Two years ago we introduced our most technologically advanced insert to date – Ai-One. The Ai-One insert improved ball speed across the face, allowing mis-hits to roll out closer to the distance of a center shot than any insert we ever delivered. Building off the success and technology platform of Ai-One, this year we’re introducing our advancement in the Ai line of inserts – Ai-Dual. Ai-Dual builds off of Ai-One in two key ways:
1. Maintains speed consistency similar to that seen in Ai-One.
2. Improves top spin, not just at center, but across the entire face.
In order to build upon the success of Ai-One, our first goal was clear: Don’t move away from the speed consistency we saw on Ai-One. While improved ball roll remained a goal, speed and face angle are the two most important keys to making a putt. A face insert can provide forgiveness when it comes to speed, helping players make more putts, specifically on mishits.
This year, engineers added more inputs and allowed the optimization solver to solve for not only the topology between the two layers, but also allowed it to suggest the actual materials of both the cover and core. The solver suggested a softer cover material and firmer core material for the insert.
Seeking to improve on Ai-One, we reflected on what else is important to making more putts and what can be improved with insert technology. After talking with members of our Tour team, the answer was clear: ball roll. According to putting researchers like Paul Hurrion, improved ball roll can be important for keeping the ball online, especially during early bouncing in the skid phase - an effect that’s magnified on long and shaggy greens. But more important is ball roll consistency across the face.
Compared against Ai-One putters, Ai-Dual has consistently more top spin combined with more consistent spin up and down the face. Improved spin consistency can lead to more consistent skid distances and more predictable breaks on breaking putts.
Briefly reiterating, our new Ai-Dual insert provides two benefits over previous Odyssey inserts:
1. Improved ball speed consistency across the face.
2. Improved ball roll.
Both improvements allow the ball to come off more consistently across the face, aiding players and allowing them a better chance to make more putts.