Why Are Scotty Cameron Putters So Expensive?

It’s really no secret that Scotty Cameron putters are some of the most expensive on the market, but it’s not so obvious as to why. I decided to look into exactly what makes these putters so expensive.

Why are Scotty Cameron putters so expensive? Scotty Cameron putters are so expensive because of their milling process, high-quality materials, and brand popularity.

Breakdown Of Scotty Cameron’s High Price

It’s no question that the Scotty Cameron brand of putters are significantly more expensive than many other putter brands. The average putter costs approximately $150, whereas many of the Scotty Cameron putters cost upwards of $400 (that’s a 167% more compared to the average). But why are they this expensive? After looking into it, I have found that its high price is attributed to 3 factors–the milling process, the materials used, and the popularity/demand of the brand.

Milling Process

The first contributor to the price of the Scotty Cameron putter is their milling process. In case you are unaware, a milled putter is one that is carved out of a larger block of metal. Milling is very similar to how a sculptor would make a sculpture, by carving down a larger piece of material into something smaller. This is how Scotty Cameron putters are made. The process of milling requires more material and time than other methods of making a putter, which drives up the cost to make it. 

Scotty Cameron putters are all milled in the USA, which means labor costs are also higher than many other putters that are made overseas.

High-Quality Material

Another factor to their expensive cost is their raw materials. Most Scotty Cameron putters are made of stainless steel, carbon steel, and sometimes aluminium. While these are quite common materials to make a putter, they can be expensive depending on the quality. Scotty Cameron uses the highest quality material to make their putters, meaning that their cost of raw materials is much higher than other putter brands.

Brand Popularity

The biggest contributing factor to the price of these Scotty Cameron putters is the popularity of the brand. These putters have been used for so long by so many players, that it has become a household name. Scotty Cameron putters are used by many pro players, and have such great brand recognition that the company has the authority to charge more expensive prices. This brand popularity leads to high demand, which ultimately warrants a much higher selling point.

Is A Scotty Cameron Putter Worth The Money?

No, Scotty Cameron putters are not worth the money. The price does not accurately reflect how much the club will improve your game. A majority of players won’t see any real major change in the way they putt, and even if they do, the improvement does not justify the expensive price.

To be more specific, I mentioned earlier that the price of a Scotty Cameron putter is about 167% more expensive than the average putter. So, you should probably expect to see some type of similar percentage or improvement in your score (i.e. making 167% more putts than you normally do), however that is just not the case. Most players will not see anything close to that level of improvement with a Scotty Cameron putter. Just like any club you use, it doesn’t matter how it ultimately comes down to the player’s skill. So, for most players, this kind of putter is not worth the money, as the increased price does not proportionally reflect the benefit it brings to the game.

Are Scotty Cameron Putters Overpriced?

Put Simply, yes, Scotty Cameron Putters are overpriced. They do not offer any significant features or advantage to players that would justify their expensive price tag. Pretty much 100% of the time, the player is going to dictate how good a club is. So, to say that buying a $300 Scotty Cameron putter will significantly improve your game is simply not true. 

What Is So Special About Scotty Cameron Putters?

There is nothing that inherently makes Scotty Cameron putters more special than other putters. However, there are a few things that set them apart. First, as I mentioned before, all Cameron putters are milled and made in the USA, which not many other manufacturers do. Many Scotty Cameron loyalists swear by the brand for this reason, claiming that their domestic manufacturing process is what makes them special.

Second, Cameron putters have been in the game for almost 30 years now, which consequently means that there have been countless PGA players (like Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, and Rory McIlroy) that have used them. Essentially, over this time, these famous players have helped build the hype that surrounds the brand. These factors add a type of legacy to Cameron putters that many other brands don’t have.

What Is The Most Expensive Scotty Cameron Putter?

Most Scotty Cameron putters run around $400, however there are some that break through that price point. Most of the putters that I found were from auctions, so these are being sold more so because they are relics and aren’t generally available in retail stores.

Cheaper Alternatives To Scotty Cameron Putters

For those that are interested, I gathered a list of brands that offer putters that have the same main features as a Scotty Cameron putter, at a fraction of the price. Similar to the Scotty Cameron putters, the ones featured below are 100% milled stainless steel putters.

Scotty Cameron Putter Cost: Final Thoughts

After going through all of the factors that make up the cost of a Scotty Cameron putter, I truly don’t believe they are worth purchasing. I mean, for a majority of golfers that buy one, it will just be a sunk cost because they probably won’t see any change in the way they putt or how they score. With that being said, it is probably a worthy purchase for those that want one because they appreciate the brand history and craftsmanship. All-in-all, as much as I appreciate the brand, I will probably never have one of these putters in my bag (mainly because I am not good enough to justify getting one).