Callaway Golf Company’s new Odyssey Metal-X line of insert putters will be available April 13. Each putter features a lightweight aluminum face in front of a urethane backer layer the company says provides a player the “crisp feedback” of a metal striking surface with the benefits of a softer feel. Callaway says the putters, each with a midnight black finish, also offer a textured face that delivers a truer, more consistent roll.
Metal-X putters ($179 for standard length and $189 for belly and long putters) have already been put in play by numerous PGA Tour players, including J.B. Holmes and Danny Lee. In fact, according to Callaway, in the very first week of its availability on the European Tour, 13 players put various Metal-X models in play.
“The idea for the new Metal-X putters came from working with several Tour players who liked the look and performance of our putters, but wanted the feel of a more metallic face,” said Austie Rollinson, principal designer for Odyssey Putters. “We took their feedback and decided to create an aluminum face with a urethane backing layer in order to maintain a lightweight face that helps us optimize the weight distribution in our designs.”
Rollinson said the lightweight aluminum outer layer on the Metal-X putters has a face pattern unlike any other putter in golf, with oval depressions that create a “mechanical lock” with the ball’s dimples at impact. This mechanical lock, according to Rollinson, creates more friction, which delivers a lower launch with optimized topspin for reduced skidding and the truest roll in the game through steady ball deceleration. The urethane inner layer provides soft touch and saves weight to optimize performance. Together, Rollinson said, the two layers combine for crisp responsiveness and sound.
“The texture on the face does two things – it reduces surface contact and increases edge contact between the face and the ball. Reducing the surface contact during impact helps us create a solid, yet soft, sound at impact. That sound equates to feel, so it’s a great feeling insert,” Rollinson said. “I came up with the oval design on the aluminum insert to also create a lot of edges, which increases the friction between the face and the ball and helps create a very smooth and consistent roll.”
