Scotty Cameron Putters & Why People Swear by Them

I’ve been thinking about writing a post like this for literally years. The closest I’ve delivered is a post from awhile ago exploring the world of Scotty Cameron and the Circle T, but that doesn’t answer a major burning question – what’s the deal with Scotty Cameron putters?! (Please re-read that in the ‘Jerry Seinfeld’ voice.) Why are they so popular and have been for so long? Man, why are they so expensive?! Are they really that good? The truth is, a lot of that is pretty subjective and in the eye of the beholder, but maybe I can help paint a little bit of that Scotty Cameron picture for those looking to understand.

Like it or not, Scotty Cameron putters are some of the most popular and sought-after putters in the world. They are used by some of the best golfers on the PGA Tour, and they are generally regarded for their superior performance, feel, and craftsmanship. Just ask Tiger Woods. Tiger’s personal Scotty has won a few majors and is probably the most coveted single piece of golf equipment in history.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at Scotty Cameron and his putters which will hopefully help you better understand the phenomenon a little better. If you’re new to this whole world, maybe this will even help you make an informed decision on choosing the right Scotty for you.

Some History of Scotty Cameron Putters

Scotty Cameron began his career as a clubmaker in the early 1980s as I understand it. In the early years, Scotty was milling, hammering, and welding in his garage to build his own putters “by hand”. Many of these creations were interpretations of classic designs beloved by golfers worldwide. Those designs started getting noticed in different circles and before you knew it, Scotty began working with Mizuno to deliver his work on a much larger scale. This was the start of the machine that would evolve into the Scotty Cameron brand we know today. Scotty would then begin working with Titleist where his designs were quickly adopted by some of the top golfers in the world and would go on to win multiple Major championships.

While “standard issue” Cameron putters were available in pro shops at a premium price, Scotty developed a reputation for highly-customized one off designs for Tour players. Eventually that knack for customization would lead to the development of the Scotty Cameron Custom Shop where you could send your own Scotty in to get customized with different paintfill, stamping, etc. That business has absolutely boomed and is quite the spectacle in itself. Perhaps a post for another day…

With the popularity of Cameron putters growing at the boutique level, a certain event occurred in 1997. A blossoming young player named Tiger Woods won his first Masters with a Teryllium Newport in his bag. From that weekend forward, the Scotty Cameron brand took off to the point that collectors will regularly spend tens of thousands of dollars on a single putter.

Features That Separated Scotty Cameron Putters

There are a few key features that really separated Scotty Cameron putters from the competition at the brand’s peak. First, they were all precision milled to extremely tight tolerances. This ensures that the face, sole, and neck of the putter are consistent from one putter to the next. It also makes the putter more expensive to make, and thus more expensive to the consumer. But it really did make a difference compared to other “off the rack” (OTR) putters.

Scotty Cameron used a variety of different materials, including stainless steel, carbon steel, and aluminum. Oh, and Teryllium for early inserts. The early Scotty Cameron putters made out of carbon steel putters were by far the best feeling putters he’s ever made, but the trend of desiring heavier headweights, durability for an expensive investment, and distaste for rust on putters led to the evolution of only stainless models for Scotty.

Original Scotty putters had very light “fly” face millings. This created a more “clicky” sound and feel that golfers found to be more responsive. The softer carbon steel would help “soften the blow” in your hands a bit. When Scotty transitioned to stainless, the fly millings were still fairly light, but there was a spell where he started using really deep face millings to soften the sound and feel a lot more. Personally, I wasn’t a fan. It was too dead of a feel. The last few generations of Scotty putters have featured a lighter milling but with a face insert. This tends to be a very divisive characteristic amongst Cameron fans. Don’t even get me started on sole weights…

Why Are Scotty Cameron Putters So Popular?

There are a few reasons why Scotty Cameron putters are so popular. Obviously the Tiger Woods factor and the popularity on the world Tours plays a huge role, but a lot of people regard them as being the gold standard in “off the rack” premium putters.

First, Scotty’s putters have historically been known for their superior feel. There was a time where you’d be hard pressed to find a better blend of response, balance, and general “sweetness”. Feel is super subjective so many will have their own opinion, but I believe this gap has been more than closed over the years. But there was no question that Scotty Cameron putters had some of the best feel in the game when their ascension to the top began. One might say this even made the putters perform better as well. That’s up for debate, but a combination of great feel and performance will certainly help a putter brand’s popularity.

Cameron putters always looked different than everything else at the store. Much more polished, modern, and premium. They just looked cool. I would argue that the industry has done a pretty good job catching up to the brand both off the rack and in the boutique space. Of course, looks are subjective, but man, the early Camerons were tough to beat and there was a time when his Tour “Circle T” putters were as cool as it would get.

Scotty Cameron putters are still popular to this day for many of the reasons described above. There’s just more comparable competition to consider in the market space now.

How Do I Choose the Right Scotty Cameron Putter?!

Choosing the right Scotty Cameron putter, or really any golf club for that matter, requires considering many different factors. The big thing to consider in the Scotty Cameron world is obviously price. For “off the rack” putters, you’re looking at $400-$500. If you get into Circle T Tour or Gallery putters, you’re talking thousands. At “both” price points, value definitely comes into play. Is that spend worth more than a competitor’s putter at a similar or better price point? That’s really only something you can decide. Even at the premium “boutique” level there is a lot of competition out there these days making really good stuff, if not better, and at much better prices. (There are tons of them so take a look through putter posts on this site to see some of my favorites.)

Next, do you want/need a blade putter, or something larger? I’d say Scotty’s most famous models are the Newport and Newport 2 (his take on the Ping Anser and Anser 2), but he has a wide range of mid-mallets and mallets as well. Prices tend to be a bit higher for mallets, but you’re still in the $400-$500 range I mentioned above. Of course, if you aren’t sure which model is best for you and putting around the store practice green isn’t enough, you can also get a fitting. That could add some cost to the investment, but it’s worthwhile considering how much you use a putter during a round. If you’re spending this kind of money, might as well get the best fitting putter for your stroke.

Final Thoughts

You will receive no argument from me that Scotty Cameron has produced some of the greatest putters in history. I personally don’t think the latest generations of Scottys are as good, but that’s my opinion. Really, I just feel like the latest stuff (as of 2023) doesn’t feel as good as years past. ESPECIALLY the old carbon steel models! (Bring carbon steel back to the standard line, Scotty!) Ultimately, Scotty Cameron putters are definitely some of the better “off the rack” options, but there are a lot of factors to consider. My best advice to you is go with what you feel is most consistent and makes you a better putter. Whether that’s a flashy new Scotty Cameron or grandpa’s old Billy Baroo or Calamity Jane, the goal is to make more putts.

Unless you’re just looking for some wall art, but then that’s a whole different topic for another day!