Scotty Cameron has rolled out a new line of limited-edition Phantom putters and I’m not sure how I feel about them.
The putters are lookers. Just like with last summer’s Phantom Black line, the new Phantom OC Spec III putters are all blacked-out. It’s a sharp look, arguably better than the stock appearance.
Unlike last summer’s release, the two models are both current stock head shapes. As the name suggests, both are Onset Center (OC) designs. The OC shaft/hosel design significantly reduces torque but does not eliminate it.
The modicum or torque that remains during the putting stroke maintains some of the classic putter feel while still keeping the head very stable.
Scotty Cameron’s interpretation of the zero-torque trend is a good one. In my experience, the retention of some torque improves face awareness. When a putter is truly torque-free, it can be difficult to intuitively know where the face is pointed.
The Phantom Spec III OC 5 and 11R push torque elimination to the red line without blowing up the feel.
That part of the Phantom OC Spec III story is solid but some of the other aspects of this release are grinding my gears a bit.
What is the Spec III name all about?
Although I consider myself a car guy, I was not familiar with the “Spec III” term. Thankfully, I have the internet, and I was quickly able to ferret out the following definition:
In real-world automotive contexts, a “Spec III” (Specification 3) car typically refers to a defined tier of aftermarket performance upgrades or a strict amateur racing class rather than a factory-issued trim level.
The Scotty Cameron press release has a similar explanation for the term:
The new Scotty Cameron Phantom OC Spec III mallets are named after the highly optimized Spec III performance builds in the automotive world, where all components and modifications operate harmoniously to produce ultimate performance.
Essentially, Scotty Cameron is calling the new Phantom OC Spec III putters fine-tuned supersonic speed machines.
(I should have just asked Rihanna …)
The use of this name shifts my enthusiasm into neutral. I agree the two Phantom OC putters are harmonious blends of components. I’ve rolled the stock 11R OC quite a bit since its release last fall. It’s one of my favorite low-torque putters.
My gripe with the Spec III designation is that build specs for these two limited-edition putters are not that different from those of the stock models.
Giving them the Spec III name implies that the build of these versions are superior to the stock models.
If these are Spec III, then I would argue the stock versions are already “Spec III” putters as well. The physical differences are minimal. If the construction is the same, why are these Spec III and the stock versions not Spec III?
It’s more confusing than a Honda Pilot with paddle shifters. The logo does look sporty on the sole but it seems to me like a marketing misfire.
Specifications: Phantom 5 OC Spec III
- Lengths: 33, 34, 35 inches
- Loft: 3.5 degrees
- Lie angle: 70 degrees
- Shaft lean: 1 degree
- Dexterity: RH (Phantom 5 & Phantom 11R), LH (Phantom 11R)
New pinstripes and paint
The cosmetic overhaulin’ continues with the new black PVD finish and “high-contrast” sight lines. The Phantom 5 OC Spec III putters look great in black. I appreciate how the uniform black finish makes these two putters look very different from the stock putters.
It’s a sleek look and the black color becomes a perfect background for the new alignment lines.
I’m a huge fan of the new alignment lines. I like the extension of the central line on the 11R. This is something I wish Cameron would do to the Phantom 9R as well. The short line is a little odd-looking.
The two additional top lines on the Phantom 11R provide great reference points for framing the ball with the face.
Adding two cavity lines to the Phantom 5 produce a similar effect, even if they are not at the front of the putter.
As I said, both of the blacked out Phantom OC Spec III putters look better than the stock models.
Did Scotty Cameron make the Phantom 5 OC Spec III putters “limited” enough?
Scotty Cameron makes great putters. Since he sits at the top of the milled-putter hierarchy, he often catches more than his share of grief from golfers.
People tend to take shots at whoever is on tip.
More than once, I’ve defended the brand. Cameron’s construction is top-tier and his putters are always attractive. He’s made great-looking, tournament-winning putters for decades.
The Phantom line demonstrates time and time again that there is still some creativity in Scotty Cameron’s sketchbook. With the Phantom line, Cameron also typically demonstrates his willingness to explore new designs or at least variations on existing designs.
Most recently, Cameron released the Phantom 3.2 and Phantom 12. Both are fresh and classically Cameron mallet designs.
The Phantom Black release putters from last summer were all interesting shapes whose designs were based upon PGA Tour player requests. The black color was part of the story and not the whole story. The metal still mattered.
I’m not sure if I feel the same way about the Phantom 5 OC Spec III putters.
They look great. I’d drop my beloved stock 11R for the Phantom OC Spec III 11R in a hot second.
However, I just don’t see enough “limited-edition” coolness in these to justify the $800 price tag.
Maybe I’m missing something but these feel like more like fresh paint jobs than tuner performance. Even the cool cavity lines on the 5 OC are not a new design element. We saw those on the Phantom Black 5.5.
It could be that the Spec III name created an expectation that the putters don’t live up to. There is nothing in particular about the putters that I don’t like. I even like the Spec III graphic on the sole a lot. It’s a great visual element.
I suppose I just expected the milled metal to be more special. For example, something like a blacked-out Phantom 12.2. For that putter, I’d consider paying the $250 up-charge over stock pricing for that non-stock build.
If a limited-edition putter is a just stock putter with new paint and graphics, I’d probably buy a stock model and save the cash.
(Unless it was a really cool purple color, of course.)
Find out more about the new Scotty Cameron Phantom Spec III OC putters at ScottyCameron.com.
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