The Scotty Cameron Phantom mallet putter line gets its two-year cycle overhaul this year and the changes are subtle, yet significant.
Some of the changes, such as the inclusion of the Studio Carbon Steel (SCS) face insert, you’ll notice right away. Many of the other changes to the Phantom models are less obvious.
“Less obvious” does, of course, not mean unimportant.
In fact, some of the subtle shape changes should improve performance on the putting surface.
They are Phantoms with new faces but that is just the start of the story.
Adding the Studio Carbon Steel insert
The addition of the Studio Carbon Steel insert is the most visible change to the Phantom build plan. With the exception of the chainlink milled faces of the late 2025 Onset Center zero-torque models, the previous Phantom models all featured deep milled faces.
Deep milling produces a soft face but not as soft as the SCS face insert that debuted in the 2024 Studio Style line.
The soft feel comes from a combination of the carbon steel and also the chainlink milling pattern. As I mentioned in my article about the new 2026 Studio Style models, the perception of “softness” comes from a combination of impact feel and impact tone.
In addition to the soft feel, the chainlink pattern on the SCS face interfaces well with the dimples of the ball, producing a quality (aka expected distance) roll.
Scotty didn’t just carve out a hole for the face
The addition of the SCS insert to the new Phantoms was a no-brainer for Team Cameron but it was not as easy to pull off as one would think.
The obvious first step would be to mill out a section of the face where the insert will sit. Every insert putter requires some face removal if the insert is to sit flush with the rest of the face.
Face material removal is the place to start.
What was surprising was how much removing the face material changed the nature of the putters. Not only did removing face metal change the feel of the putter but it changed the tone and stiffness of the head.
After the removal, restoring the classic Cameron sound and feel involved removing additional material, adding vibration dampening pads and even adding an internal truss system to mute some of the sound.
Since all of these modifications are internal, we see none of this.
Just know that adding that new face involved way more than simply gluing it into a new milled slot.
Geometric changes
Shape was another significant, but subtle, change to the 2026 Phantom models. When you look closely at the parameters of the new models compared to the 2024 Phantoms, you’ll notice a couple of alterations.
First, the faces are taller. This change came from tour player feedback. The taller face helps players hit the ball with the correct dynamic loft. Lower faces can lead to accidentally upward strikes on the ball.
The radius of the face was also tweaked. The top edge of the previous Phantom line was flat. Now there is a curve.
The highest point is in the center of the face with the height gradually sloping down to lower heel and toe regions. The curve towards the higher center should direct the eye to the target line and proper impact location.
The shape of the Phantom’s sole was also altered. Tour players, most notably Justin Thomas, requested a flatter sole so the putter would sit flat at address behind the ball.
The changes in shape are subtle but the overall result is new, and more effective, versions of the Phantom models.
Fewer models, more neck options
This time around, Phantom 11 players are out of luck. That model is not part of the 2026 release. The 2026 Phantom line includes only the 5, 7 and 9 models.
Once you factor in neck options, though, you will find this new line of Phantom putters includes the same number of putters as the previous release.
Naturally, this equates to each of the three Phantom models being offered with multiple hosel options.
Some of the hosels, such as the plumber’s neck, are returning favorites. Others, such as the double-bend Phantom 7 and the Phantom 5 OC, are new options.
The jet neck makes a return as well but with an altered shape. The new jet neck is longer and has less tilt than the previous jet neck. Amazingly, it still delivers the same offset and toe hang as the previous version.
So the model numbers are fewer this time around but the actual putter count remains the same.
How about we take a look?
2026 Scotty Cameron Phantom 5 models
I’ve always viewed the Phantom 5 as the Scotty Cameron gateway mallet. It seems like most of the folks I talk to about their switches from blades almost always start their mallet experimentation with the Phantom 5.
In fact, one of the guys in my usual foursome made this exact transition last November when he showed up at the course with a Phantom 5.2.
The Phantom 5 is a popular model both on tour and at your local course. Justin Thomas is probably the most famous pro to play the Phantom 5 but Max Homa, Justin Rose and Russell Henley have also won tournaments with this head.
Perhaps because of its popularity, the 2026 Phantom 5 is the head shape with the most neck options.
Ultimately, if you like the shape of the Phantom 5, there should be a neck option that will fit your stroke. Toe hang is minimal with the mid-bend shaft of the Phantom 5, increases with the plumber’s neck of the Phantom 5.2, and maximizes with the jet neck of the Phantom 5.5.
Unexpectedly, Cameron has added an onset center (OC) version of the Phantom 5 to the mix. The inclusion of the Phantom 5 OC speaks to Cameron viewing the OC hosel as one of many neck options rather than a separate category of putters.
Unfortunately, I don’t have in-hand photos of the Phantom 5 OC but if you look at how Cameron attached the hosel to the Fastback OC last fall, you’ll have the general idea about how it looks.
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2026 Scotty Cameron Phantom 7 models
If the wings of the Phantom 5 are too understated for you, the Phantom 7 will be more to your liking. These fangs are classically significant in stature.
As with with the Phantom 5, the Phantom 7 will be available with multiple neck options. The Phantom 7.2 and Phantom 7.5 returning to the cohort, their bodies modified to fit the new line parameters.
The spud neck of the Phantom 7 (no decimal) is now attached to a double-bend shaft. This new configuration reduces the toe hang and creates a different look at address than a single-bend shaft.
Once again, this new shaft came from tour player requests.
Unfortunately, the Phantom 7 does not have an OC option as of yet. Perhaps we will see that for the 2027 Phantom line extension.
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2026 Scotty Cameron Phantom 9R models
Last summer’s Phantom Black release gave golfers their first look at the revamped Phantom 9. The new nicely rounded version of the Phantom 9.2 is probably the best blade-to-mallet transition putter in the set.
Up front, both Phantom models are very blade-like, especially the Phantom 9.2R with the plumber’s neck and short sight line. From its inception, the design intention for the new Phantom 9 was to create something that sets up like a blade but has mallet-like play properties.
More than once, I’ve heard the Phantom 9.2R referred to as a “009 mallet.” If you are familiar with the mythology associated with the Cameron 009 blade putter, then you know that someone in the industry calling this a 009 mallet is a big deal.
The Phantom 9 has only two neck options. The Phantom 9.2R has a plumber’s neck and the Phantom 9R comes with a mid-bend shaft build.
Side by side, I prefer the look of the body-length sight line on the 9R versus the short line of the 9.2R, probably because I shifted to mallets quite a while ago.
Maybe the Cameron Custom Shop will offer line extension as an option for the 9.2R.
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Overall impressions of the new Scotty Cameron Phantom line
Truth be told, I was all-in on the new line as soon as I learned they had the Studio Carbon Steel insert.
I love the feel of that face and the Studio Style putters delivered expected distances with my stroke.
After rolling it last fall, I thought the chainlink face on the Phantom 11 OC was the best-feeling Cameron mallet face. After a few putting sessions and rounds with the new Phantom 7.2, I wish the Phantom 11 OC had the new SCS insert in its face.
That realization makes me tip my cap to the Cameron team. With the new Phantom line, they have achieved something all putter makers strive to accomplish.
The new Phantoms look and feel so good that many golfers will ditch their old Phantoms for the new models.
For a company, this translates to more putter sales. For the golfer, they end up with a putter that is even better than the putter they thought they would never replace.
If you like the feel of the old model better than the new one, just keep playing your current putter. I don’t understand how you could resist the new model feel but I respect your conviction.
If you want a new Phantom, they will be in shops on Feb. 27 with a MSRP of $499 ($549 for Phantom 5 OC).
Learn more about the new Scotty Cameron Phantom mallets at ScottyCameron.com.
The post The Scotty Cameron Phantom Mallet Line Gets A Facelift appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
