Scotty Cameron California Fastback Putter

Mallet Putter

The California Fastback landed in 2010 as Scotty Cameron's attempt to give mallet players something that didn't look or feel like a mallet. It has a rounded, compact head with a flowing back flange, and the dark gun-blue finish with the burnt-orange accents set it apart from the bright chrome putters everyone else was carrying. This was Cameron softening the edges of the mallet category without going full space-age.

The key number here is mid toe hang. That puts the Fastback in between a face-balanced mallet and a blade, so it suits a golfer who has a slight arc in the stroke and wants the face to release a little on its own. If you fight a pull because your putter never rotates, this head shape helps. If you're dead straight back and through, you'll feel the toe wanting to work and it can push putts right.

By 2010 standards this was a forgiving putter, but it's honest about what it is. The head is smaller and heavier-feeling than the big high-MOI mallets that came after it, so it rewards a decent stroke more than it saves a bad one. Golfers who liked the look of a blade but wanted a touch more stability found a home with it.

Design

The Fastback uses a single sight line running from the top edge back across the flange, and that's the whole alignment story. No wings, no dots, no big framing lines. You set the line at the hole and go. For players who find busy mallet alignment aids distracting, this stripped-back approach is the appeal, though golfers who need more visual help lining up will want something with a fuller frame. Milled from the same soft carbon steel Cameron used across the line, the face gives that muted, solid thud on contact rather than a click. The mid toe hang comes from the heel-shafted setup and the way the weight sits, and the darker finish cuts glare in bright sun. It's a putter built to feel like a premium blade while behaving like a small mallet.

Who It's For

• You have a slight to moderate arc in your stroke and want the face to release naturally instead of fighting it square.
• You like a clean, single-line look and find busy mallet alignment graphics distracting at address.
• You want more stability than a Newport blade offers but don't want the bulk of a full high-MOI mallet.
• You value soft milled carbon steel feel and are willing to pay Cameron money to get it.

Technology

About Scotty Cameron

Scotty Cameron putters are CNC milled from a single block of steel in Carlsbad, California. The attention to detail in weight distribution, sole geometry, and face milling creates a feel that's considered the benchmark in professional golf.

Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of putting stroke does the California Fastback suit?

A slight to moderate arc. The mid toe hang lets the face rotate open and closed through the stroke, so it fits players who naturally swing the putter on an inside path. If your stroke is straight back and straight through, a face-balanced putter will match you better and keep you from pushing putts.

How is the Fastback different from a face-balanced mallet?

Toe hang is the difference. Most large mallets are face-balanced, meaning the face points at the sky when you balance the shaft on your finger. The Fastback hangs with the toe down at mid, so it releases more like a blade. That makes it less forgiving of a straight stroke but better for a golfer who arcs the putter.

Does the California Fastback have enough alignment help?

It has a single sight line and nothing else. That's plenty if you aim well and prefer a clean top view. If you struggle with alignment and rely on multiple lines or a framed cavity to square up, you'll probably want a putter with more visual reference.

What does the California finish look like and does it wear?

It's a darker gun-blue style finish with burnt-orange accents, not bright chrome. It cuts glare well in sunlight. Like most darker finishes it can show wear over years of use, especially around the sole and the leading edge, which some players actually like as it ages.

Is the 2010 Fastback still worth playing today?

If the head shape and mid toe hang fit your stroke, yes. The milled carbon steel feel holds up against anything current, and a good putter doesn't go obsolete. What you give up versus a modern mallet is raw forgiveness on off-center hits, since newer high-MOI designs are more stable on mishits.

More from Scotty Cameron