FIRST LOOK: The design behind Scotty Cameron’s Phantom X 12.5 putter

The single mid bend shaft on Scotty Cameron’s Phantom X 12 putter was added for a reason. Most mallet users are looking to minimize face rotation during the stroke — thus improving directional consistency — so when you pair the shaft bend with a sturdy, high-MOI shape, good things are going to happen.

That being said, not all golfers prefer something that goes straight back and through with minimal rotation. Through feedback from tour players, Cameron chose to add a Phantom X 12.5 model to the current lineup that offers one shaft of offset and a single “low bend” design to promote more toe flow and an arc path.

“Every time we introduce a new putter line, I receive requests from tour players and dedicated golfers for additional setups and configurations,” Cameron said. “Phantom X 12.5 is the result of some of those requests.”

Cameron chose to revamp the sightline as well, replacing the three neon yellow dots and two solid lines framing the crown with a single center line that’s milled from the leading edge to the back flange. The line was painted a high gloss black to stand out on the misted finish.

“The thinking was a little bit of, ‘Hey on a rifle, or a gun, let’s look at those avenues.'” Cameron said. “[The alignment on Phantom X 12] showed up great. But there are some guys that really don’t like this; they want to know a line’s there, but they don’t want it blinking in your face.”

The head is constructed from the same 303 stainless steel and 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum as the original Phantom 12. Vibration-dampening technology was also built into the multi-material housing to tune out unwanted vibrations at impact.

Each putter is outfitted with two removable stainless steel heel-toe sole weights that dial-in the build, a stepless steel shaft and Pistolero Plus grip in cement gray (gloss black paintfill).

Scotty Cameron’s Phantom X 12.5 (Dec. 12 in North America) is the 10th mallet design, built around five different head styles, in the lineup. It will be offered in right- and left-handed options and retails for $429.

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