50 Words or Less
The Scotty Cameron Special Select Squareback 2 is a widebody Anser-style putter. Very attractive, good feel, but nothing new in terms of performance.
Introduction
Scotty Cameron introduced his Squareback putter in an attempt to bridge the gap between blades and mallets. For the player that wants the feel of a blade but the alignment help and forgiveness of a mallet, the Squareback may be the ideal solution. I tested the latest version, the Special Select Squareback 2, to see how well it performed.
Looks
Scotty Cameron did a very fine job with the aesthetics of the Special Select Squareback 2. At address, all the elements fit together in proper proportion to each other. This is no mean feat, especially on a widebody Anser where there are plenty of opportunities to create something visually jarring. Rabid Cameron fans may notice that the top line is thinner and the face is slightly shorter than on previous version of this model.
As I’ve said of his other Special Select putters, the level of taste in the branding and details lives up to the hype. The milled dots in the cavity have become a Cameron signature, and the sole is tastefully decorated.
Sound & Feel
While the Squareback 2 does feature an aluminum sole plate, the face and body are milled from a block of 303 stainless steel. This improves the feel other previous generations markedly, in my opinion.
Overall, the Special Select Squareback 2 has a soft, premium feel. Impact creates a gentle “click” which makes it seem slightly firmer than some of the other putters in this line. Feedback on strike quality is good; no one should have an issue locating where the ball met the face.
Performance
With full shaft offset and toe hang near 4 o’clock, the Special Select Squareback 2 swings like a Newport 2, which is exactly the idea. Since an Anser-style putter is typically my gamer, I got along with the Squareback 2 very easily.
The other part of the mid-mallet promise is enhanced alignment and forgiveness. Personally, I didn’t find much alignment advantage with the larger head. If anything, I was a bit less confident with this because I don’t like alignment lines, so a longer line is just more of what I don’t prefer. I would be interested to see if I felt differently about a larger Anser 2 without the line.
In terms of forgiveness, the difference between a typical Anser and the Scotty Cameron Squareback 2 may be measurable, but I did not find it noticeable. If I mishit a long putt, it ended up well short of the cup. The Squareback 2 is not comparable to modern mallets like the Spider or Odyssey EXO line. If you’re buying a Squareback 2, do it because you prefer the look or feel, not in the hopes that it will help mishit putts find the hole.
One other interesting note: the interchangeable weights in the Special Select mallets, like the Squareback 2, are lighter than those in the blades. The mallets use stainless steel weights at 10, 15, or 20 grams. The blades use tungsten weights at 30, 35, and 40 grams. This does allow for the possibility of creating a massively heavy putter head by plugging tungsten weights into a mallet head.
Conclusion
Regular readers may be sensing a theme in the Scotty Cameron Special Select line. Like the Newport 2 and Del Mar that were reviewed previously, the Squareback 2 is a good looking putter with above average feel and nothing new in terms of performance. For a player seeking a traditional looking mid-mallet, that might be just fine.
Matt Saternus
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Hey Matt,
Thanks for the review, have been eyeing this putter and the spitfire for a while. I am coming from a Newport 2 studio stainless and ready to try something new ( after almost 20 yrs lol). Tough decisions !
Just got a 2010 Laguna 1.5. Superb balance, which is the Scotty hallmark IMO. I’m pleased the insert is gone for the new line.
I recently purchased the Scotty Cameron special select SquareBack 2. I have always desired to own Tigers Newport style putter for the last 10 years. But I tried the newports occasionally, found them intimidating, seemed like I pushed and pulled too much. So I never got one. Somehow ended up on the Scotty Cameron webpage many months ago. Saw the completely new redesigned special select series, sort of fell in love with the picture of the Squareback 2. Anyway went to the PGA superstore spent two hours comparing the Newport 2, to the SquareBack 2. So I have to disagree slightly with the forgiveness summary versus anser style putters. It had just that extra forgiveness that a mid-low handicap requires. Averaging about two or three toe hits per 10 putts with both putters. The squareback seemed to consistently deliver the ball all the way to the hole. While the Newport was definitely short and right, so exactly the extra forgiveness I was looking for with a professional looking blade, it was definitely easier to aim and set up as well versus the Newport, which I had to fiddle with just a little more to get it aligned. Feedback was very good on both putters. Kinda confirms the Newport is more for zero handicappers. I could learn to hit the Newport perfectly, but the squareback is confidence inspiring and requires less perfection (bigger sweet spot) to put beautiful rolls on. I agree that it is not to be compared to hi MOI mallets. I think that is a marketing ploy let us make a wider blade and call it a mid Mallet see if we can draw some market share. Seems like the Newport I have always wanted. Keep up the good reviews thanks.
Matt what’s your take of scotty across the board and how they operate? Sounds like you’re not the biggest fan generally in your reviews of how they churn out not so great performing products without much innovation and charge the world for it. And then release products on tour that aren’t accessible to the wider public. They occasional have a good product but definitely better options out there #swaggolf
David,
You’ve opened quite a bag of worms with that question. :)
Overall, I think Scotty is fine. I don’t have any kind of animosity toward the brand, but it doesn’t command a lot of respect from me either. I give him credit as an innovator in terms of marketing and growing his own brand. He’s obviously built a hugely loyal following. I think that, at least with his traditional models, there’s a pretty high level of taste in the design, branding, etc. All that said, I think there are other makers who put out higher quality products at comparable (or lower) prices and certainly innovate more.
Should we ever find ourselves sitting in the same bar, I’m sure I could go on at greater length, but I think that sums it up pretty well.
Best,
Matt
If you see PGA on TV you can find the majority of player are using even mallet putters. I personally believe that the anser style putter is the history. So now the trend for the average golfer is mid mallet like Squareback 2 or Evnroll which has more forgiveness and feel comfortable when you align yourself. I have Squareback 2 and I love it.
Hello everybody,
I was reading this review with the hopes to find out more information about a 2020 Squareback 2 that I just purchased.
My gamer was a 2020 Newport, however it didn’t quite have the forgiveness I was looking for, so I purchased a Squareback.
This putter is a game changer for my game, exactly what I was looking for, except for one thing. It makes more of a ting sounds than a click. Where as the Newport clicks, this tings almost as if the plate on the bottom is vibrating.
Does anybody else that owns a Squareback feel the same about the sound?
“ All that said, I think there are other makers who put out higher quality products at comparable (or lower) prices and certainly innovate more”
Care to elaborate on this statement?
Paul,
Swag makes better putters. There are plenty of small/boutique/one man shop operations with better quality. You could argue Bettinardi.
As far as more innovative, pick a company – PXG, TaylorMade, Odyssey, Swag.
Again, I’m no Cameron hater. I’ve owned more Scottys than most and I have huge respect for what he’s done to the putter business. But if you look at the Studio line it’s the same stuff year after year after year, and from someone with his level of influence, he could do more.
-Matt
I have to agree with you. Copy cat. I do however have an X5 and a square back2. Better putters abound but nothinfg has the resale value of a Scotty
The Odyssey O-works 7S is my current putter and I do like the weight and feel of it. I’m considering getting the Scotty Cameron Special Select Squareback 2 because my previous putter to the Odyssey was an old school (1980’s era) Ping Answer 2. I liked it but it had zero technology so I went to the mallet. I hear the 2023’s Scotty’s are coming out next month, should I wait until the 2023’s come out or pop now for the 2020 model? I would keep the Odyssey to rotate in as a second putter if needed. Any thoughts?
John,
I would wait to see if you like the new ones better rather than buying the older model now.
-Matt