Why Tour Player Feedback Has Made This My Favourite Scotty Cameron Putter Ever

Scotty Cameron putters are and have been some of the most sought-after on the market for some time now. While they have rarely strayed from a classic, timeless look, the desire to own one of the brand’s putters may have just risen thanks to the release of the Phantom 9.2R putter.

With a diverse array of models in the new Phantom family, there is a shape and style for everyone, but it was the Phantom 9.2R model ($499/£449) that really caught my eye, and so I took it out onto the course to put it through its paces and see if it could be truly considered one of the best mallet putters on the market.

The Phantom 9.2R is what I would call a futuristic mallet, with the head shape being the thing that immediately stands out. It’s a model that has been refined by direct tour player feedback from the original Phantom 9 head. The result is a profile with much more rounded edges that really soften the overall look at address, which I personally love as I struggle when a putter looks too linear or ‘boxy’.

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As someone who appreciates a clean, confidence-inspiring aesthetic behind the golf ball, I found these smoothed-out lines to be a massive upgrade. It manages to deliver the substantial footprint you want from a forgiving putter without ever looking clunky or over-engineered.

It certainly helps to know that the most in-form player in professional golf right now, Cameron Young, uses a Tour Only Phantom 9 model, as does the number one amateur in the world, Jackson Koivun. Knowing that players of this caliber trust the Phantom 9 shape - albeit custom tour putters with slightly different hosels, when the pressure is at its absolute highest, speaks volumes about its performance and stability.

New for this Phantom range is a completely re-engineered full-face insert milled from Studio Carbon Steel, which is ridiculously soft through impact. Scotty Cameron achieves this not only with the softer carbon steel material but also via an intricate chain-link milling pattern on the face, which reduces vibration and gets the ball rolling beautifully.

So how did this putter perform when I put it to the test? Very well. In fact, I was so impressed with the feel and how it framed the ball at address, it’s a serious contender for my bag this season. The combination of the carbon steel and that deep chain-link milling produced a buttery-soft audible click, while feeling very responsive.

My distance control on long lag putts from the 30-50ft range was certainly above average, and the ball started rolling end-over-end almost immediately after leaving the face, which was a big factor in finishing the ball inside ‘gimmee’ range.

It was on the shorter putts, however, where the Phantom 9.2R really shone for me, thanks to the blend of alignment aids that made squaring the face up to my target at address seem effortless. The short sight line on the top of the head is something I prefer compared to the full-length line that was on the previous Phantom 9 model, although this is very much a matter of personal preference.

Furthermore, the ‘2’ in the 9.2R name indicates a plumbers-style neck, which, for those of us who putt with a slight arc to our stroke, provides just the right amount of toe flow to allow the face to open and close naturally, giving the putter the feel of a blade but the forgiveness of a high-MOI mallet.

One of the most underappreciated aspects when it comes to buying one of the best putters is the grip, and Scotty Cameron certainly hasn't overlooked this, providing a stock, pistol-style grip that sits in the hands very comfortably, allowing my thumbs to run straight down the flat front edge and keeping my hands in a perfectly neutral position throughout the stroke.

While some may prefer the upgraded Superstroke grip a lot of manufacturers offer, I personally feel a pistol grip like this offers a little more feel.

If you're in the market for a new putter and want a combination of the toe flow that the best blade putters offer with the stability of the most forgiving mallets, the Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.2R is one you should definitely be checking out.

Yes, its premium price tag does make it a significant investment, but considering the expert craftsmanship, the visual refinements, and the Tour-validated performance, I believe it goes a long way to justifying the cost. There’s every chance you’ll see me with this in my bag this season!