PLAYING WITH … ODYSSEY RED BALL PUTTER

Cost: $259.99. Tested by: Jimmy Emanuel, Golf Australia Writer (GA Handicap 9.4)

If you’re struggling to align yourself on the green, the Red Ball will set you straight.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Having seen plenty of fads come and go in equipment, I was a little wary of the concept of using a ball and scope when lining up putts. But once I got the Red Ball in my hands and onto the putting green, I was sold on the setup and alignment benefits of the design.

The feel off the face was instantly recognisable as an Odyssey putter, with a nice, soft impact – and the DFX grip, one of my all-time favourite putter grips, that comes standard on the Red Ball was a major plus. HOW IT PERFORMED: Alignment when putting, particularly from close range, is perhaps the most important aspect of what can be the most frustrating yet simple part of the game and as my time with the Red Ball continued, I had more success lining short putts up than at any other time I can remember.

The concept of matching up the ball and scope makes plenty of sense in achieving a consistent setup position and is quick and easy to achieve after a few tries. And while more often than not everything was matched up, on the rare occasion the red ball was slightly off centre it was clear and I was able adjust my setup over the ball. When both were lined up on the first try it was a nice added bit of confidence before pulling the trigger, especially from short range where alignment has often been a cause of missed putts for me.

The more I used the Red Ball the more the other features of the putter began to reveal their benefits. Admittedly for the easily distracted or those who crave perfection in their game, the busy top of the putter might be a little too much to deal with. But the combination of the ‘Versa’ alignment and red ball allowed me to follow a routine over each putt that had me scaring the hole more often than not.

The ‘U’ shaped ring of the Versa technology perfectly framed the ball as my first point of reference, followed by using the line to ensure I was aiming my putt on my intended path. Finally a check of the scope ensured the putter was setup correctly and I could hit my putt knowing if it were to miss, alignment wasn’t to blame.

Beyond the primary technology, the Red Ball is a stable and easy-to-use mallet. The insert provides a feel that, while lacking slightly in feedback, is extremely soft and the grooves provided a nice forward roll off the face that was most noticeable in the putter’s impressive distance control.

After initially being a little sceptical about the technology and design, I was completely sold on the concept of the Red Ball once I completed my testing. The multiple colours and alignment aids won’t be for everyone, but for players who struggle with short putting, lining up or who are fans of something to reinforce that they are employing the right technique, the Red Ball is definitely worth a try.