Odyssey O-Works Black Putter
The Odyssey O-Works Black putter lineup has a cleaner black finish and utilizes Odyssey’s latest Microhinge insert technology. After releasing the initial O-Works lineup with the Versa paint scheme, Odyssey followed up with a vibrant red finish and a more traditional “gunmetal” black finish for those not crazy about the whole “flashy putter” vibe. The one thing all O-Works putters have in common is the Microhinge insert. Not everyone is an insert fan, but for those that are, the Microhinge is one of the best inserts to date.
The Looks
Two Words: clean and traditional. That pretty much sums up the Odyssey O-Works Black putter. After falling in love with the O-Works Red finish, and being so used to the Versa color scheme, the simple black finish of the O-Works Black putters was actually a nice change to simplicity. I’ve been around the internet golf forums and blogs long enough to know that no matter what color choice you make as a manufacturer, you’re never going to please everyone. Knowing this, Odyssey was smart in delivering a straight black lineup for their traditionalist players, while providing options for those who want to add a little more flair to their setup. As much as I like a fire engine red putter, I know plenty of people hate them and want something simple in the bag.
The O-Works Black finish is very clean and smooth looking. From address, you may think some of the O-Works Black putter heads look a lot like older black Odyssey models. The biggest differences, however, come in the form of the different head shapes, such as the #7S and the #2 CM models.
How Does it Feel?
To me, most Urethane inserts all feel pretty similar. A urethane-based insert is generally going to feel more muted and soft on the hands. Odyssey‘s Microhinge falls into this category. The “Microhinge layer” that’s molded onto the “Thermoplastic Elastomer Feel Layer” gives the putter a little more click/response, but the feel is still nice and soft. Players that prefer that more muted insert feel will be big fans of the Microhinge insert, same as I am. If you’re looking for something more clicky, however, you may put this back on the rack after a few rolls.
Even with the soft feel, the O-Works Black putters still offer great feedback, and it’s arguably the best that I’ve experienced from Odyssey.
How Does it Sound?
Soft feeling putters usually mean softer sounds. That’s a whole different conversation for a blog post someday for all the fellow golf nerds out there, so we won’t get into that here. The Odyssey O-Works Black putters, however, are no exception to that rule. As mentioned above, you still get a little clicky sound from the Microhinge, but it’s going to sound much softer and more muted than a solid milled putter. Also, while some insert putters can get a little puffy sounding, the O-Works insert gives you a nice muted “tap” at impact.
On-Course Performance
While there are tons of great feelings in golf, there are few as satisfying as a good pure roll from a putter. That nice, pure roll is exactly what Odyssey is trying to accomplish with the Microhinge insert found in the O-Works Black putters. The face of the putter (pictured below) has small hinges designed to immediately roll the ball upward and forward at impact.
My on-course experience isn’t ultra scientific with all sorts of cameras and tools, but my eyes work well enough for me. It was obviously apparent that the O-Works Microhinge insert creates an extremely easy and smooth roll. The ball comes off with appropriate pace, and was set on a true roll practically immediately. By appropriate, I mean that a lot of these “quick-to-roll” putters come off too hot and distance control is tough. The pure roll of the O-Works Black and its speed make distance control consistently reliable.
Final Thoughts
I personally think the O-Works lineups are some of the best insert putters Odyssey has ever made. The Microhinge insert has a great soft feel and puts a killer roll on the ball with great control. Though not all head shapes are available in each finish, I think Odyssey did a great job of providing enough shape and color combos to fit a wide range of players. For the O-Works Black finish specifically, golfers can choose from the #1, #2M CS, #2W, #3T, 330M, and #7s head shapes.
