Odyssey DART Putter
This new putter hits the bulls-eye
Considering that 40-60% of your strokes for any given round happen on the putting surface, it’s amazing people don’t spend more effort improving that facet of their game. Selecting the right flat stick is certainly a good first step. The Odyssey DART Putter ($179)
Employing Gestalt psychology, the DART alignment tool creates an image that your mind’s eye completes. In this case, the putter forms the base of an arrow and your mind instinctively completes the point when it’s set next to a golf ball ball. Instantly your subconscious knows if the putter face too open or closed and your body naturally adjusts to correct. It may sound like a gimmick, but it’s works the moment you ground the putter. Best of all, it frees you up your focus to hone in on the putt’s pace. Not convinced? You can print out your own DART alignment tool and tap it to your current putter and see for yourself. Really. The DART Putter comes in blade, mallet and Backstryke options. Each comes with Odyssey’s White Ice face insert which blends feel and face resiliency for improved distance control. The blade and mallet options also have adjustable weights to help you find just the right balance.
While we instantly gravitated to the mallet, we chose to take the Backstryke out on the course for field testing. For those not familiar, the Backstryke is shafted at the back of the putter creating a forward press without causing any delofting. Putting gurus from Dave Stockton to Dave Pelz have preached the importance of a forward press. A hands forward potion creates a more consistent swing and imparts more top spin on the ball, helping it hold it on line. A birdie on our second hole was just the reinforcement we needed. It was liberating to stand over the ball and only have to worry about speed. We may not have made every put we looked at, but we were around the hole all day and even saved a few strokes on those knee knocker, mid-range testers. We suggest spending time with each to find the version that fits your own eye. The Backstryke was so different it took some time to get acclimated. Make sure you give yourself plenty of demo time, it may very well change your game.
Buy Now: Blade $179
