Club Test 2011: Titleist Scotty Cameron Studio Select Putters

From Golf Magazine (June 2011)

Titleist Studio Select Kombi-S
Category: High-MOI Mallet Putters
We tested: 34", 35" shaft length

Key Technologies: The stainless steel body has a thick face and "three-point weighting" (heel, toe and back) that contributes to forgiveness, sound and feel. Kombi-S (as well as other Studio Select models) can be tweaked at Titleist's factory to match desired length and weight options.

OUR TESTERS SAY: One of the top models in its class; best in show for feel -- it'll elevate your putting skill level through lots of feedback.

PROS
DISTANCE CONTROL: Mis-hits are felt and heard but not seen -- the Kombi-S does a superb job of keeping poorly struck putts on line with a minimal loss of speed.

FEEL: Immediate feedback as far as the type of putt you hit; flush feel on center hits; face isn't too hot.

LOOK: Gentle curves and undulations flow easily into each other; large clubhead doesn't give you the sense of being huge.

CONS
A few higher-handicappers prefer more forgiveness; a small minority of guys seek a bigger difference in feel between center hits and putts elsewhere on face.

$300

Studio Select Fastback 1.5
Category: Midsize Mallet Putters
We tested: 34", 35" shaft length

Key Technologies: The "toe-down" clubhead is milled from soft 303-stainless steel for precise feel and sound. Interchangeable weights in the toe and heel enable Titleist to customize head mass based on shaft length and preferred feel.

OUR TESTERS SAY: The most preferred putter in its class - tops in every category; feel is superb, very soft for a non-insert putter.

PROS
DISTANCE CONTROL: Laser-like precision from all distances; off-center hits hold distance and line well; no surprises, consistent speed putt to putt.

FEEL: Testers can easily tell the difference between good and bad hits; solid yet soft feel; perfectly balanced instrument.

LOOK: Simple and elegant, nothing flashy; looks like an expensive piece of equipment; attractive silver finish.

CONS
High handicappers may want slightly more forgiveness; a few guys prefer more help getting longer putts to the hole.

$300

Studio Select Laguna 2
Category: Blade Putters
We tested: 34", 35" shaft length

Key Technologies: The milled stainless steel head has weight screws in the heel and toe to increase the club's MOI for greater stability. The removable weights are changed at the Titleist factory to address different shaft lengths.

OUR TESTERS SAY: Among the most preferred putters in the test; impact feel is second to none.

PROS
DISTANCE CONTROL: What you expect from a Cameron -- superb distance control; the heel and toe always seem to meet the ball square at the same time.

FEEL: Unmatched feedback with butter-like feel; perfectly balanced head offers tons of control; grip comfortably fits in the hands; ball sticks to the center of the face.

LOOK: Lovely classic design that instills confidence at address; milled, matte finish.

CONS
Average players might prefer more forgiveness; you need a repeating stroke to make this one work.

$300

From Golf Magazine (ClubTest, April 2010)

Studio Select Squareback 2
Category: Midsize Mallet Putters
We tested: 34", 35" shaft length

Company line: "This model has a precision milled 303 stainless steel clubhead, Tour-inspired graphics, and factory interchangeable weights. The Squareback 2 is aimed at players who like a Newport-style putter but want the improved inertial properties of a mallet design."

Our Testers say:
PROS: A solid thud at impact tells you for sure if you've found the sweet spot; players with a more mechanical straight-back and straight-through stroke find it comfortable to swing; rectangular shape makes alignment a snap; high-quality finish; little twist on off-center hits.

CONS: Seems to require a more aggressive swing to reach the hole; square shape and small heel-toe length can be a turnoff; inconsistent results for a few testers on off-center hits.

$299

From Golf Magazine (ClubTest, April 2010)

Studio Select Kombi
Category: High-MOI Mallet Putters
We tested: 34", 35" shaft length

Company line: "The lightweight 6061 aircraft aluminum body is milled into a player-preferred shape. Its thick face and three-point weighting system (steel weights in heel, toe and rear) provide unmatched solid feel and sound in a mallet. 'T-shaped' red ink sight lines provide precise alignment references."

Our Testers say:
PROS: First-class putter, one of the top-rated in its category; excellent balance, feel and control; clubhead delivers on fast greens; attractive finish; crisp, responsive feel and feedback; comfortable to set up and easy to swing; difficult to knock putts off line; helpful red elongated visual guide points the way; works for all playing abilities.

CONS: A few testers find so many visual aids to be distracting; a minority experience the occasional stubbed stroke.

From Golf Magazine (Buyer's Guide, May 2009)
Scotty Cameron, Master Putter Craftsman: "Different golfers require putters of different length, weight, body and neck configurations. Studio Select putters deliver a range of specs and options to accommodate golfers' requirements. All Cameron putters are made from the finest materials to the most precise specs as demanded by the Tour."

How it works: The precision milled head is made from soft aluminum for a sweet, solid sound and feel. Visually, the Kombi has a high toe, to limit the likelihood that you'll raise the toe at address and aim left of target. Three steel weight screws (in heel, toe and rear) increase head stability. Kombi's length and weight combos include: 35" length (10 grams in heel, 10 grams in toe, 20 grams in rear); 34" (15g heel, 15g toe, 20g rear); 33" (20g heel, 20g toe, 20g rear); 35" Heavy (15g heel, 15g toe, 20g rear); 34" Heavy (20g heel, 20g toe, 20g rear).

From The Shop Blog (February 2009)
With the release of the Titleist by Scotty Cameron Studio Select Kombi mallet putters, Cameron is venturing back in the large mallet category. Best known for making heel-toe weighted blade putters, in a conversation I had recently with Cameron, he said the Kombi putters are a refinement of what he learned from a previously released mallet, 2003's Futura.

According to Cameron, "The goal was to utilize a weight system like Futura's, but make it more pleasing to the eye." To do that, the Kombi starts as a solid piece of 6061 aircraft aluminum and is then milled into shape.

But why not make the Kombi out of stainless steel, the material of choice for many of his other putters? "I couldn't make a body like this out of stainless steel. It would weigh something like 1,000 grams," he explained.

The red T alignment aid is designed to focus your eyes on the top line -- instead of the large back flange -- and is designed to help golfers improve accuracy. The top line itself, the area where the shaft goes into the head, is also thicker to help create a more pleasing sound. Cameron says that thin faces designed into aluminum mallet putters create hollow sounds at impact that most golfers don't like.

More putters on Golf.com:

Blade putters
Mid-sized mallet putters
High-MOI mallet putters