of Scotty Cameron brand it carries real prestige, tournament presence, a dedicated following and a prize that demands results. But when two of its most prominent families go head-to-head in a real-world dataset, which one packs the most punches?
We dug into the results from our 2026 shooting test covering 29 hammer hammer (18,524 shots) and 24 blades (15,333 shots) to find out how the Phantom 9, Phantom 5, SS Newport and SS Newport 2 stack up.
Here’s what the numbers tell us.
How we test
MyGolfSpy’s most requested testing is powered by:
- Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls are a key component in testing. Every shot in Most Wanted uses these golf balls. They have long been the gold standard in golf ball quality and are the only ball we trust to complete our most demanding testing.
- GC Quad Forecast – Prediction is the gold standard in camera-based launch monitor technology because it produces data we can rely on with every shot. For this test, our GC Quads captured 13,680 shots.
- SIGPRO Premium of the Indoor Golf Shop – All of our testing is done indoors at our facility in Yorktown, Va. With every test, our screens take an absolute beating. Thus, we need high-quality and durable impact displays to handle the workload. SIGPRO Premium exceeds our expectations.
- UNRL clothing – Official staff apparel partner of MyGolfSpy, we rely on UNRL to keep staff comfortable and focused on providing world-class testing.
Placing
Both of them Scotty Cameron families were tested in separate category groups, but the same people were used as testers in both tests. of Ghost 9 AND Ghost 5 competed against 27 other hammer designs. of SS Newport AND SS Newport 2 went up against 22 other blade style players.
The main metrics we are working with:
- Handicap Puttview (PV HCP): how many strokes better than field average. The more negative the better.
- make %: percentage of shots holed at each distance.
- Average lady: how far the ball finished from the hole in fouls, in inches. Lower is better.
- Dear Giant (Leadership Deviation): how far the ball left the target line. Closer to zero is fairer.
Overall results: Phantom 9.2R leads the lineup Scotty
When you step back and look at the whole picture, Phantom 9.2R is the outstanding performer in all four players. He was ranked ninth out of 29 hammers with an HCP PV of -4.8, standing behind some really strong competition in a deep field of hammers.
of SS Newport 2 was the strongest blade performer at seventh out of 24 blades with an HCP PV of -3.3, while the original Newport came in 11th at -2.9.
of Ghost 5 landed 18th among hammers with a HCP PV of -3.7.
A figure that pops off the page is the direction deviation. of Phantom 9.2R posted a Dir Dev of only -0.01, basically perfect. of SS Newport came to +0.90. It helps explain why the Phantom 9.2R performs so well from longer distances where even small road errors compound into larger errors.
Decomposition at a distance: Where stories diverge
Distance sharing tells an interesting story. From four feet, all four putters are competitive though Ghost 5 is a notable underperformer at 78.1 percent, the weakest score of any of the four at that distance. At eight feet, there’s little to separate any of them.
The middle range is where Newport 2 AND Ghost 5 both shine, leading the pack at 12 feet. And from 20 feet, the Phantoms are in the clear, with both models making significantly more shots than any Newport at that distance. Here you start to see some of them blade vs. hammer split.
Lady’s story: Newports leave you closer
There is one area where the Newport family has an advantage. When Newports miss, the ball stays closer to the hole. of SS Newport 2 averaged a loss of 16.4 inches and Newport it comes in at 16.7 inches overall. of Phantom 9.2R averaged 18.1 inches and Ghost 5 it sits at 19.8 inches.
A shorter miss means a more manageable putt to return and fewer threes sneaking onto the scorecard. Phantoms drain the initial attempt more especially from further away, but when they miss, the second shot is a bit longer.
Head to head: Phantom 9.2R vs. SS Newport 2
of Phantom 9.2R carries the best raw PV HCP number at -4.8 vs. -3.3 per Newport 2. His shooting accuracy is in a different league, moving essentially straight compared to the Newport 2’s +0.76. And from 20 feet, he makes shots at a rate nearly a third higher than the Newport 2 (21.9 percent vs. 16.4).
of Newport 2 counters with better 12-foot performance at 52.8 percent and stronger misses averaging 16.4 inches compared to 18.1 per Phantom 9.2R. It’s also the player with decades of refinement behind it, a shape that Tour players have trusted for years and a feel profile that many golfers find easier to read at address.
What matters most depends on the golfer. For a player who struggles to approach long shots and regularly faces three-shot territory, Phantom 9.2R’s remote performance is valuable. For a player whose putting delay is already solid and wants to convert more mid-range shots, Newport 2 The 12-foot numbers and the hardest fouls become the most important statistics.
decision
The data show that Phantom 9.2R as the strongest Scotty Cameron we tested in 2026.
But this is not a pure “mallets beat blades” story. of SS Newport 2 ranks seventh in a competitive blade field, held its own at 12 feet and leaves you with the shortest misses of any Scotty on test. The Newport family still has real substance behind its reputation.
As with every category we look at, adjust. Find out where you hit the most shots and what shape gives you confidence on the ball. Data can point you in a direction, but it can’t replace sitting on a putt that counts.
I’ve had my old Newport for so long that this data makes me curious. It might be time to try one Phantom 9.2R and see what happens. If I do, I’ll let you know.
