The inside track -- Scotty Cameron

[zakkozuchowski]

By Zak Kozuchowski GolfWRX Managing Editor

The inside track -- Scotty Cameron

By Zak Kozuchowski

GolfWRX Managing Editor

What’s in a name?

If the name is Scotty Cameron, then it includes some of the most memorable moments in modern golf history.

Tiger Woods has won all 14 of his major championships using a Scotty Cameron putter. Two of last year’s majors, the 2011 U.S. Open and British Open, as well as 10 others majors have been won by players using a Scotty Cameron. Together, that’s 26 major wins -- not bad considering that the first major championship win for a Scotty Cameron came only 20 years ago at the 1993 Masters.

Many times, products from a specific equipment manufacturer are successful in the hands of professional golfers because of an accepted change in equipment appearance or technology – think white-painted drivers and spikeless golf shoes. But for Scotty Cameron, the man behind Scotty Cameron putters, his success story hasn’t been as much about innovation as it has been about attention to detail and refinement.

Cameron’s newest line of putters, the Select line, is an example of the fine-tuning that the putter maker has been finessing into his work for years. The line includes some new retail designs as well as Cameron’s most popular shapes – the Newport, Newport 2 and their cousins – the Newport 1.5 and the Newport 2 Notchback.

The recent trend on the PGA Tour for putters has been bright, bold colors -- designs that provide ample contrast for alignment. That’s why it was surprising to many that Cameron chose to make the Select line mostly black. Cameron calls the putter finishes “smoky grey,” and the sightlines on certain models “shiny black.”

“I put [prototypes of the Select line] out on Tour to get some feedback with grey, white and black sightlines,” Cameron said. “Honestly, it makes sense to put a white sightline … but it was overwhelming how many guys dug the black sightline.”

Like all of Cameron’s putter lines, the putter head is only one part of the putter’s total package. Everything from the putter’s grip, shaft, shaft band and head cover is designed to create a specific mood. For the Select line, he said he aimed for “sexy,” “more gentlemanly” and “elegant,” which requires not just cosmetic changes, but aesthetic ones as well.

One of Cameron’s previous lines, the Studio Select, was made with a two-degree high toe (the amount the toe is raised from the ground at address). For the Select line that Cameron put together this year, he flattened the toe one degree, which he felt streamlined the look of his putters.

Another element that Cameron worked hard to insert into the Select line was the ability for the putters to be easily customized through the Scotty Cameron Custom Shop. The Custom Shop allows players to add personal touches to any authentic Scotty Cameron putter, such as custom stamps, lettering, alignment lines or dots and paintfill. One of the most widely visible customizations seen on Scotty Cameron putters on the professional tours are stamping made in the dots on some Scotty Cameron putter faces and back cavities. A red dot first appeared on the heel of the putter face of the world’s former No. 1 player. The dot, which served to make the putter’s sweet spot perfectly centered with the sight dot, has come to symbolize the Scotty Cameron brand.

Cameron has included three of his signature dots in the back cavity in all but two models of the Select line, a feature that first came to retail in the Studio Select line in 2008. But for the Select line, he increased the size of the dots to better accommodate his custom stampings – the “Junk Yard Dog,” the “Cameron Money” stamp, hearts, four leaf clovers and others.

Steve Pelisek, Titleist general manager of golf clubs, said that it’s fun to see what models come back the most at the Custom Shop. Despite a large Custom Shop demand for restoration of Cameron’s Napa putter and other models like the Bullseye and non-pocketed putters, there’s not enough following to justify putting those putters in the retail line, Pelisek said.

“Sometimes it’s thought to justify putting them in the line,” Pelisek said. “But if we were to put those in the line, they would be the least seller by far. So much of it is tour trends … we watch and listen. If the market place starts to rumble, we address that with a short run. We don’t want to make a large run of Coronados and have them left sitting in the shops.”

Even though Cameron called the Napa the favorite putter he makes, he agreed with Pelisek that there is not enough demand for such models. One reason, he said, is the highly repeatable putting stroke that is required to achieve consistent results with putters like a Napa.

“If you’re rhythm and timing is good, [the Napa] is fantastic,” Cameron said. “I did one for the PGA Show – polished it, turned it blue, stamped it sexy.”

One of the classic designs that is not currently part of the Select line, the Laguna, will be part of the line extension at some point. But right now, the focus at Scotty Cameron is on the GoLo, a mid-mallet that Cameron called the “homerun” of this year’s line. He and his team are running milling machines 24 hours a day, six days a week to meet demand for the GoLo, which is intended to bridge the gap between the Kombi and Kombi-S models, which are oversized-mallets, and the Red X putters, which are smaller-sized mallets. At first, Cameron tinkered with a symmetrical design of the GoLo, but decided to shave or “sweep out” the heel of the putter. The problem with symmetrical designs, according to Cameron, is that they give a player the appearance that the putter wants to go straight back in the backstroke, which he does not believe is the best way to putt. By shaving the heel of the GoLo, the putter looks as though it should be taken back slightly to the inside, a putting style he sees time after time from the best players in the world.

“We can design putters to make you think things and do things,” Cameron said. “That’s why we make high toes [on putters], so you don’t drop your hands … when you drop your hands, the four degrees of loft on the putter starts to point left.”

Examining trends

Since Cameron came to prominence as a putter maker nearly two decades ago, golf equipment design and technology has changed drastically. Driver heads have doubled in size. Graphite shafts are no longer the exception in drivers and fairway woods – they are the standard. And clubs called hybrids have become a popular alternative to long irons.

Cameron’s detractors are quick to say that his designs are not truly original – they say his popular Newport head is all to similar to the Anser putter that PING founder Karsten Solheim developed in the late 1960s. But that comparison is similar to penalizing Apple Co-Founder Steve Jobs for not inventing the computer.

Cameron has been at the forefront of many putter trends, most noticeable the popularization of high MOI putters. In 2003, Cameron brought to retail his Futura putter, a futuristic mallet with a heavy horseshoe-shaped ring located in the rear of the putter that served to redistribute the putter’s weight for a better roll. Many putter makers had released high MOI putters prior to 2003, but none had the immediate success that Cameron enjoyed with the Futura.

According to Cameron, Phil Mickelson saw a right-handed Futura prototype in Cameron’s studio, and asked if he could make him a left-handed model. Cameron also made one for Scott Hoch, who like Mickelson, won on the PGA Tour with a Futura in his bag.

“The Futura was about putting weight in an optimum place,” Cameron said. “The putter didn’t sound that crisp, and it didn’t look that great, but it could be one of the best putters we’ve ever made at Titleist.”

According to Cameron, the design “was never supposed to come out.” But when it did, it had a profound impact on the putter industry. Now, it’s hard to find a putter maker that doesn’t offer at least one high-performance mallet in his or her line.

In 2009, Cameron brought another oversized mallet to market, the Kombi. Cameron said he incorporated what he learned from the Futura into the Kombi, designing it in a way that he said made it sound and look better.

The worst part about the Kombi turned out to be the name. Cameron took the name from Volkswagen’s Type 2 bus, which was named the Transporter 2 or Kombi (short for Kombinationskraftwagen) -- a combination vehicle on one chassis. His idea was to have a Kombi short, Kombi mid and Kombi long (for a short-length, mid-length and long-length putter). But Cameron tired of explaining to people what Kombi meant, so for the Kombi long-length putter in the Select line, he and his team decided to bring back the classic long putter name that they’d used in the past – Big Sur.

One of the trends that Cameron has resisted throughout the years is creating putters with plastic and rubber inserts. Cameron has made putters with inserts out of metals such as German Stainless Steel and Teryllium, but he has shied away from plastics and rubbers out of fear of what can happen to the materials over time.

“Plastics and rubbers sometimes fail,” Cameron said. “They can crack, chip and delaminate. What happens when [putters with plastic and rubber inserts] are in the trunk of your car after a round in Palm Springs, and then are transported back home in the belly of an airplane. I don’t want to get into a situation where I have to replace a failed insert.”

Cameron said that he could change the feel of his putters with high-quality metal inserts, as well as through the texture of his putter faces. One of the most prominent features on the Select line, as well as Cameron’s trendier California line, are deep mill marks on the putter faces. How they change the feel of a putter is simple – deep mill marks impact a smaller surface area on the ball, which creates a softer feel that meshes better with the harder-feeling golf balls that are currently dominating the professional tours. Cameron’s once popular “beached” putter models achieve exactly the opposite feeling. A slot cut behind the putter face creates a firmer sound, which is why the putters are no longer offered in the retail lines. Like Napa putters, interest in beached putters has also become limited.

Cameron has also stayed away from “groove inserts” in his putters, which he said do not offer the benefits that many manufacturers are touting.

“All the groove putters that we have tested have one-to-two degrees of loft,” Cameron said. “We’ve found that groove technology drives the ball into the ground. We want [the ball] along the ground, not into the ground … if there’s a better way to [putt], we’re looking at it. We have the robots and the high-speed video technology."

Cameron identified three trends that he sees as major parts of putter design in the future. He said that putters are going to become shorter, putters are going to become heavier and putter grips are going to increase in size. He had several requests for mid and long putters from tour players in the offseason, but found that come tournament time, most players returned to their trusted short putter. Still though, he doesn’t see mid and long putters going away any time soon. For some players, mid and long length putter are a great way to putt, he said, but “some guys need it and some guys don’t."

This year’s Select line includes more straight-shafted putters than any of Cameron’s lines in the past. Many people refer to these models as center-shafted putters, but Cameron said there is an important difference between a straight-shafted putter and a center-shafted putter. Center-shafted putters, which began to get a lot of play on tour seven years ago, have the shaft inserted directly into the center of the putter head. It was a trend that Cameron thought would fade quickly, but when it did not, he adjusted. Cameron said that his testing has shown that many players tend to address center-shafted putters with the ball too far out on the toe. As a result, they strike their putts too far toward the toe of the putter. Cameron’s straight-shafted putters address this issue with a shaft that is inserted one shaft diameter back from the center of the head, giving players the look they desire, but helping them address the ball and strike their putts properly. Straight-shafted putters in the Select line include the Newport 2.6, the Newport 2 Mid (a mid-length putter), the GoLo S and GoLo S Mid, and the Big Sur S Long.

Custom putter fitting

There was a time when custom putter fitting consisted of going to a pro shop, trying a few different putters and purchasing the one you liked the best. But like the custom fitting of the other 13 clubs in a golfer’s bag, technology has changed that. From the outside, it appears that Scotty Cameron is behind the curb when it comes to custom putter offerings. But according to Pelisek, there is good reason why there isn’t a Scotty Cameron fitting system in place, and the company only offers short putters in lengths of 33 inches to 35 inches with lie angles no more than two degrees flat or upright from standard.

“Scotty brings in the best players in the world to his putter studio, and they fit into a surprisingly small range,” Pelisek said. “We feel that our product line covers 98 to 99 percent of the spectrum. To putt well means to putt correctly. There aren’t a lot of players that need anything shorter than 33 inches or longer than 35 inches … or more than two degrees [variance from standard] lie angles.”

For that reason, Pelisek and Cameron don’t endorse freelance putter fitting methods, which they said could fit a player into a “crutch” for bad technique. That being said, Scotty Cameron plans to publish a selection guide on May 1 that Cameron and Pelisek said would provide the necessary information for players to choose the right Scotty Cameron putter for them. The selection guide will cover length, toe hang and important information about the visual aspects of each putter, as well as recommendations for lie angle and loft.

One aspect of custom fitting that Cameron has embraced is the addition of removable weights in putters, which help with length adjustments. Cameron always wanted to make putters in different lengths, not just the 35-inch standard length putters that he produced in most models for years. Cameron believes that shorter putters need to have heavier head weights, and vice versa, that longer putters need lighter height weights. The solution to this was to create one shell for each model, but include in the bottom of the putter removable weights that could add or subtract head weight based on length.

Rolling on

Many putter makers have fallen in and out of favor in the 18 years Cameron has been at Titleist designing putters, but through the years and all the different trends, he has managed to remain the most recognized name in putters.

His love affair with the design of his Napa putter is a good example of why. The design is nothing new – its roots are the classic 8802 that great putters have used for decades. When Cameron was in the initial stages of the Napa design, he did something he often does when building a new design. He sought the advice of loyalists that had used a Napa-like putter for years – Arnold Palmer, Larry Mize and Ben Crenshaw. Their input and his vision resulted in a design that is morphed from a solid block of steel into an elongated curved shape. If any part of the design is out of proportion, it will not look right at address -- too thin of a neck will make it look weak and too thick of a design will make it look lethargic. It’s a challenge, but that’s the reason Cameron said he loves making Napa putters. Really, it’s why he loves making all his putters. There’s the history, the technology, and most important to him, the chance to “do it right.”

[Skaffa77]

[quote name='zakkozuchowski' timestamp='1335315431' post='4783920']

Cameron has also stayed away from "groove inserts" in his putters, which he said do not offer the benefits that many manufacturers are touting.

"All the groove putters that we have tested have one-to-two degrees of loft," Cameron said. "We've found that groove technology drives the ball into the ground. We want [the ball] along the ground, not into the ground … if there's a better way to [putt], we're looking at it. We have the robots and the high-speed video technology."

Cameron identified three trends that he sees as major parts of putter design in the future. He said that putters are going to become shorter, putters are going to become heavier and putter grips are going to increase in size. He had several requests for mid and long putters from tour players in the offseason, but found that come tournament time, most players returned to their trusted short putter. Still though, he doesn't see mid and long putters going away any time soon. For some players, mid and long length putter are a great way to putt, he said, but "some guys need it and some guys don't."

[/quote]

Interesting comments by Cameron...

[reflog74]

nice infommercial

John

[Sean2]

I like the deep milling of the new putters, as well as the color. I think the new line is extremely sharp. What I have a problem with is the over the top pricing of the customization.

[ChrisD20]

[quote name='Sean2' timestamp='1335316246' post='4784008']
I like the deep milling of the new putters, as well as the color. I think the new line is extremely sharp. What I have a problem with is the over the top pricing of the customization.
[/quote]

+1

[KevCarter]

Thanks for posting that Zak. Great information and insight into the Cameron world. Obviously, haters gonna hate, but the post is appreciated,

Kevin

[easyyy]

[quote name='kevcarter ' timestamp='1335318111' post='4784218']
Thanks for posting that Zak. Great information and insight into the Cameron world. Obviously, haters gonna hate, but the post is appreciated,

Kevin
[/quote]

Here here! I agree. Putter guys have a lot of passion and it seems to come out in negative comments.

Thanks for the article Zak and got to have think skin when it comes to a social network and putter fans. Tough crowd. Thanks again for the article and the insights.

What I find truly amazing is what he and titleist have created. The study of his marketing genius and how he has methodically maneuvered throughout the years to create this market he has is nothing short of amazing. Certificate of authenticity, club cameron, tour play, tour sellers, custom shop and the list goes on. Bravo.

Look at the GolfWRX Community Choice awards. You tell me he isn't hitting a home run. I thought Tiger jumping ship would be a factor and I was wrong.

Richard

[Pure745]

I agree with Easyyy. I've said it before that the 2012 Cameron OTR line is one of the best ever. The new California Series, Studio Series in Tour Black, and the new GoLo mallets, all with deep milling look and feel incredible. For $350ish, I think it's one of the best putters out - especially with all the cool options you can do at the custom shop.

[MikeC732]

Great read. Really enjoyed it.

[newportbeach]

Great read thanks it will be interesting to see what the selection guide is that's coming out in May.

[scratchswinger]

SC is the TMAG of putters but without all the smoke and mirrors. I question if the CA line is worth the price. But the new Selects are off the chain and are of value. I understand that not everyone can afford SC's. But for almost every bag they are the prized posession. The Golo is an instant classic and this decades 2 ball. Scotty hit it out the park with the new line. He seemed to have thought of everything, catered to the custom shop, huge selection, more to come later, etc.... Dude has a brilliant mind that blends a rare combination of creativity and business wit. Truly a talented man and we are lucky to be golfer's in his time.

[MrParr1Noid]

It's easy to find fault with someones work, whether it be Zak, the topic author or with Scotty Cameron putters that he's writing on. But..it takes a person of exceptional qualities to find the good in things. And Zak, helluva good job on your Scotty topic.

 

Cameron putters aren't my favorites but Scotty has done one helluva job in his refinement, and upscaled renditions on what other putter makers have failed to enhance, and to produce. I'm not sure if it isn't jealousy when guys put the bad mouth on Cameron, and his renditions of others putters but Hey! The others didn't do it so why should anyone be mad at Scotty for capitalizing on putter styles, and refinements that he's made?

 

Good job Zak, and good job Scotty.

 

[geesecougar2]

[quote name='kevcarter ' timestamp='1335318111' post='4784218']
Obviously, haters gonna hate

Kevin
[/quote]

Indeed Kevin, indeed.

Despite the criticism, I think Scotty would be the first to acknowledge that he stands on the shoulders of giants. The interesting thing about this article is that it touches on the thing that Cameron doesn't get enough credit for: he actually knows the art of putting and how it relates to the putter itself. It's the small things like the high toe to keep you from dropping the hands, the shaved heel on the GoLo, the alterations on the centershaft, etc., that have made him a good puttermaker. Add to that his popularization of the novel concept of actually making putters that are pretty, and you can see why he has become as big as he is.

Can I request though that when the Laguna comes out that it has a thinner topline, like the Lagunas in the Pro Platinum line?

[pgagreg1]

Nice read Zak

I Love Infommercials

I guess he was hoping for an update to one of Jicks famous threads

[rrkman]

[quote name='pgagreg1' timestamp='1335347069' post='4785810']
Nice read Zak

I Love Infommercials

I guess he was hoping for an update to one of Jicks famous threads
[/quote]

Don't worry, it will get there soon enough. As for the article, thanks. WRX has really grown/expanded over the past few years and articles like these, whether you like the topc or not, are great additions.

[indyvai]

Zack, great read and alot of interesting things were covered. Most interesting is Scotty's take on the current market trends. It provides alot of food for thought... especially the upcoming selection chart. Can't wait to see what that looks like.

[blav28]

[quote name='reflog74' timestamp='1335315806' post='4783958']
nice infommercial

John
[/quote]

If this article was about another puttermaker, the response would've been "great article, nice insights."

Scotty? "nice infommercial [sic]"

I can't wait to see the 30 minute spots on TGC for the Futura. As this was obviously what the article was touting.

[blav28]

BTW.... nice article Zak!

[jeffalbert]

Nice article!

[sfahrney1]

Great article Zak!!! This was a very well written piece, with some interesting insights to the Studio and Mr. Cameron's brain. Great work!

[The GreekGrind]

Love the story Zak; it reads as if it was made for "Inside the PGA Tour" and you packed tons of great information in it. Super flow. I really enjoyed reading this one. Thanks!

[andef]

Thanks for the article, great job Zak! It's great to be able to get on the "inside" of his work.
At the same time, it's unfortunate that the haters have to come on here just to add to their post count.

[hebron1427]

nice article. although there are a few things i disagree with, it has done a good job capturing facts without overly glorifying the cameron brand. very nice reporting

[Golfer4Life]

Very cool and insightful read. Scotty does have the upper edge on the inside track. He knows what is going on on the greens and he understands what the pros and amateurs are looking for in a good quality piece of equipment.


It always amazes me how his "old former friends" come here and tear him up, that is why you guys are "former" friends. Keep it to yourself, frankly people just don't care what you have to say. Of course, this is just my opinion.


Great article Zak!

[andef]

[quote name='Golfer4Life' timestamp='1335388717' post='4789462']
Very cool and insightful read. Scotty does have the upper edge on the inside track. He knows what is going on on the greens and he understands what the pros and amateurs are looking for in a good quality piece of equipment.


It always amazes me how his "old former friends" come here and tear him up, that is why you guys are "former" friends. Keep it to yourself, frankly people just don't care what you have to say. [b] Of course, this is just my opinion.[/b]


Great article Zak!
[/quote]

I think almost everyone feels this way. If you have something bad to say, then keep it to yourself.
If people are reading the article, it means they're interested in the topic. Why do people have to hate just for the sake of annoying others?

[BobsBugsBeGone]

Great Article. Just one question though... Did you see him use the machine? Only reason I ask. No Apron, No protective eye wear, no hydraulic fluid visible, and no metal shavings anywhere.

[onafriday]

I'd give a Select Laguna a roll....

[stage1350]

I look forward to an equally in depth article on Rick Cooper and his history...

[rrkman]

[quote name='stage1350' timestamp='1335395808' post='4790048']
I look forward to an equally in depth article on Rick Cooper and his history...
[/quote]

Can't wait to read your article too Stage.

[Golfer4Life]

[quote name='stage1350' timestamp='1335395808' post='4790048']
I look forward to an equally in depth article on Rick Cooper and his history...
[/quote]


I will be more than happy to read it also.