Phantom Line Continues to Grow

Scotty Cameron’s popular family of mallets added another member last week

By Tony Dear

Scotty Cameron first used the word ‘Phantom’ in his putters 20 years ago to describe a matte-black finish on a Futura mallet. The current Phantom family of putters didn’t appear until 2019, when it replaced the Futura, with the nine-model Phantom X line. Since then, Phantom 5 has probably come to be regarded as the flagship model both at retail and on the PGA Tour with half a dozen wins coming from Justin Rose, Russell Henley, Justin Thomas, and Ryan Gerard.

But the 9, first introduced in 2024, is gaining momentum and is in the news right now as a third spin-off recently launched. The 9.5R follows the 9R and 9.2R, which debuted in January. The outline of the original Phantom 9 could have been formed by the motorbike-riding computer programmer from the 1982 movie ‘Tron’. Its edges are abrupt, sharp, angular. The ‘R’ stands for Rounded – a look preferred by many. The 9R featured a mid-single bend shaft that provided minimal toe flow for players whose putting stroke was virtually straight back and through. The 9.2R had a Plumber’s Neck hosel that created a little more toe flow, meaning it worked better in the hands of players who liked a slightly more arced stroke.

Like the 9R, the 9.2R was built using a 303 Stainless Steel body with an aluminum sole plate to push most of the putter’s weight to the perimeter, thus increasing the MOI. Adjustable sole weights enabled you to change the weight of the putter and the full-face Studio Carbon Steel insert, with chain-link milling pattern, gave it a soft sound and feel with excellent feedback. The major difference between the 9R and 9.2R, besides the hosel, was the length of the single, black alignment line – face-to-rear on the 9R, abbreviated on the 9.2R.

The 9.5R has an elongated jet/slant neck that shifts the shaft-axis further from the putterhead’s CG, creating even more toe flow. The 9.5R, which Cameron Young has used so effectively this season with wins at the Players Championship and Cadillac Championship and a second-place finish at the Open Championship, and which Jackson Koivun used to win his first Tour title at the 3M Open, therefore has maximum toe flow.  So while the design of multi-material head gives the 9.5R a high MOI making it feel stable through impact, the hosel makes it swing more like a blade.

It’s therefore ideal for golfers who prefer to rotate the putterhead, opening it in the backswing and releasing it through impact, and who want a bit more stability than what a typical blade can offer. Scotty Cameron says it raises face awareness – indeed, Cameron Young said earlier this year this putter helps him feel the center of the face.
The 9.5R has the aluminum soleplate and sole weights and is made from 303 Stainless Steel. The chain-link-milled face is here, and the alignment line is full-length. Unfortunately for left-handers, though, this one, unlike the 9.2R, is right-handers only.

$549
Offset – 3/4 Shaft
Right-hand only
Pre-order at scottycameron.com now. At retail on September 30^th.