About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the putter, which I purchased with my own money in June of 2016.

My take

For me, the Titleist Scotty Cameron Special Select Newport 2 Putter is the best mix of a classic look and feel and performance. Most people know Scotty Cameron putters from Tiger’s days winning major after major. But they can be surprisingly useful for the mid handicapper that loves the look and feel of a blade putter. The best thing about the Scotty Cameron Newport 2 is they haven’t tinkered too much with design or material. Even the 2016 model has almost all of the same features as the newer ones, and that is one of the reasons why their resale value is so high.

About the club I own

• Model: 2016 Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Black
• Shape: Blade
• Hosel Neck: Plumber
• Balance Point: Neutral
• Shaft Length: 34 inch
• Grip Type: Custom Grip (Karma Midsize)
• Finish: Black

About me

• Average Score: 75–83
• Handicap: 7
• Experience: 20 years of golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
• Stroke Type: Straight up straight through
• Golf Ball Used: Bridgestone Tour B XS
• Height: 6’1’’

Test conditions

• When I bought the putter: June 2016
• Days tested: 1,000
• Where I’ve used it: Milwaukee/Midwest
• Weather and Wind Conditions: Mid/high wind, midwest summer conditions
• Green Speed: mid-fast (7–10 roll)
• Grass Type: Bent

How it performs

What I was looking for

After struggling through high school bouncing back and forth between mallet, blade, and everything in between, I finally found this black Scotty Cameron putter, which gave me unmatched feel and responsiveness off the face.

Why I chose this club

The sleek black look helps, but the weighting and way the ball effortlessly rolls off the face was the best out of any putter I have ever used. I also considered the Odyssey Stroke Lab Blade and Taylormade Spider.

What I love about it

• Face Feel: The feel is solid but not clunky. It is responsive in a way where I know whether or not I hit a good putt the second it makes contact with the ball.
• Weight: It is beautifully weighted. I do not have to try and slam any long putts and I can focus on taking controlled strokes on short putts. The weight of the head will quite literally do the job and create nice, end-over-end rolling putts.
• Length: I bought mine at 34 inches. It’s perfect for me at 6’1”, as I putt slightly hunched over and have longer arms.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Scotty Camerons have always been some of the best-looking putters money can buy; with this black painted finish, I believe it takes that look to the next level.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Forgiveness: It's a classic blade, so mishits are going to be exaggerated more than with a soft-faced mallet. Overall, it’s still the most forgiving blade putter I have ever used.
• Grip Feel: The standard Scotty Cameron grip just isn’t for me. It's a bit too soft and doesn't come in any thicker options, which I prefer.
• Customization: The only issue with this is it is expensive to customize the look of this putter—on a putter that is already expensive. The grip and length customizations are just like any other.

Best Putt or Round with this Putter

The instantaneous results I had with this putter were something that really surprised me. I struggled to consistently make 5–10-foot putts for the longest time, but in my first round with this putter, I remember only taking 22 putts and being almost automatic from inside 10 feet. The chipping side of my short game was always decent, but it was never complimented by finishing off short putts; now it is.

Value for the money vs. other options

I think this is the biggest issue when it comes to reluctancy in purchasing any high-end club. Scotty Camerons are notoriously some of the most expensive clubs out there, and that deters people from getting the best putter on the market. If there is one takeaway here, it is this: if one has the money, buy one. They don't break, wear down, or lose their feel. I've had mine for more than five years and it still operates as if I bought it yesterday, and no other putter is like that. The other option that comes close to the Scotty Cameron as far as looks and feel is the Taylormade TP Personalized putter, and that is mostly on the looks side of things. While the TP is still a great putter, it feels clunky and inconsistent to me, even on putts hit square on the face.

Final verdict

This club truly unlocks full putting potential. For me it was the short putts, but it didn't compromise by performing poorly on long putts. It can truly do it all, and there is no other putter that will give me more confidence standing over the ball than a Scotty.