Callaway Golf’s new high MOI (Moment of Inertia), counterbalanced Odyssey Tank Putter will be available April 12. The Tank Putter, being played by Nicolas Colsaerts at this week’s WGC Cadillac Championship, features weighted components with a calculated balance point for a higher MOI and, according to Callaway, greater stability through the putting stroke. Tank will be available in conventional length options – 34 and 36 inches – and 38 and 40 inches.
Odyssey Tank putter
“With Tank, we wanted to enhance the stability of the putter by increasing the moment of inertia of the entire club,” said Austie Rollinson, principal designer for Odyssey. “We feel this achieves most of the benefits of anchoring without actually touching the body
“In redistributing the weight in the putter to achieve this increase in inertia we focused on placing the balance point in each length option in relatively the same position as you would find in a conventional putter. So at each length Tank is offered, the balance point is in a slightly different place on the shaft to provide the golfer with an optimal counterbalance and stability.”
Basically, the Tank is designed to help players consistently make shorter putts, which sounds like the aim (pardon the pun) of all putters, but it’s more exaggerated these days with the debate over the proposed anchoring ban. Long putters and belly putters generally are seen as helping players who have difficulties consistently making short putts.
Rollinson said the conventional length Tank putters (suggested retail price $199) each have White Hot inserts and a total club MOI that is 34 percent higher than a standard putter (with a 19 percent increase in total club weight), and the longer options of Tank putters have a total club MOI that is 109 percent higher than a standard putter (with a 32 percent increase in total club weight).
Stability weighting and a heavier head and shaft, Rollinson said, quiet the hands during the stroke to provide consistent control while a double barrel alignment clearly frames the golf ball at address. Rollinson said the added weight engages the “big muscles” to promote a pendulum stroke that helps keep the wrists from breaking down.
