Scotty Cameron Phantom 5 OC Review
The Phantom I expected to dislike turned out to be the best performer
Introduction
When I reviewed my friend’s Phantom 11R OC recently, I was pleasantly surprised by how well it performed. It was very good for feel and pace, but I struggled with the amount of onset, which made it difficult for me to aim with confidence.
The Phantom 5 OC has considerably less onset, so the obvious question was whether the results would be even better.
First Impressions
Even though this is the same basic shape as the Phantom 5.5 that I reviewed previously, I much prefer how it looks at address. The fact that it is centre-shafted seems to draw my attention away from the rear fangs and towards the leading edge and top alignment line.
That was a surprise.
Looking at promotional photos before actually seeing the putter in person, I thought I probably wouldn’t like the spud where the shaft attaches. I was concerned that it might be distracting and create the same sort of aiming issue I had with the BGT Paradox mallet.
But I was wrong!
With the BGT Paradox, the whole spud was angled, which made it look visually awkward to me. On the Phantom 5 OC, the spud is flat and much less distracting. The use of a line rather than dots for alignment helps as well. Especially as it looks like it enters into the middle of the shaft and produces good symmetry.
Specification (as tested)
Total weight: 600g (a heavy putter)
Head weight: undeclared, but can alter the base weights
Swing weight: E6
Length: 34”
Loft: 3° (+/-1°)
Lie: 70° (+/-2°)
Toe Hang: Zero-torque
Grip: Midsize Matador - black with red lettering
There is a decent amount of fine-tuning available for loft and lie, and length can also be specified in 0.5” increments from 33” to 35”.
Protocol Snapshot (How I Tested It)
Surface: The very nice practice green at the St Andrews Golf Academy.
Conditions: A lovely April afternoon with warm sunshine and a gentle breeze. Just nice enough for short sleeves.
Make Test: 6 putts x 3 reps from 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 ft
Lag Test: 40 ft to 3 ft - uphill and downhill - run once
Start Line: Gate drill (two tees at 18 inches ahead, gate only just wider than a ball)
Benchmark: SeeMore Nashville mFGP
Full testing framework: HERE
How Did It Perform?
Notes
This was a good day for testing, with nice weather and a practice green that was in very good condition and running well.
My expectations were fairly low coming in. I’ve had mixed results with zero-torque putters and have generally preferred the blade versions to the mallets. Given that, I did not expect the Phantom 5 OC to perform as well as it did.
But it surprised me in a good way.
After the disappointment of the Phantom 5.5, this felt like the opposite experience. The 5 OC was easier to aim than I expected, and my pace control was consistently good throughout the session.
Pros and Cons
Looks (+ve): I’m still not a fan of this particular fang shape, but it bothered me less here than it did on the 5.5. This is a very good-looking zero-torque putter and possibly the nicest one I’ve seen so far. Back in Auchterlonies, I placed it beside the Fastback OC and was surprised by how much more compact the 5 OC head is.
I liked that.
Grip (+ve): The midsize Matador is a nice grip. It’s maybe a touch larger than I like, but there’s very little to complain about.
Headcover (-ve): A familiar complaint in my Scotty Cameron reviews. At this price point, I expect something better, especially a more secure and reliable closure.
Aim/Alignment (+ve): As mentioned above, the central shaft location helped reduce the visual distraction caused by the fangs and allowed me to focus more on the leading edge and top alignment line. That was a big positive compared with the issues I had with the 5.5. With less onset, I also found this head easier to aim than the 11R OC I tried recently.
Feel and Sound (neutral): This remains one of the most subjective parts of any review. Personally, I generally prefer a fully milled face to an insert. The new Phantom line uses a full-face insert. It is definitely an improvement on the smaller inserts in earlier Scotty Cameron models, but it can still feel a little hollow and less responsive than I would like. It does not naturally inspire confidence the way a good traditional milled face can.
Pace Control (+ve): Despite the feel and sound comments, my pace control with the 5 OC was really good. From a pace perspective, I’ve had mixed results with zero-torque mallets, but this may be the best one I’ve tried so far and possibly even better than the 11R. At 600g, the static weight is high, and the swing weight of E6 is high too. Even so, the putter felt easy to swing and very stable. I didn’t need to make any setup or grip changes. I just held it lightly, as usual, and let it swing.
Performance Overall (+ve): Of the four Phantom models I’ve tested recently, this was the best performer for me. The 5 OC did many things well. While my aim was not perfect, it was better than I expected, and my pace control was especially strong.
Price (neutral): At £499, this sits firmly in premium territory, although there are zero-torque putters that are much more expensive. There is a reasonable amount of customisation available for length, loft and lie, and I would strongly urge anyone thinking of spending this much to get properly fitted first. L.A.B. have done a great job of educating the market on the importance of correct length and lie for zero-torque fitting, and that advice applies here too.
Conclusion
The Scotty Cameron Phantom 5 OC was a really positive surprise.
Fit verdict (for me)
Would I game it tomorrow? No, but I’m tempted.
What would I change? The fangs. Better than the 5.5, but still some distraction.
What have I learned? The 5.5 looked like it should work for me, but didn’t. The 5 OC looked like it probably shouldn’t, but did.
Have you tried any of the new Phantom putters from Scotty Cameron? I’d love to hear what you thought, and whether you ended up buying one.
This Phantom 5 OC worked much better than I expected and reinforced the importance of testing putters with an open mind.
You can find all my other putter reviews, including my other Phantom reviews, by clicking the link below.
If you found this review useful, hitting the like button helps more people find it.
If you value independent testing and would like new reviews sent directly to your inbox, then please subscribe. It’s free, and you can cancel at any time.
Links:
Full testing framework: here
All my other putter reviews: here