Odyssey has long been at the forefront of innovation, producing many of the best putters for the last 20+ years, but with the new S2S Tri-Hot SB line, it looks to have really stepped up the level of technology and performance in the mallet putter category.
I took the S2S Tri-Hot SB Jailbird model onto the golf course to see if the performance matched the bold aesthetics and to find out if it could be considered one of the best zero-torque putters on the market.
At first glance, I wasn't sure of the red and black colorway and thought I preferred the white and navy blue finish on the Ai-One range, but I have to admit, it really has grown on me the longer I’ve used it.
The high-contrast red and black horizontal blocks on the Jailbird crown stand out well, and they also help square the face really easily behind the ball, all while looking really premium in a satin finish.
The real magic of the S2S Tri-Hot SB Jailbird, however, lies in its internal engineering, whereby this putter helps redefine the zero torque category from both a looks and feels perspective.
Odyssey has achieved a breakthrough by eliminating shaft lean and positioning the hosel entry directly on the topline, closer to the face than typical zero-torque putters, through the use of a multi-material construction.
What I love most is the benefit of zero torque, all while it looks like a normal, heel-shafted putter at address, following a similar design to the L.A.B. Golf Oz.1i HS putter. The SB (Single Bend) configuration shifts the shaft toward the heel, delivering a more familiar appearance and an unobstructed view of the sightline while fully preserving the zero-torque performance found in the S2S Tri-Hot range.
For players who have avoided zero-torque putters because they dislike the look of center-shafted setups, this is a really appealing prospect.
When it comes to the strike, this putter features Odyssey's new Ai-Dual insert, a dual-layer urethane insert with a soft outer layer and a firm inner layer with variable face thickness to improve ball speed across the whole of the face.
I loved the soft feel from the Ai-Dual insert, and while it may take a little time to dial in your distance control if you're used to a firmer milled putter, once you do, you'll love it and the consistent ball speed it delivers.
To enhance the roll of the ball further, Odyssey utilises a new F.R.D. (Forward Roll Design) groove pattern, which offers more depth between each groove and has a 19-degree slope on them to get the ball rolling end-over-end almost immediately.
It’s really something I noticed on putts of around the 30ft range, where I didn’t feel as though I had to hit it quite as hard, as the ball got rolling immediately after impact.
Odyssey surveyed the most popular putter grips used on professional golf tours around the world to design the new Pistol Plus grip, which I think feels superb. It slotted perfectly into my hands, with the crisp edges helping with ideal hand placement and keeping the face lined to the target throughout your stroke.
To top it off, the heavier and stiffer Black SL 120 PVD shaft perfectly suits this style of putter and feels beautifully balanced throughout the stroke.
Available in 33", 34", and 35" standard lengths with a 365g head weight, the S2S Tri-Hot SB Jailbird is a really strong, forgiving putter option from Odyssey that combines all of the brand's latest technology in one package. With an RRP of £499, it sits very much at the premium end of the market, but the performance and clean aesthetics on offer, I think, just about justify the investment.
