Tour Rat vs "Regular" Scotty?

[tsecor]

What are the main differences? I love Patrick Reeds tour rat and may want to try and pick one up.....is it worth it?

[the bishop]

DHGate has 'em for cheap I hear!

[GoGoErky]

Older thread with some good explanations

https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1271346/scotty-cameron-tour-putters-question

[Medson]

Tour Rat is a tour model. It is essentially a 009 head shape, but it is fully engraved. 009 is hand shaped to certain degree.

Regular Scotty like the ones you can find "over the counter" does not have 009/Rat model. The closest is Newport. Newport has a plumber neck.

Tour sticks, including Rat, can have different neck configuration.

[tsecor]

The materials are the same from what i gather....

[GoGoErky]

Unless getting a gss putter the materials are the same. He uses 303 stainless steel

[drscott266]

I have a super rat which is a tour rat but with a GSS insert. Have owned a 009M and can say they feel different than retail, not necessarily night and day, but different. The new special select feel like the 009M but watered down. The super rat is the best feeling putter I have come across (feel is subjective of course). Makes the T22 feel almost crispy the rat is that soft yet responsive. Is it worth it? That's a question only you can answer, as the price is substantially higher than retail... although rats are the cheapest to come by usually. You will not empirically putt better with it, but it may make you practice more. Unless there is a particular neck option that isnt available in retail the differences are less noticeable but make no mistake they do feel different. This is a pretty hot topic, and like you I got the itch and had to find out myself. Make sure the people who chime in on feel have at least putted with one, it's easy to throw stones and say they are identical to retail... they are definitely not. They are milled by a different machine than retail you can see the difference in person.

 

 

[tsecor]

nice, TY....do you have pics to share? I really really like Patrick Reeds putter. I would want something like that

[drscott266]

Currently at the custom shop getting some work done otherwise I would share pics. It’s a Newport style head so nothing welded like Reeds. You can find them occasionally on eBay or the gallery authorized retailers. Expect to pay at least $3000 on the low end, and up to $4,000 for special ones FYI

[tsecor]

wow.....

i just paid $600 for a GSS custom handmade Mills from David and its beautiful and feels wonderful.....i didnt realize tour rats were 4k.....ill go to Hawaii instead...lol

[oneaugusta]

David's putters are unbelievable and IMO superior to anything else out there, just not the "big name" recognition like Scotty.

[tsecor]

No doubt. If this were 30 years ago, with todays forums and social media, Mills would be the biggest name out there. Their craftsman ship stands alone and the values are unreal.

[cforselius]

GSS is 303 stainless Steel. Its the same thing with a fancier name.

[GoGoErky]

Correct but if different quality and availability. From scotty Japanese site from years back.

"GSS and SSS are abbreviations to express the material of putters and both are types of stainless steel. Both are made from type 303 the softest stainless steel. The GSS is pure abstracted 303 stainless ingot made in Germany. The putter heads are curved from those ingots. On the other hand the SSS is made in United States and recycled from knives and forks, therefore there is a huge difference in the material price. Also GSS is rare, Scotty only get a small quantity of GSS ingot for his Studio 2 years ago."

[cforselius]

Or you can go to his website under Trademarks and see "GSS" written. Meaning it is a word he use. not a material. Dont get me wrong, Im not here to argue, but it is stated on his website that it is a trademark, not a material.

[drscott266]

Queue the debate... the value of a putter like a rat or other tour scotty is in the eye of the owner. There will never be a definitive answer as to whether or not its different other than special neck setups or finishes. If it't not worth it you that's totally reasonable, I wasn't trying to blow smoke just share my experience. Prior to having rolled one I thought much the same things as other post'ers. Now having owned one I will definitely say it is not worth the upcharge in any way shape or form. I am just an equipment nut, and not really a watch or car guy so I figured the investment was minimal actually compared to other luxury items.

[groach]

I was literally at the Encinitas gallery yesterday and looked at quite a few 009 GSS models, they were all $4,000+ and to one of the points above, did feel a little different and have a cleaner look. Designs are really unique with the slight neck variations, milling (smooth vs. textured on the face) stamping, colors, etc. I didn't get to hit any of them (frankly I was too shy to even ask) but they were all very cool looking. Everything about them stands out and they are stamped with the circle T logo all over so there is no doubt it's not an over the counter Scotty, so to speak.

[j.a.]

GSS is a trademark of Acushnet, the parent company of Titleist and SC. Still it might be 303 St.St.

 

[JungleJimbo]

Any thoughts/comparisons from folks here, who've tried "SUS 303" JDM putters (e.g. Golds Factory, George Spirits/G-Field etc),

vs Tour Rat/Scotty GSS putters?

Saw this comparison from another website (am eyeing a George Spirits SUS303... wondering if SUS303 feel = comparable to a Scotty GSS?).

Link: http://forum.tourspecgolf.com/topic/30002-gss-german-303-vs-jis-sus-303/

[GoGoErky]

yes gss is a trademark but as noted from the Japanese site the steel is different quality and sourced differently and harder to get. I personally have not used a full gss headZ I have golf buddies who have and they say there is a difference in feel and others who don’t notice a difference. Could the difference be in how the milling is done and other design aspects? Yes.

Some will say scotty charges more as a marketing bs type thing with the gss and it could be but I’m not sold on that notion.

[cforselius]

I just designed and received a 3 ton machine from our supplier in Germany using German stainless steel. I wonder how much I would get for the GSS if I would sell it to Scotty? Because apparently, it is VERY rare and hard to get, and apparently it is super expensive as well.

Always funny to visit our supplier, they always get a good laugh when I talk to them about GSS in the putter world. And germans dont laugh.

[tsecor]

Cameron tried to make money on the GSS "name" but everyone knows its based on carbon content.....some graders are softer and more durable than other grades depending on the carbon....amirite?

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS CONVERSION TABLE FOR STAINLESS STEEL

 

[j.a.]

There are more than 10 companies in Germany producing stainless steel, 303, 304 and 316 are the most popular grades, so rareness is only an excuse of SC to charge heaps more. Also, the recipe of any steel (including stainless) has tolerances in the amount of components used. At the end, it may be the manufacturing process and the heat treatment that makes a difference. For $10k a putter, I wish a CMTR could be provided (Certificate of Material Test Report).

[forrester_fire]

As far as I'm concerned, Gss is just another SC marketing ploy to justify the extortionate prices of their Circle Ts. I'll take 1025 over 303 any day of the week.

[tsecor]

its all about carbon content