If you thought Odyssey was done adding models to its popular Ai-One line for next year, you’d be mistaken.
Instead, the company is releasing perhaps its most intriguing set of additions to the line with the three Ai-ONE Square 2 Square putters.
Here are some things to know about Odyssey’s new Ai-ONE Square 2 Square putters.
Zero torque putters
The biggest difference between the Ai-ONE Square 2 Square putters and their cousins (in the standard Ai-ONE and Ai-ONE Milled lines) is a center-shafted design where the toe of the putter hangs up, instead of down or square to the ground in a face-balanced putter. This is achieved by placing the center of gravity of the putter on the same plane as the shaft, as opposed to the toe side of it.
Because of this, the putter has an aversion to twisting and rotating throughout the stroke, which is known as a “zero torque” design. Zero torque-designed putters have somewhat notably gained traction on the PGA Tour over the past few seasons.
While some players like to see and feel the putter face rotate in an arc throughout the stroke, zero torque putters like the new Square 2 Square line promote a putter face that stays square throughout the entire stroke.
This also helps players who often try to manipulate the face through impact by self-correcting itself and staying square without any input from the player.
Built-in forward press
A traditional putter has about three degrees of loft, but the new Ai-ONE Square 2 Square putters actually have more than six degrees of loft built in. That’s because the shaft is placed at an angle building in a forward press.
When golfers who have a forward press in their stroke move their hands forward, the face of the putter tends to open before the putter head even starts moving. By leaning the shaft forward and getting the hands ahead to start, it ensures the putter head will start square to target and stay there and it aligns your hands with the face, helping promote the zero torque properties.
Ai-ONE Technology
Just like the original Ai-One models and the eight new ones released last month, the Ai-ONE Square 2 Square putters feature an Ai-designed insert which is modeled to a White Hot Urethane surface to promote consistent ball speeds across the face.
However, due to the placement of the shaft directly behind the insert, the window allowing players to view the Ai-created contours of the insert is covered.
Also from the standard Ai-ONE lines, the putters come with Stroke Lab SL90 counterbalanced steel shafts and a navy PVD finish. However, the Jailbird model features the company’s popular Versa alignment pattern.
Most popular models first
Odyssey is releasing the Square 2 Square line by bringing zero torque technology to three of its most popular models.
The Ai-ONE Square 2 Square Double Wide, #7 and Jailbird ($299) are all available for pre-order on Friday, Nov. 15 with the putters arriving at retail locations on Nov. 29.
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