It started with a murmur earlier this year; a famous non-staffer showed up to the putting green with an odd-looking flat stick that, at first glance, may have looked like some new prototype but, in reality, was an older model that got revived. He got the idea from his caddy, who was putting like a God over the winter, and now Player A approached Callaway Tour Manager Joe Toulon wanting the same thing. Because, as a TOUR team, we want to make sure all requests are met with ninja-like precision, Joe showed up to the AMEX in Palm Desert with an exact replica of the putter in question…
A 37-inch VERSA JailBird with a 17-inch grip.
Everything you need to know about VERSA Tech is RIGHT HERE:
This player has gone on to torch the greens all year, putting so well that it influenced another player (our new U.S. Open champion) to request one. Why? Because he played a practice round with player A and “I watched him make everything he looked at.”
Seems like a good reason to me.
Just take a look at his stats over the past year:
2021/2022
2022/2023
From inside 10 feet, he has gone from 150th to 57th!!
Pretty impressive uptick and performance, and unless you’ve been living under a rock, you would notice that it’s been a career revival year for Player A.
Back in the day, when TOUR players got curious about another player’s bag, there was a direct correlation between that and how affected the Darrell counts. The point is when something was good, players took notice and wanted one. Pretty sure that’s how the 2-Ball took flight, and I know it’s what has happened with the Paradym driver. In a general sense, you don’t see it happen that often these days, especially with an “older” model.
So what is the Versa Jailbird?
Well, first off, the putter in question is ten years old. JailBird was part of Odyssey’s 2013 VERSA launch, which, if you paid attention back then, was the hottest putter going that WHOLE year. (See the article link above for that story)
“Jailbird” is similar to our TOUR workhorse No. 7 shape, with an added bar on the back of the mallet “Double Versa Technology,” IE four alternating black-and-white lines instead of the three lines used on other Versa putters.
With alignment technology (In the case of VERSA perpendicular lines VS parallel) being one of the foundations of Odyssey’s performance platform, having that extra line in the back gives players just one extra “checkpoint.”
What’s with the model that the leaders at the U.S. Open were using?
Odyssey Performance Rep Cody Hale built the two putters in question, and this is what he had to say:
“Both players are using a very similar Versa Jailbird. The longer, counterbalanced version seems to help players swing the putter more freely and reduce some of the stroke manipulations. The feedback we continually receive is that the putter feels very stable, like it’s “swinging itself,” which creates a lot of confidence to hole those short to mid-range putts.”
Player A (Top 5)
Versa Jailbird w / MH Insert
Tank Steel Double Bend Shaft
38 5/8” eog / 2* / 70.75* / 631.7g
SuperStroke Zenergy 17” 3.0
Player B (U.S Open Champ)
Versa Jailbird w / MH Insert
Tank Steel Double Bend Shaft
39” eog / 2* / 70* / 636.7g
SuperStroke Zenergy 17” 3.0
So….will we ever be able to buy one?
I think it’s time to let this Jailbird out of its cage and let her FLY!!!!
The eBay sell posts are already WILD; think double the price of retail…we must do something:)
I’ll keep you posted.
LFG
JDub
