Odyssey just added a new Jailbird Cruiser model to their Ai-DUAL cruiser line. The Jailbird Cruiser is a 38-inch counterbalanced version of their standard Jailbird. It’s a significant release as it’s the first Jailbird Cruiser this year that isn’t zero-torque or built with 1/2 ball stretch assistance.
It is the first traditional Odyssey Jailbird Cruiser build to feature their new Ai-DUAL insert.
As with most counterbalanced gauges, the head is heavier than the standard head (380 grams vs. 360). The extra weight of the shaft on your hands balances the extra weight of the head.
The intent of this type of counterbalanced construction is to increase the stability of the putter without increasing the swing weight beyond the playable range.
Thanks to Wyndham Clark and Rickie Fowler for putting them in their bagsThe 2014 Jailbird Cruiser went from black to white in popularity a few years ago. Everyone wanted to play the hottest player on the PGA Tour.
Can this Jailbird Cruiser rekindle that fire?
Where did the Cruiser concept come from?
Counterweights have been around for decades. The Heavy Putters company in the mid-2000s was all about heavy putters with compensating shaft/grip weights. They had loyal customers, but the counterbalancing boom didn’t really happen for another decade or so.
Not to get too deep into the woods, but it was the mooring ban that went into effect on January 1, 2016 that really created the counterweight category.
When the USGA/R&A stopped anchoringthey effectively killed the belly. Although the belly shot was not actually prohibited, it was difficult to use a belly shot without inserting it into the abdomen.
As an alternative, companies like Odyssey introduced counterweight lines. These shooters offered the stability of the belly shooter without the need for anchoring.
Years before the ban went into effect, Odyssey launched their Tank line of machines in 2013. They were so into the new concept that they had an actual tank in their booth at the 2013 PGA Show.
Odyssey wanted consumers to know that their new, heavier line of mushrooms (aka Tanks) would be durable enough to replace the belly they were leaving.
Over the next decade or so, the tank brand was replaced by the Cruiser name, when the story became more than just a big one, as the Odyssey added wings and sweepers to the Cruiser family.
Is the ai-Dual Jailbird Cruiser right for you?
This is perhaps the most important question and only you can answer it. It’s a counterbalanced shooter like the Jailbird Cruiser, the right shooter for it you?
As with any deployment technology, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The putting concept is simple: all you have to do is take a short putt and roll the ball a short distance into the hole.
In reality, this is a tricky task as we all have quirks in setting. Ideally, these features can be treated and cured with the right shooter.
This driver arrangement can be a specific alignment scheme, neck type, or a counterbalanced construction.
If your shot tends to be light or fast, a counterweighted shooter can calm things down. If you’re missing a bunch of short shots due to putter spin, a Jailbird Cruiser could be a godsend for you.
Note that like zero torque, counterbalance will not be a one-size-fits-all solution. For some, it can even make things worse.
I went pretty deep into the woods with this question for myself a few years ago and I determined that counterbalanced baskets did not match my placement needs. But that’s just for my shot.
For others, however, a putter like this new Odyssey Ai-DUAL Jailbird Cruiser may be the way to soften the blow and make more shots.
Go demo the device and see if it addresses your deployment barriers. The switch from hate to love placement can only be 38 inches away.
Find out more about this new Jailbird Cruiser and the entire Ai-DUAL line at Odyssey.CallawayGolf.com.
