,169.99. The putter line-up will hit retail shelves on November 7.
3 Cool Things
1. Zero torque goes forward: Traditional zero torque putters have always required a slight forward press to return the face to square. Odyssey’s engineers decided to move the CG (centre of gravity) forward and shift the hosel closer to the face, eliminating the need for that extra move.
The result is a naturally square setup that feels intuitive from the first roll. More than 80 percent of the putter’s weight now sits above the topline, using a mix of aluminium, steel and more than 140 grams of tungsten – Odyssey confirmed there’s $50 worth of tungsten in each head – to lock down stability without deadening feel.
2. The new Tri-Hot insert: Inserts continue to rise in usage across all levels of the sport. According to Odyssey, putters featuring an insert rose from 52 to 65 percent of retail sales in the last year, reinforcing the belief that insert technology – more so than the zero torque craze – is what’s truly driving the modern putter renaissance, as golfers of every level chase that blend of soft feel, consistent speed and enhanced roll that insert designs uniquely deliver.
“If you don’t have an insert, you’re at a competitive disadvantage,” said Jacob Davidson, Odyssey’s general manager and Callaway’s VP of equipment product strategy. “With an insert, you’re able to bring more performance into the putter than you can do without an insert in a traditional milled putter.”
Odyssey’s technology has played a major role in the rise of inserts, beginning with the original White Hot and continuing into the all-new Ai Dual Insert, which doubles down on that heritage.
Designed with the same artificial-intelligence modelling found in Callaway’s drivers – 15,000 AI iterations and 72 physical prototypes were needed before landing on the final design – the dual-layer urethane structure blends a soft outer layer for feel with a firm inner layer for speed.
The forward-roll groove design also has a 19-degree slope and a deeper, more aggressive set-up that works in tandem with the construction to keep the ball hugging the surface longer, says the company, for a smoother roll and more consistent speed control. And the White Hot-esque click many players crave? It’s back as well.
3. Tour-tuned details: Sometimes it’s the subtleties that separate a good putter from a gamer. Odyssey equipped the S2S Tri-Hot with a new mid-sized pistol grip – born from tour pro feedback – to give better awareness of face position through the stroke.
The black PVD SL 120 shaft, stiffer and slightly heavier than Odyssey’s SL 90, enhances that stable feel and locks the head in place – without sacrificing touch.
