Wait -- there is a method to their madness. The idea is twofold: 1) To increase your line of sight by getting the shaft out of your view, and 2) To force you to move your hands forward, which is key to stroking a putt that has top spin and starts rolling sooner as opposed to skidding.
I like the Backstryke idea, but not with the blade-style putter. You can get the Backstryke design in their popular 2 Ball design and the Marxman. Both of these putters have a high MOI and are extremely stable and roll the ball true.
My favorite of the three is the Backstryke Marxman because of the line drawn on for alignment. That being said, if you can wait until Odyssey adds more Backstryke putters, I would hold out for the Backstryke 2 Ball putter with a line. Or you can just try and draw your own line on it. However, I tried this on their traditional 2 Ball putter, and it didn't turn out so well because the marker bled through.
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This Backstryke design is another one of those designs that after I looked at it, I wondered why I didn't come up with it. Odyssey has attached the putter shaft to the back of the putter head. The idea is twofold: 1) To increase your line of sight by getting the shaft out of your view, and 2) To force you to move your hands forward, which is key to stroking a putt that has top spin and starts rolling sooner as opposed to skidding.
Currently Odyssey has three Backstyke putters that you can choose from: this Marxman, a Two Ball, and a Blade. For me, the best ones are the mallet style because they are more stable than the blade, and frankly I can't get used to the way the blade looks. Of the two mallets, I like this Marxman because it has a better alignment aid.
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The Backstryke is another great idea. Odyssey has taken their two-ball putter and attached the putter shaft to the back of the putter head. You have to check this out -- it isn't just a gimmick!
First, with the shaft in the back, you now have more visibility of the ball and your line. The new site line is definitely a little weird at first but once you try it, you may never go back to your traditional putter.
The thing I like best about the putter is it forces you to get your hands forward and start your stroke with a forward press. For those of you who don't know what a forward press is -- your world is about to change. The forward press is when you start your stoke by moving your hands forward. This gets your hands in the correct position, leading the putter head. Your hands should always lead the putter head because this imparts a bit of top spin on the ball and gets the ball rolling sooner and skidding less, resulting in a truer roll.
At the time of this review, the Backstryke design is available in three different putters: the Two Ball, the Marxman, and a Blade Putter. I like the Marxman the most because it has a great alignment aid, and the Two Ball has none. The Blade putter just looks too weird.
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This #7 is from Odyssey's new White Ice line. Touted as their most responsive insert to date, Odyssey constructed this line after getting feedback from PGA Tour pros. The pros are looking for responsiveness, resiliency, and consistency, and that is what Odyssey has very effectively constructed.
The #7 is a modified mallet with weighted alignment wings, and a double-bend shaft with a full shaft offset. The insert is multi-layered and has been roughened to create a better sound when stroking through putts with soft golf balls. What's more is the rough texture also increases friction so that the ball is gripped and comes off the face smoothly as opposed to jumping or skidding.
Finally, the White Ice line has a dark nickel finish for a pleasing look that reduces glare. And tour-tuned weight ports in the sole are used to balance the putter depending on the shaft length.
I don't usually putt with these big mallets because I like the feel of a blade putter better for stroking those longer putts. I would recommend the Odyssey White Ice #1 Putter.
However, this #7 putter is the one to go with for making more of those short knee knockers!
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This Rossie Putter is part of Odyssey's new White Ice line. Touted as their most responsive insert to date, Odyssey constructed this line after getting feedback from PGA Tour pros. The pros are looking for responsiveness, resiliency, and consistency, and that is what Odyssey has very effectively constructed.
The Rossie is a face-balanced mallet with a double-bend shaft and a full offset. The insert is multi-layered and has been roughened to create a better sound when stroking through putts with soft golf balls. What's more is the rough texture also increases friction so that the ball is gripped and comes off the face smoothly as opposed to jumping or skidding.
Finally, the White Ice line has a dark nickel finish for a pleasing look that reduces glare. And tour-tuned weight ports in the sole are used to balance the putter depending on the shaft length.
The Rossie Putter is a tried-and-true design that had been used by Pros on all the tours. I would recommend it to every level of golfer.
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This W.I. #1 putter has a classic head shape with clean lines and an offset shaft. The insert is multi-layered and has been roughened to create a better sound when stroking through putts with soft golf balls. What's more is the rough texture also increases friction so that the ball is gripped and comes off the face smoothly as opposed to jumping or skidding.
Finally, the insert is very light, saving weight to be placed in the rear of the club and giving the putter a lower center of gravity. And tour-tuned weight ports in the sole are used to balance the putter depending on the shaft length.
I really like this putter, and it's hard to believe that it doesn't sell for a lot more money. This has all the tremendous feel and look of a Scotty Cameron without the high price tag. I would recommend this blade putter for feel putters that use the "open and close the gait" type of stoke.
For a game-improving, mallet-style putter, look for the modified mallet White Ice #7 putter, or the face-balanced White Ice Rossie mallet putter.
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Let me talk a minute about what makes this club "Tour Quality." The White Hot Tour series features a bronzed tour finish which reduces glare. It has "tour-tuned" weight ports in the sole which Odyssey uses to optimize the weight proportionally to the shaft length. The Tour Insert has a resilient elastomer core and a thin outer surface infused with urethane. This insert is slightly firmer than that of the White Hot XG for better feedback and a fine-tuned responsiveness.
The reason I like this putter the most is because of its responsive feel. A good putter will be able to really feel the ball come off of the club face. Plus the square putter face combined with the single line alignment aid is very easy to line up square to the target and keep square throughout my stroke.
If you don't think you are quite ready to handle this bad boy, take a look at the Wilson Staff 8861 Putter. This is a similar putter with a little less expensive price tag.
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I just don't know why I can't seem to putt them. Not even this Odyssey White Hot XG 2 Ball SRT Putter.
It may be that it is simply the mallet style that I'm not a fan of, or it may be the odd shape, but I just can't get used to them. It's a shame for me because it would seem that the 2 (or even 3) ball system would make it very easy to line up the putts. It seems that the "Saturn Ring" weighting system would do a great job providing a better center of gravity for a better stroke and a truer roll.
I do like their insert, and like the way the ball pops off of it, and the grip feels nice and natural. I love the way that Odyssey manufactures a solid product and doesn't charge outlandish prices for their putters compared to other popular models.
I just can't hit them. I know many can, so this is a product that would be good for everyone to at least demo and see if you have the same problems that I do, or if it ends up being a perfect putting solution for you.
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The insert in the Crimson Series Putters is very firm. It is called the "Crimson Stronomic." It is a co-molded ground polymer face. Odyssey makes the face flush by forming the insert directly in the face cavity and then grounding it.
I like the design of this putter head. It's simply a blade with a couple of wings on it. I really like the straight lines formed by the wings. This, in addition with the line on the clubhead for alignment, makes this putter very easy to line up square to the target.
Unfortunately, that is where my love for this putter ends. The Crimson series is the cheapest of the Odyssey lines, and it falls short of what I expect in an Odyssey putter. The insert is too hard, and the red color is ugly. Likewise, the stainless steel putter head looks shoddy.
I recommend you check out the Odyssey White Hot XG #7 Putter. This is a similar style putter, but with a higher MOI. It is better looking, and the White Hot XG series insert is softer and provides a much better feel than the Crimson series.
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The insert in the Crimson Series Putters is very firm. It is called the "Crimson Stronomic." It is a co-molded ground polymer face. Odyssey makes the face flush by forming the insert directly in the face cavity and then grounding it.
The upside of this putter is the alignment aids. I really like the three lines. They make it very easy to line up the putter square to the target line.
Unfortunately, that is all I like about this putter. The Crimson series is the most economical of the Odyssey lines, but it falls short of what I expect in an Odyssey putter. The insert is too hard, and the red color is ugly. Likewise, the stainless steel putter head doesn't do much for me either.
I would recommend the Odyssey White Hot XG Rossie Putter. This is a similar-looking mallet with great alignment aids, and the White Hot XG series is much more pleasing to the eye, and the insert is softer and provides a much better feel than the Crimson series.
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