From playful to helpful to downright colorful, Scotty’s been talking about his putters for a few decades using terms, acronyms and abbreviations inspired by his craft, background and experience.
JAT.
1st Issue
1st off the mill, originated from the military reference 1st Article. The 1st Issues were generally the 1st 500 putters that came off the production line.
1st Run
1st run putters were the same as the 1st issue putters meaning they were 1st off the production line. Another term to describe the 1st putters in the production series.
AMF
Once Scotty’s private Co., Scotty Cameron International, partnered with Titleist in 1994, the final run of Classic X and Classic 1putters were engraved AMF for "Adios My Friends" --Scotty’s way of saying thank you to his loyal customers.
Belly Putter
A putter that is longer than standard (usually 42"-45") that rests against the belly during the stroke.
Black Oxide
Technical term for the gun bluing process. The putter head is placed in the heated black oxide solution and as the pores of the metal open, the black oxide literally dyes the metal. If the head is buffed shiny the putter will have a deep shiny appearance.
Button Back
This type of blade putter design has a face insert, also referred to as an inlay, that is secured to the putter head with three button head machine screws in conjunction with a vibration dampening component. The screws are visible and look like buttons when viewed from the back of the putter.
Circle L
This stamp is for friends of Scotty. The L stands for loser and is made in fun.
Circle T
Denotes that the putter is made for Tour. The Circle T can be found on putters, headcovers and accessories.
CNC
This is an abbreviation for Computer Numerical Control and refers specifically to a computer "controller" that reads instructions and drives a milling machine. This allows for precision and repeatability.
Commemorative
Acknowledging a special achievement. Scotty has made commemorative putters to acknowledge the Masters, British Open, US Open, PGA Championship and other wins.
Copper Plating
A copper plating over the carbon steel that gives the putter a different look and is meant to age and tarnish. In 1996 Scotty made a set of putters that were copper plated. He also makes some Tour putters with copper plating.
Crazy Cameron
Achieved when Scotty hand stamps each letter crooked to give the appearance that the letters are dancing. One of Scottys distributors in Hawaii coined the phrase Crazy Cameron.
Crown, All Points
When Scotty was working out of his garage he couldn’t afford to have a logo stamp made so he created a logo out of his stamp set. The Crown was born using a zero and 3 upside down V’s with 3, 5 or 7 dots at the points.
Damascus
Ancient swordmakers folded and forged various metals into weapons of remarkable strength, sharpness and beauty. With pronounced bands and whirling patterns throughout, this ultrahard steel came to be known as Damascus steel.
Dual-Milled Face Technology
With the Super Select putter line introduction in 2023, Scotty featured a new “dual-milled” face technology that takes sound, feel and feedback to a new level, combining the softness of previously released deep-milled putters with the feedback, consistency and roll of Scotty’s more recent mid-milled offerings. After a deep-milled pass of the mill across the putter face, a second pass of the mill levels the peaks of the face milling, producing a flatter, more consistent surface for the ball to contact the putter face. Brought over from Tour prototypes, dual-milled face technology brings a Tour-inspired look and feel to the Super Select line, along with the line’s most consistent face to date.
Face Balanced
When the shaft of the putter is balanced on the finger the face points toward the sky and runs parallel to the ground. This makes the putter have less toe flow. See Toe Flow.
Flange
The backside of the putter from the topline back. Everything rolls from the topline to the flange.
Floating Face (beached)
A slit milled through the sole of the putter. Scotty adds this to create different sound, which translates into different feel. The closer the slit is to the face the higher pitched the sound. The farther back the slit is milled from the face, the less the sound will change. Sound comes 1st before feel, so different sounds greatly affect feel.
Flowing Neck
A flowing neck is achieved when the curve of the neck flows from a long, round neck. The shorter the neck the more kink or angle in the bend and less flow. Flow or Flare necks typically provide maximum toe flow and can help players with overly mechanical putting stroked that lack natural flow.
GSS
Trademarked by Scotty to signify the highest quality stainless steel he’s found for putter making, GSS stands for German Stainless Steel.
Hand Finish
A putter is hand finished when it is taken from the mill in its blocky form and the edges are rolled, mill marks are blended and the entire putter is finished to remove sharp edges.
Handmade
"Lots of work!" The mill is moved entirely by hand to create the putters shape. Scotty started on a tabletop mill and moved to a Bridgeport. Scotty makes very few handmade putters each year. All handmade putters are stamped "Scott Cameron".
Handstamp
When the stampings on the putter are stamped by hand using a good ol’ fashioned hammer and stamp. You can usually tell a handstamp because you will see where the metal is "mushroomed" out around the edges of the letters from the force of the stamp displacing the metal.
High Toe
The toe of the putter is shaped to flow upward giving the putter more of an upright appearance at address. This, in effect, cheats the eye, helping the player keep the putter soled at address. Scotty often designs high toes into his putters to help players set up more comfortably (and correctly) at address.
Ingot
A solid block of metal. Scotty Cameron putters are made from ingots of stainless or raw carbon steel. In some designs, aluminum is used, as well.
Initials
Initials are found on the putter denoting who the putter was made for. In many cases the initials are on the toe or in the back cavity.
J.A.T.
"Just a Thought". Scotty will make prototype putters for players and stamp JAT on them so the player can get an idea of Scotty’s design.
Jackpot Johnny
Jackpot Johnny is a character created by Scotty Cameron as the first unofficial Custom Shop mascot who embodies a playful spirit with his coy smile, wink and jester’s hat. He has been featured in various forms, colors and layouts on Custom Shop stamps, headcovers, shaft bands and on a variety of apparel and accessories offered in the Gallery and Studio Store.
Johnny Racer
Johnny Racer is another Custom Shop character created to represent a determined, competitive and passionate character who goes about his business with speed. Johnny Racer has been featured in various forms, colors and layouts on Custom Shop stamps, headcovers, shaft bands and on a variety of apparel and accessories offered in the Speed Shop, Gallery and Studio Store.
Jet Neck
Scotty says this type of neck design resembles a jet climbing into the atmosphere. With its short, slant neck designed into the topline and crafted to lay back slightly and over for about a ¾ shaft offset, a jet neck offers an uninterrupted view of the ball from address in a configuration that encourages a bit of toe flow in the putting stroke.
Knurling
Crimping or stamping a round material. Completely cosmetic. The Scottymaster had knurling around the top of the neck.
Length
The total length of the putter measured from the butt end of the grip to the sweet spot of the putter. Many manufacturers measure putters differently, measuring from the heel of the putter to the butt of the grip. These putters are usually ½" to 1" longer than Cameron putters. The ideal putter length sets your eyes 1-2” inside of the target line to allow you to execute the proper arcing putting stroke while maintaining good posture and balance.
Lie
Angle of a putters neck and shaft as measured from a horizontal sole. Scotty generally designs to 71 degrees, however he varies that per design and player preference. The proper lie of the putter is determined by its length relative to the posture and setup of the player. If a putter is too long it can be held too flat, and if it is too short it can be held too upright.
Loft
Degrees of the face angle. Typically 3°- 5°. The golf ball, weighing 45 grams, sits in a shallow depression on the putting surface. In order to clear the edge of this depression, the putter must have loft to lift the ball out and on a straight path.
M.I.H.
"Make it Happen" There are lots of dreamers in this world, MIH is intended to take it from a dream to reality. Make it Happen!
Mil-Spec
The abbreviation refers to "Military Specifications" and refers to the fact that each club is milled to exact specs.
Newport Beach
The name, from a seaside beach town in California, given to a limited edition putter that has a floating face, or a slit milled through the sole. Scotty calls this "beaching" a putter.
Oil Can
Brownish black oxide finish that has iridescent hues like you see when opening a fresh can of oil. With time, this finish gives the putter a worn leather look.
Path
Putters do not swing vertically back and through along the target line. Because of lie angle, the proper putting stroke moves along an arcing path: slightly inside of the target line, back to square, then to the inside again after impact. The proper length putter correctly sets eye position just inside the target line, and the correct amount of toe flow allows the putter to flow squarely to the proper arcing path throughout the stroke.
Pistolero grip
Introduced as the stock grip for Scotty's California putter line in 2011, the Pistolero grip has been a choice for many putters since. It was inspired by the handle of a popular tool with its contoured shape that fits nicely in-hand. The Pistolero and Pistolini grips are similar, but the Pistolero is slightly larger and heavier with a more pronounced angle toward the butt end of the grip.
Pistolero Plus grip
The Pistolero Plus is a modified Pistolero grip with a thicker, less tapered right (low) hand that combines the Tour-preferred performance and feel of a rubber Pistolero-style grip with a slightly built-up feel perfectly suited to mallet putters.
Pistolini grip
This grip came standard on Scotty's Select putter line in 2012 and has become a mainstay choice on Tour, as well as in the Custom Shop. Smaller in overall weight and in-hand thickness than a Pistolero, the Pistolini has a slightly less pronounced angle toward the butt end of the grip.
Pistolini Plus grip
Introduced as the stock grip for Scotty's Special Select putter line in 2020, the Pistolini Plus is thicker than a Pistolini in-hand with a more substantial feel through the lower part of the grip. This size and shape are very popular on Tour.
Plumbing Neck
Also called a "plumber neck". Scotty was under his sink fixing a leak and the bends in the pipes were reminiscent of the neck on one of his putters. The term plumbing neck was born. Plumbing necks provide a medium toe flow and are appropriate for players with naturally flowing strokes who prefer a balanced putter design.
Pro Platinum
A very durable, silver nickel finish that has a rich platinum appearance. It is no longer one of the refinishing options available in the Custom Shop.
Prototype
Pre-production idea. Welded necks, hot bends, hand shapes, new weighting, offset, etc. A prototype is an idea that slowly forms into a final product.
Resto-Mod
This term refers to restoration-modification. It originated as a car term for a vehicle that was restored to like new condition and modified with custom, state-of-the-art parts effectively making it better than original. Scotty uses this term in the Custom Shop because he often restores putters and modifies them with new finishes, alignment aides, initials, etc., making them even better.
SCG
Scotty Cameron Garage. Putters denoted with SCG over the 3 points of the crown were made in Scotty’s machine shop in his garage.
SCM
Scotty Cameron Milled or Made. There are 3 points on the handmade crown so Scotty needed a third letter to finish the crown.
Scottsman
Scotty was homesick in a Hong Kong bar listening to American music and saw an icemaker named the Scottsman. The name seemed to strike a chord and was later used to name a line of putters.
Scottydale
Borrowed from Scottsdale and mixed his own name to form Scottydale.
Scottymaster
Borrowed from Ironmaster and put his name in to form Scottymaster. This was done at the same time as the Scottydale.
Sightdot
A dot on the topline of the putter to denote the sweetspot.
Sightline
A line on the topline or flange of the putter to aid in alignment.
Silver Mist
This is a finish given to many Scotty Cameron putters that are crafted from 303 stainless steel. Once the head is milled, it is hand-finished, treated and bead-blasted with a proprietary media mix that gives the steel an aesthetically pleasing misted sheen that also helps to knock down sun glare.
Slant Neck
Scotty wanted to get rid of the elbow of the plumbers neck for a sleeker more unobstructed look at the ball, but retaining the ¼ hang of the plumbers neck. The slant neck gives a cleaner look at the ball.
Snow
Small dot indentations on the back flange many times painted white, which gives the appearance of snow. The idea was to keep the back flange separate from the top line and break the putter into 2 separate parts. Snow is hand stamped and visually very beautiful.
Sole Draft Angle
Negative bounce on the sole that prevents the putter from sitting or looking closed. Allows the putter to sit open but never closed. Most players on tour don’t mind a putter that looks open but they never want to see a putter that is closed.
Straight Shaft
Straight shaft necks provide minimum toe flow and can help players who tend to manipulate the face with their hands. These strokes tend to start inside the ideal arc, with missed putts generally pulled.
Swan Neck
Hot bend around neck to make the putter more face balanced with less toe flow. The neck has an S shape or swan neck to it when complete.
TEi3 / Teryllium
TEi stands for Teryllium, an alloy of 12 different metals. The 3 stands for the 3 different materials that comprise the putter: carbon, copper or Teryllium, and elastomer.
Toe Flow
In order for the putter head to move squarely along the proper arcing path, the toe of the putter must “flow” throughout the stroke. How and where the neck or shaft of the putter joins the head determines its toe flow.
Tour Model
Made for Tour use only
Triple Black
Describes the appearance of a black oxide finish. The topline, flange and hosel are misted, the face milled and the sole has a Scotch Brite™ finish. The topline is misted so there is no glare. The Triple Black finish is widely used on tour.
Widows Peak
The widows peak is a sign of craftsmanship and is where the neck blends into the body. In a well crafted putter there will be a V where the neck and body meet, hence widows peak.
X-SLC
Experimental Special Limited Cameron or Experimental Summer Lynne Cameron named after his first daughter.
