Check out the latest putters from Scotty Cameron and get some guidance on the model that might be best for your game
Best Scotty Cameron Putters
A brand that has crafted some of the best putters in the world for a number of years now, Scotty Cameron is a name synonymous with excellence.
In terms of the current range, there are two in the current Scotty Cameron family; the Special Select and Phantom X, the first for traditional blades and the second for the mallets.
Titleist’s traditional blade and mid-mallet familia’s have been called some version of Studio or Select and the thinking was there were too many names so Studio went and Special Select, inspired by a favourite wine of Scotty Cameron, was chosen.
Phantom X is the most high-tech putter line that Cameron has designed to date. This is a big leap in performance with a variety of flange set-ups, alignment options, shaft bends and smaller profiles to provide more options.
Below we have taken a look at the best Scotty Cameron putters in the current range to help you narrow your search.
Alternatively if Scotty Cameron is not for you, then we have also created guides on other brands, such as the best Ping putters, the best TaylorMade putters, and even the best Odyssey putters currently on sale.
Best Scotty Cameron Putters
Scotty Cameron Phantom X 11.5 Putter
+ Forgiveness across the face with plenty of alignment aids
– This will appeal visually to some but not others
The Phantom X family has been bolstered by four new additions in 2021 and this has evolved from player input on the line’s most popular models – the Phantom X 5 and Phantom X 12 – with requests for more compact overall head sizes, refined swept-back wings and more tour-like configurations.
This Phantom X 11.5 putter is similar to last year’s popular Phantom 12, with a few tweaks thanks to some input from Tour players.
The Scotty Cameron Phantom X 11.5, one of the most forgiving putters out there, is the newest addition to the acclaimed, high-tech Phantom range and is a wingback, mallet designed for stability throughout the putting stroke.
This is an ideal mallet putter for those who like to have an arc in their putting stroke as the low bend shaft creates a nice amount of toe flow mixed with stability. There is further stability from the wings and despite its larger profile, these wings are not distracting to the eye and the clean white line running through the crown is a great alignment tool.
If you don’t tend to have an arc on your putting stroke, we’d recommend the Scotty Cameron Phantom 11, which is identical in the head to the Phantom X 11.5 but with a different shaft that creates a face balance.
Scotty Cameron Phantom X Putters Review
Scotty Cameron Special Select Newport Putter
+ If you weren’t a fan of the insert then you’ll enjoy the feel that this now produces
– The trend is to go with more forgiveness and you’ll need to find the middle of the face here
Given the classic nature of the Newports the plan here was to take the best traits of previous incarnations and make it better. There is, according to Titleist, better milling technology, material and know-how. Cameron has gone back to the pure-milled shapes and faces and ditched the inset of recent blades in a search to improve consistency and produce more of a solid feel and there is a revamped plumbing neck, face, grip and weight.
Scotty Cameron Special Select Putters Review
Scotty Cameron Special Select Newport 2 Putter
+ It’s as good looking as ever and it really should inspire you on the greens
– It’s a premium product and therefore you’ll be paying premium prices
This is probably the most famous putter, if not design on the planet, thanks to Tiger Woods and 14 of his 15 major wins. It first came out in 1997 and the goal here was to make a new Newport 2 but not to reinvent it, just make it better. The width of the putter is quite a bit thinner and the, compared to the 2018 Select, is more stripped down and sleek. The topline had become thicker over the years to incorporate the weight but the tour stars wanted the putter to sit flatter on the ground and be thinner looking and this is the stunning result.
It’s subtle and Cameron says it’s the most tour-like product they’ve ever made for everyone.
Scotty Cameron Special Select Putters Review
Scotty Cameron Special Select Newport 2.5 Putter
+ Sits beautifully and looks fantastic before you’ve even pulled the trigger
– Won’t suit some strokes
The Newports all have a soft tri-sole design which is another tour-inspired feature. This is another tweak to help the player get the club behind the ball and know where the flat part of the sole is straightaway. Now players are able to tell when the toe might be sitting too high and it’s a huge confidence boost that the putter is sitting in the right position before pulling the trigger. You’ll notice the difference in the neck from the Newport and Newport 2.
Scotty Cameron Special Select Putters Review
Scotty Cameron Special Select Del Mar Putter
+ Like any blade in this family it really is a thing of beauty
– You might need plenty of feel in those hands to get the most out of it
In reducing the size of the Special Select blades (Newport, Newport 2, Newport 2.5) Cameron has picked up the weight by using tungsten sole weights in the heel and toe. Tungsten is more expensive than stainless steel but it’s also heavier. For the mid-mallet, like this Del Mar, stainless steel sole weights are in place because the head shape has more places to make up the weight. This is a fantastic looking creation and you might notice the Cherry Bomb look as opposed to the full red circles. Cameron wanted it to look different from previous models and to look cool – there’s no performance benefit, it’s just a visual and evolution of the line. As such the Del Mar is a no-brainer inclusion in this list of the best Scotty Cameron putters.
Scotty Cameron Special Select Putters Review
Scotty Cameron Special Select Flowback 5.5 Putter
+ This curvy mid-mallet is precisely the sort of wand that will catch your eye
– If you like to see it go straight back and through this might not be for you
The previous GoLo range ended up being amalgamated into the Phantom and Select families and this model is almost an homage to the old GoLo. Like the 2.5 this has a slant back neck and, also like the 2.5, this has the near maximum toe flow – this is the amount the putter opens and closes during a stroke. The more toe hang a putter has, the more toe flow it will have.
Scotty Cameron Special Select Putters Review
Scotty Cameron Special Select Squareback 2 Putter
+ Yet another high-performance putter that is aesthetically pleasing
– Not the most forgiving model
As the shape suggests this might not be notorious with forgiveness but there’s more than in previous iterations. It’s worth noting that all Select putters come with a new Pistolini Plus grip which is larger, thicker and fuller lower hand and heavier than older versions. They used to weigh in at 56g, now they’re 77-80.
Scotty Cameron Special Select Putters Review
Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5 Putter
+ It’s exciting and sets up really nicely behind the ball
– Each to their own with putters and the mid bend might not suit everyone’s eye
This wingback mallet has been a long-time performer on tour and this has now become this racier model. The players wanted a smaller head with a simple dotted alignment, a wide toppling and tapered wings. Cameron chose the neon yellow paint and dots to make it act like a rifle sight to improve your focus and alignment and the neon contrasts ideally with the black aluminum topline. This is a feature of the Phantom X range with a variety of alignment and framing options.
Scotty Cameron Phantom X Putters Review
Scotty Cameron Phantom X 6STR Putter
+ The ultimate set-up for the straight-back, straight-through putter
– Using a centre-shafted putter will take some getting used to
This is as near as this range comes to a centre-shafted option and this is the zero offset offering. Again this is all about options. Cameron says he talks to lots of golfers who like a face balanced set-up and so he came up with this straight-shafted set-up for players who want to create a straight-back-straight-through stroke. Like the Phantom X 6 it has all of the visual alignment guides but comes with a straight shaft.
All Phantom X putters come with the Pistolero Plus grip which has a less tapered low hand.
Scotty Cameron Phantom X Putters Review
Scotty Cameron Phantom X 12 Putter
+ Great for alignment and great on any off-centre strikes
– You might need to get past the looks first before picking one up
This is the flagship putter in the range and there is plenty going on here with wings like a jet. A raised flange tapers back for plenty of alignment help and this is forgiving on your off-centre strikes and there is a lot of stability here. Part of the overall Phantom X mantra is to provide a host of options so there’s something for everyone and, across the board you’ll find something to suit. Given all of the technology and top performance, it features in our most forgiving putters guide.
Scotty Cameron Phantom X Putters Review
Scotty Cameron Phantom X 12.5 Putter
+ Big sweet spot for those after as much forgiveness as possible
– This will appeal visually to some but not others
The looks may not be for everyone, but we like this putter so much it also features in our best mallet putters guide. It is the most forgiving version in the Phantom line and, with the wings on the back, the objective is to make the sweet spot as large as possible. This is the latest in the Phantom X range and it features a low-bend shaft – every X model with a .5 in the name has this for more toe flow to promote an arc in the stroke. The other models have a slightly taller, mid-bend shaft while the Phantom X 6STR has zero offset.
“Every time we introduce a new putter line, I receive requests from tour players and dedicated golfers for additional set-ups and configurations. Phantom X 12.5 is the result of some of those requests,” explained Cameron who has employed a single-miller sight line here.
Scotty Cameron Phantom X Putters Review
What to consider when buying a new putter?
When it comes to arguably the most important golf club in the bag, you need to think about what you want and what you like to use when it comes to the putter. A confidence-inspiring design that suits your eye and suits your stroke can save countless shots on the greens and a good flatstick is often a quick way of bringing the handicap down. So then what are the things you need to mull over before purchasing?
Head Design
Putters come in a traditional blade, mid-mallet or a mallet design. All three styles have positives and negatives to them for every player and luckily lots of brands implement technologies across all three.
Mallet putters tend to be much larger than blades and they usually come in various shapes and sizes. This helps in a number of ways. A lot of the time most of the weight in a mallet putter can be found in the club face however because of its design, weight can then be redistributed to other parts of the head which can help stabilise your stroke. The weight of the putter in the perimeter of the club-head offers better balance than what can be offered from a blade putter.
Mallet putters tend to also have a larger sweet spot which can be beneficial if you are a player who struggles to consistently strike your putts out of the middle of the face. The weight in the club-head also helps here because it diminishes the twisting of the putter throughout the stroke too.
Additionally if you struggle with alignment, a mallet putter could be the way to go. Alignment plays a crucial part in putting because it is all about accuracy and a mallet putter can be beneficial here by helping your eyes line up the putt.
A blade putter is a lot simpler in terms of design and will suit the traditionalists among you a lot more than some of the mallet putters pictured above. Blade putters also tend to suit players with an arc in their putting stroke because of the toe-weighted nature of the club-head.
Feel
Here, we’re talking not just about the feel and sound the ball makes coming off the face but how the putter feels in your hands.
A quieter sound contributes to a softer feel, whereas a louder sound usually translates into a firmer feel. A firmer feel is often the product of shallow grooves or no grooves at all on the face, where sound can’t be dissipated as effectively. They work better with softer feeling golf balls, where as soft-feeling putters work best with firmer golf balls.
You can get putters with adjustable weights in the sole that will alter the feel of the putter. For example, if your stroke is quite smooth and slow, a heavier putter will encourage that more. Jerky putters may prefer a lighter putter, although opting for more weight may reduce it, depending on what your goals are.
The putter grip plays a huge roll in the confidence you feel with a putter. Get one that feels right and sits in your hands comfortably while allowing you to return the putter back to the ball squarely and consistently.
Looks
You should get a putter that you like the look of as the aesthetics can play a role in inspiring or diminishing confidence on the greens.
Blades won’t offer as much alignment assistance, but are still popular because of how they feel and the levels of forgiveness are increasing every year.
Mallet putters have more real estate, and can therefore provide more help to set the face squarely. Mid mallets are somewhere in the middle, offering a decent level of assistance without looking too cumbersome.
Value
Our final tip is to think about price because while there are some premium designs out there, there are also some models which offer excellent value. All putters will propel the ball towards the hole, but they do it in different ways. If performance is more important than looks or feel, there are lots of cut-price options out there that will do a good job and you can spend more money on other areas of your bag.
This article Best Scotty Cameron Putters appeared first on Golf Monthly.