Cameron: Old School VS New

[tatertot]

Wanted a Newport 2.5 ... Ended up getting a refurb Studio Style instead of new.

 

Anybody else like older Cameron's better than the new stuff? Other than headweight, what does everybody see as the biggest differences?

[StoutKing]

IMO the older models had more craftsmanship.  They truly felt like a boutique putter.  Camerons are still quality but just more mass produced.  I also liked the older ones with "Titleist" on the head, no cherry bombs and less busy design.

 

With Tiger no longer playing much I feel that the brand has lost some magic.  He was a big reason many people bought SC blades, me included.  

Edited March 6 by StoutKing

[Rockytop1985]

I definitely prefer the older models. Been gaming a pro platinum for years. It's made from one piece of carbon steel. No face inserts or changeable weights. Just a timeless, classic putter.

Edited March 6 by Rockytop1985

[taylor2325]

I’ve played a Studio Stainless since they came out (with a few vacations to a phantom and a special select). 
 

While I LOVED the Stainless, I always craved a thinner top line, and when I was lucky enough to get fit at the studio in 2017 or 2018, I mentioned that to Joey. He has said, “just wait, there’s a retail putter coming you’ll love,” alluding to the Special Select line. 
 

I ordered the same head shape in the Special Select the first day I could, and played it for the better part of a season. It was great to have a thinner top line and a heavier head, but I always would throw the Stainless back in to play tournament rounds and to putt around the house. 
 

I really looked at the two side by side the other day, and even though I know it’s not, the Stainless just looks more…handcrafted? The lines are a touch softer, edges flow into each other a little more smoothly, and overall it just looks softer? Something that’s missing in his newer lines. They look very industrial, with lots of definition in edges/lines/shape. They are incredibly easy to line up and aim, but man, they look like they just came straight out of a mold. 
 

If you can ever find an older head in great shape, 100% you won’t regret it. They’re just top-shelf, and an incredible value for a retail putter. 

[dropkicked]

I prefer the newer stuff. (no insert)

Edited March 6 by dropkicked

[RogerinNewZealand]

Have only bought older pro platinum style. Love that look. Just got oddysey pro type 3 blade..340ish gram blade and Cool looking. 2012ish so old emough to not be new. So many putters just as good for far less. 

[WilliePPQ]

Original Newport Teryllium (sp?) from the 90's was my first SC love and I still regret having traded it for a Kia Ma something or other. That was one original putter and I definitely didn't appreciate how much labor went into fitting the insert, etc. So I definitely favor the earlier versions. Still looking for a similar vintage to replace it!

[GeauxGolfLSU]

I keep buying older ones because they are truly works of art. The newer ones have lost that "Art of Putting" that Scotty Camerons were known for. I've got a display rack with 5 different putters and a sixth in the bag, and I don't believe any of them were made more recently than 2010 (California Del Mar). The current iteration of the Del Mar just isn't nearly as nice to look at. Give me that old high toe version.

 

And there's something about the black finish of the older putters that I enjoy a lot more than the industrial silver colored ones. A black putter next to a white ball just frames things beautifully and inspires confidence.

 

I rotate all of these into the bag depending on how I'm feeling or what kind of green speeds I'll be playing. And my putting has actually gotten better and more consistent as I've moved back to these older models.

 

From top:

 

2010 California Del Mar

1999 Newport Beach Inspired by David Duval

2006 Circa 62 No 2

1998 Teryllium Santa Fe

2000 Pro Platinum Mid Slant

 

 

And currently in the bag is a 2003 Studio Stainless Prototype Newport 1.5

 

Edited March 6 by GeauxGolfLSU

[manVSgolf]

Let me sum this up, no need for additional posts:

 

Old > New

 

 

 

you’re welcome.

[tatertot]

8 hours ago, StoutKing said:

IMO the older models had more craftsmanship.  They truly felt like a boutique putter.  Camerons are still quality but just more mass produced.  I also liked the older ones with "Titleist" on the head, no cherry bombs and less busy design.

 

With Tiger no longer playing much I feel that the brand has lost some magic.  He was a big reason many people bought SC blades, me included.  

I couldn't put my finger in it, but this is it ... The old Cameron's feel and look like well crafted boutique putters. The new ones are nice, but feel mass-produced.

[kennyFpowers55]

I prefer the older carbon heads.

i got ahold of a ‘96 Classic Newport 33” 350g a few years back. Sent it to the custom shop for a refinish and a 35” shaft, it probably plays closer to 340 than 350 now but I love the thing. There’s something about the carbon heads that age with you, that I love. 

Edited March 7 by kennyFpowers55

[jda]

Is there anybody who likes the new ones better?  I hate the heavy face milling since I swing up with the putter and I think that it grabs too much for my liking.

 

The older ones are more analog - details, hand crafted things, etc.  The newer ones are all digital to me and just devoid of life  and character.  Most people don't care, but for those who can see the difference in film and digital photos or hear the difference in vinyl vs a CD, then it matters.

I really like the carbon steel heads too.  I game a Laguna that is about 10-12 years old that has been back to the custom shop for some hand stamps and colors, but Circa 62 is my next favorite.  Somebody tried to steal my Santa Fe, so I have not gamed it since.

[LPSISCO]

I echo the sentiment concerning the craftsmanship of the older putters. I have 3 Scottys, a JAT, an original Santa Fe, and the nicest looking putter ever made….the Studio Design #5. I will take them to the course once in a while, but I just can’t putt with any of them at this point - I should sell the first two, but the SD #5 will be with me forever. 

 

I think right now, Bettinardi and Piretti make better looking putters. The last 10 years of Scottys are just not attractive to me.

 

 

[8overpar]

I don’t play many tournaments these days but when I do I dust off my NP2 pro platinum I bought new in 2001. It is a little light compared to my Mann but I have 100% confidence in it. The Mann is a tad heavier, feels sweet and looks great for weekend rounds. But when I need to trust it every putt it’s the NP2. Last new Camerons I bought were a pair of Circa 62’s from 2007. They have hung there ever since. 

[collindm1]

Personally like the new ones. Weight feels great, they sit better and I loved the insert line of 2018. Tons of feedback and when well struck it feels extremely pure and smooth - mishits with insert are more harsh,  which is what you want. 

 

All of the new models are more forgiving, great feel, and they sit more square at address. I've hit the old scotty's, hit the new, just really prefer the new.

[KGolfCT]

OId vs New...

 

I like them both for different reasons.

 

Old - Feel, Craftsmanship, style, fit and finish, nostalgia (the reason we all make decisions that go against logic 😅)

New - Feel, adjustability, generally heavier, wider selection of shapes, more available

 

Loved the 90's Camerons when they came out. The noticeable progression into some "unique" head shapes has been interesting to watch over the years. Some of the Phantoms (I'm looking at you Phantoms with the ugly neon yellow paint schemes, especially with the 3 dot site lines 🤮) were pretty bad imo, felt that way when I first saw them, opinion hasn't changed. The new Alignment by Design phantoms are giving me a similar reaction, a little too busy for me.

 

That being said I game an x7m which is not exactly traditional...

 

[Shwagin1066]

On 3/7/2024 at 5:37 PM, LPSISCO said:

I echo the sentiment concerning the craftsmanship of the older putters. I have 3 Scottys, a JAT, an original Santa Fe, and the nicest looking putter ever made….the Studio Design #5. I will take them to the course once in a while, but I just can’t putt with any of them at this point - I should sell the first two, but the SD #5 will be with me forever. 

 

I think right now, Bettinardi and Piretti make better looking putters. The last 10 years of Scottys are just not attractive to me.

 

 

The 5 is such a beauty, I have a 34/340 in the regular rotation!

[Scotty1140]

Unpopular opinion. but I Iike the newer models more.

 

Lots of the older putters had more simplistic branding and logo'ing which was nice, but I feel like functionality and modern milling of the current ones just makes for a better putter.

 

Flame away!

[jda]

No flaming.  I hate the more aggressive milling since I swing up on the ball during my putts and I feel that it grabs the ball too much.  I don't need the soft feel.  I prefer a smooth(er) face - like Studio Select from the early 2010s is about all the milling that I want.

[GolfGuitarsCars]

The early carbon steel models were his best work.  I don’t see me parting with my 24 year old Mil-Spec.

[hartrick11]

I am more into the softer lines and understated marketing, so tend to like the looks of the older stuff better, but mostly I just like the lighter milling of the old versions. I have an old Circa 1 from ~06 and a Hollywood from ~09, and love both so it isn't a carbon/SS issue for me, but starting with the Select line (I think, or the later model California line that was misted stainless vs. the honeydipped first models) the milling started getting too deep for my liking.

 

My dream putter is still a 350g stainless version of the Studio Design 2.5 with a site circle and light milling, and I log on to Scotty's website every Wednesday to be disappointed that it isn't happening. If it was to happen, I would allow myself 20 minutes of visualizing a lottery win before being smacked in the face with reality once two hours pass and no email comes... 🙂

[btyh]

 Biggest difference is no cherry bombs. Titleist or cameron is much cleaner. i will say his solid faced phantoms are nice for larger mallets, regardless of the cherry bombs. Bottom is the latest addition. 

 

[StoutKing]

1 hour ago, btyh said:

 Biggest difference is no cherry bombs. Titleist or cameron is much cleaner. i will say his solid faced phantoms are nice for larger mallets, regardless of the cherry bombs. Bottom is the latest addition. 

 

I would buy a Cameron again if they just went with Titleist branding.  I don't need to see Cameron on the head at all.

[tatertot]

2 hours ago, btyh said:

 Biggest difference is no cherry bombs. Titleist or cameron is much cleaner. i will say his solid faced phantoms are nice for larger mallets, regardless of the cherry bombs. Bottom is the latest addition. 

 

The Newport 1.5 is gorgeous.

[Ben B]

The Studio Designs were my favorite. Still wish I had my 2002 1.5 (snatched right out of my bag!). And I'd agree, definitely felt like a handmade boutique putter. 

 

 

[btyh]

9 hours ago, StoutKing said:

I would buy a Cameron again if they just went with Titleist branding.  I don't need to see Cameron on the head at all.

Very true, as you can tell from my collection titleist looks the best. But on a optimistic standpoint cameron in the cavity like the studio stainless and without the mini crown over the O would be very tasteful rather than the typical 3 circle cherry bombs.

[btyh]

8 hours ago, tatertot said:

The Newport 1.5 is gorgeous.

Probably going to be my gamer this season. 

[jda]

I kinda feel old when I have to explain what the red dot is on a few of my older putters.  I am not even that old.

[BHI 99]

I’ll take the unpopular route. When we look at irons/woods, it’s “this year is better than last year”. I think when it comes to SC putters, it’s more along the lines of “we did this different than the last release”. NP2 is NP2, the nuances are a whole nuther story. I love the 2017 insert.
Most folks cringe. Different strokes. 

[PlatinumNike]

On 3/14/2024 at 4:31 AM, Ben B said:

The Studio Designs were my favorite. Still wish I had my 2002 1.5 (snatched right out of my bag!). And I'd agree, definitely felt like a handmade boutique putter. 

 

 

had mine for 15 years since high school 💜