If you’re looking for a new putter in 2026, the chances are that Odyssey might just have something for you. A quick look at their website shows that there are a whopping twelve different Odyssey putter lines available.
This might sound pretty ridiculous, and in some ways it is, but it’s not quite that complicated. Plenty of lines are variations on an original model, with different finishes, face inserts and zero torque options offered.
One of their newest releases this year was the Ai-Dual range, featuring a double-layer insert to improve feel and roll consistency across the face.
Earlier this year I tested the Ai-Dual #1 blade putter, and now it’s the turn of one of the most popular putter shapes in the game, the #7.
Who Is It Aimed At?
The big idea with Ai-Dual is that it gives you a better quality of roll due to the face technology, so it’s best suited to golfers who are looking for better consistency with their putting.
With an RRP of £299, this is actually reasonable in terms of value for money compared to plenty of other putters on the market, particularly when you start looking at zero torque options which can be upwards of £500.
The Double Bend shaft means that it is face balanced, helping golfers without too much face rotation, whilst the clean lines of the putter are said to help with face alignment at both address and impact.
The Tech
At the heart of this range is the Ai-Dual insert, the headline feature of the new lineup. Developed with the help of artificial intelligence, it’s built around two distinct layers working together.
A firm inner layer sits beneath a softer urethane outer layer, and it’s this combination that helps deliver consistent ball speed from across the face, while also improving forward roll on those slightly off-centre strikes up and down the face.
Working alongside this is a redesigned FRD (forward roll design) groove, which is deeper and more aggressive than in previous generations, with a 19-degree slope helping to further promote that forward roll no matter where contact is made.
The shaft story is Odyssey’s updated Stroke Lab, now in SL 90 form. It’s a lightweight steel shaft with 20 grams of counterbalance weight in the butt end — something that came out of extensive player testing to find the best possible configuration.
There’s also an updated Odyssey midsize pistol grip, which has been designed to suit a wide range of golfers.
Across the full range there are 11 Ai-Dual putters to choose from, including five models that feature the new 1/2 ball alignment.
Looks
Putting is really all about confidence, so having something that you like the look of is a really important factor. The Ai-Dual is complete with a stealthy all-black finish on the top of the head and for fans of Odyssey, it’s going to be a pretty familiar sight.
As I mentioned in the Ai-Dual #1 review, I have used an Odyssey Metal-X putter for nearly a decade now, so I’m pretty used to seeing that darker Odyssey finish. It’s clean, smart and uncluttered, and also really helps to make the white alignment lines stand out.
It really is easy to get the face square at address, and get the ball centred in the face. I do have a tendency to set the ball up and strike it out of the toe, so this worked as a good reminder for me.
This is also helped by the clear white insert which is just about visible at address, providing another great visual cue. I prefer to have an alignment line right on the topline of the putter, as close to the ball as possible, which is exactly what the #7 offered.
On the sole the design gets a little more interesting, with the sole plate featuring quite a bold red design which fits in with Odyssey’s overall branding. I think a different colour scheme might look a little more premium, but it’s not too garish and there’s plenty of evidence of technology too, including perimeter weights and the face insert which overlaps into the sole of the head.
Feel
When it comes to face inserts, nobody does it better than Odyssey, and it’s been that way for a couple of decades. Many of us will have grown up using White Hot inserts, or variations on that theme, and the Ai-Dual is just yet another development in helping you to improve the quality of your roll.
Straight off the face the Ai-Dual has a really nice balance between quite a firm feel and reassuring sound at impact, but also a little more give than a milled putter would offer.
One thing I often struggle with when it comes to mallet heads is the overall weighting, as they can often feel too heavy in the head. However the #7 fang had a really nice balance. It felt extremely stable during the stroke, but still provided enough weight from the grip to the putter head that it actually helped with overall distance control.
The putters come with a dedicated Ai-Dual pistol grip which reminded me a little of one of the very thin Super Stroke pistol grips, that you might get on some TaylorMade putters. It’s thicker than a traditional putter grip, but still provides enough feel in the hands and has a nice tackiness.
Performance
The Ai-Dual is all about improving the consistency and quality of the ball’s roll, so that’s exactly what I wanted to test when I took the #7 out onto the course at Moortown GC.
On the whole it was really impressive. The ball seemed to hug the ground off the face, and rolled end over end. I mentioned this in my review of the #1 model, but the insert does really remind me of TaylorMade’s PureRoll insert, even in terms of the overall look. We know how well that has done, with the likes of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler using it in their Spider putters to win multiple majors.
Having a better quality of roll should help you to improve your pace control, as it should perform more consistently even if you don’t quite catch it out of the middle. This is something that I did see, even when putting on some tricky greens.
The one area where I felt like I struggled at times was on breaking putts. Despite the obvious forgiveness levels that a perimeter-weighted mallet offered, it felt as if there was very little room for manipulation. This might not sound like a bad thing, but at times it just felt a bit one-dimensional because you’re just relying on your own alignment to get the ball on line.
Verdict
With an RRP of £299 I think the Ai-Dual putters represent pretty good value for money, when you compare it to the rest of the putter market as a whole. Even some of Odyssey’s other ranges, especially those Square 2 Square (zero torque) options, can stretch up towards £500.
The Ai-Dual range feels much more like a traditional Odyssey putter line that could’ve come from any time in the last decade, and that is meant as a compliment.
It’s not overly complicated, but you get strong overall looks, clear alignment and of course you get the great roll off the face insert. This is what Odyssey excel at, and they delivered again in this respect.
The Ai-Dual putters also come with a 1/2 ball alignment option, which is bound to divide opinion. It works quite well in the mallet heads but I’m not sure how popular it will be in the blade models, unless you really do struggle with alignment.
Would I Use It?
I loved the roll, but I’m not sure the overall shape quite suited me.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Odyssey Ai-Dual #7 putter aimed at?
The Ai-Dual #7 is suited to golfers who want better roll consistency and improved pace control, particularly those who don’t use much face rotation in their stroke. The face-balanced Double Bend shaft makes it a natural fit for straight-back-straight-through putting styles, and the generous mallet head shape will appeal to golfers who want maximum alignment assistance at address.
What is the Ai-Dual insert and how does it work?
The Ai-Dual insert was developed with the help of artificial intelligence and features two distinct layers, a firm inner layer beneath a softer urethane outer layer. This combination delivers more consistent ball speed across the face and promotes a better forward roll, even on slightly off-centre strikes. The redesigned FRD groove, which features a 19-degree slope, works alongside the insert to further encourage end-over-end roll from the moment of impact.
How much does the Odyssey Ai-Dual #7 putter cost?
The Odyssey Ai-Dual #7 has an RRP of £299, which sits at a reasonable price point compared to much of the premium putter market. Odyssey’s own zero torque Square 2 Square options can stretch to £500 or more, making the Ai-Dual range good value within the brand’s lineup.
What shaft does the Odyssey Ai-Dual #7 use?
The #7 comes fitted with Odyssey’s updated Stroke Lab SL 90 shaft – a lightweight steel shaft with 20 grams of counterbalance weight built into the butt end, developed through extensive player testing to optimise feel and stability throughout the stroke.
How does the Odyssey Ai-Dual #7 compare to the Ai-Dual #1?
Both putters share the same Ai-Dual insert technology, Stroke Lab SL 90 shaft and face-balanced setup. The key difference is head shape. The #1 is a traditional blade while the #7 is a fang-style mallet offering more perimeter weighting, greater MOI and more alignment assistance at address. The #7 suits golfers who want a more forgiving, confidence-inspiring head shape, while the #1 will appeal to those who prefer a cleaner, more traditional look.
