Equipment

Scotty Cameron Futura X5 and X5R Putters

Published

10 years ago

Oct 15, 2014

Oversized putters were once a rarity in professional golf, but not anymore. These days, they’ve become the norm, with as many as 50 percent of PGA Tour players using them each week on Tour.

Scotty Cameron’s new Futura X5 and X5R are a result of the increased demand for larger putters by the world’s best players.

“The Futura X5 mallet is for someone who likes the stability of a bigger head, the feel of a bigger grip and likes to look down and see more lines for alignment purposes,” Cameron said. “X5 is more of a mechanical shape where the X5R is a softer, rounder shape. There’s no right or wrong. Same performance, same weight, same feel. It all depends on what you like to look at.”

Futura X5

Futura X5R

Both putters have a multi-material design that includes a 303 Stainless Steel body and a 6061 aluminum sole plate. The use of aluminum extends into the “wings” of the putters and allowed Cameron to move weight to their extreme perimeter. That improves a putter’s stability and resistance to twisting.

And there’s another, not-so-hidden benefit to larger putters.

“The bigger the head, the more lines you can add for alignment,” Cameron said. “We worked with many players on tour and in the Putter Studio during the development of X5 and they all told us the same thing: It adds confidence.”

Futura X5

Futura X5R

The X5 and X5R putters also have single-bend shafts with a higher bend point that make them face-balanced.

“The single bend came from taking feedback from the tour and working with players in the Studio. Double bends have been around for years and for X5 we really wanted to clean up the look,” Cameron said. “We had many players say they wished that the shaft leaned at their target or on their line, so we worked to find the proper offset and lean of the shaft so, at address, the bend lines up pointing right at your target. That was a key one because the mechanical-industrial shape of the head and the clean mechanical-industrial bend match perfectly. What I didn’t want was a heavy, flowing bend onto a mechanical head.”

Each model has a 10-inch Matador Red Midsize grip that weighs 77 grams.

“The grip can complement or kill the design of the putter,” Cameron said. “I know that sounds strange, but grips make a difference. With blades, it’s a little more handsy, a little more flowing, a little more feel. With Futura X putters, it’s a little more robotic, a little more square-to-square and this larger Matador grip complements the head very well.”

The Futura X5 and X5R putters ($349) will be in stores on Oct. 31. They both have Cameron’s Silver Mist finish are are available in lengths of 33, 34 and 35 inches. For lefties, the X5 is available in lengths of 33, 34 and 35 inches.

Click here to see in-hand photos of the Futura X5 and X5R from the PGA Tour.

Futura X5 Dual Balance

A Futura X5 Dual Balance ($399) will also be available on Oct. 31. It has an extra 50-gram weight located under its aluminum sole plate, which is counterbalanced with a 50-gram weight in its 15-inch grip that can help smooth out certain golfer’s strokes.

Stock length is 38 inches, but lengths of 36-to-40 inches in 0.5-inch increments are available by custom order.

Click here to see in-hand photos of the Futura X5 and X5R from the PGA Tour.

Your Reaction?

LIKE75
LEGIT12
WOW17
LOL3
IDHT2
FLOP8
OB1
SHANK18

Related Topics:putters

Up Next

Hello Face Slots: TaylorMade RSi 1, RSi 2 and RSi TP irons

Don't Miss

Oakley as a golf brand? Exactly

Zak Kozuchowski

26 Comments

j T

Jan 20, 2015 at 10:39 pm

I have every top line putter ever sold seriously and played them all but folks when you put a scotty in your hand you know it the feelins is totally exhilarating I would describe it as getting out boy a vega in to a Cadillac

Reply Report comment
DBN

Dec 18, 2014 at 4:11 pm

Umm why doesn’t everyone keep there opinions are so valuable since none of them are on tour. Lets get some responses to those who have actually tried the putter!! Tried it and loved it!! can’t beat a scotty and the way the ball releases off the face!!

Reply Report comment
Rich

Oct 16, 2014 at 5:15 pm

Yes the design is copied but as stated a few times below, it happens all the time in this industry. I think they are beautiful putter and from reading the article attached, it would seem at least there has been some thought go into the finer detail of these putter. I’m looking forward to seeing what they are like in hand.

Reply Report comment
dko

Oct 16, 2014 at 10:53 am

I wish, I wish, I wish … I could afford a Scotty Cameron putter.

Reply Report comment
TT X

Oct 15, 2014 at 3:33 pm

He copied an Odyssey and the Yes Sandy which is more round on the wings. The Odyssey was well before the YES which was 2012. Callie is an Anser style and Tracy has an Anser body but a double bend face balanced shaft. No hosel.

Reply Report comment
- Kmac
  
  Oct 15, 2014 at 6:43 pm
  
  Who cares? He makes great putters. They mass produce.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - TT X
    
    Oct 15, 2014 at 8:24 pm
    
    Didn’t say he doesn’t make great product, simply stating the facts as they are.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - JB
      
      Oct 16, 2014 at 1:44 am
      
      All this nonsense about who copied who. Are we 12? Who cares, IMO. If it makes me a better putter, copy it from Tommy Armour for all I care.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Don Koo
        
        Oct 16, 2014 at 10:51 am
        
        Yup. Well said. EVERYTHING on the market today is a variation of something already there.
        
        Reply Report comment
      - TT X
        
        Oct 16, 2014 at 11:32 am
        
        As long as the designer is compensated it shouldn’t matter copied who.
        
        Reply Report comment
Jeff

Oct 15, 2014 at 3:24 pm

I think the odyssey #7’s popularity came from the Yes! Tom Watson used in almost winning the 2009 Open Championship. So it’s not really surprising to see the design make the rounds.

Reply Report comment
Kevin

Oct 15, 2014 at 2:25 pm

Any idea why they didn’t make the face deep milled like the Select line?

Reply Report comment
- JB
  
  Oct 16, 2014 at 1:46 am
  
  I was wondering the same thing. Wonder if the deep mill didn’t really benefit that big of head?
  
  Reply Report comment
Tom D

Oct 15, 2014 at 10:53 am

Should’ve named the X7, since they are obviously the Odyssey #7 shape.

Reply Report comment
- Jeff
  
  Oct 15, 2014 at 3:18 pm
  
  +1
  
  Reply Report comment
Will

Oct 15, 2014 at 10:39 am

Yes, this putter looks very similar to the odyssey #7 or sabertooth. But for those of you complaining about the similarities I hope you also complain about any anser/Newport style putter from Odyssey, Taylormade, Cleveland, see more etc as those are just a copy of the original Ping anser.

I have used an odyssey #7 for years now but I’m looking forward to a deep milled version.

Reply Report comment
GR

Oct 15, 2014 at 10:35 am

Zac, thanks for your articles and information. They are very helpful.

I do have a question though. Due to a tendency toward pulling putts, I have changed to center shafted mallets with a more straight back and forth putting stroke. However, I see mostly heel shafted (like the Futura outlined). More than likely it is a demand issue. What is the % of pros and/or golfers that use the center shafted putters? Any recommendations? Thanks.

Reply Report comment
- Zak Kozuchowski
  
  Oct 15, 2014 at 10:56 am
  
  Center-shafted putters are rare on tour, but some players swear by them. It’s all about preference and confidence.
  
  I used to play a center-shafted mallet as well, but I’ve since switched to a heel-shafted mallet after I saw that I got better numbers with those models on a SAM PuttLab. If there’s a SAM in your area, I’d recommend that you try it. Otherwise, guess and check is a great process.
  
  And if your putter is working for you, why switch?
  
  Thanks for reading, GR.
  
  Reply Report comment
Food

Oct 15, 2014 at 9:58 am

Gimme some seed, I’ll go till the field with these and feed the world with the food I can grow

Reply Report comment
Baka

Oct 15, 2014 at 9:51 am

Blatant copy of Odyssey Tank Cruiser and Versa #7 putters. At Titleist, we don’t innovate we imitate.

Reply Report comment
- Joe W
  
  Oct 15, 2014 at 10:18 am
  
  everyone copies everyone for the most part. they just add their little/tiny differences to the mock up.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Lane
    
    Oct 15, 2014 at 1:06 pm
    
    True, but I think the Cameron X5 looks better than its predecessors. IMO, it’s imitated AND improved.
    
    Reply Report comment
- t-ball
  
  Oct 15, 2014 at 10:46 am
  
  If we want to blame Scotty for copying, we have to blame Odyssey too ! I think the first version of this style head was a YES Callie. Plus, you really can’t compare a plastic insert to a deep-milled face.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Jeff
    
    Oct 15, 2014 at 3:20 pm
    
    Tracy. Callie’s a blade.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Rich
      
      Oct 16, 2014 at 5:09 pm
      
      Tracy is a blade too. Tracy was a face balanced blade and Tracy II was a short slant neck blade.
      
      Reply Report comment
JB

Oct 15, 2014 at 9:48 am

This just made my day! Counting down the days!!

Reply Report comment

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

42 mins ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

Your Reaction?