The idea behind Odyssey's Tri-Hot 5K Putters is that they feature a multi-material construction with weight loaded to the front of the head, which is said to improve the CG placement as well as raising forgiveness levels.
We first tested the Tri-Hot range a couple of years ago and whilst we were fans of the forgiveness and premium finish, we couldn't help but feel that the premium price-point meant that there wasn't really a place for them in the Odyssey lineup, as they were directly up against the Toulon range.
This time around Odyssey have added a number of mallets into the mix, so we decided to give them another try.
The Tech
The Seven is a face-balanced mallet which is designed for a straight-back, straight-through putting stroke without much face rotation, and has two weights at the front which can be adjusted to suit the golfer's preference.
After initially starting with the blade models, Odyssey has moved on to mallets and have aimed to raise the MOI of the head whilst moving the CG of the head further forward, which they say produces more forgiveness and better performance.
Adding large amounts of tungsten (up to 120 grams) behind the face in the toe and heel of the head helps with stability, whilst the CG placement improves the roll.
A stainless steel front section around the hosel and face area has been included to help reduce the amount of side spin on off-centre hits, resulting in more putts staying on line with a tighter dispersion.
The Seven putter also features Odyssey's legendary White Hot insert which will be a familiar look, sound and feel for many golfers.
There's also the newest generation of the Stroke Lab shaft, and Odyssey say that this multi-material construction helps to produce even better performance.
Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Seven Putter Review
Looks and Feel
This putter retains the classic fang shape of the Seven putter which has been so popular among both amateur and professional golfers over the years, with a nice black-grey contrast between the topline and the rest of the head.
As someone who has been used to using a blade for nearly all of my golf, this was a pretty helpful tool as it was less of a transition to the bigger head, so I was able to focus more on the front section of the head rather than the fangs at the back.
It sits really nicely down by the ball and it's so easy to frame the ball up in the centre of the face, both thanks to the alignment line on the top and the shape of the fangs on the back with the ball-shaped cutout.
The colourway is pretty sleek and looks great both at address and on the sole, whilst the black and red design of the headcover will definitely add a classy touch when it's in your bag.
The White Hot insert provided a familiar, firm pop off the face at impact. It's something that lots of people love and have been using for years, so even if you haven't tried this type of shape before it may help with getting a little more used to it.
The putter did have quite a heavy feeling head, perhaps because of the extra weight added to the front of the head, which actually made it seem a little more bulky to me even though the head size isn't actually huge.
Performance
I have a few friends who use fang-shaped putters like this one and they always talk about how they like them because the shape just makes it so easy to line up and keep the stroke on-line.
When I was testing out on the course I did see this too, as the alignment on the putter is really useful for ensuring that you are starting the putt on your desired spot.
The head is heavy which took me a bit of time to get used to, but it does feel very sturdy which I found to be an advantage on short to mid-length putts.
Having the weight at the front of the putter head also has the effect of producing a bit more of a blade-like feel, but I often think when I test putters like this, that seems to be at odds with the desired feel/performance benefits that you'd get from a mallet putter, which is more about stability and forgiveness.
I remember thinking the same when I tested TaylorMade's [Spider FCG Putter] - I liked the look of it but I just couldn't quite understand the performance.
Having said that the Seven did produce a great roll and it popped off the face nicely, with really consistent results even when I didn't strike the putt from the middle. The weighty head made distance control a little difficult at times but that is something which would improve with more use I'm sure.
Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Seven Putter Verdict
The Tri-Hot 5K is unquestionably a premium putter range which looks fantastic and is packed with tech, and if you're a fan of mallet putters then it's great that Odyssey have expanded this lineup to include something you might like too.
However an RRP of £429 is pretty eye-watering and although it reflects the high level of finish for these putters, as well as the technologies packed into the head, I have to think that it's going to alienate the vast majority of golfers.
That price tag makes it more expensive than Scotty Cameron putters, more expensive than Odyssey's own premium line of Toulon putters, and more than the new TaylorMade TP Reserve putters.
But if price is no object for you, and you love your golf clubs to be packed with all the latest and greatest technology, then these putters might be worth a closer look because they look fantastic and the promised forgiveness levels were clearly there too.
Would I Use It?
I enjoyed the stability and forgiveness of this putter, and found it really easy to line up, but the extra weight of the head just didn't seem to suit me.
Who Is It Aimed At?
If you're looking for a putter which feels ultra-stable and provides lots of forgiveness, this could be the putter for you. It's expensive, but for that you do get a really premium look and feel. The fang shape of the Seven is ideal for golfers looking to improve their alignment and start line on their putts.
Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K Seven Putter Pros & Cons
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Odyssey White Hot Versa One Putter Review