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Oversized putters were once a rarity in professional golf, but not anymore. These days, they’ve become the norm, with as many as 50 percent of PGA Tour players using them each week on Tour.
Scotty Cameron’s new Futura X5 and X5R are a result of the increased demand for larger putters by the world’s best players.
“The Futura X5 mallet is for someone who likes the stability of a bigger head, the feel of a bigger grip and likes to look down and see more lines for alignment purposes,” Cameron said. “X5 is more of a mechanical shape where the X5R is a softer, rounder shape. There’s no right or wrong. Same performance, same weight, same feel. It all depends on what you like to look at.”
Futura X5
Futura X5R
Both putters have a multi-material design that includes a 303 Stainless Steel body and a 6061 aluminum sole plate. The use of aluminum extends into the “wings” of the putters and allowed Cameron to move weight to their extreme perimeter. That improves a putter’s stability and resistance to twisting.
And there’s another, not-so-hidden benefit to larger putters.
“The bigger the head, the more lines you can add for alignment,” Cameron said. “We worked with many players on tour and in the Putter Studio during the development of X5 and they all told us the same thing: It adds confidence.”
Futura X5
Futura X5R
The X5 and X5R putters also have single-bend shafts with a higher bend point that make them face-balanced.
“The single bend came from taking feedback from the tour and working with players in the Studio. Double bends have been around for years and for X5 we really wanted to clean up the look,” Cameron said. “We had many players say they wished that the shaft leaned at their target or on their line, so we worked to find the proper offset and lean of the shaft so, at address, the bend lines up pointing right at your target. That was a key one because the mechanical-industrial shape of the head and the clean mechanical-industrial bend match perfectly. What I didn’t want was a heavy, flowing bend onto a mechanical head.”
Each model has a 10-inch Matador Red Midsize grip that weighs 77 grams.
“The grip can complement or kill the design of the putter,” Cameron said. “I know that sounds strange, but grips make a difference. With blades, it’s a little more handsy, a little more flowing, a little more feel. With Futura X putters, it’s a little more robotic, a little more square-to-square and this larger Matador grip complements the head very well.”
The Futura X5 and X5R putters ($349) will be in stores on Oct. 31. They both have Cameron’s Silver Mist finish are are available in lengths of 33, 34 and 35 inches. For lefties, the X5 is available in lengths of 33, 34 and 35 inches.
Click here to see in-hand photos of the Futura X5 and X5R from the PGA Tour.
Futura X5 Dual Balance
A Futura X5 Dual Balance ($399) will also be available on Oct. 31. It has an extra 50-gram weight located under its aluminum sole plate, which is counterbalanced with a 50-gram weight in its 15-inch grip that can help smooth out certain golfer’s strokes.
Stock length is 38 inches, but lengths of 36-to-40 inches in 0.5-inch increments are available by custom order.
Click here to see in-hand photos of the Futura X5 and X5R from the PGA Tour.