Odyssey tees up new alignment feature for Mallet Putter

**boogielicious** · June 5, 2015

From golfdigest.com

http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2015/06/odyssey-tees-up-new-alignment.html

Not sure the "Bit T" is for me. I find too much alignment aid can be distracting.

Quote:

By Mike Stachura

Every spring Odyssey principal putter designer Austie Rollinson makes a trip to Japan to see what new ideas might be developing on the pro tours there. Usually, those ideas involve high-end concepts or metals like the limited run White Damascus iX putters that got some attention two years ago.

But last year’s trip brought a more practical and affordable application. Rather than a new metal, Rollinson got a look at a new take on alignment.

“I saw a player in Japan who had added a thicker line to one of our mallet putters,” Rollinson says. “That got me thinking of mixing the alignment lines in a thicker T shape.

“It was one of those a-ha moments.”

Rollinson quickly made a sketch that day, and the result first was seen in this year’s Odyssey Works Versa V-Line model, which featured the company’s black and silver contrasting lines in a thick T-shape with the top of the “T” parallel to the face and the body of the “T” extending through the center.

Now, Odyssey is introducing a full line of Works putters under the moniker Big T.

***iacas*** · June 5, 2015

I love how every year putter manufacturers claim to have "solved aiming!"

Get fit for your putter, use it for life. If that means an Edel, cool. If you can aim a different putter, also cool.

**Jeremie Boop** · June 5, 2015

I love how every year putter manufacturers claim to have "solved aiming!"

Get fit for your putter, use it for life. If that means an Edel, cool. If you can aim a different putter, also cool.

Wait, what? Erik you know you are supposed to be pushing those high dollar clubs over everything else!!

OT though, I'm not sure how much these "alignment aides" are really supposed to help anyway. I mean, how long a line do you need to have on your putter to know it's square to the line or pointing in the right direction....

**Gunther** · June 5, 2015

Yeah, I don't use these aiming devices either. I have a 2-ball that I've had for probably 8 years now. I've never used the 2 balls on the back to line up with the ball I'm hitting. I like the back weighting and it's become a part of me so don't envision ever getting another. I don't line my balls either; tried it for a time but too time consuming and if off by a degree, putt goes off line. The key is to line up the putter blade with your target and hope it stays there on your through stroke. Haven't found a device yet that helps me with that.

**mvmac** · June 5, 2015

Quote:

By Mike Stachura

Every spring Odyssey principal putter designer Austie Rollinson makes a trip to Japan to see what new ideas might be developing on the pro tours there. Usually, those ideas involve high-end concepts or metals like the limited run White Damascus iX putters that got some attention two years ago.

Wait, he gets his ideas from players on the Japan Tour?

***iacas*** · June 5, 2015

Yeah, I don't use these aiming devices either. I have a 2-ball that I've had for probably 8 years now. I've never used the 2 balls on the back to line up with the ball I'm hitting.

Do you close your eyes the instant you set the putter down behind the ball? Because unless you do, then you use the two balls every time you line up. You may not explicitly do it, but you do it all the same.

Head shape, hosel shape, lines/decorations, etc. all change the way golfers aim. Some are more affected than others, but just about all are affected somewhat by the geometry and what they see.

**Ernest Jones** · June 5, 2015

I love how every year putter manufacturers claim to have "solved aiming!" Get fit for your putter, use it for life. If that means an Edel, cool. If you can aim a different putter, also cool.

Totally true, and that's one of the things that makes Erik such a cool dude. He knew I couldn't afford an Edel so he gave me a fitting and taught me what to look for in a putter. I now have a modified Bridgestone that's balls on accurate for my eye and stroke. I can put up with a little snark if it's accompanied by such incredible generosity. We're lucky to have him, snark and all! :beer:

**Gunther** · June 5, 2015

Do you close your eyes the instant you set the putter down behind the ball? Because unless you do, then you use the two balls every time you line up. You may not explicitly do it, but you do it all the same. Head shape, hosel shape, lines/decorations, etc. all change the way golfers aim. Some are more affected than others, but just about all are affected somewhat by the geometry and what they see.

Interesting and feasible, I suppose, but I do not look at those 2 balls, only at the face of my putter and its alignment to the ball and the target.

**Golfingdad** · June 5, 2015

Interesting and feasible, I suppose, but I do not look at those 2 balls, only at the face of my putter and its alignment to the ball and the target.

I learned at my edel fitting just how very subtle differences ALL affect the aim - no matter how conscious or not. Everything. The aiming lines, the balls, the loft, the hosel, all of it. Like Erik said, you may not be actively "using" them to aim, but it's a safe bet that they are contributing to it.

Incidentally, I ended up with a blade with no lines on it at all, as well as on obscene amount of offset. Whatever works though.

**Gunther** · June 5, 2015

I learned at my edel fitting just how very subtle differences ALL affect the aim - no matter how conscious or not. Everything. The aiming lines, the balls, the loft, the hosel, all of it. Like Erik said, you may not be actively "using" them to aim, but it's a safe bet that they are contributing to it. Incidentally, I ended up with a blade with no lines on it at all, as well as on obscene amount of offset. Whatever works though.

Yes, I can see it. The human brain is a mystery. I don't have any recollection whatsoever of seeing those 2 balls over a putt but obviously they are in my sight line so I must see them and probably use them subconsciously to some degree even while I perceive my focus to be strictly on the blade of the putter.

**Golfingdad** · June 5, 2015

Yes, I can see it. The human brain is a mystery. I don't have any recollection whatsoever of seeing those 2 balls over a putt but obviously they are in my sight line so I must see them and probably use them subconsciously to some degree even while I perceive my focus to be strictly on the blade of the putter.

Again, it's not that you're necessarily "using" them, it's just the fact that they are there. Along the same lines as these optical illusions:

Things in the picture, even when we're not trying to focus on them, affect our vision.

**boogielicious** · June 6, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by iacas

I love how every year putter manufacturers claim to have "solved aiming!"

Get fit for your putter, use it for life. If that means an Edel, cool. If you can aim a different putter, also cool.

Totally true, and that's one of the things that makes Erik such a cool dude. He knew I couldn't afford an Edel so he gave me a fitting and taught me what to look for in a putter. I now have a modified Bridgestone that's 'Dead On Balls Accurate' for my eye and stroke.
I can put up with a little snark if it's accompanied by such incredible generosity. We're lucky to have him, snark and all!

Corrected that for you. It's an industry term.

Fitting is the key as Jason pointed out.

**SavvySwede** · June 6, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by mvmac

Quote:

By Mike Stachura

Every spring Odyssey principal putter designer Austie Rollinson makes a trip to Japan to see what new ideas might be developing on the pro tours there. Usually, those ideas involve high-end concepts or metals like the limited run White Damascus iX putters that got some attention two years ago.

Wait, he gets his ideas from players on the Japan Tour?

Yeah, probably not a good idea to admit you're ripping off design ideas instead of coming up with your own. Coming up with alignment aids must already be the easiest job in the world. Next year I'm predicting right triangles.

**mvmac** · June 6, 2015

Yeah, probably not a good idea to admit you're ripping off design ideas instead of coming up with your own. Coming up with alignment aids must already be the easiest job in the world. Next year I'm predicting right triangles.

I guess it also shows that Japan Tour players are more creative than PGA or European Tour players

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