If you’ve been anywhere near a putting green in the last decade, you’ll know Odyssey has a habit of setting the benchmark—and then moving it. Their Square 2 Square family has already attracted plenty of devotees, and now, the brand is upping the ante with the Ai-One Square 2 Square Max 1 and Max Stripe.
Yes, the shape will look familiar, some might say very familiar. Odyssey themselves practically pioneered the fang-style design before the rest of the industry piled in. And now, in this zero-torque arms race, they’ve clearly taken inspiration from the runaway popularity of L.A.B. Golf’s DF3. But that’s only half the story. Because the real question is: does this latest Odyssey iteration back up the looks with substance?
Let’s take a closer look.
Straight out of the box, both putters make a statement. They’re big, bold, and unapologetically modern. The Max 1 wears a deep navy PVD finish with a crisp, single sightline. It’s clean and understated, especially given the size. In contrast, the Max Stripe goes all-in on alignment. The broad white stripe down the middle is the width of a golf ball, ideal if you need every visual cue you can get.
Both models are centre-shafted, which sets the tone for their performance. If you’ve struggled with twisting or inconsistent face rotation, these are designed to keep everything square through impact.
Odyssey didn’t just tweak the paint job. These are their most stable Square 2 Square putters yet, with a moment of inertia topping 6,300, significantly higher than previous generations and even beyond the well-known Jailbird.
A big part of that stability is the Ai-One insert. Developed using, you guessed it, artificial intelligence, the insert blends a contoured aluminium back with the familiar White Hot urethane face. The idea? To keep ball speeds consistent wherever you make contact while preserving that classic Odyssey feel.
The centre shaft positioning shifts the centre of gravity to help keep the face square, and the built-in 3.3 degrees of forward shaft lean encourages a natural forward press. For many players, this will immediately simplify setup and reduce face rotation without any conscious manipulation.
Three shaft weights: SL 90, 140, and 180, let you match the putter’s balance to your preferred length and feel.
I’ll admit it: I’m partial to a larger mallet. There’s something reassuring about standing over a putter that looks like it was designed to never twist. And that’s exactly the sensation you get with the Max Stripe in particular.
That said, not everyone will love the proportions. If you prefer a slender blade, this is going to look like a spaceship behind the ball. But if you can get past the footprint, or even better, if you like it, there’s a lot to be said for the confidence it inspires.
Sound and feel are familiar Odyssey territory. The Ai-One insert produces a soft, muted click that’s satisfying without being hollow. Feedback is more precise than you might expect from such a high-MOI design; you’ll know if you catch it out of the heel or toe, but the resulting putt still stays remarkably close to your intended pace.
One of the standout qualities of this range is the sheer effortlessness of keeping the face square. The zero-torque design does exactly what it promises: it all but eliminates the wobble that can sneak in when nerves strike.
That stability is most noticeable on shorter putts. Inside 10 feet, it feels as though the head is on rails, just point and roll. Even on longer efforts, the consistent speed and directional control help take some of the guesswork out of lag putting.
The caveat? The standard lie angle is fairly upright. If you prefer your putter to sit flatter, you might not unlock the full forgiveness potential without an adjustment.
After a few rounds testing these putters, I kept coming back to the Max 1. For me, the simpler alignment suited my eye and felt less busy behind the ball. But if you appreciate a more prominent visual aid, the Max Stripe makes lining up almost automatic.
Both models share the same DNA: enormous stability, a buttery-soft feel, and an ultra-consistent roll. If you’re the kind of player who struggles with face rotation, or if you’ve simply grown tired of inconsistent distance control, these are well worth a look.
They’re not small, and they’re not subtle. But if you can embrace the size, Odyssey has delivered two of the most confidence-inspiring mallets on the market today.
Whether you’re replacing an older Square 2 Square or curious to see how they compare to the L.A.B. DF3, these new Ai-One putters deserve a place on your shortlist. They’re proof that sometimes, bigger really is better and that Odyssey still knows exactly how to make a putter that performs under pressure.
