Odyssey White Ice Dart: Guess What It Is!

If we had three guesses- maybe even ten- we wouldn't be able to figure out what today's nifty item was. Guesses in the office ranged from a new Orbitz gum flavor to an exotic Gatorade, a weird cocktail or a swimsuit. No one suspected the real answer, but when we put it in their hands, all agreed that it made sense.

Enough riddles! First off, the Odyssey White Ice Dart Putter is incredibly bad-ass. We're not sure that expletives fit well in the golf world, but with that name and the futuristic look and feel of this club, they must be trying to reach beyond the traditional audience. Some of us here have had essentially no experience on the golf course, except for mini golf. So it was a perfect chance to get on the green and see how amateurs (and one more experienced player) could handle it.

Golf has undergone some of the same changes as tennis- new materials and a modern emphasis on technology have changed the shape and style of the game. You might not immediately see the difference when watching either one on television, but a close up look at this putter makes it quite clear. Most likely, you've never seen anything like this. And it even has a cool acronym: D.A.R.T. is short for Direction And Realignment Technology. We've mentioned how it looks a few times, but it turns out that they incorporated a bunch of vision research into the construction. You almost can't help but improve your putting; the design forces you to align your club in a straight fashion and also to balance the swing for maximum contact and control.

Putting seems simple, so we were a bit skeptical. But everything from the textured face to the easily adjustable weighting system and even a shaft that bends and curves in a way that feels natural when you're holding it. We should note: we aren't professionals, and none of us are going to be making the Tour even with the White Ice Dart in our hands. But if we had to choose one putter, it'd be this one. We put this to the test- where else?- at the local miniature golf course. But instead of playing the basic 18, we did two rounds, and also switched the putter amongst every player in the group, rotating it so that everyone got a chance to play. Every person reported greater consistency and accuracy when using the putter, and our scores improved by at least a stroke (and in one case as many as four) per hole. Golfers, take note- you'll be immediately asked about this piece of gear when you take it out of the classy case. You might feel weird if you're coming from a blade or non-weighted putter, but the speed control you gain is worth the temporary disorientation. At $179 and available in several sizes as well as left/right-hand styles, the Odyssey White Ice Dart deserves a spot in your golf bag.