Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.2R Review

How did I get on with the head shape preferred by Cameron Young?

Introduction

This is a really interesting and highly anticipated release from Scotty Cameron, and I suspect it will be a very good seller this season.

The Phantom 9 head first appeared last year, but with a double alignment line on top that I thought looked terrible. Having tried one, I also found it distracting. This new version, with a single line, is much more appealing to my eye.

At the moment, it is only available with either a single-bend shaft or a plumber’s neck, as tested here. Scotty Cameron describes the plumber’s neck version as the middle-ground option, aimed at players with a modest arc stroke. Personally, if it makes it to retail, the version I would most like to try is the Cameron Young jet neck.

First Impressions

Maybe it is just me, but when I first saw the Phantom 9 last season, I could not get the Transformers Decepticon logo out of my head.

Or was it Batman’s mask?

The central section of the head and the alignment line also reminded me a little of a TaylorMade Spider. That is not meant as criticism, especially given how successful and popular the Spider has been.

Behind the ball, other than the neck, I liked this putter straight away. The short alignment line works well for my eye and offers just enough help without taking over. If Scotty Cameron releases a 9.5 version, I hope they keep that same alignment option, because I would really like to try it. My suspicion, though, is that they would use a longer line, more like the one Cameron Young uses.

Interestingly, this putter felt quite head-heavy compared with the other Phantom models I reviewed at the same time. On paper, that is not obvious. At 575g total weight, it was broadly in line with the 5.5 and 7, and its swing weight of D9 was actually lower than the E2 of the 7 and the E0 of the 5.5.

So why did it feel so different?

I am not entirely sure. Perhaps the plumber’s neck played a part. Somewhat unhelpfully, Scotty Cameron does not publish head weights on its website.

This one was fitted with the standard grey Full Contact pistol grip, which I find comfortable and a good overall size.

Specification (as tested)

• Total weight: 575g

• Head weight: undeclared

• Swing weight: D9

• Length: 34”

• Loft: 3° (+/-1°)

• Lie: 70° (+/-2°)

• Toe Hang: “medium” as described by Scotty Cameron, I’d say 30°

• Grip: Standard grey full contact pistol

There is a decent amount of fine-tuning available for loft and lie, and length can be specified in 0.5” increments from 33” to 35”.

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Protocol Snapshot (How I Tested It)

• Surface: The very nice practice green at the Craigtoun Course, St Andrews.

• 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

Note the change of venue for this test to the practice green at the Craigtoun Course.

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How Did It Perform?

The Craigtoun Course, St Andrews. The green rolled better than it looks!

Notes

This test involved a change of venue and a trip to the Craigtoun Course practice green. The views up there are fantastic, and it is one of my favourite places to test putters. Being able to pop into the clubhouse for a coffee afterwards only helps.

Some recent maintenance had left the surface looking a little sandy in the photos, but the green was rolling well.

The Phantom 9.2R started strongly, but faded as the distance increased. The main issue was pace control, and that seemed to come back to the heavy feeling of the head, not unlike the issue I had with the Ping PLD Oslo 3.

There was a lot to like here.

Just not quite enough for me.

Pros and Cons

Looks (+ve): I think this is a good-looking head. The earlier Spider comparison was intended as a compliment. The finish is also up to the usual Scotty Cameron standard, as it should be at this price.

Grip (+ve): The standard grey Full Contact grip is a classic Scotty Cameron shape and immediately felt both familiar and comfortable.

Headcover (-ve): Scotty Cameron, please stop using Velcro. This was a new putter, and already the cover was not closing properly. At this price, I expect something much better. Please move to magnets and improve the mallet covers. This will be a recurring comment across all four of my new Phantom reviews.

Yes, I use iron covers! They cost so much, they deserve to be protected from dings.

Aim/Alignment (neutral): I found this one a little tricky to line up, and I suspect the plumber’s neck played a part. Even so, the actual results were not bad, and I do like the short alignment line on top. It would be great if Scotty Cameron brought that option to other Phantom heads, or at least made it available through custom ordering.

Feel and Sound (neutral): I have decided to now add these two together because they are really part of the same thing. Unlike the smaller insert used in the Catalina and Fastback 1.5 that I tested last summer, Scotty Cameron has used a full-face insert in the new Phantom line.

For me, it feels better than the smaller insert, but I still do not think it is especially good. The feel remains a little hollow, and I prefer the older Phantom models with a fully milled face. I also wonder how robust that insert will prove over time.

The Scotty Cameron website says the insert is there to produce a softer feel and enhanced distance control. I can understand the argument, but I think something has been lost in the process.

Pace Control (neutral): It was good enough on shorter putts, but became less convincing as the distance increased. I think that came back to the head-heavy feeling. I never really got comfortable with it and struggled to judge my swing.

Performance Overall (neutral): Relative to the Mark Broadie baseline data, this putter performed well. The issue is that my gamer performed a little better. More importantly, my SeeMore has earned trust. With more time, my results might have improved, but the more I hit the Phantom 9.2R, the less I wanted to use it.

Price (neutral): At £449, this is a premium putter. The quality of the putter itself is excellent, as you would expect at that level. It is just a shame the headcover does not match that standard. If I bought one, I would feel compelled to replace the cover with a better, more secure, aftermarket option.

Conclusion

The Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.2R is a very nice putter, and I am sure it will be a successful one for them.

There was plenty I liked.

I liked the shape. I liked the short alignment line. I liked the overall finish.

But I never really got comfortable with the plumber’s neck or the way the putter felt during the stroke, and that showed up most clearly in pace control as the distances got longer.

That is where it broke down for me.

With my SeeMore, I feel more comfortable over the ball, more confident in my start line, and clearer in my sense of strike and pace. This Phantom did better than I expected, and that matters. But it never quite gave me the trust I needed.

I would still be very interested to try a 9.5 version if Scotty Cameron releases one.

Fit verdict (for me)

• Would I game it tomorrow? No, but I’d like to try a 9.5 option if released.

• What would I change? I’d be tempted to experiment with some counterbalance and see whether that improved the feel of the stroke.

• What have I learned? This putter performed better than I expected and was a useful reminder to keep an open mind.

Have you tried any of the new Phantom putters from Scotty Cameron? I would love to hear what you thought, and whether you ended up buying one.

The 9.2R is not the right putter for me, but I still have the 7, 5.5 and 5OC to review.

Will one of them manage to unseat my SeeMore?

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Links:

Full testing framework: here

All my other putter reviews: here