Odyssey’s 2023 Tri-Hot 5K putters ($399.99) will be available at retail on Feb. 3 and come standard with a multi-material Stroke Lab red shaft.
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The initial release of Odyssey’s Tri-Hot 5K putter line was meant to introduce blades with mallet-esque stability. More specifically, blades with an inertia level exceeding 5,000 IZZ — a measure of forgiveness that’s difficult to reach unless you’re talking about progressively shaped mallets like Odyssey’s Eleven.
A higher inertia level generally means less twisting on off-center strikes. Less twisting means a more consistent (square) face, regardless of contact location. Less stability used to be the tradeoff when deciding between a blade and mallet — until putters like 5K were introduced.
Having cracked the code on blades, Odyssey set out to raise the bar on mallets to a similar 5,000-plus inertia level. While not nearly as daunting, the rise in mallet usage made it necessary to give recreational golfers and pros multiple shapes within the Tri-Hot 5K line, including the popular Rossie and #7 winged mallet.
“We know that there are golfers who like mallets not just because they’re high MOI but because they help them align better, they’re more confidence-inspiring,” said Luke Williams, Odyssey’s senior director. “Whatever the case may be, mallets have become more popular than blades. And that’s true even of the best players in the world.”
Odyssey has noticed a massive shift in their own usage, particularly on Tour where the number has shifted to 70 percent mallets most weeks. With a high MOI blueprint already in place, Odyssey designers used similar materials to build Tri-Hot 5K Rossie and #7. The front section (hosel and face area) is milled from 303 stainless with a 6061 aircraft grade aluminum back piece that’s finish milled to exact shape and weight. Sandwiched between the two materials is a substantial piece of tungsten (upwards of 120 grams) that helps keep the center of gravity (CG) forward for a more consistent roll, while also improving insertia at the same time.
For golfers who don’t necessarily want to move into a progressive mallet, the additional mass makes it possible to reap the same stability benefits in two of the most popular mallet shapes ever created.
Odyssey’s White Hot insert can be found in both mallets — as well as the other five blades in the Tri-Hot 5K line — along with four different interchangeable heel-toe front weights (5, 10, 15 and 20 grams) to dial in overall head weight.
The Tri-Hot 5K Rossie is available in two neck options (double bend and slant); the #7 also comes in a double bend and slant, along with the popular crank hosel (also known as a “plumber’s” or “L-neck”). For blade users, the Double Wide will now be offered in a double bend, and the Triple Wide a center-shafted option as well.
Odyssey White Hot Versa and Tri-Hot 5K putters
“Crank hosels in the #7 style have become more popular over the last few years on Tour,” Williams said. “We’re seeing more of them not only from us but our competition as well.”
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