Written by Michael VanDerLaan
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It may seem strange that there is even a debate of a Kirkland Putter vs Scotty Cameron putter. Oddly enough, one of the biggest disruptors in the golf equipment world in the past few years has been… Costco!
The Costco brand is known as Kirkland and they offer tremendous value in the golf club space.
Their Kirkland brand of generic products have an extremely passionate following, and they have started forays into golf balls, putters, and wedges - all to much fanfare from the masses and much to the chagrin of the established brand-heroes.
There has been much debate since about the viability of the Costco Kirkland products, with claims that they are complete duplicates and replacements of top-line brands all the way to people claiming that they look and feel like complete junk and they would never be caught dead with Kirkland clubs in their bag.
This article will break down the analysis into some digestible pieces and take away some of the bias and rhetoric and look at the facts surrounding what’s better - Kirkland putter or Scotty Cameron putter?
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Kirkland KS1 Putter Overview
The Kirkland Signature KS1 putter is basically a Scotty Cameron Newport or Newport 2 clone. How good of a clone? Well, the devil is in the details and there is a lot of subjectivity to consider when gauging some of the more subtle differences between the two clubs.
The Kirkland Signature KS1 putter is a classic wide blade style club head meant to appeal to the broadest segment of golfers possible. It comes with a SuperStroke countercore mid slim grip and adjustable heel and toe weights. It features a completely milled putter head design and can be found for a fraction of the price of any other completely milled blade on the market.
Specs:
Weight: 340g
Length: 34.5in
Loft: 3 degrees
Pros
Cons
It’s no secret that the Kirkland KS1 signature putter is modeled after the Scotty Cameron putters. However the Scotty Cameron putters weren’t exactly original designs, either. In fact the vast majority of putters on the market are recycling a very small subset of truly original ideas, instead dressing them with different specs and trying different combinations of materials and sizes. On paper this club is almost identical. However golfers love to fuss about that last 1-2%.
The Kirkland signature putter does a great job of getting you 95% of the way there at less than half the cost. The exact manufacturing tolerances and keen eye for sourcing and handling the highest grade steel cannot be duplicated, and the Kirkland putters will never produce exactly the same finely-tuned balance and feel of a Scotty.
Scotty Cameron Putter Overview
Scotty Cameron Newport and Newport 2, (which is just a slightly more squared-off body aesthetic, for the most part) putters have dominated the top-end of the marketplace basically since their introduction in the 1990s. The design takes the classic PING Anser putter and puts every high-end spin on it that Scotty Cameron can.
Scotty Cameron putters feature a 100% milled body and face to produce the most consistent roll and the best durability and feedback possible. There will typically be adjustable heel and toe weights on the bottom. The stock grip is also high quality and delicately balanced with the rest of the club to give it a good feel.
Scotty also offers many customization options, including different weights, head shapes, even counterbalanced designs.
Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Specs:
Length: 33, 34, or 35”Weight: 350g
Loft: 3.5 degrees
Pros
Cons
Scotty Cameron putters are arguably the premier putter brand in the world today, and the Newport and Newport 2 could be considered the flagship product. It is the quintessential modern blade putter, and has become synonymous with Tiger Woods’ success over the years. They beat other blade putter designs through aesthetics, quality, and craftsmanship, focusing on very pleasant and stylish finishes to their clubs as well as being picky about source metals and the one piece milled manufacturing process.
The only downside is the price tag, but it’s an investment that can last decades.
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What Are The Differences Between A Kirkland KS1 Putter And A Scotty Cameron Putter?
When talking about differences, perhaps the biggest is the price points. The Kirkland is significantly less expensive.
Another difference is that the Scotty Cameron putters are available in a number of different shaft configurations, including center shafted options.
One more difference, you will see many more Scotty Cameron putters than Kirklands in competitive play. That may be from Costco marketing to a different segment of golfers, but it is a fact.
Let's take a look at other differences between the two:
Design And Build Quality
Scotty Cameron:
Scotty Cameron putters are precision milled from soft, durable 303 stainless steel. They are built to very tight tolerances, with eye catching designs that can be seen in high numbers every week on the PGA Tour. The Scottys feature adjustable weights, beautiful toplines and come with a Scotty Cameron Pistol Grip.
They are the pinnacle of putters in the golf industry.
Kirkland KS1:
Kirkland KS1 putters are also CNC milled from 303 stainless steel, although the milling is less refined than Scotty Camerons and is 10grams lighter. The KS1 features adjustable weights (Kirkland weight kit sold separately) and comes standard with a SuperStroke Putter Grip.
RELATED: Why Are Scotty Cameron Putters So Expensive?
Performance And Forgiveness
We tested both the Evnroll putters and the Scotty Cameron putters for performance and forgiveness. The testers were our staff, including PGA Tour Professional, John VanDerLaan, as well as single digit handicap players, mid handicappers and high handicappers.
We tested the putters, head to head, from 5, 10, and 20 feet.
Each tester ranked the putters on a scale of 1-10 for performance and forgiveness. You can see the results below.
PGA Tour Pro | High Handicap | Mid Handicap | Low Handicap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Scotty Performance | 10/10 | 8/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 |
Kirkland KS1 Performance | 6/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 |
Scotty Forgiveness | 6/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 6/10 |
Kirkland KS1 Forgiveness | 5/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 | 5/10 |
You can see that the Scotty Cameron putters outperformed the Kirkland in all categories.
The Scotty had an average 8.75 out of 10 for performance, while the Kirkland averages 6.25 out of 10.
As far as forgiveness, we can see that neither putter is very forgiving. The Scotty Cameron averaged 5.75 out of 10 and the Kirkland averaged 5.25 for forgiveness.
Price And Value
This is where the Kirkland KS1 really shines. Let's take a look:
Kirkland:
The KS1 delivers incredible value, utilizing quality materials and cnc milling to deliver a putter that can rival a Scotty Cameron at a third of the cost. Coming in around $150, which is an insanely cheap putter in today's market.
Scotty Cameron:
Scottys start at around $400 and can go up to many thousands for Circle T putters and collectibles. However, you have to consider a Scotty Cameron putter as an investment that is going to hold its value for many years.
That being said, the Kirkland KS1 putter is the clear winner in price and value.
Should I get a Kirkland Putter or Scotty Cameron Putter?
The debate really boils down to what putter helps you make the most putts. Regardless of value, appearance, or any other characteristic, the goal at the end of the day is to get the ball in the hole.
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The value of branding aside, the Kirkland putter is built to standards that no other putter can match without doubling the price. It is basically unheard of for a putter to be 100% milled at this price point, and there are no competitors. It is a huge boon for the frugal golfer.
That said, if you want to make an investment in your game, and you don’t want to leave anything on the table when you step up to putt, paying more for a Scotty Cameron is a great option. The putters hold value very very well on the resale market and come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes, and customizations to further fit your needs.
You should get a Scotty Cameron putter if:
- You can afford to invest $400-$500 on a premium putter
- You want a putter that has been proven on the PGA Tour
- You want the best materials and craftsmanship available
- You want multiple design options
You should get a Kirkland KS1 putter if:
- You are a beginner and trying to get into the game
- You want high quality materials without a high price
- You enjoy golf gear that provides great value
RELATED: Best Putting Drills To Improve Your Scores
Final Thoughts
While Scotty Cameron putters and Kirkland putters may look very very similar both to the eye and on paper, but they are, in fact, different. The Kirkland brand is becoming more mainstream, but you will always see more Scotty Camerons on the golf course.
In the end it mostly comes down to personal opinion. It’s pretty clear what you are getting when you get into the putter game. There are basically thousands of combinations of a fairly limited set of options, and it comes down to basically overall quality and personal fit/preference.
Scotty Cameron putters are the most stylish putters on the market. The Kirkland Signature putter might be one of the most practical and high-value buys in the entire golf equipment game. They are by no means exactly the same product, and both of them are the perfect buy for a lot of different reasons - it just depends what you’re looking for!
Keep in mind, when shopping for a Scotty, be sure to keep an eye out for counterfeits. Scotty Cameron putters are one of the most counterfeited golf clubs out there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kirkland putter the same as a Scotty Cameron?
No, Kirkland putters are not the same as Scotty Cameron putters, but they are very similar.
The two titans of putting are made with different stock grips, each of which may fit better with different putting grip styles. This is something to consider if you are demoing off the rack options.
What is the closest putter to Scotty Cameron?
The closest putter to a Scotty Cameron is made by Scotty Cameron’s ex-business-partner Robert Bettinardi, as their Bettinardi line takes advantage of the same CNC milling techniques and produces high-end putters in the same space.
Do any Professional Golfers Use The Kirkland Putter?
There are no professional golfers using the Kirkland putter on the PGA tour at this time. There are also no professional golfers using the Costco putter on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Where is the Kirkland KS1 putter made?
The Kirkland KS1 putter is made in China, just like almost every golf club on the market.
Who did Kirkland partner with to make the KS1 putter?
There is some speculation to this, as it is not stated on the product details by Kirkland. However, Kirkland’s vice-president said in an interview that they partnered with a reputable Chinese manufacturer who makes clubs for other well-known brands.
There is also some speculation on the internet that Costco has leveraged their previous relationship with Carlsbad-based Callaway golf company to help design and build the club.
