If you read the two L.A.B. DF3 posts (fitting and reality) you might wonder what's happened since I sold it.
I booked another appointment at the Odyssey fitting centre here in St Andrews to check what SAM Puttlab recommended, re-assess everything and, hopefully, settle my mind. With me, that's much easier said than done.
Clarke Lutton, an instructor I've worked with while volunteering at SALJGA (St Andrews Junior Golfing Association), conducted the fitting. Rather than a simple fitting and recommendation, the session was part fitting and part lesson. I took my old Toulon Atlanta (that went up against the DF3) and an Odyssey TriHot5k Seven S that I'd picked up from the Callaway pre-owned site (old habits die hard - see above!)
The fitting recommendation was pretty predictable and in line with most of the ones I've done previously. The SAM data again highlighted I have great consistency with my stroke and tempo. Physically, there is nothing wrong with my putting. However, when talking through my setup and visual preferences, Clarke asked me to explain how I assess my start line and address the ball. He then laid balls out in a straight line, asked me to address the first ball and describe what I saw. Despite knowing the line was perfectly straight, I saw a significant bend from left to right. He then adjusted my setup until I saw the line straight. Using a putting mirror, he demonstrated where my eyes were relative to the ball when I saw the line straight. I was shocked! I've been standing too far away and this simple shift significantly improved my aim. I'd done a similar test with Bruce Rearick years ago but maybe hadn't used a good enough line. We then determined that 33" to 33.5" is the correct putter length, with a lie angle of 70-72°. Pretty much the spec of my Atlanta. I've to practice setting up with a mirror until I get more comfortable with the ball position.
The SAM putter recommendation wasn't much of a surprise either. It suggested a blade with around 45 degrees of toe hang. SAM, iPing and Bruce Rearick have all made that same recommendation but I've consistently struggled to get comfortable with blades. While I love them for lag putting, I'm just less comfortable over short putts. I'm also not so keen on the long blade length relative to compact mallets either. Chatting it through with Clarke we both concluded that compact mallets with slant or flow necks were the way to go (my Atlanta!) The mallet options available were the Rossie S and the Seven S in the new Ai-ONE range. They both performed well but visually I found the heads overly fussy due to the close alignment lines, especially on the Rossie.
Discussing alignment with Clarke, the key thing I dislike about my Atlanta is that the alignment line is in the flange. With the Seven S, I like the short alignment line on top, which combined with the black section almost gives it a blade-like appearance. The contrast between the black front section and the grey rear section helps me focus on the blade, rather than the fangs and reminds me a bit of the Versa alignment used by Odyssey. Discussing this further with Clarke it would seem that I am more of a perpendicular aimer than a horizontal aimer. This was confirmed later when I borrowed a new model Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 from Adam and became so fixated on the double alignment line that I almost became paralysed over the ball.
The only Odyssey blade available with a top line is the Ai-ONE Milled One T CH (what a name!) but it only comes with a plumber neck. I generally prefer the cleaner look of a flow neck, however, I like the shape of this head and it worked well during the fitting. It worked so well it was the model that Clarke recommended I order. It was also the most expensive option!
So have I learnt anything from all this messing about?
The process underlines (again) that mechanically I know how to putt. It has also helped confirm the features I like in a putter.
Blades give me good results and I like the classic Anser shape.
But I prefer the extra forgiveness of a compact mallet.
The Atlanta is actually my favourite shape.
I aim better with a (short) top alignment line but that's hard to find.
Toe hang suits my stroke and I visually prefer a flow neck to a slant neck.
I much prefer the feel of a milled face over an insert.
While working this through, I first reverted to the Toulon Atlanta, then moved to the TriHot 5K Seven S, my Kari Lajosi blade, a Yes Tracy II and have now reverted to the Atlanta. I just like the shape of the head and the way it feels. It's like an overweight Anser. One thing I have done though is that I've used Sharpie to colour in the alignment line on the back flange. It's not perfect but it's better than the white line and will do until I can either find a matching paintfill colour or get the head refinished. It certainly doesn't distract me the way it did before. The last four data points below are since I did that. Ideally, I'd like to find the same head shape with a couple of dots or a line on the top, instead of the flange. Odyssey can offer that with their new Tour Dot model, but it's got a slant neck, I don't like the colour (blue and gold) and it's £500!
Undeniably, my putting has improved since I swapped out the DF3. Who knows, but I think it could have been even better if I hadn't messed about with so many other putters before settling back with the Atlanta. Overall, it's been quite a journey but I believe I've learnt a lot, not just about what I like in a putter but about putting itself.
Greater putting freedom has also come from going back and re-reading my posts about the mechanics and psychology of putting. I also re-read my copy of "Putting Out of Your Mind" by Dr Bob Rotella and paid more attention this time. They were all timely reminders to keep my expectations in check and be kinder to myself. I claimed previously to have had a lightbulb moment with putting. My hope now is that I can keep the light turned on for longer.
Is there a conclusion to the Odyssey?
Right now, the Odyssey pauses with an Odyssey putter and I continue to stick with my old (and slightly battered) Toulon Atlanta. It's as close to the perfect putter as I've been able to find so far. Unless I source the same shape head, with a forged face, flow neck and either no alignment lines or just a short top line, it will remain my first choice. Other than my custom Lajosi, all the other putters have been sold. The Lajosi has even had its shaft removed to stop me from messing about with it too!
UPDATE - 24/08/24
As if by magic, or maybe it's the power of manifestation, but I just picked this up from eBay. A Toulon Atlanta "Garage" model, exactly like I've been looking for. I'll get it regripped and adjusted to my preferred lie angle and see how we get on.
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