Scotty Cameron Futura X7M Putter

The Scotty Cameron Futura X7M putter first came onto my radar after Jason Dufner overcame some serious putting woes to win on the PGA Tour using this new flatstick.  While the X7M was a new design in the Cameron lineup, its overall look was a lot like another brand’s jail-themed #7 shaped mallet head.  Around that same time, the X7M started popping up in a lot of Tour players hands and had some decent success.  What I experienced was a stable, well-balanced, easy rolling putter that gave me a lot of confidence.

The Looks

If we’re being honest, the Scotty Cameron Futura X7M is a lot of putter.  My immediate reaction to its appearance was “Jailbird” and a quick Google search should support that thought.  The X7M’s shape is very reminiscent of the classic #7 shape with a bar across the back as well.  Something about it reminds me of a modern military bomber like the B-2 Spirit with its smooth flowing lines.  Another notable aesthetic is the aluminum sole plate that wraps around to the face.  This has a big impact on both the feel and the balance of the putter.

How Does it Feel?

One of the big advantages of this beefy mallet from Scotty Cameron is its feel.  Because of the high MOI and the perimeter weighting, the Futura X7M has an extremely balanced and flowing feel.  The aluminum wrap-around face also gives the X7M a pretty soft and generous feel with a little bit of liberty.

Like many of the previous generations of Cameron putters, the Futura X7M has removable weights that you can replace with heavier or lighter weights to adjust your feel.  These additional weights do not come with the putter but can purchased through the Scotty Cameron website.  Should you feel you want to run on a tighter budget, there are aftermarket options available on the internet.  Like anything aftermarket/non-OEM in the golf world, buyer beware if you don’t buy them directly from Scotty.

Now, let me make something clear.  I give the Scotty Cameron brand a ton of credit and admit they have made some absolute fire over the years.  I own many of Camerons (honestly, not trying to show off) and they are near the top of the list of my favorites. BUT, I can’t help but shake my head at Cameron over the “vibration dampening material” pitch.  I have previously deconstructed a Cameron that used this material for a customization project, and this “dampening material” was nothing more than some basic thick double-sided 3M tape.  Does it do any dampening?  I’m sure some, but it’s not much different than what Odyssey is using to hold their inserts on a retail putter.  Yes, the feel is soft, but I chalk it more up to the anodized aluminum and high MOI than the tape.

How Does it Sound?

The Scotty Cameron Futura X7M’s aluminum face gives a nice soft “pop” at impact.  If you hit it thin or far from the center, the sound can get a little “ticky.”  If you’re looking for something with a very distinct “click”, the X7M is not for you.  The multi-material head and thick topline lend themselves to a more more muted sound.  Don’t get me wrong, the response is good and you will still know how well you hit the ball.

On-Course Performance

I’ll start by saying that I actually had a lot of success with the Scotty Cameron Futura X7M putter out on the course.  The balance was perfect and I found the speed control to be insanely easy.  That great balance made the putter head very easy to control, therefore I was able to put nice smooth rolls on the ball that tracked well.  Of course, being the equipment junky that I am, I didn’t leave it in the bag for long, but I still have the putter because it’s been the solution for a lot of putting woes at any given time.  Again, it’s a big-ish mallet and if that’s not you’re thing, the X7M won’t exactly be a magic bullet on the greens.  If you need something that’s conducive to a nice smooth stroke and a good roll, the X7M is exactly that.

Final Thoughts

If you look at the Scotty Cameron putter lineup, there are a million (maybe two million) different mallet options and a lot of them are great.  What sets the Futura X7M apart is that it almost perfectly combines the elements of feel, forgiveness, and balance.  This combination results in a confidence-inducing putter that I believe to be one of the best mallets.  For my money, you won’t find many smoother mallet putters out there.

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