Clark’s first week with an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser putter led to victory.
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A putter search can take you down roads that appeared unimaginable when issues have been clicking — like testing 9 completely different wands. Yes, Wyndham Clark wanted a spark within the worst approach with a membership that utterly modified his profession final season when he received the Wells Fargo Championship and U.S. Open within the span of 42 days.
Clark was using excessive after his triumph at Los Angeles Country Club with a duplicate of Rickie Fowler’s Odyssey Versa Jailbird. But all good issues ultimately come to an finish. When the putts stopped falling, Clark started the seek for one thing new within the weeks main as much as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
With a new placing coach Mike Kanski within the fold, Clark recognized a slight left-aim tendency that led the reigning U.S. Open champion to query if a putter change was essential.
Once Callaway Tour rep Joe Toulon and Odyssey Tour rep Cody Hale acquired the inexperienced mild, they started the method of constructing a number of completely different choices for Clark to check, together with a few Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser choices with no alignment traces. (Odyssey labels the longer size, heavier head and counterbalanced builds as “Cruisers.”)
“[We] talked through some of the issues he was having and what we thought could help from a putter perspective,” Toulon instructed GOLF.com. “He had a putting lesson on Sunday and started experimenting with left-hand low.”
The grip change required the reps to chop down the putter to 35.75 inches — his earlier putter size was 39 inches — to get Clark’s shoulder extra stage and sq. at deal with. The head was additionally bent 1 diploma flat to make the top seem extra open/sq. when he stood over putts.
Odyssey Ai-ONE #7 S Putter
$299.99
These Odyssey Ai-ONE putters feature our Ai-ONE insert which delivers more consistent ball speeds, even from off-center hits, leaving putts closer to the hole.
AI-ONE INSERT
Designed using Artificial Intelligence, we’ve created contours on the Aluminum backer of the insert which we co-mold to a White Hot Urethane striking surface to promote consistent ball speed across the face with the classic White Hot feel that Tour players and amateurs love.
Ai WINDOW
Our designers and engineers developed a Panlite window, which is a unique automotive grade polymer, that allows us to showcase the unique topology of the back of our insert.
SL 90 SHAFT
A lightweight steel shaft with 20-30 grams (depending on the grip) of counterbalance weight in the butt end. This is an evolution of our Stroke Lab weighting that will appeal to even more golfers.
UNIQUE NAVY BLUE PVD FINISH
These putters all feature a beautiful navy blue PVD finish that really sets them apart and gives them a premium look.
INTERCHANGEABLE FRONT WEIGHTS
Available in 5, 10, 15 and 20 grams these removable weights allow you to dial in your head weight to your exact preference.
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“That paired with a couple of setup changes seemed to help shift his aim and tighten the gap between aim and start line,” Hale famous.
But again to the alignment support change for a second.
Look again at Clark’s earlier Jailbird and also you’ll discover three small dots on the topline for directional functions. Lines and dots are generally used to assist golfers concentrate on their goal, however should you depend on them too a lot, issues can go sideways. Years in the past, Jason Day switched from a TaylorMade Spider with a line to a clear crown after he discovered himself relying an excessive amount of on the road at setup.
Similar to Day’s state of affairs, eradicating the dots stored Clark from fixating on visuals and made the top look barely extra open/sq. at deal with. Problem solved. It’s a small change, to make certain, however one that may make a world of distinction, notably for elite professionals.
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Along with the top adjustments, Clark discovered Odyssey’s Ai insert to be notably good on mishits. Based on the almost 200 toes price of putts he dropped on Saturday at Pebble Beach, it’s secure to say the adjustments have already made a direct affect on Clark’s placing — and his checking account.
“A lot of big changes,” Clark mentioned, “however if you’re in a spot the place I used to be mentally in placing, you type of wanted a change, simply one thing completely completely different so that you couldn’t complain or have those self same feels that I had in earlier tournaments.
“So yeah, a lot changed, but I think not having the line on the putter’s been the biggest thing for me.”
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