Scotty Cameron introduces prototype putter

Scotty's Studio Select Tour Only Newport 2.6 is a new model that will most likely be added to the line as a production model in 2008. For now, it's being sent to the PGA Tour for extensive testing by the best players in the business.

This straight-shafted, zero offset member of the Newport family has the head shape of a Newport 2 with a stepless shaft attached to a spud on the topline. The spud is positioned slightly back from center, which gives this putter about 1/4 toe hang. This promotes Scotty's favored arc-shaped putting path. It also warrants the distinction of being labeled a "straight-shafted" putter rather than a "center shafted" model. 

As with all models in the Select line, the Newport 2.6 employs dual sole weights that can be interchanged at the Custom Shop based on a players preferred length and headweight.

Scotty also added a milled alignment dot—one, not three as in the past—behind the shaft on the topline. This simple, yet effective, design helps the player keep the shaft angle at a perfect 90 degrees at address. When in this optimal playing position, the dot is hidden from the player's view. Any deviation from a perfect shaft angle reveals the colored dot. Take a look at the associated slideshow to see what we mean.

As for when this putter will make it into the line, Scotty maintains that it's still in the Tour Only prototype phase and it will be incorporated into the line when he's 100% sure he's finished with the design.

"So many things go into bringing a prototype to production. Not only does the putter have to perform. And to me, that means on the PGA Tour. But we also have to account for materials, tooling, and the number of putters we'd like to make. It's a delicate balance, because I hear a lot of requests for a straight-shafted putter like the Newport 2.6, but it all comes down to finding that right mix between getting a design perfect and figuring out how to introduce it into the line in the right way," says Titleist's master putter maker Scotty Cameron.

His recipe seems to work, because over the past 15 years, he's been steadily hand-crafting putters for the finest players in the world. Those designs go from the PGA Tour into designs of the putters that end up in the hands of players of all handicaps around the world.