Whether you’re a fan of Scotty Cameron or not, you have to acknowledge that his putters are something special. Not only has he succeeded in refining and improving classic designs, he’s been a true innovator with putters like his Futura and Futura Phantom models.
Last year’s introduction of the Detour putters took his innovations a step further. A subtly curved sightline mimics the path the putter head takes on an arced inside-square-inside stroke… the technique espoused by Cameron and Stan Utley, among others.
While the Detour won a lot of converts, it was a radical-looking head shape. Now it appears Cameron is marrying the curved sight line to a more traditional head. Here’s a first peek…
With so many new putters coming out year after year, it’s tough to make converts, especially on the PGA Tour. Which is why it was somewhat surprising to see a number of pros put a Detour in play so quickly.
Even The Sand Trap‘s own Erik J. Barzeski has one in the bag and offered up a full review (executive version: he likes it).
Talk among Scotty collectors and aficionados was that the Detour was great for some people, but that its radical look was just too unsettling for others. Still, even some collectors who didn’t use it on the course thought the putter was a great training device.
At last week’s Mercedes-Benz Championship Cameron unveiled two new putters, a “Newport 2 Detour” and a “Newport 2.5 Detour.” The Newport 2 is one of his Anser-like models with a plumber’s neck. The 2.5 has a flowing neck with less offset and more “toe flow.”
To these classic and highly popular designs he’s applied the Detour concept… an aluminum insert that serves not only as the arced sight line, but also as the face of the putter.
From what I’ve heard from users and experienced myself trying some Detours in stores, the putter has a unique and quite pleasing feel. I think that feel in a more classically shaped head could be a bonus beyond even the unique sight line.
The photos of the new models here have been lifted from a slide show on the Scotty Cameron web site as well as the site’s registry of authenticated putters (A007415 for those of you who frequent the registry).
The head itself is made of 303 stainless steel, just like the Studio Stainless and Studio Style lines. The insert is milled aircraft aluminum that’s screwed to the head and surrounded by what looks like a polymer gasket, again akin to the Studio Style line.
Like the original Detour, there’s a stainless steel back weight that screws into the sight line/insert.
Apparently J.B. Holmes and Ben Curtis have ordered up Newport 2 Detours. Let’s see if they put them in play.
In the End…
Introducing new putters first on the PGA Tour seems to be standard practice for Cameron. As a rule, a roll out to consumers happens some months later in the year, although sometimes the wait is longer and sometimes the putters simply don’t make it to retail.
My first and personal reaction is that this could be a real winner. I’m looking forward to trying one out when I can. So what do you think?
Photo Credits: © 2006 Achusnet Company.
I own a Detour 2, largely from the recommendation from Erik at the Newport Cup. I personally think it has good looks and character. However these Newport Detours look like the ugly offspring of the classic Newport and hip Detour. I know some people don’t like the large size of the Detour so why not just make a smaller version of the detour to satisfy that crowd?
I think it’s a moderate compromise. It may get some of those people who “train” with their Detours and play with their blades (Newports or otherwise) to use the same one as a gamer.
Also, these are more like mallet sized putters than the oversized Detour.
The original Detour was just too big for me. This, like Erik says, seems to be a compromise. I still don’t see myself getting one but I’m interested to test the feel of the new Detour.
It’s still too ugly for me…I hold Scotty to a higher standard and simply don’t like them.
This one just looks like just he cut off a piece of the Detour and slapped it one a Newport. While the thought is good, the execution looks poor.
It looks like an Anser sticking its tongue out. Still, as I wrote, I’m looking forward to trying one. I’ve liked the feel of aluminum in the past and maybe that curved line will prove to be some sort of magic. Looking forward to Erik’s review of the original.
Has Ben Curtis had a sub par round yet in 2007, is he 0 for what? and Michelle Wei had a better second round than J.B. Holmes at the Sony. I hope they aren’t using this putter! It just looks awkward. But who knows, maybe it will work once people get used to it. I tested an Odessey that was almost as big as a ping pong paddle today and actually putted great . . . ya never know. Innovation is golf these days.
Quite possibly the ugliest club of any kind that I have ever seen.
It looks very much like the Nickent Pipe putter, though the technology is certainly different and the curved sightline is a Cameron trademark. Maybe it’s just another example how Scotty Cameron “refines and improves classic designs” (to quote Jack).
I have modified the picture to show you what I think Scotty will do to make the club more attractive to the eye and you can email me for the picture to put on this page for people to see.
Ken Lamb, Member of The Cameron Collector.com
I just hope that it’s not too gimmicky and that the freakish sight line actually helps the putter perform.
“Nobody ever lost money underestimating the taste of the American public,” an adage supported by these unnecessary comments about the beauty or lack thereof of the Detour and/or the “Newport Detour.”
I personally am quite pleased with my Detour, looks and performance, and would love a chance to try out a Newport Detour.
I got a 2.5 Newport Detour at the PGA Show, and can tell you that it’s as soft/solid as anything Scotty has ever made…It is interesting to look at, but when you hear the ball-cup symphony, does it really matter? The 2-Ball may be one of the most unsightly putters in history (just behind the Tri-Ball), but there are a TON great players (Annika, Furyk, et al) still using it…
FYI, there WILL be production on the Newport Detour in the standard Newport model, and the 1.5 model shipping in late April…so collectors, get your hands on the Tour Issue 2’s and 2.5’s while you can!
I saw one being used by Bob Heintz this week at the AT&T…a great looking putter. Anyone know when Titleist will be releasing these to the public?
Wes:
Word from my Titleist rep says that Scotty/Titleist will be releasing the Newport Detour and the Newport 2.5 Detour…so you can basically disregard my previous posting about the 1.5’s. They will hit the streets in April. Also, Scotty will be making Charcoal Mist Circas this year, which look amazing (and better than the Circas of last year, IMHO). As mentioned above, I do have the Detour 2.5 and have only rolled it a couple times to get a feel, which is really, really good…just not the right loft/length for me. And it’s not really that bad to look at, either…
Big Mike…Looking to get rid of your Detour 2.5?
Hey Big Mike… thanks for your knowledgeable and timely updates! 🙂
Wes:
I actually have it up on eBay right now…if you type in Newport Detour, you’ll find it. I’m kind of shooting for the moon in the asking price, but I am also entertaining offers on it.
The Buy It Now is certainly higher than I paid for it, but not by a lot…It was an impulse buy, and I am more fond of some of the handmades that I see on there, as well as the 009’s (have one of those so far), so I’m trying to move the Newport Detour to facilitate my obsessions.
Thanks for the interest and the kudos (TY Jack).
I thought Furyk was now using a Detour (proto).
I love the idea and saw some players in person with them it play at the sony. I wish the sight line was straight. I like the idea of a longer sight line, line a t shape. Also, I have seen more in play ath the match play. Lastly, Kenny G used it at the At@T, and if any of you can beat him, applauds.
I have an original Detour and I have to say it is the ugliest putter I can imagine. But what the hay the ball goes in the hole. I’ve had more good putting rounds with a detour then any other putter owned and besides I’ve come up with a solution. At the end of a good putting round I head into the 19th hole with my detour in hand. I begin drinking several beers and before I know it the Detour has the best looking curves in the bar. I take her home and my wife doesen’t even mind. 😆
The ONLY thing ugly about the Newport Detour, that I can see, is the orange grip and head cover. The shorter sight-line is better, reassuring to know that it really is curved and not my imagination. Reassuring also, the higher percentage of drained puts from 10ft and in…nothing ugly about that.
Now that this putter has had time to settle into the base putter population, it is rather stunning to see such knee-jerk reactions. The common understanding that one takes away from the comments is that the Detour should be used more as a training aide rather than a putter itself. What kind of nonsense is that? This is a putter, pure and simple. It looks no worse than many putters in play today and personally, I rather like the looks and moreso, love it’s performance. If those that wrote such harsh or uniformed comments could read them again today, they would realize just how foolish it all looks. Comments and opinions are a great thing; especially when they are informed. The Detour is a great putter, end of story.