Odyssey White Hot Versa and New OG Putters

Odyssey White Scorching OG continues in 2023 with a brand new design and worth level.
Odyssey is bringing again the favored Versa alignment scheme.
2023 White Scorching OG (MSRP: $199) and White Scorching Versa (MSRP: $249) each at retail on Feb. 3.

All that’s outdated is new once more at Odyssey Golf in 2023 and a few of you’re going to be actual blissful about that.

Sure, the No. 1 putter on the PGA TOUR (three for 3 for Odyssey-using winners in January thus far) is appearing prefer it’s 2013 as an alternative of 2023. Odyssey shouldn’t be afraid of wanting backward to maneuver ahead. Why wouldn’t they with their stable monitor report filled with constructive designs?

True, Odyssey already type of did the retro factor in 2021 once they revived the original-recipe White Scorching insert for the OG White Scorching OG line. Odyssey did that as a result of gamers continued to make use of their outdated White Scorching putters moderately than altering to new fashions. So Odyssey did the good factor and gave the individuals the insert they needed.

In 2023, they’re taking a web page from their very own playbook and once more resurrecting a well-liked Odyssey design. Persevering with to provide the individuals/prospects what they need looks like a stable advertising plan to me. What has Odyssey returned to the clamoring public? In a phrase, Versa.

Black-White-Black is Again. All proper!

Clearly, Odyssey can’t simply rerelease their Versa putter designs from 2013. I suppose they may however that will imply utterly discounting the last decade of putter efficiency progress Odyssey has made for the reason that unique Versa launch. Why not have each? Similar to they did with the White Scorching OG line, Odyssey is taking the core retro Versa parts cherished by golfers and merging them with present design methodologies.

How about we check out the White Scorching OG and Versa traces to see how Odyssey was capable of merge the outdated with the brand new?

Odyssey 2023 White Scorching OG

The 2021 White Scorching OG line was a profitable throwback to the salad days of the unique White Scorching putters. A lot in order that this would be the third manufacturing 12 months for the White Scorching OG line. In a time when most putter traces dwell two years max, incomes the extra 12 months is an applaudable anomaly. I’d enterprise that buyer suggestions and gross sales enabled the OG to proceed. If that’s the case, it’s fascinating that the Odyssey folks determined to make a reasonably main design change in 2023.

Don’t fear. The unique recipe White Scorching insert remains to be protected. The brand new adjustments give attention to weighting and pricing.

Exit Detachable Weights, Enter New Pricing

The 2023 White Scorching OG putters not function detachable sole weights. Speak about going backwards. In a time when putter firms attempt to make their putters increasingly more complicated, Odyssey has chosen to simplify the White Scorching design by sliding the only real weights proper on out of the image.

However why would they do this? Doesn’t everybody spend hours adjusting the weights on the underside of their putters? In response to weight package gross sales, Odyssey believes most shoppers by no means modify the weights. I’d wager some don’t even know the weights are detachable. I do know that to we putter tinkerers, that idea appears blasphemous. Foolish because it appears, some individuals don’t fiddle with their putters. They simply putt with them.

So Odyssey has completely eliminated the detachable weights from the White Scorching OG line. In doing so, they diminished manufacturing prices and are actually capable of provide the White Scorching OG on the new worth of $199. A less expensive, high-quality putter is a win for shoppers. They’ve misplaced the weights however the White Scorching OG putters nonetheless function the improved aesthetics and the White Scorching insert.

Superb. A brand new putter line has decreased in worth moderately than elevated. Now that may be a retro strategy I can get behind: Take away a function that most individuals don’t make the most of, then drop the worth. That’s a win for shoppers. For Odyssey, it additionally provides them a putter within the sub-$200 market. For those who look across the store, there will not be many putters beneath $200 today. Odyssey has introduced their massive fish to an almost empty pond.

The Return of Versa

The large story in the present day is the return of the Versa alignment scheme. When Versa hit the scene in 2013, it was an enormous deal. It was not possible to not discover these black/white/black painted putters. Shoppers couldn’t ignore them but additionally didn’t instantly perceive them. Why would anybody need these alternating colours on a putter?

All About Alignment

The aim of the high-contrast Versa alignment scheme is to assist golfers goal higher. The traces sit perpendicular to the goal line, serving to golfers sq. the face to their goal line. The Versa putters proved to be extremely popular, each with professionals and leisure golfers. Phil Mickelson performed a Versa 9 for years. The system proved in style because it was straightforward to grasp and efficient.

So why has Versa returned? As soon as once more, demand and potential market alternatives. Versa gamers will not be more likely to ditch a Versa putter for one which has a special alignment scheme. Tour gamers have caught with Versa. Placing instructors like Phil Kenyon reward Versa’s affect on placing. Different golfers on the market are too younger to have skilled the primary Vera launch. That makes for a bunch of potential Versa prospects.

Like with the White Scorching OG, how may Odyssey not give the individuals what they need?

2023 White Scorching Versa

On Feb. 3, you must be capable to discover the 5 new White Scorching Versa putter fashions in your native store. Whereas you’ll possible instantly acknowledge Versa’s acquainted aesthetics, don’t suppose for a second that these new Versa putters are simply rebranded unique designs. Like with the White Scorching OG, Odyssey has blended the outdated factor that you really want with the fashionable Odyssey putter applied sciences.

White Scorching Insert

Essentially the most welcome change to the Versa design will possible be the inclusion of the White Scorching insert. Sensible transfer, Odyssey. If buyer demand drove the return of the White Scorching insert within the OG line, how may you not embody it within the new model of Versa?

For the curious, the unique Versa featured a White Scorching Professional insert. Black or white, after all.

Trendy Odyssey Design Components

The 2023 White Scorching Versa putters function up to date Odyssey design elements. First, there may be Odyssey’s Stroke Lab shaft. Stroke Lab is one other Odyssey expertise confirmed on Tour and with the buyer. For 2023, all Stroke Labs shafts shall be crimson. I anticipate you will notice a bunch of crimson shafts throughout TV broadcasts and at your course.

The weighting scheme of the Odyssey White Scorching Versa displays Odyssey’s present weights-forward philosophy. In contrast to the White Scorching OG line, these putters do function adjustable weights. The weights are on the entrance of the putter, persevering with Odyssey’s 2022 plan of transferring the middle of gravity nearer to the face to enhance roll and consistency.

The load-forward philosophy can be obvious wanting on the backside of the White Scorching Versa Seven. You’ll possible discover first that the weights are ahead however then you will notice that the fangs on the rear have been hollowed out. This pushes the relative weight ahead as effectively. The unique Versa Seven was only a solid-soled putter. This Seven shouldn’t be that Seven.

The brand new White Scorching Versa putters have throwback paint however they’re all trendy Odyssey beneath the hood.

Fewer Fashions This Time Round

No less than with this preliminary launch, Odyssey has determined to dial again the variety of Versa putters they’re releasing. Fact be advised, releasing fewer putters than the unique Versa line is a straightforward job for the reason that unique Versa launch had about 6,000 black-white-black and white-black-white putters. Sure, there have been additionally some putters that the paint scheme was rotated 90 levels to be parallel to the goal line moderately than perpendicular. Clearly these putters additionally wanted to be supplied in each the black-white-black and white-black-white patterns.

There have been so many various Versa putters that we poked a little bit of enjoyable at Odyssey on April Idiot’s Day in 2013 with our announcement of the brand new Versa Driver.

The 2023 White Scorching Versa line consists of 5 fashions, a couple of of which have some neck choices as effectively. Sure, that’s a far cry from the Nice Versa Flood of 2013 however I believe most individuals ought to be capable to discover a putter within the bunch that fits their stroke and eye. Possibly if these are successful, Odyssey will launch extra fashions and variations. Fingers crossed for a slant-neck white-black-white White Scorching Versa 90 Seven.

General, it’s a superb mixture of outdated and new heads. You’ve got the classics just like the One and the Seven. The newer favourite Double Vast is in there as effectively. There are two new head shapes. The brand new Three T compact mallet appears to be like fairly a bit just like the Toulon Design Atlanta. The brand new quantity Twelve is the blockier mallet within the combine, evolving from the blockier Odyssey Eleven. From conventional blade to trendy massive mallet, you will have a spread of choices.

My favourite Versa is the quantity Twelve with a slant neck. Oh, the toes yards of putts that Twelve and I’ve already made collectively. That putter is so cash.

Ten Years Backward, But Nonetheless Ahead

It’s been 10 years since Odyssey launched the unique Versa line. The paint on the White Scorching Versa line matches its predecessor however the brand new design incorporates a decade of putter discoveries. As a shopper, we actually are getting one of the best of previous and current. Client response ought to be fascinating. A few of you’ll welcome the return of Versa and others shall be experiencing it on the course for the primary time. For those who’ve by no means tried a Versa putter, now’s the time.

Pair the Versa design with ahead weighting, the Stroke lab shaft and the fashionable White Scorching insert and you’ve got probably the most fascinating putter releases of 2023, The appears to be like of the Versa will draw consideration within the putter corral. The Odyssey applied sciences and the MSRP of $259.99 ought to assist lots of the putters transfer from the corral to the golf bag.

What do you concentrate on the return of Versa? Are you a Versa veteran or will this be your first publicity? Is there a mannequin that you’re drawn to or an unique Versa scheme that you simply hope to see return? As I mentioned, I’d like to see the white-black-white possibility come again. Possibly the 9 head form as effectively. A Sabertooth might be an excessive amount of to as for, although that will be cool as effectively.

Discover out extra in regards to the new White Scorching Versa and White Scorching OG traces at Odyssey.com.

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