I shocked a Scotty Cameron putter fitter by doing something the pros don’t manage

You wouldn’t buy a driver without a custom fit session anymore. But, so many of us do exactly that with our putter. As I found out at a Scotty Cameron fitting, I might be able to get away with doing things the old-fashioned way.

I was invited to see behind the curtain at the Scotty Cameron facility called The Barn. When I say behind the curtain, I mean it, as this is usually reserved for the best players in the world on Scotty Cameron’s books.

That day, my colleague, James Tait and I, were taken through the same process that a tour pro would have by Henry Byrne, who is a Putter Technician at the top secret Scotty facility.

As with any player who enters The Barn, Byrne starts with a conversation around what putter has been in the bag previously and how it has performed.

For me, that was a Wilson South Side, which has a centre shaft design and a mid-mallet shape. But, before that, I was someone who would pick up anything and put it in the bag to try it out. That’s not a positive.

So, Byrne, who has worked with the likes of Jordan Spieth, told me to pick up something that I liked the look of, mainly so he could see how my stroke was holding up.

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I opted for the latest Scotty Cameron Fastback from the new Studio Style range, purely because I loved the shape of the putter and thought it would suit my eye.

Lo and behold, I was right. On The Barn’s practice green, which is an artificial surface around 30 feet long, I was rolling the ball end over end and holing my fair share of putts.

What shocked Henry, was that almost always, the putter that pros like the look of isn’t the one that will necessarily perform the best for them. Most players will pick up something that looks great, but the chances of it being perfect for them are slim to none.

In this case, I was the exception. The face balanced head and single bend shaft suited my stroke and I immediately felt confident over the ball.

To be sure, I tried some other shapes out. A similar head shape with a jet neck produced too much rotation, while a Phantom 7.2 with a plumber’s neck didn’t quite suit my stroke, although it clearly works for some.

So, what would happen if you aren’t so lucky, and the putter you love the look of the most isn’t going to be perfect for you?

Well, according to Byrne, it’s all about compromise. Firstly, you need a putter that will help you get the ball rolling on the intended line. If you don’t have that, then it doesn’t matter how good it looks.

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That can come down to several things. Head shape, length of shaft, torque qualities, neck style and overall weight will all play a part in whether a putter is right for you. Getting the one that suits you best is where an expert fitter comes into play.

But, Byrne explained, getting on with the looks of a putter is important too. Even the best players in the world will have bad days on the greens. If you don’t like the look of a putter, then you’re much more likely to change it out after a bad round of putting.

While sometimes a change can be good, going back and forth between styles every week is not beneficial for any golfer.

Thankfully for me, the putter that works best for me, is also one that I love the look of. Now, it’s all down to me to start making some more putts when it matters.

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Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor