50 Words or Less
The Scotty Cameron Special Select Del Mar putter brings back a head shape that has a strong cult following. Not the most aesthetically pleasing version of this putter. Excellent feel.
Introduction
Every time Scotty Cameron rolls out a new series of putters, you can bet that there will be a Newport and a Newport 2. Newer models like the Squareback have also become reliable standards. Also, we usually get one model that’s a bit unexpected, and for the Special Select line, that putter is the Del Mar. Will this version of the classic heel shafted design please traditionalists or should they stick to scouring eBay for older Scotty models?
Looks
Perhaps more than any other traditional head shape, the Del Mar creates strong opinions about what makes a particular version good or bad. Some people prefer a more symmetrical shape, others like a bulkier toe. Should the top line be flat or should the toe be high? Your preferences on these questions will determine your feelings about the Scotty Cameron Special Select Del Mar.
This version of the Del Mar is nearly symmetrical with a flat top line. Both of these things run counter to my preferences, so it’s a miss for me. Additionally, I dislike the line that crosses that flange, and I find that the shoulders end too abruptly.
Beyond the shaping of the head, however, I think the Special Select Del Mar shows Cameron’s typical high level of taste. The “cherry rings” in the cavity look sharp and signal that you’re rolling a Scotty. I particularly like the engraving on the sole and the choice to leave much of the sole blank.
Sound & Feel
The main reason that the Special Select putters have created a stir is that they are a turn away from multi-material construction (at least temporarily). Even devoted Cameron fans found many of the multi-material heads lacking in feel.
The Special Select Del Mar is milled from solid 303 stainless steel and has excellent feel and feedback. Impact is soft and solid with a sound somewhere between a “thud” and a soft “click” depending on the ball you use. When you move off the center of the face, the feel does firm up noticeably.
Performance
The primary reason that putters like the Del Mar are only released occasionally is that they offer so much toe hang. The Scotty Cameron Special Select Del Mar has toe hang of approximately 5 o’clock, meaning it’s best suited to players with very arced putting strokes. While my stroke doesn’t have a strong arc, I found myself putting brilliantly with this flat stick. I enjoyed the pronounced opening and closing of the face; it gave me a sense of being less robotic and more in touch with my feel.
Like all the putters in the Special Select line, the Del Mar has interchangeable stainless steel weights in the heel and toe. Official weight kits aren’t cheap, but it is a nice way to customize the feel without covering your putter in lead tape.
Finally, the forgiveness of the Special Select Del Mar is akin to an Anser-style putter. Small misses will turn out okay, shots deep in the heel and toe will not. In my opinion, the forgiveness of this putter style is a little underrated as golfers blame a lack of forgiveness for an inability to manage the face rotation.
Conclusion
While I don’t think the Special Select Del Mar is the most beautiful version that Scotty has turned out, I’m happy to see this model back in the line up. While so many golfers line up behind massive, face-balanced mallets, I’m left to wonder if a good number of them wouldn’t putt better with a flat stick that gave them more feel. If you’re struggling on the greens, it’s probably worth a trip to your pro shop to give something new a try.
Matt Saternus
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Looking forward to hearing more from you guys. I’m a big fan of half-full golf bags.
Great review spot on. I rolled this putter in an Orlando golf shop before the stores closed due to the virus and it is really sweet. I thought the looks were very nice and the feel was tremendous. I made everything in sight it was scary. I liked the fact that the entire head is a solid piece of metal and not a metal insert. You didn’t mention the grip which as a mid-size grip lover thought interesting and would give it a go.
Rich, I reckon that golf shops have slight funnels into the holes in their putting greens so anything close is a certainty?! More putters sales. Haha. (Before any golf shops owners jump up and down, just kidding).
Have to agree with some others …. there are some far prettier Del Mars out there.
I don’t want to say this but that is one unattractuve Del Mar. I have a TP Mills Custom that is similar but so much more handsome. I don’t know what Cameron was thinking other than “someone will buy this because it has my name on it.”
Cameron could have softened the lines, made it more organic and placed a sight dot with no ugly sightline in that configuration (shakes head).
Hey Matt: Thanks for the review. I have become such a loyal fan of the putters with more toe hang over the last few years. It all started with one of the old Wilson 8802s that I was messing around with to match my vintage Hogan irons and persimmon woods. My partners and I were noticing I was holing putts out with greater and greater frequency, and my stats showed it. It was a massive departure from my Newport, Newport 2 and Laguna type putters, and my brief sojourn into the face-balanced mallet putters. I too realized that the shape of the putter with the deep heel shaft got me to rotate the putter much more fluidly. It felt as if I was “playing” the stroke, instead of trying to make a stroke (if that makes any sense). It felt less stiff, more athletic, which is my natural playing style. I like playing blades for that same reason, they allow me to shape shots and feel at ease, I don’t like my shots being corrected (couldn’t possibly have anything to do with my personality, right?). Yeah, there’s something about making a ball at rest move with a certain arc that I find incredibly pleasing and enjoyable. Several years ago, after playing with that 8802 so much, I picked up an old Scotty Pro Platinum Del Mar Three, and really embraced it. I still practice with a Counter Balanced Newport 2 because it seems to help me groove a nice rhythm, a smooth pace and a reliable stroke, but it’s corrective for course play. It’s almost like swinging a weighted club. But once I’m on the course, the Del Mar feels alive, not robotic. I’ve looked at the more recent Scotty takes on the heel shafted putter, like the GoLo 3, which felt fabulous, but found the alignment aid is too much for my eye. I tend to get caught up in the alignment and forget about the pace when the alignment aids are too pronounced. I do like the looks of this new Del Mar, but I think I may try to find one of the old Del Mar 3.5’s first, because I like it’s simplicity with greater toe hang than the Del Mar Three, much more like the old 8802. Putters have evolved to such an engineering marvel over the last 30 years (my first putter was the old Bullseye – which I still have), especially some of the new mallet types, with their different milled shapes, the mixed materials, new shafts, grips and MOI features, they makes those older clubs look like a Model T, but boy those old clubs can play. Yes, I’m sticking with the deep toe-faced putters…for now. They’re working…for me…for now. But as with all things golf, that can all change in an instant, and that’s why the club manufacturers can come out with new models every year, and I’m right back in the market after I had settled on my perfect bag that I obsessed about for months. AaaaahhhHHH! This game is ridiculous. It’s stupid, absurd. I’ve got to be insane to keep playing. Hey, I gotta get going, I have a tee time in a couple hours. Thanks again Matt. I feel better now.
I am willing to give the man the benefit of the doubt re the ugly bumpers. Must be functional. I use the slightly weird 2015 Golo 3 and can vouch for the aluminium alignment thing’s effectiveness. Glad I opted for this model vs the prettier 2014… So stable.
Hi Matt,
This putter was called Newport 3 last year and in 2018 . What was modified are the grip and the absence of inserts. I am using this putter, ( 2018 version) which is a favorite putter since 2 years.
As you mentioned, it is a good putter for somebody with an a good rotation through swing. As Scotty Cameron said, it as a maximum flow design. (Shaft attach near the heel) .
Again, you are very accurate with your review..
iIt is a pleasure to read your reviews,
Best regards,
Richard
Do you happen to know or could measure the tip size ? I contacted the website and they wouldn’t tell me claiming it was proprietary. I’m curious to know if it’s .370 as I’d like to put an odyssey stroke lab in it.
Laban,
Sorry, I don’t know and don’t have one to take apart.
-Matt
I currently game a Scotty Futura which is a more face balanced- slight to hang but I seem to be missing to the right a lot (I’m a righty). Assuming no swing flaws, Would something like this with more toe hang help straighten out these putts that seem to be lipping out to the right?
Wesley,
I wouldn’t suggest thinking about “swing flaws” but rather about how a given player works with a given putter. With that perspective, my answer is a definitive, “Maybe.” More toe hang might free you up to make the arcing stroke your body wants to. Alternately, your body might hate the feel of that opening and closing and the problem might get worse.
Short answer: go give one a try or, better yet, get a fitting.
-Matt
Hello,
In your review of the newport 3 you said you felt the head very heavy.
I think newport 3 and Del Mar are pretty similar.
Did you feel same “heavy sensation” with Del Mar head ?
Henry,
No, something about the balance of the Del Mar did not feel as head heavy to me.
Best,
Matt
Dear Matt, I’m going ti buy a new putter in the next months, I’ve always used 8802 and Odyssey #9 putters, so Del Mar style Is an obvious choice for me… I am also used to putters with insert on the face, which in the case of the Odyssey Metal X is made of aluminum … therefore, for reasons of feeling on the ball, the Select Newport 3 also comes into play … my preference has always been for heavy putters, which is between Special Select Del Mar and Select Newport 3 the putter with the heaviest head?
Federico,
Both heads have adjustable weights, so you can dial up the head weight as high as you want with either.
-Matt
yeah, I know, but, I currently use a Odyssey Black Serietà i #9 33″, that Is 350 gr, I’d like ti know if the Del Mar 33″ Is at least 350 gr…
I recently purchased a Scotty Cameron Special Select Del Mar. I had been putting with a Cameron Newport 2 & quite well but, noted on occasion I would miss putts to the right edge of the hole. I made the switch to the Del Mar to get more toe flow with great success. My putting stroke feels more relaxed and more natural. Hence more putts in the hole.
I just bought one of these beauties, I was having a thousand problems about the weight of the head, which should have been similar to my old Odyssey Black Series i # 9, then in the end I bought it without thinking about it …
I am not here to talk about the level of taste and finish of a Scotty Cameron because it is a known topic … rather, taken in hand, it immediately felt like an extension of my arms, perfect weight, perfect balance … everything was like it had to be … this morning I played the first nine holes and I immediately felt at ease …
great putter