Odyssey Works Big T putter review

The Golf Monthly test team's Odyssey Works Big T putter review, a new family of mallet putters with Versa alignment and Fusion RX insert technology

Odyssey Works Big T putter review

Models tested We tested the V-Line and Blade models with SuperStroke grips (£20 upcharge). The Odyssey Works Big T putter family includes four mallet head shapes – the V-Line, V-Line CS, #5 and Blade.

Replacing Rather than replacing a family of putters, the Big T range extends the Odyssey Works line, which is the number-one putter used on the European Tour.

Address View The return to having black sections on the crown contrasting with white, rather than silver, to help alignment is a welcome sight. It highlights face angle more prominently and when combined with the Marxman sightlines running from front-to-back, golfers are naturally encouraged to strike the ball from the sweetspot.

Shelf Appeal  The combination of the Versa alignment, White Hot insert and Fusion RX technology alone make this an appealing product. But with the glare-reducing black shaft and the option of a SuperStroke grip with Odyssey design elements, as well as the stability from the mallet designs, the appeal knows no bounds.

Grip  While the stock Lamkin grip offers plenty of feel and is a hand-friendly shape, the experience is enhanced by the SuperStroke 2.0 grip. While some will struggle to justify the £20 upcharge, many will prefer the shape and texture of this popular grip to minimise unwanted wrist action in the stroke.

Face Design Arguably one of the most complex face designs on the market offers a winning formula of a soft feel and subtle sound. The Metal-X pattern, combined with the White Hot insert, creates a consistent roll from a variety of strike points.

Adjustability While you can’t adjust anything on the head, you can choose a shaft length of 33, 34 or 35” and the V-Line also comes in a centre-shafted version. There’s also a more compact #5 mid-mallet model.

Stroke Type All the models within the Big T range are mallets. These larger head designs have a higher MOI than blade putters and are face balanced, which tends to make them more suited to strokes with a squarer path. That said, both our models seemed to work perfectly well for a slightly arced stroke.

Forgiveness On a long list of performance benefits, forgiveness is right up there. The larger shape immediately increases the clubhead’s resistance to twisting on off-centre strikes, while the Fusion RX mesh seemed to help the ball roll out when struck from the heel and toe on long-range putts.

Consistency Not only was the consistency of roll spot on, but the ease with which you square the face is surprising. The Big T crown aesthetics subliminally help you track the path of your putter through the stroke. Add in the stronger face-angle alignment assistance and the enhanced feel from the grip and starting the ball on line is simple.

Distance Control The older White Hot putters tended to pop off the face faster than most. This is much less obvious on the Big T models, with the ball coming off the face more controllably while maintaining excellent feel and rolling truer for longer.

Feel The 350g weight in the head helps to create a smooth tempo in your stroke. The feel from the face is soft, creating a subtle, gentle pop before the ball starts to roll. The club feels well balanced and any golfer familiar with a mallet would improve their performance with a Big T.