Odyssey are not only one of the biggest putter brands in golf, they also have one of the most extensive collection of options too. This year they’ve introduced two more lines to their overall range, with the Ai-Dual and Ai-Dual Square 2 Square offering a brand new face insert.
At times it can be tricky to keep track of all of the different options that Odyssey give you, as well as finding one that is best suited to your game.
I got my hands on the new Ai-Dual #1 Putter which is pretty similar to my trusty old Odyssey Metal-X #1 Putter, to see how much difference 10 years of technology can make to my results on the greens.
Who Is It Aimed At?
Following on from the Ai-One range of 2024, this is the more ‘standard’ putter range in Odyssey’s lineup which may be better suited to those who prefer slightly more traditional putter shapes.
There are actually three different types of Ai-Dual putters: the standard Ai-Dual, Ai-Dual Square 2 Square (which is Odyssey’s zero torque range) and then there are 1/2 Ball options within both lines. This is Odyssey’s new alignment tool, although it’s not something that is going to suit everyone’s eye.
If you’re somebody who is happy to use face inserts, or has experience with Odyssey inserts in the past, the Ai-Dual could be a great option for you. It has that familiar clicky sound and feel that you’d expect from an Odyssey putter, but with a really great quality roll too.
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The Tech
The main new story with this putter range is the introduction of an Ai-Dual insert. This is designed with the help of Odyssey’s artificial intelligence, and as the name suggest it has a dual-layer insert.
A soft urethane outer layer combines with a firm inner layer, providing consistent ball speed across the face, as well as improving forward roll up and down the face.
This works alongside a new FRD (forward roll design) groove, said to be deeper and ‘more aggressive’ than in previous generations. It has a 19 degree slope, again helping to improve forward roll even on strikes that are up and down the face.
The putters come with Odyssey’s latest iteration of the Stroke Lab shaft, now called SL 90. This is a lightweight steel, with 20 grams of counterbalance weight in the butt end, as a result of extensive player testing to find the best configuration.
There’s also an updated Odyssey midsize pistol grip, designed to appeal to a wide range of golfers.
In total there are 11 different Ai-Dual putters available, including five options that feature the new 1/2 ball alignment.
Odyssey Ai-Dual #1 Putter Review
Looks and Feel
It’s not a bad-looking putter, but there’s just something about the red and white colour scheme, the branding on the sole, and the white insert that doesn’t quite look overly premium to me. It’s not quite as good-looking as the previous Ai-One putters in my opinion, even though I do like the all-black look at address.
That all-black finish, combined with the clear white alignment line, makes it really easy to square the clubface.
There’s a very distinctive click at impact, which might be a bit “Marmite” for some golfers, especially if you’re used to a softer, more muted insert. It actually reminded me a little of the TaylorMade PureRoll insert in terms of looks, although it isn’t quite as soft or as muted as that.
It didn’t really bother me, as I quite like a firmer-feeling putter, and the sound and feel work nicely together. You get instant feedback on the strike and a clear sense of how hard you’ve hit the putt, even before you look up and see it racing past the hole.
I’m not usually a huge fan of thicker grips, especially on blade putters, as it doesn’t quite match up in my mind. This one came with a midsize pistol grip that felt nice in the hands, though, and it could be ideal for golfers who want to stop their hands from getting a little too involved in the stroke.
Performance
I’ve been using an Odyssey Metal-X #1 putter for nearly ten years now, so I’m pretty used to seeing that classic compact Odyssey blade look down by the ball, especially with the black finish.
In terms of performance, I was keen to see whether the new face insert could offer any performance benefits.
This can be tough to test because there are obviously other variables that go into putting, but I was pretty impressed with the performance of the Ai-Dual. With a classic blade like this you aren’t expecting great deals of forgiveness, but I did see a really consistent roll even when it felt like I didn’t hit the putt perfectly.
Performance on mis-hits did feel like it had improved, especially because I have a tendency to hit putts a bit from the toe, and when testing on the putting green they still seemed to be going a similar distance than those out of the centre.
One thing that I did find was that the putter felt a little bit light, perhaps due to the extra weight of the grip and in the butt end of the shaft, which made the head feel less heavy. As a result I did have a tendency to leave my putts a little short, although it’s probably something you’d get used to over time.
Odyssey Ai-Dual #1 Putter Verdict
Overall this is a good putter that offers exactly what Odyssey claim, as the performance across the face was really great even in the blade putter that I tested. There are also a number of more forgiving options in the range, including the #7 and Jailbird Mini, providing even more stability if you’re somebody who is not massively confident with the putter.
Having said that I know that the firmer sound and feel probably won’t suit everyone, although if you have used and enjoyed the White Hot inserts in the past then this does feel like a natural progression.
As with most new equipment these days, it’s pretty hard to ignore the price too. An RRP of £299 is very expensive for a blade putter. But if it helps you to hole more putts, it might be worth every penny.
Compared to my own putter, I’d say I preferred the overall feel of my own Metal-X in the hands, perhaps due to the heavier head feel and the thinner grip. However I was impressed with the quality of the roll in the Ai-Dual, and there was probably a bit more forgiveness too.
Would I Use It?
With a thinner grip, I would definitely consider it because it had all the hallmarks of my current putter, but with added technology to improve the roll too.
