Titleist Putters: The Past, Present and Future

What's the story with Titleist putters? There's probably not a golfer on the planet who hasn't heard of Titleist golf balls. A much lower percentage of golfers know about Titleist drivers or irons. But putters? The percentage would probably be even lower ... unless, of course, you're talking about putters by Scotty Cameron or the company's fabulous Bulls Eye putter. Talk about two ends of the spectrum. Putters by Scotty Cameron represent the high-tech present and future, while Bulls Eyes are the simple, elegant Titleist putters of the past.

"Scotty Camerons" are, without a doubt, some of the finest putters being made, and a number of tour professionals play them every week. This is one case where you definitely get what you pay for (unfortunately, in the case of putters by Scotty Cameron, you'll need to pay $325 or so).

Bulls Eye putters, on the other hand, were made between 1970 and 2003. I'm guessing that this putter's lifespan of 33 years will never be matched by any other club. Ben Crenshaw played a Bulls Eye, and he was one of the best putters to ever step onto a green. So did Johnny Miller, who used his to shoot a record final-round 63 at the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

Titleist putters by Scotty Cameron use technology and superb designs to deliver the type of performance that professional players demand. Bulls Eye putters, on the other hand, were pretty low-tech, especially in comparison to some of today's putters. They were made of a soft brass and had great balance. Their unique, "ambidextrous" shape could be used by righties or lefties and had a rounded toe and a center shaft that was quite unusual for the time. Compared to some of today's space-age shapes, the old Bulls Eyes gave you a much more classic look over the ball. It has a simple, elegant design that has more than withstood the test of time. There's no face insert, no alignment lines, no perimeter weighting, no wings, tubes, holes or other design gimmicks, and no fancy multi-metal alloys. But boy, could they roll a pure putt! My husband bought one sometime in the mid-1970s, and even though he's bought many putters since, whenever he feels his putting stroke is off he goes back to his Bulls Eye. After a few rounds, his putting miraculously straightens itself out. We call it his putting coach. If you want one of your own, you can often find used Bulls Eyes on www.eBay.com, www.amazon.com and several other online venues. You might even find one sitting around in someone's garage. I've seen them being sold for as little as $5.99, and at that price they're a complete no-brainer.

That's enough of the past. Now, let's talk about the present and future.

Scotty Cameron is currently creating three different lines of Titleist putters. The line most people are familiar with is probably the Scotty Cameron Studio Select series. Many of the putters in this family are Newport-style blade putters, but a small mallet is also in the lineup. All Studio Select putter heads are made of precision-milled, 303 stainless steel.

The California line of Titleist putters by Scotty Cameron includes blade and mallet style putters, with four models available. They also feature precision-milled 303 stainless steel heads. Their distinct "Honey Dipped" finish - a rich bronze - looks great and reduces glare.

The third line of Scotty Cameron putters is a series of sophisticated mallets called the Studio Select KombiTM. Some (the Kombi) use a lightweight, 6061 aircraft aluminum for their heads, while the Kombi-S putter uses a more typical 303 stainless steel. Naturally, all Studio Select KombiTM putters are precisely milled to Scotty Cameron's strict specifications.

No matter which Titleist putters by Scotty Cameron you're considering, you're looking at an advanced, highly effective design that gives you a pleasing appearance at address, is easy to align, and produces a pure roll. That's why SC putters have become so popular with tour professionals and the recreational golfers who can afford them. They truly are a thing of beauty, and they deliver the type of performance that lives up to their looks.

So, there you have the past, present and future of Titleist putters. We encourage you to read through some of our reviews of specific Titleist putters to get more details. But whether you're interested in finding an old Bulls Eye on www.eBay.com or a brand-new Scotty Cameron, a Titleist putter probably won't let you down.

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