Scotty Cameron Select Flowback 5 Putter

Mallet Putter

The Select Flowback 5 sits in a weird, useful middle ground. It looks like a mallet from address, with a rounded body and short flanges behind the face, but it swings more like a blade. That comes down to the mid toe hang, which is rare for a head this size. Most mallets are close to face balanced. This one wants to open and close through the stroke, so it fits a player who has a bit of arc and doesn't want to fight the putter to release it.

Scotty milled it from 303 stainless steel, and you feel that the moment you make contact. Firm but not harsh, with a solid click off the face that gives you good distance feedback on longer putts. The 2019 Flowback 5 came out of the Select line refresh, and the shaping is cleaner and a touch more compact than the older mid-mallets in the family.

This is a putter for someone who likes the confidence of a mallet but strokes the ball like a blade player. If you already gravitate toward Newport-style heads and just want a little more forgiveness without going full face-balanced, the Flowback 5 is the one to look at.

Design

The head is a compact mid-mallet with two short wings flanking a cavity behind the milled face. A single sightline runs down the top of the crown, and it lines up cleanly against the rounded back edge. There's no busy alignment graphic here, just enough to frame the ball and set your aim without clutter. The 303 stainless build gives it a heftier, more planted feel than a lightweight aluminum mallet. Weight sits low and slightly toward the perimeter, which is where the added stability over a straight blade comes from. But the mid toe hang keeps the toe dropping through impact, so the face rotates naturally. That combination is the whole point of this design. You get a bit more MOI than a Newport, without the dead, hold-it-square feel that turns off arc-stroke players.

Who It's For

• You have a slight to moderate arc in your stroke and want the face to release on its own rather than staying square.
• You like the look and stability of a mallet but have never gotten comfortable with a face-balanced head.
• Firm, milled feedback matters to you, and you can pick up distance information from feel off the face.
• You want a clean, single-line alignment setup without a large graphic or multiple sightlines.

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

Is the Select Flowback 5 face balanced or toe hang?

It has mid toe hang, not face balanced. That's unusual for a mallet this size. Most mallets are close to face balanced to suit straight strokes, but the Flowback 5 is built for players with an arc who want the face to rotate open and closed through the stroke.

What kind of stroke suits the Flowback 5?

A slight to moderate arc. The mid toe hang lets the toe drop through impact so the face releases naturally. If you have a dead straight, back-and-through stroke, a face-balanced mallet will match you better.

What is the Flowback 5 made of and how does it feel?

It's milled from 303 stainless steel. The feel is firm and solid with a clean click at impact, not soft. That firmness gives you good distance feedback, especially on lag putts, but if you prefer a soft, muted roll you may want a putter with a face insert instead.

How is the Flowback 5 different from a Newport 2?

The Newport 2 is a blade. The Flowback 5 is a mid-mallet, so it has more forgiveness on off-center hits thanks to the wings and slightly higher MOI. Both share mid toe hang, so the stroke that fits a Newport 2 will also fit the Flowback 5, just with a bit more stability.

Does the Flowback 5 have an alignment aid?

Yes, a single sightline on the crown. It's a minimal setup, no large graphics or multiple lines, so you frame the ball and aim without visual clutter. Players who want a heavy alignment system like a full-length line or dual dots may find it too simple.

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