Scotty Cameron Select Roundback Putter
The Scotty Cameron Select Roundback is a stable mid-mallet putter with a pop-through alignment insert. This putter is designed to reduce twist in the putting stroke while making it easier to line up and guide your putts to the hole. Though the Select Roundback may be a simple design, the control and performance are tough to argue with if it suits your eye and your hands.
First Impressions
Admittedly I’m a sucker for D-shaped mid-mallets. When my putting stroke starts to feel a bit wobbly with a blade, my first stop is usually at a putter with the characteristics of the Select Roundback. In the case of the Scotty Cameron Select Roundback, the flange width is wide but not overbearing and the face length is about the same as a blade. Obviously the anodized red crosshair alignment aid is the first thing that catches your eye. Between the head shape and the alignment aid, lining your putt up is a breeze.
If you flip the putter over, you’ll find the signature Scotty cherry bomb weights and big red sole plate. That big red sole plate is dual purpose. First, it provides the aforementioned pop-through alignment aid. Second, it covers and fills the area of the putter head that’s milled out to control the weight of the putter. As with most recent Scotty Camerons, there’s a lot to look at but the aesthetics are tastefully executed.
How Does it Feel?
Like a lot of the putters from the 2014 Scotty Cameron Select era, the Roundback has a more muted feel due to its medium-deepish face milling. Though the face is satisfactorily responsive, this putter is stated as being forgiving on the Scotty Cameron website. I won’t argue that it’s well balanced and has a good stroke, but the face itself requires precision. If you don’t hit the small sweet spot, the feeling severely degrades and your performance suffers. If the putter suits your stroke you won’t have a problem, but if it doesn’t, be prepared to not love how the ball feels off the face.
How Does it Sound?
The Scotty Cameron Select Roundback has a fairly mild sound. Between the face milling and the construction of the head, you get a very subdued muted click. As you venture away from the center of the face the sound becomes more solid and rocky letting you know you hit a bad putt. Sound largely comes down to personal preferences and the Roundback is no exception.
On-Course Performance
I know it sounds like I may be ragging on the Scotty Cameron Select Roundback. The truth is, I do like how it plays on the course. Yes, I don’t feel it’s all that forgiving but I count on myself to make a good putting stroke. Like I said before, the Roundback has elements that remind me of both blades and mallets. The shape and size makes the putting stroke much more stable and I generally have good tempo because of it. As long as I make a good stroke and find the sweet spot the Roundback puts a great roll on the ball.
In regards to the pop-through insert making a performance difference, I’m indifferent. It all depends on if the cross fits your eye and works for you. Again, this is largely going to be based on personal preferences. In my case, I’m fine with it and find it to work well.
Final Thoughts
Summarizing my opinion of the Scotty Cameron Roundback is tough. On one hand, I think it’s a great simple putter. On the other hand I think it’s difficult and definitely not for everyone. I know it sounds intuitive, but it’s definitely a putter that you need to be comfortable with in your hands or else you could hate it. If it feels and looks good to you, it’s a great putter. The only real way to know is to test one out for yourself and see if you’re a match.
