Scotty Cameron Studio Design 5 Putter

Mallet Putter

The Studio Design 5 landed in 2003 as part of Scotty Cameron's Studio Design run, and it sits in an odd spot in the lineup. It's a mallet, but a compact one by the standards of what came later. This was the era before big high-MOI wings and multi-material inserts took over, so the 5 is a milled steel head with a face milled straight into the putter itself. No insert. You feel the ball.

What makes the 5 different from the Newport-style blades in the same family is the shape and the balance. It's a mid mallet with a rounded rear that pushes weight back from the face, which calms down the twisting when you catch a putt off the toe or heel. It won't fight your stroke though. This is a mid toe hang putter, so it opens and closes through the arc rather than staying dead square like a face-balanced mallet would.

Today the Studio Design 5 is a used-market and collector piece, not something you'll find new. That changes the calculus a bit. You're buying vintage Scotty, milled 303 stainless, from a period a lot of players still consider the sweet spot of the brand. If you like older gear and want a mallet that swings like a blade, it's worth hunting down.

Design

The head is milled from 303 stainless steel with the face cut directly into the body, so there's no polymer insert softening the strike. That gives it a firmer, clicky feel that older Scotty players tend to prefer, and it makes distance control on faster greens more predictable once you learn the touch. The single sight line on the flange is the only alignment aid, and it's a clean one, running front to back to help you square the face and start the ball on line. Balance is where the 5 earns its keep. The mid toe hang means the toe droops when you balance the shaft on your finger, so the face rotates through impact. Pair that with the rearward mass of the mallet shape and you get a head that stays stable on off-center hits but still releases naturally for players who arc the putter back and through.

Who It's For

• You have a slight to moderate arc in your stroke and want a mallet that still lets the face rotate instead of holding it square
• You prefer the firm, connected feel of a milled steel face over a soft insert
• You collect or gravitate toward early-2000s Scotty Cameron gear and want a milled putter with real vintage credibility
• You want more forgiveness than a Newport blade gives you without jumping to a big modern high-MOI head
• You trust a single clean sight line more than dots, wings, or multiple alignment tracks

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 Scotty Cameron Studio Design 5 face-balanced?

No. It has mid toe hang, so the toe droops when you balance it on your finger. That suits a player with a slight to moderate arc, not a straight-back-straight-through stroke. If you need a fully face-balanced mallet, this isn't the right pick.

Does the Studio Design 5 have a face insert?

It doesn't. The face is milled directly into the 303 stainless head, so the feel is firmer and more solid than the insert putters Scotty released later. Players who like feedback off the face tend to prefer this style.

Can I still buy a Studio Design 5 new?

No, it's a 2003 model and long out of production. You'll find it on the used market, through collectors, or occasionally from resellers who deal in older Scotty Cameron putters. Condition and headcover availability vary a lot, so check before you buy.

How does the Studio Design 5 compare to a Newport 2?

The Newport 2 is a blade with less forgiveness and a more traditional look. The Studio Design 5 is a mid mallet, so it moves weight back for more stability on mishits while keeping a similar mid toe hang. If you like the Newport feel but want a bit more help on off-center strikes, the 5 bridges that gap.

What kind of golfer should skip the Studio Design 5?

Anyone who needs maximum forgiveness from a large high-MOI head, or a face-balanced putter for a straight stroke, should look elsewhere. It's also not ideal if you want a soft insert feel or modern alignment features. This is a milled, arc-friendly mid mallet with old-school character.

More from Scotty Cameron