Blade or Mallet? Scotty Cameron Concept X Putter Offers Best of Both

Cameron combines blade look with mallet tech 

By Tony Dear

For better players who like to think they can still hit long irons but require hybrid-type construction to get the ball airborne, a number of manufacturers have produced clubs that set up at address like a low-lofted iron but barely conceal the bulge of forgiveness emanating from the back.

Likewise, old-schoolers tend to prefer the look and sophistication of a blade putter (or what is deemed a blade nowadays), but would no doubt benefit greatly from the significantly greater MoI (Moment of inertia) of a mallet.

On August 31, Scotty Cameron will release two new putters in the US that straddle the line between blade and mallet.

The flatstick guru says the Concept X putters—CX-01 and CX-02—will provide the high-MOI forgiveness and performance normally associated with a mallet but with the visuals of a blade.

The CX-01 and CX-02 are characterized by wing-like structures in the rear of the heel and toe, both of which contain customizable stainless-steel weights.

The wings move weight away from the face, placing it on the perimeter for better stability. A 6061 aircraft aluminum face and sole plates surrounded by a much heavier 303 Stainless body further increase perimeter-weighting.

Cameron did not design the Concept X putters to be Futura-type mallets with a more sophisticated look, but rather Newport 2 blades with added game-improvement features.

“They have a very elegant, high-end, industrial look,” says Cameron. “After a few putts, the wings almost disappear and it’s like looking down at a blade. But by making the putters wider, they’re more forgiving. You get the best of a blade and the best of a mallet in one. What’s unique about them is that they’re fast-looking and high-tech. They have sharp lines, clean angles and an overall look that might resemble a sports car or jet aircraft.”

Cameron adds that not only do they look more like a Newport 2 than a modern mallet, they swing like one too. “So you could say they suit an arcing stroke,” he says. “These are not face-balanced or even near-face balanced putters so they are less-suited to a straight back/straight through stroke.”

The CX-01 (above) features a “knuckle neck,” hosel design with one shaft of offset and toe hang similar to a Newport 2.

The CX-02 (below) features a new “joint neck” with one shaft of offset and more toe flow and rotation during the stroke, more like a Newport 2.5.

Two vibration-dampening chambers are designed to improve feel, four-way sole balancing promotes a squarer position at address, and the stealth gray finish reduces glare.

Patrick Cantlay and Charl Schwartzel both put Concept X putters in play at The Open, and Rafa Cabrera-Bello made the switch ahead of the third round. Several other Scotty Cameron users are currently experimenting with Concept X.

$599
scottycameron.com