Equipment

Scotty Cameron Futura X7 and X7M putters

Published

9 years ago

Oct 6, 2015

Models: Futura X7 ($379), Futura X7M ($379), Futura X7M Dual Balance ($399)
Finish: Silver Mist with black anodized sole
Shaft Bend, Offset, Hang: Single, One Shaft, Face Balanced
Loft, Lie: 3.5 degrees, 70 degrees
Grip: 10-inch Matador Mid Red Midsize (77 grams)
Availability: October 23

Scotty Cameron’s new Futura X7 and Futura X7M putters are designed to deliver more stability and consistency on the putting green, with a multi-material construction that boosts the forgiveness of the putters.

[quote_box_center]“The motivation behind Futura X always has been to help golfers make a more stable, more balanced, more consistent, more confident stroke,” Scotty Cameron said in a Titleist press release. “We’ve enhanced those benefits with X7 and X7M through larger, multi-material constructions that make alignment simple. For the golfer, that translates into higher MOI for stability, a bigger sweet spot for forgiveness, easier alignment for a more confident setup, and a better, softer feel.”[/quote_box_center]

Golfers familiar with Cameron’s Futura X5 putter will notice that the X7 shares the same head shape, with the X7 being approximately 10 percent larger.

[quote_box_center]“The X7 is a line extension of the X5. It has the same head shape, but larger,” Cameron said. “A lot of touring pros requested it be larger. The larger we make it, the more forgiving it becomes with a larger sweet spot. This also allows us to add more alignment lines. The more lines, the easier it is to line up the ball.”[/quote_box_center]

What might go undetected, however, at least until golfers hit a putt with the X7, is the change in construction. The X7 uses what Cameron calls an “aluminum face-sole core,” which is surrounded by a stainless steel frame. Also, since the face of the X7 is made from aluminum, it will deliver a softer feel than the X5, which uses a 303 stainless steel putter face.

[quote_box_center]“The key feature is the two materials,” Cameron said. “Basically there are two constructions involved here. The feel and sound of the lightweight midsection are married together with the heavier surrounding heel, toe and back to be more forgiving, for better performance.”[/quote_box_center]

The X7M offers golfers a shape that resembles the X7, but adds what Cameron calls a “Bar-back design” that further boosts the MOI of the putter.

[quote_box_center]“With X7M, I wanted a round shape with a crisp and sharp look for alignment,” Cameron said. “X7 and X7M have a lot of the same features but the X7M is manipulated and made with a back weight for more MOI – thus the name, X7M, where the ‘M’ stands for MOI. Instead of having big ears and weights in the back [as in the Futura X], which some might call cumbersome, the bar on the back with the weights streamlines the shape. A few tour players also said shadowing on the course can sometimes affect sight lines, so on the X7M I raised the alignment lines and made them even longer.”[/quote_box_center]

The X7M is also available in a Dual Balance model, which uses a heavier head (400 grams) that is counterbalanced with a 15-inch grip and a 50-gram weight installed in the butt end of the putter.

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Equipment

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

Published

6 hours 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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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