Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Putter Review

The Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser putters harness artificial intelligence to deliver greater distance control, in a bid to reduce your three-putt percentage. But does their additional stability deliver?

Harnessing the power of AI to develop optimized wood faces, which enhance good strikes and counteract misses, has been part of golf since Callaway unveiled the tech in the first Epic Flash driver in 2019. Ever since the company has developed fairway wood, hybrid, and iron faces using a super-computer, which gives the capacity to quickly and efficiently test 15,000 different iterations of new designs before coming up with an optimal solution for each individual model. Something human modeling just can’t compete with.

The new Odyssey Ai-One, Ai-One Milled, and Ai-One Cruiser putters (Callaway owns the company) are the first flatsticks to introduce AI-designed faces to the dancefloor.

Odyssey has produced some of the best putters available for decades. And it’s well-known even the best players on the planet, like Rory McIlroy regularly miss-hit putts by up to 3mm from the center of the face. But, where most putters, when hit off-center experience a loss in ball speed, which leads to putts traveling less far, and ending up further from the target, Odyssey’s Ai faces have been specifically optimized to counteract imperfect impacts.

Everything you need to know about Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser putters

Ai-One Milled or Ai-One Crusier?

Odyssey is all about offering every golfer their perfect putter solution. So, to ensure there’s an AI option for all comers the new AI models are available in three different families.

The Ai-One models here consist of the brand’s most popular tour-proven head shapes, with five models launching in November 2023, and a further eight shapes to follow in February 2024. Thanks to having a cast construction like the Odyssey White Hot OG putter, this family will set you back significantly less dosh ($299.99 in the USA and £289 in the UK).

Each model comes decked out with a White Hot urethane face insert, and an AI-designed aluminum backer which promotes feel and consistent ball speeds across the face.

Odyssey knows though there’s a whole band of golfers who prefer the feel and feedback of a premium CNC milled putter, so there’s also a very precisely made CNC machined Ai-One Milled family too. Expect eight head shape and hosel choices to appear in November 2023. These models come with AI-designed titanium face inserts, each with a uniquely contoured back surface, which Odyssey says gives the pure feel milled putter fans expect.

Avid putter fans will also know that counter-balanced putters are trending up right now. With Wyndham Clark and Brian Harman winning majors in 2023 while using counter-balanced putters, a heavier head-weight Ai-One Cruiser family will also be available from March 2024. The Cruiser models will cater to golfers looking to explore counter-balancing, armlock, and broom handle designs.

How much difference will an AI putter face make?

Odyssey knew they were onto something special with AI but they wanted a figure to prove just how much better the tech was compared to the competition. So, they robot tested from 15 different spots across the face and discovered their super-computer-designed faces hit putts 21% closer to the intended target than any traditional putter tested.

Admittedly center-hit performance remains the same as any other putter, but most golfers do not hit putts from the center that often. So I’d say to see the AI models as having larger, more effective sweet spot sizes (with the Ai-One being slightly more forgiving than the Ai-One Milled), so putts from a larger portion of the face travel the same distance, which ups consistency and reduces your three-putt percentage.

What’s the real-world benefit?

With AI being Odyssey’s flagship new tech, the brand obviously wanted star player Jon Rahm to be an early adopter. So, the brand put in some serious hard work to study his stats in a bid to convince the current world #2 AI could help. And their findings are mind-blowing. 

Bearing in mind the 21% accuracy improvement the company reckons they could reduce Rahm’s 23 three-putts for the season (2023 prior to the Tour Championship), immediately to 12. Part of the thinking at least comes down to how Rahm sees longer-range putting being about speed control, rather than just trying to hole more putts more often.

The numbers might only equate to an improvement of 0.2 in strokes gained when putting, but such a rise would see the Masters champ jump from 23rd to 9^th for his on-green performance. In terms of cold hard cash that’s a move that would have seen JR earn an additional $2.5 million in 2023.

Needless to say, Rahmbo was so impressed an Ai-One Rossie putter went straight into his bag the week before the Ryder Cup.   

What does the heavy, counter-balanced Cruiser family bring to the table?

Counter-balancing is not a new idea to golf, it’s been around for years, but 2023 saw a real resurgence of the concept amongst top tour players. Brian Harman and Wyndham Clark both won majors using counter-balanced putters in 2023 (the Open Championship and US Open respectively), which has led to several leading putter brands trying their hand at counter-balanced putters again in 2024.

The theory is that heavier head weights and more mass positioned inside the shaft and above the hands give greater stability. As the putter weighs more it also means you’ll need to use your bigger shoulder muscles to swing the putter effectively, which is a really good way to eliminate the inconsistencies of flicking at putts with the wrists. I really like the concept so long as you are happy with the longer shaft length (which can get tangled in clothing if you are shorter) and you feel you can confidently control the pace of putts from distance, which can be more challenging with heavier head putters.    

True blue

Putters are seriously personal pieces of equipment, hence why the AI family runs to 27 different models across three different families. All models come with a deep, rich navy blue PVD finish which is both durable and attractive. Expect a look that won’t offend or jar any golfer’s eye.

Each Ai-One putter also has an automotive-grade polymer window either in the sole or cavity back to showcase just how lumpy and bumpy the AI-designed face is. Two front sole weights let golfers tailor head weight by 5g, 10g, 15g, or 20g, so each can be dialed into the exact set-up you desire.   

Meet the Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser putter models

Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Double Wide CH

RRP: $ / £

	Loft	Length	Lie	Head Weight	Toe Hang
Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Double Wide CH	3°	38″	70°	380g	37°

Very much the modern blade putter as wider body blades are trending up right now. A Cranked Hosel gives this head 37° of toe hang which means the model will best suit slight and stronger arc players. Expect a fraction more forgiveness and stability than narrower traditional blade alternatives.

Before buying online make sure you’re comfortable with the additional shaft length, if not the TaylorMade Spider Tour S comes in 3″ shorter at 35″ (there’s also a 38″ option).

Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser #7

RRP: $ / £

	Loft	Length	Lie	Head Weight	Toe Hang
Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser #7	3°	38″	70°	380g	0°

Odyssey #7 putters have been used by everyone from Open Champions to average hackers, which means this modern fang-shaped model comes with a huge pedigree. The head is a great combination of stability and feel, with golf ball width alignment cues and a sightline to highlight your intended impact position perfectly.

With zero toe hang this model is a better fit for straighter stroke players. Just remember if you can’t handle the extra length this model is also available at a 20g lighter weight within the standard Ai-One and Ai-One Milled families.

Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Jailbird

RRP: $ / £

	Loft	Length	Lie	Head Weight	Toe Hang
Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Jailbird	3°	38″	70°	380g	0°

The Jailbird has re-emerged as a firm tour favorite over the last 12 months thanks primarily to Rickie Fowler regaining form using the model, and Wyndham Clark wielding a Versa Jailbird when lifting the US Open in June 2023.

This and the smaller Jailbird Mini, within the standard Ai-One family are the only two models to feature the blue, white, blue Versa color scheme that is great for highlighting aim.

Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser #7 Arm Lock

RRP: $ / £

	Loft	Length	Lie	Head Weight	Toe Hang
Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser #7 Arm Lock	5.5°	42″	72°	380g	0°

Odyssey #7 putters have been used by everyone from Open Champions to average hackers, which means this modern fang-shaped model comes with a huge pedigree. The head is a great combination of stability and feel, with golf ball width alignment cues and a sightline to highlight your intended impact position perfectly.

To use this model effectively you’ll need to enjoy having the sensation of the putter shaft running up your arm, the whole idea is eliminating the wrists breaking down through impact to up consistency.

Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser #7 CS Broomstick

RRP: $ / £

	Loft	Length	Lie	Head Weight	Toe Hang
Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser #7 CS Broomstick	3°	48″	78°	450g	N/A

Odyssey #7 putters have been used by everyone from Open Champions to average hackers, which means this modern fang-shaped model comes with a huge pedigree. The head is a great combination of stability and feel, with golf ball width alignment cues and a sightline to highlight your intended impact position perfectly.

This 48″ model is for golfers who putt with the top of the shaft at chest or chin level. Whilst the model is longer than a driver, don’t think you can use the extra length when taking a drop, that is against the rules.

Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Putters

Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Double Wide CH

RRP: $ / £

Loft: 3°

Length: 38"

Lie: 70°

Head Weight: 380g

Toe Hang: 37°

Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser #7

RRP: $ / £

Loft: 3°

Length: 38"

Lie: 70°

Head Weight: 380g

Toe Hang: 0°

Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser Jailbird

RRP: $ / £

Loft: 3°

Length: 38"

Lie: 70°

Head Weight: 380g

Toe Hang: 0°

Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser #7 Arm Lock

RRP: $ / £

Loft: 5.5°

Length: 42"

Lie: 72°

Head Weight: 380g

Toe Hang: 0°

Odyssey Ai-One Cruiser #7 CS Broomstick

RRP: $ / £

Loft: 3°

Length: 48"

Lie: 78°

Head Weight: 450g

Toe Hang: N/A

Visit the Odyssey Golf website here