Odyssey DFX Rossie 33" Review: a no-nonsense mallet that feels soft and rolls true

I’ve been messing around with putters for years, from cheap box-set blades to pricier Scotty-style stuff I borrowed from friends. I picked up this Odyssey DFX Rossie 33" (right-handed, pistol grip, black) because I wanted something decent without dropping a fortune on the latest tour model. I’ve used it for several rounds and a bunch of practice sessions on the putting green, so I’ve had time to see if it actually helps or if it’s just another club collecting dust.

To be clear, I’m not a pro, I’m a mid-handicap weekend golfer who three-putts more than I’d like to admit. I mainly wanted a forgiving mallet head, a softer feel off the face, and a grip that works with my slightly weird claw-style hold. This DFX Rossie ticks most of those boxes. It’s not magic, it doesn’t suddenly turn you into a tour player, but it does make short and mid-range putts feel more controlled compared to the basic blade I was using before.

The first thing that stood out was how soft the face feels without being mushy. On my old steel-faced putter, mishits felt harsh and distance control was all over the place. With this one, the insert tones down the impact, and I can actually feel if I’ve hit it a bit off-center without the sting. That helped me adjust my stroke pretty quickly over a few practice sessions.

It’s not perfect. The all-black look is cool but can be a bit hard to see in low light, and the 33" length might feel short if you’re taller or like to stand more upright. But overall, for the price and what you’re getting from a known putter line, this feels like a pretty solid, no-drama upgrade if you’re coming from a cheap stock putter.

In terms of value, this Odyssey DFX Rossie sits in that middle ground: not bargain-bin cheap, but clearly below the top-end tour models. For what you pay, you’re getting a real brand-name putter with a proven design, a soft insert, and a good grip. If you’ve been using a stock putter that came with a starter set, this is a noticeable upgrade without going into silly money territory.

Compared to some premium Odyssey or Scotty Cameron models that cost a lot more, you’re mainly giving up fancy milling, high-end finishes, and sometimes more complex alignment systems. What you’re not losing is the basic performance: stability, feel, and a decent roll. For an average golfer who just wants fewer three-putts, this DFX version is probably a better value than chasing the flagship models just because the pros use them.

Against cheaper no-name mallets, the difference is in the consistency and build quality. I’ve tried budget putters where the face felt dead in some spots and springy in others, or where the grip felt like plastic. This one feels more dialed-in: the insert response is consistent across the face, and the grip is something I’d actually choose on purpose. So even if you can find a cheaper mallet, I think the extra cost here is justified by the feel and reliability.

Overall, I’d call the value good but not mind-blowing. You’re paying a bit for the Odyssey name, but you’re also actually getting solid performance and a putter you can keep in the bag for a long time. If your budget is super tight, there are cheaper options. But if you want a recognizable brand, a soft insert, and a clean mallet design without going full premium, this hits a pretty sensible sweet spot.

The design is pretty straightforward: Rossie mallet head, slant neck hosel, all-black finish on both head and steel shaft. If you’re coming from a classic chrome blade, this will look a bit more modern and compact, but not crazy or futuristic. The Rossie shape is rounded with a flat back, and it sits nicely behind the ball without feeling bulky. For me, it hits a good balance between forgiveness and not feeling like you’re swinging a spaceship.

The alignment aids are simple: a single white line on the top of the head. That’s it. No wild patterns, no three-line systems. On short putts, that single line is easy to set up square to the target. On longer putts, it’s enough to give you a reference without distracting you. I used to play a putter with a busy alignment pattern, and honestly, this cleaner look makes it easier for me to focus on the stroke instead of the graphics.

The all-black finish looks good in the bag and behind the ball, but there’s one small downside: in late afternoon or under weaker light, the top line can blend into dark greens a bit. It’s not a dealbreaker, but sometimes I felt I had to double-check my setup on shadowy parts of the green. On the flip side, in full sun there’s no glare at all, which is nicer than shiny chrome that reflects light into your eyes.

The slant neck design gives it a slight toe hang, so it’s geared more toward players with a bit of arc in their stroke, not a super straight-back-straight-through motion. I have a mild arc, and it felt natural right away. If you’re very straight-line in your stroke, you might prefer a face-balanced version, but for most average golfers, this setup will feel pretty normal. Overall, the design is clean, practical, and not trying too hard, which I like.

Comfort-wise, this putter is easy to pick up and play if you’re used to standard-weight mallets. The 33" length I tested is on the shorter side, which I personally like because I tend to hunch over the ball a bit. I’m around 5'9" (175 cm), and 33" works well for me. If you’re closer to 6' or above and like a more upright stance, you might find this length a bit short and feel like you’re bending too much. So the length choice really matters here.

The oversize grip is probably the biggest comfort upgrade over cheap putters. It fills the hands without feeling like a pool noodle. With a conventional grip, it helps reduce wrist action and makes the stroke feel more like a shoulder-driven rock. With my claw grip, the flat front and thicker profile give my top hand a stable platform, and my bottom hand just lightly supports. After a couple of practice sessions, I noticed I was steering the putter less and just letting it swing.

At address, the Rossie head sits flat on the ground and feels balanced. There’s no sense that the head wants to twist open or closed on you. The slight toe hang matches my natural arc, so it doesn’t feel like I’m fighting the club. The soft insert also plays into comfort: mishits on the toe or heel don’t send a jarring vibration up the shaft. You can feel that you missed the sweet spot, but it’s more of a gentle feedback than a shock.

After a few full rounds, I didn’t have any hand fatigue or wrist soreness, which I sometimes got with a thinner-gripped, lighter blade. The weight, length, and grip combo make it feel stable but not heavy. If you like a very light, whippy feel, this won’t be it. If you prefer a solid, planted stroke, this setup is pretty friendly. Overall, in terms of comfort, it’s a clear upgrade over entry-level putters and easy to live with for 18 holes.

The putter uses alloy steel for the head and a standard steel shaft, so nothing fancy like carbon or multi-material nonsense. What really matters here is the DFX insert, which Odyssey calls their softest insert. In practice, it does feel noticeably softer than a plain steel face or some firmer inserts I’ve tried. On impact, you get more of a muted “thud” than a click. That helps with feel, especially on faster greens where you don’t want the ball jumping off the face.

The grip is an oversize DFX grip made from synthetic rubber. It’s thicker than a standard pistol grip but not as chunky as some jumbo grips. The texture is slightly tacky but not sticky, and it held up fine through a few sweaty rounds without feeling slippery. I use a claw-style grip on shorter putts, and the slightly larger profile actually helps stabilize my right hand. Compared to the thin stock grip that came on my old putter, this feels more solid and helps keep the wrists quiet.

Build quality-wise, everything on my unit was solid. The insert was seated properly with no gaps, the shaft was straight, and there were no loose sounds when I tapped the head or swung it. The black coating hasn’t chipped yet, even with some light bag wear and a couple of accidental knocks against other clubs. I’m not saying it’s bulletproof, but after several rounds it still looks pretty clean, especially if you use the headcover.

Overall, the materials are practical and geared toward feel rather than flash. You’re getting a soft insert, a reliable steel shaft, and a comfortable oversize grip. No exotic metals, but honestly, for a putter at this price point, I’d rather have a proven insert and a decent grip than some gimmicky material story. It feels like money went into the parts you actually notice when you’re standing over a putt.

Durability-wise, I’ve used this Odyssey DFX Rossie for several weeks now, with multiple full rounds and a lot of practice green time. So far, the all-black finish is holding up better than I expected. The sole has some normal wear from contact with sand and grass, but nothing beyond light scuffing. The top line and alignment aid still look clean, which is important because any chips there would be distracting at address.

The headcover does its job. I keep it on between shots, and that’s probably why the face and edges still look good. The Velcro hasn’t worn out yet and still closes tightly. If you’re someone who throws clubs around or never uses a headcover, you’ll obviously see more cosmetic wear, but that’s on the user, not the club. Structurally, there’s been no loosening of the head or shaft, and no rattles inside the head when I shake it.

The grip is often where cheaper clubs show their age quickly, but this oversize synthetic rubber grip is still in good shape. No peeling, no weird hard spots, and the texture is still reasonably tacky. I’ve played in light rain and in heat, and it didn’t turn into a slippery mess. Over a longer period (a season or two), you’ll probably want to regrip like any other club, but there’s nothing about it that screams “cheap” or disposable.

Given that it’s made from alloy steel with a standard steel shaft, I don’t see any big red flags for long-term durability as long as you don’t abuse it. It’s not some fragile showpiece. Toss it in a cart bag, use the headcover, and it should last you several seasons easily. For the price point and the fact it comes from a big manufacturer with a 2-year warranty, I’m pretty comfortable with how it’s built to last.

Performance is where this putter actually justifies its price. I tested it over several rounds and a lot of practice putts at different distances: three-footers, 10–15 foot birdie chances, and long lag putts from 30+ feet. Compared to my old basic blade, the first big difference was distance control. The DFX insert softens the impact, so the ball doesn’t jump off the face as much. That let me make a slightly firmer stroke without sending the ball racing past the hole.

On short putts inside six feet, the alignment line and mallet shape helped me aim more consistently. The head feels stable through impact, and even when I miss the center a bit, the ball still holds its line reasonably well. I’m not going to pretend it erased all my yips, but my confidence definitely went up. I missed fewer short ones to the right, which used to be my main miss when I pushed the blade open.

On longer putts, the forgiveness across the face is noticeable. Mishits lose a bit of pace, but not as badly as with a thin-faced putter. The roll stays pretty true, and I didn’t see any wild side spin unless I really made a bad stroke. That makes lag putting less stressful: even if you don’t catch it perfectly, you’re usually ending up in tap-in range instead of leaving yourself six or seven feet.

One thing to keep in mind: because the insert is quite soft, if you play on slower greens, you might need to hit the ball a bit harder than you’re used to. After a couple of rounds, I got used to it, but the first day I left a few putts short on slow municipal greens. Once adjusted, though, the combination of feel and stability is solid. It’s not some miracle club, but it definitely helped tighten up my distance control and reduced the number of total putts per round by a couple compared to my old stick.

Out of the box, the Odyssey DFX Rossie 33" is pretty straightforward: you get the putter itself and a headcover. That’s it. No fancy extras, no tools, no booklet full of buzzwords. The headcover is decent enough — it’s padded, fits snugly around the mallet head, and closes with Velcro. It’s not luxury-level, but it protects the face and top line from bag chatter, which is all I really care about.

The putter is configured as right-handed, 33 inches, steel shaft, Rossie mallet head, slant neck, and an oversize DFX grip. So you know exactly what you’re buying. There’s no confusion about head shape or grip type. The info on the label is clear: length, flex (uniflex, which is standard for a putter), grip type, and color. If you’re picky about specs, you won’t have to guess anything here, which I appreciate.

In terms of first impression, it looks like a proper Odyssey, not like a budget knockoff. The branding is subtle, the finish is fully black (head and shaft), and the insert is integrated cleanly into the face. Nothing rattled, nothing felt loose, and there were no weird paint defects on mine. For a putter that sits in the more affordable part of the Odyssey range, it still feels like a real brand-name product, not some generic stick.

Overall, the presentation is simple but functional. You’re clearly paying for the club itself, not for packaging or gimmicks. If you like toys and accessories, you’ll be underwhelmed. If you just want a putter you can throw in the bag and play, it does the job straight away. I unboxed it, peeled the plastic off the head, and was rolling putts in the hallway within five minutes.