Struggling to find a putter? Try an Odyssey Backstryke.

I know these putters have been out for a while and if you're like me, you haven't even been interested in trying them based on looks alone. I mean, a shaft that's connected to the back of the putter head? No thanks!

I'm sorry I didn't try one sooner. I've bee struggling with putting for a couple years. My stroke is actually decent, but I've always struggled with getting my putter face aligned correctly. I would address the ball on the green and always feel as though my putter face was open or closed and try to adjust from there on the fly on each green and it just ends in me not making many putts. It's impossible to make a confident stroke this way.

I recently went on vacation in Florida and a Golf Galaxy was nearby. I went and probably tried 50 different putters, none of which I was in love with. They had a lot of different Odyssey Backstryke models which I never even took off the shelf because of the whole shaft being in the back of the clubhead thing. I mean, who does that, right? Fast forward to when I get back after vacation, my local driving range had a used (but like new condition) 2-Ball Backstryke sitting there. I picked it up and tried it; I had tried everything else, so why not? To my surprise the putter set up really nice. The face set square at address with no twisting open or closed, hand position because of the unique shaft felt great and impact had a nice "ting" sound which I kind of liked (seemed better than the "thud" of the other models I tried).

The putter is designed to not impair your view of the face at address. That's the whole reason for the shaft design. With other putters, the shaft typically covers a portion of the face making it more difficult to align squarely to your target. That's the theory behind it; for me it seems to be legit because I do feel as though this putter is much easier to align to my intended target. So far I've used it for two rounds and had 26 putts the first round and 28 the second. I can't tell you the last time I had anything below 30 in a round, let alone two in a row. This is hardly scientific proof of superiority of this putter and we all know how quickly things can change in golf, but at least for now, I have zero plans to change putters.

Just thought I'd recommend it to anyone on the market for a new putter. Force yourself to get over the initial impression based on looks and give it a try. I think you'll like it.

It's funny because a couple days after I read this thread I was walking around a golf store about 30 miles from my hometown and I had seen a backstryke putter aswell as other putters with the same setup.  I remembered this thread and picked one up and started to putt with it and MAN I really want to try it outside on the course.  It just sets up really nice for me I think and it just seems i'm able to keep it more steady throughout my swing resulting in nice sold contact hits that go exactly where I intend it to go.  I really love it I would pick one up if I could find it cheap just to try it on the course instead of some crappy putting green inside.

Tried the Backstryke.  Hated it.

Did you try to 2-Ball model?

I was the same way. I know indoors, it seems you make everything you look at and this was no different. I think I putted for ten minutes or so with it and made everything I looked at inside. I usually don't put much thought into it when I make everything with a putter at a golf store. This went on for a few days indoors and I liked it more and more each day. Finally took it out to the putting green and continued to make everything I looked at so I went in and talked them down on price and got it.

Everything in golf can change quickly and who knows, I may not like this thing in a year or so, but I have the same thoughts as you. It's extremely easy to align on short putts and the face just seems to set square and stays stable through the strike. My old Yes! Blade putter seemed to feel as though the face twisted at impact if I didn't hit it perfectly, but not this thing.

Check out Rock Bottom Golf. They currently have them for $79. Just the other day they had a 24 hour special on them and were selling every Backstryke model for $50. Might be worth a shot to email and see if you can still grab one for $50. Who knows?

The other thing I noticed too was my speed seemed to be better. I don't know if it's the head/shaft design or just the mallet head in general, but I have a tendency to leave putts short (mostly from trying to guide the ball to the hole and lack of confidence I think) and that wasn't an issue at all during the two rounds I used this putter. But, could be a direct result of just being more confident at address. I felt like I knew I was going to make putts or at least get close rather than hoping I'd make them.

What did you hate about it? Just everything? What model did you try?

I really like the look of the regular Sabertooth so I imagine I'd like the Backstryke even more. Unfortunately I wasn't able to try one of those because the place I got mine only had the one used 2-Ball; no new ones. I'm happy with my purchase though. If I see a Sabertooth for cheap somewhere I may pick it up just to have as a backup.

Yeah, no doubt. Sorry too, my reference to "picking up a Sabertooth" I was meaning a Backstryke model of the Sabertooth, not the regular (although I do like the regular one too). I was really considering going to a long putter or belly putter before finding the 2-ball Backstryke. Glad I didn't now.

Yes I tried a two ball model and another off brand one that had the shaft in the back and I really really need to get one and try it outside. I made a thread in the swing tips section asking for putting drills and I think if I get one of these and it hits the same as I did inside I will definately get the improvement of putting I've been looking for. Like you said it just sits very square to the ball and I feel I have the same problem as you with my normal putter now. I feel like I twist it at time and dont hit it solid. The backstryke I hit solid AND it just felt so nice. Thanks for the find too or else I probably wouldn't of looked at them.

No problem. Hope it works out as well for you as it has thus far for me.

Might just try one although you know my initial thoughts(errrr). I never cared for the 2-ball putter(strike 2) but may try the sabre tooth or another.  But I'll keep an open mind......I promise...fingers aren't crossed or anything...

I hear ya. I had the same initial preconceived thoughts based on looks. I also used to own the original 2-ball when it first came out 10 years ago or however long it's been now. I liked the 2-ball, but didn't love it. The 2-Ball Backstryke is a totally different look if you ask me. I'd love to try to Sabertook Backstryke. Just figure why try to fix something I'm confident in for the first time in a few years.