This Is The Best Zero-Torque Putter We've Tested (And It's Not From L.A.B. Golf)

The Odyssey Ai-One Square 2 Square range has been the brand's entry into the zero-torque putter space. While I enjoyed the performance of the standard Jailbird Square 2 Square model, I was particularly eager to get to the course when the Odyssey Ai-One Square 2 Square Jailbird Cruiser putter landed on my doorstep to see if it could outperform the original and be considered one of the best putters on the market.

While I was skeptical about the benefits of a zero-torque putter, since testing out a few different models I’ve noticed the added consistency in hitting my start line long term, particularly when within 10ft of the hole. I’ve tested all the leading putters released over the past couple of years and the Ai-One range has consistently ranked among the best. The Cruiser range in particular, was extremely stable and forgiving, so when I found out the Square 2 Square was going to be offered in this longer length option, I was excited to see how it performed.

At address, this putter looks the same as the standard length Jailbird Square 2 Square. The larger mallet design with Versa technology frames the ball well and makes lining the putter face up square to your target a breeze thanks to the highly contrasting sections and the three dots near the face.

I found the longer playing length of 38 inches and heavier head weight of 380g made it feel comfortable over the ball. The longer 17” grip allows for a counterbalance weighting and the ability to grip down and hold a putter like you normally would. Not only did I find this helped the tempo of my putting stroke but by keeping the excess grip above my hands pointing back at center of my body, I felt far more locked in and it almost acted as a training aid to help me release the putter correctly through impact.

As stable and solid as this putter felt on the shorter putts, It took some getting used to when putting from range. I’ve always typically played a 34” blade putter, so the larger counterbalance mallet putter felt alien at first but eventually got me rocking my shoulders better than I ever have before. The Ai-One insert with variable face thickness certainly seemed to help with distance control as well, keeping my mishits rolling off the face at a similar speed to my putts hit from the center - my roll out consistency in terms of both distance and accuracy was certainly above average.

In a test to determine which was the most stable zero-torque putter on the market, I took all of the models I had in my possession over to Custom Golf Works in Woking. I was set up on Capto putting technology to hit six putts with each model to get data for the putter face with the least amount face twist relative to the path. Anything within 60°/S is seen as very stable, so as you can see in the chart above, all the latest models performed well but the Odyssey Ai-One Square 2 Square Jailbird Cruiser putter was a clear standout.

The White Hot Urethane insert offers a soft feel through impact, and the little grooves across the face help the ball to roll straight off the face rather than skidding excessively after the strike. While I usually prefer the firmer feeling of a milled putter such as the L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i, the more I got used to the insert, the more the softer feel grew on me and it was to the great detriment of speed.

Out of all of the zero-torque putters, the Odyssey Ai-One Square 2 Square Jailbird Cruiser Putter was by far the most consistent I have tested. At $349, I think this putter offers exceptional value for money and comes to retail for far less than some of it’s competitors. The stability on shorter putts combined with the balance provided on lag putts, makes this putter a must-try if you’re in the market for a new flatstick ahead of the season.