Whenever something new emerges from the Cameron Putter Studio - the workshop of famed putter designer Scotty Cameron - the best golfers in the world take notice. Many of them play Cameron's designs for Titleist, as do many of the world's more discerning recreational golfers (at least those that have a little disposable income).
So take note: The Scotty Cameron by Titleist franchise of putters has four new family members.
The four putter lines are new for 2005, and include the Studio Style series (the new flagship line, according to Titleist), Futura Phantom and Futura Phantom Mallets, and the American Classic III family. Remaining in the Scotty Cameron by Titleist line are the Red X and Red X2 mallets, plus the traditional Studio Design models.
Here is a look at the features of the four new Scotty Cameron by Titleist putter lines:
Studio Style
The Studio Style series includes four models that combine milled stainless materials and precision inlays. They are designed to provide, Titleist says, "superb feel and sound for a soft yet responsive touch." A special vibration pad serves to attach the German Stainless Steel inlay to the satin mist Studio Stainless Steel body, and the inlay is surrounded by an elastomer cushion.
The Studio Style line features two body styles, described blow, and two neck styles. Two models use a square plumbing neck that has a full shaft of offset. "This neck produces less toe hang, and therefore encourages a slightly inside to square stroke," according to the manufacturer. Two other models use only a shorter flare neck with only a half-shaft of offset, proving "more toe hang, or toe flow, and encourag(ing) a more flowing, toe open-to-close stroke."
The MSRP at launch for the four Studio Style putters is $300 each. Here are the four models, as described by Titleist:
• Newport: "Softer, flowing lines with a square, plumbing neck hosel and single sightline."
• Newport 1.5: "Softer, flowing lines with a short, rounded flare neck and single sightline."
• Newport 2: "Crisp, boxier body with a square, plumbing neck hosel and single sightline."
• Newport 2.5: "Crisp, boxier body with a short, rounded flare neck and single sightline."
Futura Phantom
The original Futura was introduced in 2003 (and doesn't seem as odd-looking anymore, what with all the potato-mashers out there now). The Phantom is a contemporary mallet with a forward shaft bend and no offset at address. The Futura Phantom features a milled aluminum face and frame and a deep semi-circular steel backweight. The result, according to the company, is a "dramatically deep center of gravity for unmatched balance, forgiveness and roll."
Sole rudders on the bottom of the Futura Phantom are lengthened to provide better stability at address. The shaft insertion point is closer to the center of gravity, behind the face, and the shaft bends forward from its mounting point "for a straight, no offset appearance at address." The T-shaped frame and a single white siteline on a black background combine with the shaft design to provide easy alignment.
The MSRP at launch for the Futura Phantom is $285.
Futura Phantom Mallets
The Futura Phantom Mallets line includes two models, each of which is more traditional in shape and appearance than the Futura Phantom. Both mallets are "force balanced," according to Titleist, through the heavy backweight of the Futura line being closer to the face. "Force balanced means they have no toe hang like a face balanced putter, but putt like they toe flow, which helps produce the ideal stroke," according to the company.
Phantom Mallets include five sitelines, white lines on a dark surface, to help with alignment. The topline of the mallets slopes up from heel to toe, a design feature that helps the golfer get the proper loft and face angle at address when soling the putter.
The two models have different shaft styles; one uses a single-bend while the other uses a near-center-shafted straight-in configuration. The MSRP at launch for the Futura Phantom Mallets is $285 each. The two models are:
• Futura Phantom Mallet: "Semi-circular, high-tech mallet with flowing, single bend shaft."
• Futura Phantom Mallet 2: "Semi-circular, high-tech mallet with a near center shaft configuration."
American Classic III
It's back to the future with the American Classic III models, which have their roots in the original brass Bulls Eye putters of yore. The three models each offer a milled one-piece steel construction with a satin mist finish, copper tungsten heel-toe weighting and a "sweet spot dot" on the topline.
The American Classic III putters carry MSRPs at launch of $200 each. The three models are:
• Blade: "Bulls Eye style blade with smooth topline." • Flange: "Bulls Eye style blade with back flange featuring a perpendicular sightline." • Heavy Flange: "Shorter, heavy flange putter with a perpendicular sightline."
