Interviewed: Scotty Cameron Senior Director of Putter R&D, Austie Rollinson
The new Studio Style lineup from Scotty Cameron represents a major milestone in face design. It's one of the most significant announcements from Scotty Cameron in recent years, with a huge presence at the PGA Merchandise Show in Florida. Pete Wlodkowski of AmateurGolf.com caught up with Senior Director of Putter R&D, Austie Rollinson, to discuss the putters, and how the lineup came to be.
What follows is an edited transcript of the conversation. Be sure to watch the embedded conversation to learn more.
Q: Pete:
It’s always fun to put our viewers in front of anything with the name Scotty Cameron on it. Today I’m here at Scotty Cameron presnntation at the PGA Show. Austie, it’s great to see you in Florida. Can you tell us about what’s happening with the new Studio Style putters?
A: Austie:Great to see you too, Pete. The big news with Studio Style is the introduction of a brand-new face insert. We took a lot of input from Tour players who were looking for a slightly different, softer feel. Many of them grew up using insert putters with soft balls, and while milling has provided some softness over the years, we wanted to push it further. We looked at several insert materials and settled on carbon steel—a material steeped in Scotty’s legacy. His first putters were made of carbon steel,
Q: Pete:So, you decided to use carbon steel for the face insert. Was that mainly to bring back that softer feel from the earlier putters?
A: Austie:Exactly. The carbon steel insert not only pays homage to Scotty’s early designs but also gives us the softness many tour players desire. To refine it even more, we added chain link milling on the face, which reduces the surface area contacting the ball. Think of it as a “clap” effect—it dials down some of the sound without losing that distinct metal feedback that Scotty Cameron players love.
Q: Pete:How did you balance the different preferences from Tour players when developing this new design?
A: Austie:We worked closely with several Tour professionals, providing them with plenty of prototypes. For instance, players like Justin Thomas, who prefer minimal milling for a louder, more “metallic” sound, and others like Tom Kim, who favor a softer sound and feel, both had input. We adjusted the design based on their feedback until we found the right balance that not only meets their needs but should also appeal to the broader range of golfers—from amateurs to collegiate players.
Q: Pete:When can we expect the Studio Style putters to hit the market?
A: Austie:We’re targeting a market launch around March 17th. (Keep in mind that dates can shift a bit since I’m an R&D guy, but that’s the current plan.)