Odyssey Golf, another example of a highly successful company that started in a garage, is celebrating an impressive milestone in 2025. They’ve been the number one putter brand on Tour for 25 years. In a game as fickle and as prone to chasing trends as golf, this is an incredibly difficult achievement and speaks directly to the company’s commitment to technological innovation and continued improvement.
Since its introduction, the Tri-Hot series has been a vehicle for Odyssey to push the technological envelope. Some may remember the Tri-Hot 5K series, which married a weight-forward design with massive MOI ratings. Now the company is using the Tri-Hot line to push to literally and figuratively push the Zero Torque category forward. Odyssey S2S Tri-Hot putters pack a ton of new technology and design concepts into the fastest-growing segment in the putter category.
We’ve had the S2S Tri-Hot in the bag for some time now and will share our thoughts, but first let’s look at what makes these putters special.
Technology Overview – Odyssey S2S Tri-Hot
Odyssey’s new S2S Tri-Hot (S2S) line represents the brand’s most refined take yet on zero torque design. One of the main challenges in this category has been just how differently zero torque putters look at address. This is mostly due to where the shaft enters the putter head and the amount of shaft lean that is needed to achieve a toe-up balance point. Professional and amateur golfers have commented that forward shaft lean creates setup issues, particularly with ball position and aiming. Odyssey’s engineers addressed this by moving the shaft entry point closer to the leading edge. In fact, the hosel sits somewhere between ½ to 1 inch closer to the topline than Odyssey’s competitors. The result is a zero torque putter that feels easier to aim, appears less unusual to the eyes, and doesn’t require a special grip.
Forward CG and Hosel Placement
The hallmark of Odyssey’s S2S Tri-Hot concept is moving the center of gravity forward, achieved through a new hosel position that enters the head along the topline, closer to the face. This forward CG and hosel geometry remove the need for excessive shaft lean and make the setup feel more intuitive for players who typically struggle to square the face in zero torque models. The end effect is a stroke that feels balanced, more natural, and consistent.
Odyssey achieved this through an advanced multi-material construction. Each putter combines an anodized aluminum body with over 140g of tungsten, which alone costs about $30 per head. The result is a head with more than 80% of its mass in front of the topline and less than 20% behind.This layout improves stability and makes it easier to keep the face square to the path throughout the stroke, all while significantly mitigating unique setup considerations.
Ai-Dual Insert and FRD Groove
If you were asked to assign one piece of putter technology as Odyssey’s core identity, the answer would be simple – inserts. No other company has embraced and refined insert technology for as long as Odyssey has, and insert putters make up almost 70% of their sales. The company certainly can lay claim to at least a couple spots on the Insert Mount Rushmore.
The all-new Ai-Dual insert brings Odyssey’s Artificial Intelligence–driven design to the forefront. It uses a dual-layer urethane system with a soft outer layer for improved feel and a firmer inner core to enhance consistency and ball speed across the entire face.
The insert works in tandem with the new Forward Roll Design (FRD) Groove, which features a deeper and more aggressive 19-degree slope to promote immediate forward roll on both center and off-center strikes. Odyssey used over 15,000 AI iterations and 72 prototypes to develop the design. Testing shows that forward spin remains consistent whether contact is made high, middle, or low on the face. The effect is similar to the older Microhinge insert, which many Tour players loved, but with improved speed control across the hitting area.
To put it in the simplest terms, Ai-Dual delivers excellent feel, and retains the speed retention that we loved with Ai-One, but brings exceptional forward roll characteristics, surpassing what Microhinge was able to achieve.
Grip and Shaft Options
Odyssey relied heavily on Tour feedback for this release. The Black PVD SL120 shaft was built to be heavier and stiffer, delivering a more stable and controlled stroke. The black finish also helps mask the point where the shaft meets the head, creating a cleaner appearance at address.
The new Pistol Plus grip features sharper edges and a slightly larger shape, helping players maintain awareness of the face angle in their hands. It’s very comfortable to hold and doesn’t give us an immediate “I need to change this grip” feeling. Alignment has been refined as well through a crosshair system that makes it easier for the eyes and brain to aim consistently.
S2S Tri-Hot Models and Specs
The line is focused entirely on mallets, with the most popular shapes represented in the Rossie S2S, #7 S2S, Jailbird S2S, and Jailbird Cruiser S2S models. The Cruiser option features a heavier 140-gram shaft, a longer 17-inch grip, and a total length of 38 inches for those who prefer a counterbalanced setup.
| Model | Loft | Lie | Toe Hang | Head Weight | Lengths |
| Rossie S2S | 3° | 72° | 90° Up | 365g | 33”, 34”, 35” |
| #7 S2S | 3° | 72° | 90° Up | 365g | 33”, 34”, 35” |
| Jailbird S2S | 3° | 72° | 90° Up | 365g | 33”, 34”, 35” |
| Jailbird Cruiser S2S | 3° | 72° | 90° Up | 385g | 38” |
All models feature the same forward-CG, square-to-square stroke geometry, differing primarily in shape and weight profile to suit individual preferences.
Looks and Feel
The S2S Tri-Hot series leans hard into the classic red and black Odyssey color scheme, and at the same time brings in elements of Versa technology. The contrasting colors of the red anodized aluminum body against the black of the front portion helps the eyes square the face at address and aim correctly. While the first Square 2 Square line did offer Versa styling in the Jailbird, the S2S Tri-Hot line incorporates it into each of the three heads. The black SL120 shaft and Pistol Plus grip follow the same color scheme nicely as well.
On the sole we can see how aggressively Odyssey has embraced the idea of removing weight from the body of the putter head. Deep cutouts in the aluminum body are both aesthetically pleasing and functional. To further add to the visual technology seen on the sole, the huge, 140g chunk of tungsten visibly surrounds the new AI-Dual insert. Speaking of the insert, the two unique urethane pieces are both different colors, which shows the varying levels of thickness quite well.
Odyssey always invests a great deal of effort into dialing in sound and feel with their inserts. The Ai-One was a bit of departure from the iconically soft White Hot insert, offering a bit firmer feel and sharper feedback. The Ai-Dual insert on the S2S Tri-Hot series is a definite departure from that, producing a much softer and quieter sound at impact. Feel, especially with inserts, can be deeply personal, but Odyssey has a knack for nailing it. Our feeling is that this will be an instant winner for them among consumers that are already all-in with inserts.
Performance on the Green
Odyssey’s weight manipulation in the S2S Tri-Hot putters isn’t an insignificant thing. Their success at keeping a zero torque design while moving the shaft’s insertion point in the head relied heavily on their ability to relocate mass. The result is a putter that looks and feels much more conventional than their original Square 2 Square putters at address. The need to introduce dramatic forward press was uncomfortable for some consumers, and it also introduced a measure of variability into the setup that many didn’t care for. While the S2S Tri-Hot still has a definitive look that is unique to zero torque putters, it’s much less apparent and the “how much do I forward press” question seems to have been made mostly irrelevant. We found relatively instant comfort addressing the ball and lining up our putts.
Another aspect of the original S2S series that took some criticism was the overall lightweight feeling the putter had in hand. Some of that was due to the lighter SL90 shaft, and some of that was related to the counterbalanced grip design. Some consumers went as far as to change the weights, re-shaft, or re-grip their putters in a quest to change this. The Tri-Hot Series and the SL120 shaft do provide a quick solution to this issue. The putters balance much better in their stock configuration, and the result was easy and intuitive distance control.
The Ai-Dual insert was built with a few goals in mind. We’ve discussed the feel aspect already, but in terms of performance Odyssey wanted to keep the speed retention qualities (forgiveness on off-center impacts) of the Ai-One insert and add the forward-roll benefits of the Microhinge. Without precise measuring equipment it’s difficult to quantify either of these two things, but our impression on the golf course was that the Ai-Dual insert was fantastic in both areas of focus. Off center impacts seemed to produce similar results to the much-loved Ai-One insert. Regarding the forward roll, a putt comes to mind where we said out loud, “That may be the best roll I’ve ever put on a golf ball.”
Of course, the most basic thing that consumers are looking for with a putter like the S2S Tri-Hot is directly tied to the zero torque concept. It’s important that we all understand this type of putter isn’t for everybody, so we highly encourage you to (at the least) spend some time trying one out on a putting green. As fans of the original S2S Jailbird (albeit, in a modified state), we were excited to see if the S2S Jailbird provided the same score-saving results without a ton of modification.
We were pleased to see that our prayers were answered. The combination of the new insert, better balance, and CG change resulted in a quick adjustment period that produced fantastic results from lag putts to knee-knockers. Like our experience with the original S2S line, we found that eliminating putting stroke thoughts while focusing on the read and alignment produced the best results. Since the zero torque look is unusual at first, we suggest using your golf ball’s alignment line to help train your eyes to recognize what proper aim looks like. The new aiming reticle on the Tri-Hot’s topline is quite helpful here too.
Details – S2S Tri-Hot Putters
The Odyssey Tri Hot Square 2 Square line will be available at golf retailers and through custom fitting locations beginning in November 2025, with pricing set at $549.99 for standard models and $599.99 for the Jailbird Cruiser. Golfers can learn more or explore the full lineup on their website.
