Deep CG Putters Are Becoming Golf's Next Equipment Frontier

Putter design is undergoing a quiet but meaningful revolution: center of gravity (CG) position has become the defining variable that major OEMs are now competing on, and the results are reaching Tour bags faster than many expected.

Why CG Position Is the New Fitting Variable

A putter's CG location—forward or back relative to the face—shapes more than just MOI and forgiveness. For many golfers, a deeper (more rearward) CG causes the stroke to bottom out earlier, promoting an ascending hit that generates topspin and keeps putts on the intended line. Golfers who struggle with pull misses or inconsistent roll often see immediate improvement when switching to a deep-CG design.

That said, some Tour players like Brooks Koepka still prefer a forward CG mallet (his current Cameron Fastback shape), which heightens face awareness and suits strokes that benefit from a more forward weight bias.

How Each OEM Is Responding

- Scotty Cameron expanded its lineup with the Phantom 12 for deep-CG players, while experimenting with lightweight aluminum inserts on Tour to free up mass for placement further back in the head - TaylorMade has been the catalyst: the Spider Tour X's Tour dominance sparked the industry-wide pivot toward deep CG. The new Spider Tour V and Tour F now cater to both CG preferences - Odyssey debuted the TRTL prototype mallet on Tour with four sole weights, suggesting adjustable CG positioning is on the near horizon - Ping built deep CG into the Scottsdale TEC Ally Blue by positioning the shaft well behind the face

What the Trend Means for Recreational Golfers

Equipment innovations that originate on Tour typically reach retail within 12–18 months. The implication: golfers will soon have meaningfully more CG-specific fitting options available, and fitting conversations will increasingly center on stroke type and miss pattern rather than just head shape aesthetics.

Strokeslab's Take

For anyone trying to improve SG: Putting, CG fitting deserves the same priority as shaft and grip selection. Matching CG position to your actual miss pattern—rather than choosing a putter by look alone—may be one of the highest-leverage equipment adjustments available right now.