Today, Scotty Cameron revealed an all-new line of putters. The Phantom X family replaces the Futura line and is built around three key areas: design, alignment, and performance. We talked with Michael Bradley, Director of Marketing for Scotty Cameron putters from Titleist, to bring you the story behind these new clubs in our exclusive Q & A.
TGW: Why were Titleist and Scotty Cameron looking to replace the Futura putters?
Michael Bradley: Scotty Cameron started on the 2019 Futura line and had a lot of requests from Tour players around alignment and size. The result was the most high-tech putters Scotty has ever designed. All the feedback he received was based around smaller profiles, more alignment options, and solid feel. These putters were so different than Futura, Scotty felt they deserved a new name. Everything was taken to a new level and a new line of putters was born.
TGW: With the creation of a brand-new putter line, what are the key components to these clubs?
MB: We put the key elements of the Phantom X putters in three buckets: design, alignment, and performance.
Starting with design, there are five head shapes. These are more compact mallets, they are all streamlined with a lot of radius and tapering. It looks like the lines are moving, these putters don’t look “stuck” behind the ball. Unlike other Scotty Cameron putters, the numbers don’t reference the head size, these putters are all about a “5” in terms of size.
With alignment, some golfers want those long, flowing, unbroken lines with no interruption by the top line. The alignment elements get progressively modern as you move through the line. Long lines and rails help frame the ball while the dots align the ball to the sweet spot.
Performance is big here. Weight has been milled out of the center. The faces are solid aircraft aluminum, which is softer than stainless, while 303 stainless steel is used on the perimeter. The black sections are all one milled piece of aluminum while the silver sections you see are 303 stainless steel. We have included the Pistolero Plus grip where the lower half is less tapered, equal to two extra wraps.
TGW: So the Phantom X line has five different head shapes with nine models available?
MB: There are multiple shaft bends. We have the 5, 6, 7, 8, and 12 with mid-bend shafts which are face balanced. Then there are 5.5, 7.5, and 8.5 models with low-bend shafts which adds some toe-flow. Also, there is the 6 Straight model which is a center-shafted option.
TGW: Will we be seeing the Phantom X putters on the PGA Tour?
MB: Justin Thomas is playing one right now. He’s actually playing the 5.5 model in a stock set up.
TGW: One last question about mallets. The Phantom X line is all mallets, but why would a golfer choose a mallet putter?
MB: Players who play on slow greens can benefit from a mallet. If you have to hit the ball harder, you are more likely to hit the ball off-center, so the perimeter weighting of a mallet can help there. Also, golfers who are hitting a lot of longer putts, where you have to take a longer stroke.
The Titleist Scotty Cameron Phantom X putters are available for pre-order today on TGW.com.
