The Futura models within the Scotty Cameron putter range have been around for a while and this review will focus on the 2017 range that comprises the 5, 6 and 7 models. Show  With the exception of the 5CB and 5MB models below, the range is what Scotty Cameron call their Minimum Toe Flow designs or face balanced to the rest of the world. To find out how much flow I needed I went through a fitting process known as Cameron Trial and Education at the Titleist National Fitting centre at Craigielaw in Scotland. My stroke suited the lowest Toe Flow possible so I took out the Futura 5W, 6M and 7M models to see the differences. They are all made from a 303 stainless steel body that has a darker 6061 aircraft aluminium face and sole. The aluminium section is of course lighter and that means that by having the heavier steel around the outside it maximises the MOI of the head to make it more stable. The aluminium face features the usual Scotty milled lines pattern and gives a lovely soft feel and I do like a soft metal face on a putter for the sound feedback as much as anything else. If you have had a steel faced Scotty Cameron putter before then the sound may not be as sharp with the aluminium version, but it is still pleasing none the less. Having a contrasting colour on the face also helped get your hands in the correct position at address by judging how much of the black face you could see over the lighter steel top line. Hopefully not much at all. All the models feature a centre section with thin white lines on either side to help with visual alignment to the target. It's deliberately quite subtle and I would have preferred something bolder in the centre given this is the high MOI part of the range, but that is just personal preference. The sole is cambered towards the rear so that it doesn't catch the ground through impact and it sits nice and balanced at address without falling back on its haunches. The 5, 6 and 7 heads get larger as the number goes up and to a degree you won't have much say in which one you want because the head weight increases as the size does. I liked the look of the 5W, but over long putts the smaller head felt a little light. At the other extreme the 7M has the alignment lines I prefer, but it was pretty large and felt the heaviest, so it fell to the Goldilocks option of the 6M to take the honours almost by default. I liked the head size, alingment lines and the feel of it, but I am not mad on the two weights hanging off the back. It may increase the MOI and hole more putts, but it is my head ruling my heart here. It would have been nice to see all three shapes in all three sizes and with the 5.5M pictured earlier, which is the shape of the 7M but in a 5 head size, so maybe things are moving that way. All the models come with a lovely mid-sized Black Matador grip that is also available in a Dual Balance option for those who want a longer counterbalanced grip. As usual the production quality of the Titleist Scotty Cameron putters and headcovers is very good and the variable weights according to shaft length offers a well-balanced head every time. For the fairly eye watering price some might expect something a little more radical looking to make you put your hand in your pocket without thinking first, like the original Futura that you could probably brand opponents with as you owned them by holing putts against them. The Futura 6M heads down that way, but the rest are fairly conservative shapes that are tried and trusted. However this is one of those scenarios where you are also buying into the Scotty Cameron brand which stands for classic design, quality of manufacture and lovely feel to justify the premium price What is the difference between Futura 5.5M and 7M?Futura Futura 5.5M The compact mallet — about 10 percent smaller than the similarly-shaped Futura 7M — is designed for easy alignment with built-in toe flow. Its shorter, single bend shaft configuration adds more toe hang, promoting a flowing putting stroke. How to choose my Scotty Cameron?For most players, the standard Cameron weight configuration will produce the ideal balance and feel to execute the proper stroke. If your stroke tends to decelerate, if your hands get too active, or if you have too much wrist break, you should consider a heavier head or a Dual Balance putter that is heavier overall. What makes a Scotty Cameron putter better?All Scotty Cameron putters are precision milled in the USA to extremely tight tolerances so that the Tour-validated specifications of the face, sole and neck are consistent for every putter and player. Who manufactures Scotty Cameron?"Scotty" Cameron (born 8 November 1962), a golf club manufacturer primarily known for making putters. Scotty Cameron is part of the Acushnet Company brand portfolio since 2011, when the corporation acquired it from Fortune Brands. |
