As the game faces the prospect of the anchoring ban, players and companies are looking for new ways to offer stability and forgiveness in putters. Callaway have designed the Odyssey Tank putter to offer exactly that.
For years Odyssey have been pushing putter innovation, leading to 57 professional wins in 2012. The Tank putter has an MOI (Moment of Inertia, or resistance to twisting) that is up to 34% higher than standard putters. Add that to a 19% increase in weight, thanks to a 400g clubhead, 150g shaft and 60g grip, and you have a stable putter that quiets the hands, promotes a pendulum stroke and prevents rotation or twisting on off-centre hits.
Callaway's Principal Designer, Austie Rollinson, told us "With Tank, we wanted to enhance the stability of the putter by increasing the moment of inertia of the entire club. We feel this achieves most of the benefits of anchoring without actually touching the body"
The Odyssey Tank is available in the popular #7 model that has been popular both on Tour and with amateurs.
The balance point on the Odyssey Tank putter is carefully positioned on the shaft to offer a similar feel to a conventional putter.
The feel is further enhanced by Odyssey's new and improved White Hot insert, designed for 2013 to bring a more consistent feel, sound and performance. Each insert is crafted from a new laser milling process that allows Odyssey's engineers to better match the insert with each specific head shape or model.
In addition to standard 34 or 36 inch lengths, the Odyssey Tank is available in longer, 38 or 40 inch, models. The long models have an MOI up to 109% high than traditional putters and a increase in club weight of 32%.
The Odyssey Tank is available from April 12th, 2013, and will have an RRP of £139.