Callaway has been touting its use of artificial intelligence for several years now, using it in drivers and expanding it throughout its line. AI is once again coming to the forefront with the launch of Ai-One, a putter line using AI-generated inserts the company says are the most advanced found in golf to date.
And so far, there’s a ton of interest in the putter, with Jon Rahm already making the switch to an Ai-One putter. He put the then secret putter into play in September, generating buzz around the Ai-One before it was even announced.
“How can we design a face that creates consistent ball speed across the face?” said Luke Williams, Director of Product and Brand for Odyssey Putters. “If we can get consistent speed across the face, we know it’ll help golfers make more [putts].” Williams said there are two inserts—the milled line with a champagne colour face, and a White Hot urethane version.
“They both have tremendous performance versus a traditional milled putter,” Williams said.
Callaway says the typical putter purchase cycle is 2.5 years, and even longer for some professionals. They are confident the new putter will change that.
“Early days the buzz has been incredible,” said Williams. “We’ve gotten these in play faster than we expected and in bigger tournaments than we hoped.”
The Insert
Using AI, Callaway created an aluminum back for the insert on the Ai-One putter and then tapped into the White Hot insert that has been so popular for the company. Callaway co-molded a grooved White Hot urethane layer into the aluminum back for the White Hot feel.
The Ai-One Milled insert also utilized AI to create unique contours on the back surface. These contours help to maintain ball speed on strikes that aren’t in the center of the club, just like the version using the White Hot insert. However, Callaway says performance is dramatically better than traditional milled putters.
Both putters benefit from the contours on the back surface. Callaway engineers developed a Panlite window that makes these contours visible, along with an automotive grade polymer that provides great clarity and scratch resistance.
Aesthetics And Shaft
SL 90 Shaft
A counterbalanced shaft in the butt end, this shaft is an evolution of Odyssey’s Stroke Lab Weighting, and Callaway says it’ll appeal to a wide group of golfers.
Look
The putters use a navy blue PVD finish that makes the putters distinctive and premium in appeal.
Interchangeable Front Weights
Available in 5, 10, 15 and 20 grams these removable weights allow you to dial in your head weight to your exact preference.
Is It For You?
Twenty-one percent better. That’s what Odyssey says golfers will see in improvement relative to the proximity to the hole. What does that mean? For Jon Rahm, it would have moved him from 23rd in strokes gained putting to 9th. For the weekend golfer it means making a couple of putts that were heading to the cup but came up short. More putts equal better scores and more fun. Hard to argue with that.