Steve Stricker is still tinkering with his clubs, this time it’s with an Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380 putter

A relationship between golfers and their putters is one of the most integral to sustained success. But when that relationship is on bad terms, making the switch to something new can be a difficult decision.

That’s the battle Steve Stricker is fighting as he tries to defend his Kaulig Companies Championship title this week at Firestone Country Club.

Putting, more so than any other facet of golf, is about personal feel and what fits an individual’s eye. A driver can be improved with technology and adjusted to fit a player’s swing, and once something comes along that performs better it’s easy to move on and put that new driver in the bag.

Steve Stricker putts on the seventh hole during the Kaulig Companies Championship Pro-Am at Firestone Country Club on Wednesday in Akron.
And while that can be the case with a putter — many players might benefit from a putter matched to their stroke — there is an added element of personal feel that just doesn’t exist to the same degree as a set of irons or a fairway wood. Sometimes, selecting a putter is as much about comfort as anything.

Many players — Tiger Woods included — have used one putter (or one type of putter with small adjustments) for several years. While the other clubs in the bag rotate often, a putter can be a staple for much longer.

Stricker is one of golf’s best putters over the last several decades, often ranking near the top of the leaderboards at each stop on his career path. And for the past couple of decades, he’s mostly used the exact same putter, which has simply had elements of it renewed to extend its lifespan.

But, lately, Stricker’s trusty putter that had been a reliable sidekick for years — an Odyssey White Hot No. 2 blade — hasn’t been finding the same success.

Steve Stricker putts on the seventh hole during the Kaulig Companies Championship pro-am at Firestone Country Club, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Akron, Ohio. (Photo: Jeff Lange, Akron Beacon Journal)

That led to Stricker finally trying something new a few weeks ago — an Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380, which is a totally different style and head (the Jailbird is longer and has a mallet-style head, meaning it’s larger and has more weight). The results were mostly positive, though it’ll take time — even for a long-time pro — to get the feel down and be totally comfortable with it.

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