Tour pros inspire new Odyssey putters

• By Global Golf Post
• Feb 13, 2012 11:40 AM ET

According to Austie Rollinson, principle designer for Odyssey putters, the inspiration for the company’s new ProType Tour Series line came from Callaway Golf’s touring professionals.

“We decided on six head shapes that our tour pros have not only used in competition but also won with them,” he said. “Four of the models are traditional blades, and two are mallets, including a ProType version of the 2-ball. Ernie Els has the No. 2 in his bag, for example, while K.J. Choi and Steve Stricker use the No. 6 and Phil Mickelson the No. 9. We also took a great deal of their feedback as far as design was concerned, so we could make modifications to existing products and come up with these offerings.”

Each ProType Tour Series model is made of 1025 carbon steel, which is intended to produce similar performance characteristics to stainless steel but with a softer feel. The faces of these flat sticks boast a deeper, sharper milling pattern designed to launch the ball a bit lower and promote topspin, so putts roll more consistently.

In addition, the ProType models feature thinner top lines, thicker faces, a high polish steel finish and what Rollinson describes as “Tour-tuned weight ports” in the sole. Then, there is the Lamkin 3GEN Pistol Grip that comes stock and is made of a soft, synthetic rubber compound intended to reduce vibration without dulling feel.

Available in mid-February, the ProType 2-ball model comes in 350 or 360 grams and is the only one of the lot that features a two-piece design, with the soleplate screwed to the top of the club. All other entries in the ProType Tour Series line – Nos. 2, 3, 6, 7 and 9 – are of one-piece construction and offered in two weights, 340 or 350 grams.