ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE
SCORE BETTER Drills to groove the perfect tempo How to hole-out under pressure GEAR TIPS FROM GUIDE THE TOUR Find the putter Lee Westwood for your stroke Miguel Angel Jiménez From Scottsdale Louis Oosthuizen to Karsten, discover Rhys Davies the PING range Bubba Watson Hunter Mahan John Parry Grégory Havret
THE TIPS | THE PLAYERS | THE PUTTERS | THE HISTORY
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ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE CONTENTS 4 BASIC TECHNIQUE 6 IMPROVING FEEL 8 PRESSURE PUTTING 10 LONG PUTTING 12 STROKE PATH 14 PUTTER DESIGNER Q&A 16 SCOTTSDALE RANGE 20 THE ANSER STORY 22 KARSTEN 1959 RANGE 24 PLAYER INTERVIEWS 28 REDWOOD RANGE 30 GOLD PUTTER VAULT 32 JAS & FAITH RANGES 34 60-SECOND CHECKLIST WELCOME A lot has changed in golf since the PING sound ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE SCORE BETTER first emanated from our 1A putter more than Drills to groove the perfect tempo How to hole out 50 years ago. Advancements in technology have under pressure GEAR TIPS FROM GUIDE THE TOUR Find the putter Lee Westwood given golfers opportunities to enjoy the game in for your stroke Miguel Angel Jiménez From Scottsdale Louis Oosthuizen to Karsten, discover Rhys Davies the PING range Bubba Watson Hunter Mahan John Parry ways never imagined. Many of those innovations, Grégory Havret including perimeter weighting and custom- THE TIPS | THE PLAYERS | THE PUTTERS | THE HISTORY fitting, can be traced back to that garage where my father, Karsten Solheim, changed the way Equipment Photography: Kim Porritt Instruction: Paul Severn & Kevin Murray golf equipment was designed and manufactured. Words: Neil Tappin & Paul O’Hagan Design: James Mason I hope this putting supplement gives you an Subbing & Production: Jon Couch insight into our desire to push ourselves to make The PING Tour player instruction content for this supplement better products and continue to demonstrate was shot at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Barney Puttick’s advice on page 12 was shot at Praia D’El Rey Golf Club in Portugal the integrity that has earned the trust of golfers Prices quoted throughout this supplement are around the world. recommended retail prices. Product information is based on claims and representations made by PING JOHN SOLHEIM, PING CHAIRMAN & CEO
Ultimate Putting Guide 3
ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE NAIL DOWN YOUR BASICS
There are some basic principles that are well worth considering PING TOUR PRO LOUIS before you approach the game on the greens. Here, I’ll tell you OOSTHUIZEN about the set-up and stroke essentials that will give you the best Winner of 2010 Open possible chance of success. I’ll also offer some key thoughts on Championship successful green reading to ensure that you pick up on all the crucial clues that will help you hit your target every time.
1
REDISCOVERING
YOUR FORM If you have been struggling on the greens you have probably lost the tempo and flow of your stroke. When this happens, I hit some one- handed putts. By having just my right hand on the grip, I can release the putter better. I stop guiding the blade through the stroke and rediscover the flow. Notice how the butt of the shaft should always be pointing to your midriff. ust learn to This is an important element of the game on You m the greens as it helps with the rhythm and elease the putter direction of the stroke. r ugh the ball thro
PING PUTTER MAJOR WINS: 1969 The Masters Anser 1969 British Open A-Blade 1970 US Open A-Blade 1975 British Open A-Blade
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INSTRUCTION
2 ESSENTIAL TECHNIQUE Use an alignment The way you stand to the ball has a huge ck impact on your success rate on the greens. I stick to che have an alignment stick that I lay down on the position green very regularly in practice. Quite simply clubface this helps me check if the face of my putter is square to the target through impact. It is amazing how easy it is to let the important precision of this position slip, and laying down a simple alignment stick is incredibly effective. As you hit ball after ball this clearly visual aid will help you with alignment both at address and through impact. Whenever you find some time to spend on the practice green adopt this simple approach – without having to think too carefully about the mechanics of your stroke you will train a much more consistent move.
3READING 4 READING GREENS GRAIN For me, it always makes sense to look Grain comes into play more than you might at tricky putts from a different angle, think and for us, it is something we always preferably from the side. Just by walking need to be on the look out for. The good 10 paces away and looking at the putt from news is that you can usually see it quite a new perspective you get a better feel for clearly from a distance. The simple rule is the shape of the green. That really helps. that when the grass on your line looks shiny, Sometimes you need to walk away and by it is down grain and will run slightly faster. doing this you might be able to pick up on a If the grass between your ball and the hole crucial element that you miss when looking looks darker, you’ll be putting into the grain
y directly down the line. so allow for a slightly slower roll. Keep this a r r
u in mind, especially if you are playing a golf M
n i course that you are unfamiliar with. v e K
y h p a r g o t o h P
1977 The Masters A-Blade 1979 The Masters Zing 1979 British Open Anser 1980 The Masters Anser 1980 British Open Pal 1981 The Masters Pal
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ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE
OPTIMISING YOUR FEEL
There is a balance that every player needs to strike. It pays
to understand your technique, but we all have to make sure PING TOUR PRO RHYS DAVIES that we don’t get too bogged down with the mechanics. Winner of My set-up and approach are designed to help find the most 2010 Hassan II Trophy rhythmic, free-flowing and instinctive stroke possible. Here’s my theory behind optimising your feel on the greens.
Let your arms hang and keep your rhythm constant
1 ESSENTIAL RHYTHM 2 STANCE WIDTH
Finding good pace control movements and to try and make I try to stand tall over the ball with a narrow stance and let the through a natural feel is all about the change of direction in your putter swing in a pendulum style. Anchoring the stroke can affect the rhythm of your putting stroke as smooth as possible. the flow, so let your arms hang and try to take the control out of the stroke. This is why feel is hard Keep the rhythm the same for stroke. Posture is as important when you putt as it is when you make to teach because if your stroke every putt, but alter the length of a full swing and by standing tall, you let the tension out of your does not have a consistent tempo the stroke to determine distance. arms. Of course, I’ll widen my stance in the wind to find a stable base your pace control will always be This is the most reliable and but generally I like a narrow stance so my arms can hang naturally. off. The key is to reduce any jerky natural way to gain control.
1981 USPGA Championship B60 1982 US Open Pal 1982 British Open Pal 1982 USPGA Championship B60 1983 The Masters Anser 1983 US Open B60
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INSTRUCTION
3 FLOW THROUGH THE BALL As I have already mentioned, a good putting stroke is a flowing you can release the putter properly to the target when your left wrist is movement. For this reason I don’t like my left wrist to be too firm. rigid. I find the face often opens through the ball, pushing it out right, The importance of keeping your wrists solid when you are putting is, for so in my stroke, my left wrist breaks quite a lot. It’s that movement that me at least, a myth. It works for some people, but I personally don’t feel helps me release the putter and this is crucial.
Release your hands through impact
4LINING UP It is easy to get very technical on the greens, 5 THINK especially when you are struggling for form. So I make a mark on my ball to help with AGGRESSIVE my alignment. I just line it up to make sure Do not be afraid to miss. Your objective is I’m roughly heading in the right direction to think of holing the putt you face and and then try to feel the ball going in. By after that, if it doesn’t go in, try to make placing tees in the ground either side of my the next one. Every putt you hit should putterhead during practice, I know that I’m get to the hole, or at least most of them returning the putter square to the target. should, otherwise you aren’t even giving yourself a chance of scoring well. You can’t think about three-putting because to be successful in this game you have to be bold
y and give yourself a chance. a r r
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1 1983 British Open Pal 1984 US Open Zing 1984 British Open Anser 1984 USPGA Championship A-Blade 1985 British Open B60
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ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE
PUTT YOUR BEST
UNDER PRESSURE
PING TOUR PRO When the pressure’s on it’s easy to forget your routines. I try to JOHN PARRY use mine even on the practice green with my caddie, reading WWinnerinner 2010 VivendiVivendi Cup putts and treating them as we would normally. I believe this holds me in better stead out on the course. Here are some more things I work on for when the putts really count. TO GROOVE 1RHYTHM, DON’T LOOK Rhythm can be hard to maintain when you’re feeling the heat. This drill can help groove your rhythm. Take ten balls, hit one putt, then without looking up to see where it’s gone, hit the your head others one after Keep another, trying down to groove to send them the same distance. If your rhythm they end up in a nice little cluster, you know you’re using the same type of rhythm on each stroke. I wouldn’t like to see too much dispersion – perhaps a foot either way on a 15-footer. And I’d hope to be picking a few out of the hole too if my rhythm’s good!
STICK 2TO YOUR
ROUTINES You won’t hole every putt, but if you stick to the same routine every time, you’re giving yourself the best possible chance. I like to look from behind the ball, then from the far side, then from the side angle too, depending on the slope. Then, I stand behind the ball and picture what I think my line is so I’m not second-guessing myself. I make a couple of practice strokes to get a feel for the putt, take one final look, then
hit it. Being able to fall back on a trusted
routine – whatever it is – is great when the pressure’s on.
1985 USPGA Championship Anser 4 1986 USPGA Championship Anser 1987British Open Pal 2 1987 USPGA Championship Anser 2 1988 The Masters Pal
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INSTRUCTION
3 LOOK IN THE MIRROR Putting is probably the easiest technique in golf as all you’ve got to do and automatic they’ll become when it really counts. This mirror, which is move your shoulders. But if you’re lining up poorly, or your shoulders I use regularly, helps me do just that. There are a number of lines to are out, you’ll have to make other adjustments in your stroke to help ensure your eyes are over the ball, where they should be, and your compensate. Get the basics right in practice and the more cemented shoulders are square. It’s an ideal way to get the basics right.
READING 5DOWNHILL
PUTTS
I like to read putts from both sides of the
hole, but it’s usually more beneficial to read downhill putts from the far side as it makes it easier to see any break. Similarly with uphill putts I’d rarely read them from above the hole as you can’t see as much from a higher position. Downhill putts can be hard enough anyway when the pressure’s on. So take a good look from the other side of the hole for the best chance of reading the break correctly, especially near the hole where it will break more if your pace is right.
4KEEPING IT ON LINE
n r
e Sticking with the mirror, the two tee pegs are to check your putting stroke through the ball. If v e S
l you’re cutting across the line you’ll hit one of them. The blue and yellow lines act as guides, and u a P I’m looking to take the white line on my putter back along the central blue line on the mirror. y h
p On short putts, the putter should stay pretty much on the line, but on longer ones it will start to a r g o
t come inside the line a little if, like me and many of the other guys on Tour, your stroke is ‘in-to-in’. o h
P I’ve used mirrors like this for the last two-and-a-half years to help groove my stroke.
1988 US Open Zing 2 1988 British Open Anser 1988 USPGA Championship Pal 21989 US Open Zing 2 1989 British Open Anser
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ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE LONG PUTTERS AND LONG PUTTING The belly putter has been an important part of my game for PING TOUR PRO GREGORY HAVRET some time now. Here, I’ll explain the reasons why I converted Runner-up at the from the short to long putter and how I have trained and 2010 US Open adjusted my technique to be as consistent and mechanically sound as possible, especially from long range. WHY THE 1LONG PUTTER? Repetition lies at the heart of all golfing success. No matter whether you use a regular putter or a longer option, you need to set the same position every time. This is why I went to the belly putter. With a normal version my set-up would change through the year. My hands would get too low or my weight would be too much on one side, or my head would be in a different position. It was an evolution that slowly took place over months and it was costing me. So I went to the belly putter and now my address position is always the same. Of course, I do think about reverting back, but for me this is about the technique. It is easier for me to get sure you the address right with a longer putter and I Make wanted to have the best technique possible. t up the same se every time SETTING UP 2SQUARE
You will also notice that my left hand is below my right at address. This helps square up my shoulders. A right- below-left grip can cause you to lift your left shoulder too much and cut
across your putts. A squarer set-up helps me find a much better stroke.
1989 USPGA Championship Anser 2 1990 USPGA Championship Anser 1991 US Open Anser 2 1991 British Open Anser 2 1991 USPGA Championship Pal 2
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INSTRUCTION
P
Maintain a stable lower body
3 KEEP A SOLID BASE
One of the most important elements for me, especially when putting face of my putter is square through impact. It involves putting between from long range, is to keep my lower body steady. If your legs are two ball bearings that are fractionally wider than the ball. If your face is moving unnecessarily, the putter will not work back and through on a either open or closed at impact, you’ll know immediately. I do this every good line. I use this training aid in practice just to make sure that the day to build confidence and technique.
LONG PUTTING 4DRILL
I have one other big drill that I always use to help me get a feel for the pace of the greens and train my long putting. I take care to place ten balls at 10, 12 and 15 metres from the hole, as you can see here. The aim is to hit all ten balls to within gimme range – use your sand wedge to measure whether your putts are close enough to the hole. If you have developed a great feel you should be able to hit all ten balls in a row to within close range. If you leave one too short and send one too
y far past, go back to the beginning and start again. a r r
u This will add a little pressure to the situation, M
n
i recreating the feeling you’ll have on the course. v e K
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1 1992 The Masters Anser 1992 British Open B60 1993 US Open Zing 2 1993 British Open Anser 2 1993 USPGA Championship Anser
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ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE
FIND THE RIGHT PUTTER
FOR YOUR STROKE
Now that you have seen what the Tour players have to say TOP 25 COACH BARNEY about putting, it’s time to turn your attention to whether your PUTTICK equipment and technique are combining effectively. If you can Head pro, Mid Herts GC find a putter that complements your own approach, you’ll get the most from the technology on offer.
Figure out the path of your stroke
1 PATH FINDER
When it comes to putting there are two however, involves a curved stroke. A gently
schools of thought. The first revolves around shaping stroke, as right, allows the arms to
finding a straight path that keeps the putter work naturally around the body, offering feel
working along the target line throughout and control. The key point to take from this the stroke. Many players feel that by moving is to figure out which category your stroke on one simple line they are optimising their falls into. Then, you’ll need to make sure your chances of success. The second approach, equipment complements your approach.
1994 The Masters Zing 1994 US Open Anser 1995 USPGA Championship Anser 1997 US Open Anser 1997 USPGA Championship Anser 1998 The Masters Anser 2
12 Ultimate Putting Guide
INSTRUCTION
FACE-BALANCED 2 UNDERSTAND THE BALANCE So what exactly is it about different putters that makes them ideally suited to different stroke paths? The answer is simple: balance. Mallet putters and those models with double bend shafts tend to be what we call face-balanced. To illustrate the point I have balanced the shaft on my finger as you can see. The face-balanced putter has been perfectly weighted so the face points straight up. This will encourage the straight-back- and-through stroke we’ve just talked about. Conversely, if I do the same thing with my heel-and-toe, Anser-shaped model, you can see that the toe leans towards the ground. HEEL-AND-TOE This encourages the more rounded stroke that works so well for many players. Hopefully this explains why finding the right putter for your stroke is so important. The technology at work can make a huge difference.
EYES OVER EYES INSIDE 3 TECHNICAL DIFFERENCES There is one last technical difference that is important for you to know. In general, I like my pupils to get their eyes right over the ball when they putt as this gives you a real sense for where you are hitting. However, whilst this certainly applies for the face-balanced putter, if you prefer to use an Anser-shaped model and a curved stroke, you may wish to make a small change to this position. Set your
eyes slightly inside the ball-to-target line as s
e l i shown left. Again, this encourages the sort of M
m
o rounded stroke you’re after. T
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1 1998 British Open Anser 2 2004 British Open B60 2007 US Open Anser 2009 The Masters 1/2 Craz-E 2010 British Open Anser 2010 USPGA Championship Anser 2
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ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE
Family business: Father, Karsten (left) and son, John (right) discuss golf club design
Q&A PING
PUTTER DESIGNERS
For the last 50 years, Karsten and John Solheim have driven significant advancements in
golf club engineering. Here, we ask one of PING’s lead designers, Brad Schweigert, about the theory behind the technology at the heart of the brand’s modern putter creations
Why, with so many technological measure how the weight and balance of the advancements, is the classic Anser shape putter feels. In focusing on impact, the word putter still so popular today? virtually every golfer in our research uses Its functionality is exceptional. It has good to describe feel is “solid”. They don’t want a heel-toe balance, the weight is in the right “clicky” or “tinny” feel. We try to convert these spot, and it has a low centre of gravity. But subjective measures into more objective data the reason it’s become the gold standard of by breaking impact “feel” into measureable the industry goes beyond how well it works. frequency and amplitude data of vibrations Its shape, the soft edges of its ballasts, its felt through the hands, and sound heard angles, its proportions, they all resonate through the ears. Still, our research tells us with people. The attraction goes beyond that the ideal “solid” feel varies among golfers. measurables. Our founder, Karsten Solheim, That’s a major reason we have different got it right with this model more than 45 product lines with different “feels” such as the years ago and golfers have been putting Karsten 1959 and the Scottsdale series. better ever since. If aesthetics were of no importance to the How do you measure feel, or is that an golfer, what shapes would you produce? unquantifiable factor? How important is it? We’re conducting a lot of research into how From our research, feel is critically important, different shapes affect the golfer’s ability but it’s highly subjective. Most people to improve their alignment. Our ability to : Brad Schweigert Director of Club Design associate feel only with impact, but we also quantify and measure that is getting better.
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Q&A
What factors do you test when producing a We improved the MOI of the Karsten putter by The fi rst patent sketches of the Anser new design? thinning the face, but used an elastomer back We have a robotic putter tester to look at insert to dampen vibrations and provide the consistency across the face, and forgiveness. We really solid feel and sound that players want do a lot of player research with our employees. and expect from a thick, steel-faced putter. They test prototypes on our putting course where we track their scores, ask them about What has been the most exciting putter feel and sound, aesthetics, alignment features, technology you’ve worked on in recent years? and their perceived performance with different The most exciting stuff is in our deep research models. into people’s putting strokes and alignment. We can’t share everything we’re doing, but How much player testing is involved, both with studying stroke styles and consistency and the general public and Tour players? providing real performance benefits on the With prototypes we don’t have the luxury of green is what excites me most. What we’ll start working with the general public because of to reveal is the tip of the iceberg into building intellectual-property rights; however, we do knowledge that’s going to make a real conduct front-end general research outside our difference in people’s games. walls with the golfing public. Tour players areare very involved in development; we get PING’s Tour pla yer feedback is crucial their feedback throughout the process. We also have a large pool of employees who play golf, from high-handicappers to strong professional players, so we get a wide variety of playing abilities to test.
What are the difficulties of producing classic heads with new technologies? You see a lot of different options because For a while our strategy was to update putters are a very personal preference so our old models with new technologies people can find out for themselves what they because they still really resonate with like. It comes down to the individual’s own people. But now we’re giving the classics perception as to which shape helps you most. their own category and celebrating them that way. Moving forward, our strategy Some players swing the putter on an arc, some is to learn which technologies provide straight back and through. In your testing, real performance gains. We’re focused on have you discovered a path that produces measuring and improving consistency optimal results? In your designs, how do you in alignment, swing path, face angle at allow for different types of swings? impact, and ball velocity. We’re confident There isn’t one ideal swing path. But we have that if we can help golfers be more clear evidence that golfers with a strong consistent in these areas they will arc putting stroke deliver the clubface more improve their putting. consistently with a toe-down balanced putter. Conversely, golfers with a straight-back-and- What are the benefits of high MOI to a through stroke are more consistent with a player who’s struggling on the greens? face-balanced putter. Our research shows We did some studies that surprised us that the largest group comprises those in just how much higher the dispersion the middle who have a slight arc. That group patterns are in high-handicappers generally performs best with a mid-balanced compared to, say, a 5-handicap. So putter, like our traditional Anser, which is our goal with MOI is to create more probably another reason the Anser has been consistent rolls across the face. It’s so popular. interesting that our research shows that MOI impacts distance more than direction. Most What materials do you think might be experts agree that speed, or distance control, introduced into future heads and face inserts? is the most critical factor in improving putting Face inserts are an effective way to control performance, especially on longer putts. impact feel. Based on our research, the Scottsdale’s elastomer insert produces the Do you take ideas from the long game and try soft yet solid feel that people want and expect to incorporate them into putters, or do you try from an insert putter. Currently, we don’t see to keep the two separate? a huge consumer pull for a new feel, but we’re Irons and putters are similar in that people working on expanding insert technology to want products that look good, feel good, and achieve a more consistent ball velocity across perform consistently. The elastomer back insert a larger area of the face. The theory is easy, but on the Karsten putters is a good example sometimes it’s a lot harder to develop a “real” of how we borrowed from iron technology; PING’s Scottsdale Anser features a face insert solution that produces “real” results. specifically our custom tuning ports in irons.
Ultimate Putting Guide 15
ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE SCOTTSDALE
16 Ultimate Putting Guide 1
ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE EQUIPMENT
ESSENTIAL TECHNOLOGY
Each of the latest Scottsdale range features a new insert that has been designed to help players find good distance control and accuracy far more consistently. This insert is created from a thermoplastic elastomer and is combined with a face appliqué that helps to create a soft, yet solid, feel. The insert design also helps to provide you with a more consistent roll. There are 14 head shapes that range from classically compact designs to larger versions that are further equipped to prevent twisting. PING engineers have used the extra mass in the larger heads to offer sightlines that are clear to see at address to help improve alignment. The contrast of red alignment markings, as you can see below, against longer white sightlines, stand out and offer clear feedback on the precision of your set up. The dark head helps to reduce glare on sunny days and frames the ball nicely. As you will see on page 25, Miguel Angel Jimenez was an early adopter to the Scottsdale range, citing the firm contact but soft feel on offer.
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ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE
ANSER 2 £112 B60 £112 Balance: Heel-Toe Balance: Heel-Toe A classic-looking heel-toe This sits between an Anser-style balanced head with weight in shape and an all-out mallet the heel and toe to help design. Much like the Anser, the square the putter at impact. compact design will suit golfers The dark finish is combined with with a slight arc stroke who miss a single alignment line on putts to both the right and left. the back of the head.
HALF PIPE £132 Balance: Face A compact mallet with a single sightline and raised areas on the back of the head to aid alignment. The smallest face- balanced head in the Scottsdale range, the design will help players who tend to push their putts when under pressure.
HOHUM £132 Balance: Face A new mallet design with an elongated head to offer added stability, particularly for those who struggle from short range. Weight in the frame of the head helps to square the face at impact for added consistency.
CRAZ-E TOO £132 Balance: Face A modern mallet designed to improve consistency and aid alignment. The large frame helps to produce a solid stroke. The face-balanced design will suit golfers with a straight-back straight- through stroke who tend to miss putts to the right.
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EQUIPMENT
PICKEMUP £132 Balance: Face Curved bars on the back of the putter aid forgiveness and, when combined with an arc on the back of the putter, help to start the ball on the intended target. Also available as a belly or long option (both £142).
TOMCAT £112 Balance: Heel-Toe A compact blade shape with a thin top line to provide a confidence-inspiring look. A single white alignment line stands out against the dark head at address. WOLVERINE £132 Balance: Face Curved bars are attached to an elongated alignment aid to improve stability in the stroke. This helps players produce a more consistent stroke and will benefit those who tend to miss putts to the right. Available as a centre-shafted model or a heel-toe weighted offering.
Y WORRY £132 ZB £112 Balance: Face Balance: Heel-Toe The largest of the The most compact head of all Scottsdale heads provides the Scottsdale range, the ZB maximum forgiveness for will appeal to those who like those who need added a traditional look at address. A confidence when putting. small white alignment marking Weight is placed back and on the top of the head helps to into the corners of the identify the middle of the putter. head to help square the putter at impact.
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ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE
Karsten Solheim’s Eureka moment sketched on a record sleeve
RECORD BREAKER
In 1966, Karsten Solheim sketched a design for a new putter on the back of a record sleeve.
We tell the story of the ‘Anser’, the putter that has gone on to win more events than any other
ake a close look at the weighted head, Karsten Solheim was photograph above. Sketched unwittingly – in a simple bid to make the T on the back of a 78 rpm game a little easier – on the verge of a record sleeve in January landmark breakthrough. So he quickly set
1966, this drawing represents about bringing the sketch into life, but the moment that golf’s most influential there was something missing. The new equipment design was sparked into life. model needed a name and it was his wife, In combining an offset hosel that offered Louise, who came up with the idea. As his The Solheims create the first ‘Anser’ a clear view of the face and a perimeter- invention was intended to help players find
20 Ultimate Putting Guide 2
ARCHIVE
PING’s original ‘Anser’
a more stable stroke, addressing one of golf’s perpetual problems, it seemed only right to call it the ‘Answer’. But he had a dilemma. The deadline to get the putter to the engraver was looming large and the name was too long. It simply would not fit on the toe of the new model so Louise suggested losing the ‘w’. Forty-five years later, the PING Anser is one of the few equipment creations to have remained relatively unchanged from its original form. With over 600 professional wins and counting, it has stood the test of time and is just as popular now with the world’s top players as it ever was. But whilst the Anser design we all know and love was born from a Eureka moment and a simple sketch, Solheim had been working towards this breakthrough well before 1966. During the 1950s, Karsten Solheim was an Drawing board: Solheim’s 1A sketches engineer living and His burgeoning passion for golf, however, players get the most from their game. The working in led him to turn his attention specifically to design of the putter, however, born on the Redwood, California. putter design. Working nights from his garage, sketches illustrated here, remains at the very Solheim set about moving weight away from heart of what the company is all about. Hollow victory: The original 1Athe centre of the clubhead. He knew that if he could redistribute the bulk of the mass to the heel and toe, he would have a putter that would resist twisting at impact. And so his very first model was created in 1959 and given the name, 1A. Unlike the simple designs of the time, Solheim’s strange but highly effective invention was hollow. The differences didn’t end there. Whilst the popular putters of the day all delivered a dull thud at impact, the 1A sang out with a loud ‘ping’. It was in creating the 1A that Karsten
Solheim founded one of the world’s biggest n i p
p and most influential equipment companies. a T
l i
e Over the years, PING has become synonymous N
s
d with game-improving golf equipment in every r
o Solheim presents his new putter Winning formula: Solheim with the ‘Anser’
W category, designed to help a wide range of
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A
KARSTEN 1959
Named after the legendary founder of PING, the Karsten 1959 range draws
inspiration from some of the most recognisable and successful putters ever made. These iconic head designs are combined with modern manufacturing processes and materials. On each model an elastomer insert is positioned behind the face to soften the feel. This is combined with a traditional steel face to help deliver a consistent response. All six heads are finished with a non-glare satin look.
M
22 Ultimate Putting Guide 2
EQUIPMENT
ANSER 2 £87 ANSER X £87 Balance: Heel-Toe Balance: Face A classic-looking blade with a Like the Anser 2, this features a thin top rail that gives a clean classic-shaped head with weight look to inspire confidence. removed from behind the centre Features a single alignment line of the face and placed in the on the back of the head. Weight heel and toe. The shaft runs into in the heel and toe helps to the putter head, making it face- square the putter at impact. balanced rather than heel-toe.
KARSTEN B60 £87 CRAZ-E £108 Balance: Heel-Toe Balance: Face The B60 head sits between Now a well-established model an Anser head and an all-out in the PING range, the Craz-E is a mallet. The heel and toe feature high MOI design, which makes it extra weight, but this has been easier to deliver the face square smoothed off to provide a to the ball at impact. The shape of different look. A single white line the head and markings on top of on the back of the putter helps the putter make it easier to set up aid alignment. on the intended line.
MY DAY £87 ZING £87 Balance: Heel-Toe Balance: Heel-toe A classic heel-toe balanced putter, Designed predominantly for similar in shape, but with a those with a strong arc stroke different neck design compared who tend to miss putts to the to the Zing. This head will help left. This is prevented with a toe- players with a severe arc in their down balanced head that helps to swing, who tend to miss putts to square the face at impact. This is the left. Again a single sightline all achieved in a traditional look. aids alignment.
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ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE ON TOUR ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE ON TOUR
MY PUTTER LEE WESTWOOD Since switching to his current PING Since switching to his current PING Redwood Anser, Lee Westwood has Redwood Anser, Lee Westwood has found a new level of consistency found a new level of consistency that saw him become the world’s that saw him become the world’s number one player. number one player. My current putter is a Redwood Anser that is 35 Myinches current long, putter has 3˚ is loft a Redwood and a black Anser colour that code is 35 lie inches(70˚ angle). long, Ithas really 3˚ loft is the and sort a black of standard colour codePING lie putter (70˚that angle).you would It really pick is up the straight sort of offstandard the shelf. PING This putter has thatbeen you a fixture would in pick my up bag straight for about off threethe shelf. years This now has beenand I’ve a fixture played in really my bag well for with about it. It’sthree become years mynow and‘go-to’ I’ve putter, played but really at the well World with Matchit. It’s become Play earlier my ‘go-to’this year putter, I did trybut the at the Scottsdale World Match Half Pipe Play mallet, earlier thisonly year to revert I did tryback the to Scottsdale the Redwood Half Anser Pipe mallet, after the onlyfirst round.to revert Over back the to years, the Redwood however, Anser I have after played the firstplenty round. of different Over the mallet years, shapes however, and I haveeven playednow I’ll plentyoften pick of different up a new mallet mallet shapes to see and how even it feels. now I wonI’ll oftenthe Dunhill pick up Links a new Championship mallet to see in how 2003 it withfeels. a I half-won themallet Dunhill belly-length Links Championship putter. Whereas in 2003 lots with of other a half- malletplayers belly-length will get their putter. favourite Whereas grip put lots on of a other putter, playersI’ll use whatever will get their feels favourite good. So grip my Redwoodput on a putter, Anser I’llhas use the whatever same standard feels good. PING So grip my on Redwood it that Anser haswas the there same when standard I first picked PING grip it up. on it that was there when I first picked it up.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS RECENT HIGHLIGHTS Won 2 1/2 points at the Ryder Cup WonFinished 2 1/2 second points atat The the MastersRyder Cup FinishedFinished secondsecond atat The MastersOpen FinishedOctober 31st,second 2010 at became The Open World No.1 October 31st, 2010 became World No.1
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ON TOUR ON TOUR
MY PUTTER MIGUEL ANGEL
JIMÉNEZ JIMÉNEZ The 47-year-old Spaniard had The 47-year-old Spaniard had a vintage 2010, winning three a vintage 2010, winning three times and playing a crucial role in times and playing a crucial role in recapturing the Ryder Cup. recapturing the Ryder Cup. While other players find specific putters and stick Whilewith them other for players years, find I’m notspecific afraid putters to change and stick to withlook themfor improvement. for years, I’m Last not year afraid I won to change three times, to lookeach forwith improvement. a different putter Last year in the I won bag! three Some times, of the eachputters with I have a different had over putter the years in the have bag! been Some face- of the puttersbalanced, I have some had have over been the heel-and-toeyears have been – for face- me, balanced,it’s all about some how have it feels been in heel-and-toe my hands. The – for model me, I it’sam all currently about how using it isfeels the incentre-shafted my hands. The Scottsdale model I amPickemup, currently which using I also is the used centre-shafted at the Ryder Scottsdale Cup. I like Pickemup,the way the which ball comesI also used off the at theface Ryder – it’s firmCup. butI like the thefeel way is still the soft. ball One comes recent off theadjustment face – it’s I havefirm but made the feelis to is cut still the soft. length One downrecent to adjustment 33.5 inches. I Thishave simply made ishelps to cut my the arms length hang down down to more 33.5 inches.naturally This in simply the helpsaddress my position. arms hang I have down my more putters naturally quite upright, in the addressas I stand position. tall and I havehave themy putterputters close quite to upright, my feet. asMy I standScottsdale tall and is at have green the lie putter (2˚ upright) close to with my thefeet. Mystandard Scottsdale PING is grip. at green lie (2˚ upright) with the standard PING grip.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS RECENT HIGHLIGHTS Won 2010 Dubai Desert Classic Won 2010 DubaiFrench Desert Open Classic Won 2010 FrenchEuropean Open Masters Won 2010two pointsEuropean at the Masters 2010 Ryder Cup Won two points at the 2010 Ryder Cup
Ultimate Putting Guide 25 Ultimate Putting Guide 25
ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE
MY PUTTER BUBBA WATSON The American narrowly missed out in a play-off at last year’s USPGA. His second-place finish, however, ensured his place at the Ryder Cup.
I have only ever really used three putters. The first was a
classic PING B60 that I had in the bag up until about 2000
when John Solheim himself designed me a new version.
This one had a blue Titanium face insert that was lighter
to maximise the heel-and-toe weighting and it felt really
nice. I used that for about three years, but when the current
Redwood range was launched I swapped straight into the
Anser version that I am using now. It’s 34 inches long with a
black colour code (70˚ lie angle) and it has 3˚ loft. What sets
my putter apart, however, is the finish. It has a white, sand-
blasted look and has been painted with pink and neon
green colours that really pop out when looking down at
address. These are my colours and I love the way this looks.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS Won the 2010 Travelers Championship Finished second at the USPGA Championship Won the 2011 Farmers Insurance Open
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ON TOUR
MY PUTTER HUNTER MAHAN With two wins on the PGA Tour last year to earn his place on the Ryder Cup team, the American feels no need to part with the old favourite.
Throughout my career I have used classic-shaped putters.
I have used various versions of the PING Anser, but my
current putter is the PING IWI D66. This has the same hosel
design as an Anser, but there is just a little more meat
behind the head. This has been in the bag now for about
three years and is set to 34 inches long, with 3˚ of loft and
a black colour code (70˚ lie angle). One of the great things
about the IWI putter is that you can change the weights in
the heel and toe to affect the feel. Having said that,
the standard weighting has played a crucial role in my wins
at the Phoenix Open and the Bridgestone Invitational,
as well as helping me make the last two Ryder Cup teams.
I haven’t seen much need to change it!
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS Won the WGC Bridgestone Invitational Finished 7th in FedEx Cup Won the 2010 Phoenix Open
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ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE
REDWOOD
The Redwood head designs are all compact shapes that are 100% milled from 303 stainless steel. Clean flowing lines feature on all six of the head shapes, helping to
inspire confidence. Two finish options are available – traditional black nickel or a glare- reducing black satin. The name Redwood pays tribute to the home of the original PING putter – Redwood City, California. It was here, in Karsten Solheim’s garage, where the first PING putter was created.
y
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EQUIPMENT
ZING £220 D66 £220 Balance: Heel-toe Balance: Heel-toe Extra weight in the toe, compared A more compact head shape compared to the likes of the Anser, helps those to the Anser but another design with with a severe arc in their stroke to weight moved from behind the middle get the face back square at impact. of the head to aid consistency. The heel- The clean lines of the putter will help shafted design has very little offset and to remove distraction at address. will also suit players with a slight arc in their stroke.
PIPER S £220 ZB £220 Balance: Face Balance: Heel-Toe A compact mallet that is the The most compact of the heaviest of the Redwood putter Redwood series designs, the ZB designs. The face-balanced has a blade-like look at address. weighting will be most suited An alignment marking on the top to players with a straight-back of the head helps to identify the straight-through stroke, particularly middle of the putter. if they tend to miss to the right.
BLACK SATIN FINISHES The D66 and ZB Redwood heads are also available in the Black Satin finish you can see here. This all-black look works to reduce glare off the putters on sunny days and helps the white alignment line to standout at address. This combination has been created to help golfers who look for a classic design to get as precisely aligned as possible.
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ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE
Golden memories: Westwood has 40 replica putters
THE MIDAS TOUCH
The PING Gold Putter Vault in Arizona is a unique tribute to the achievements of many of the game’s greatest-ever players. Here we take a look inside, revealing the story behind it
t all began in the early headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. The putters ‘70s when PING’s founder, were engraved with the professional’s name I Karsten Solheim, decided and the tournament that he or she won. As to commemorate those these exclusive photographs show, the vault professionals who won has snowballed to become perhaps the most tournaments using his putters. The idea significant collection of putters in the game. was simply to make two gold-plated replica There are now more than 2,500 putters versions of the winning model, one for the in the Arizona vault commemorating the sosolid golold Anserer A player and the other for a vault kept in PING’s achievements of a whole host of the game’s
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FEATURE
Gold standard: A selection of gold putters
greatest players from Nick Faldo to Tiger Woods. Of course, the Anser head leads the way with over 600 models in the collection. Not every putter in the vault, however, is there to celebrate a tournament win. PING- sponsored players who reach significant milestones such as winning $10 million in career earnings also receive this unique accolade. One of those to hit this mark is Lee Westwood (in fact, he has won over $30 million during his illustrious career). The Englishman recently visited the vault and was reunited with the 40 gold putters he has notched up over the years. They include 33 tournament wins captured using no fewer than 11 different models. Westwood, however, is not the player with the most putters in this astonishing archive. This milestone goes to Seve Ballesteros. The Spaniard has a highly impressive 44 putters to his name. When Louis Oosthuizen (bottom, right) won last year’s Open Championship he received Adding up: squeezing another winner in one of 53 gold putters made to commemorate major wins (astonishingly, this includes victories in all four majors from the 1988 season). Ever since 1995, any major-winning player has received the extra special gift of a solid gold version of the winning model. The final question, therefore is a rather obvious one; what would the collection be worth? Of course, the gold itself has a simple monetary value but as part of a collection that n
a commemorates some of the greatest-ever g a H ’ achievements by the greatest-ever players, the O
l
u PING Gold Putter Vault is unique. As such it
a P
s
d is virtually impossible to give it a price tag. In r o Nick Faldo’s Open-winning replica Join the club: Louis gets a solid gold putter W fact, you might say it was priceless.
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ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE
JAS & FAITH
The JAS series of putters feature a stainless steel outer body combined with a lightweight urethane alignment aid to help maximise perimeter weighting.
This increases moment of inertia for improved forgiveness. A nano-nickel insert improves feel. The Faith range is designed to provide women with added confidence on the greens using the latest technology. A urethane insert delivers a consistent response off the face to improve distance control. The weight saved from the insert is repositioned to the perimeter for added forgiveness.
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EQUIPMENT
JAS CRAZ-E JAS CRAZ-D £174 £174 Balance: Face Balance: Face The square design A multi-tiered alignment features 96 grams of system improves accuracy tungsten in the corners by making it easier to aim of the aluminium head the face on the intended to increase forgiveness. line. The square head shape The black anodized increases moment of inertia coating helps aid the and makes it easier to durability of the head square the face at and reduces glare in impact. sunny weather.
JAS CRAZ-E MOMENT £174 The polymer insert is coated using nano-nickel technology to help FAITH ANSER £103 produce a solid feel at impact as A classic head shape is combined well as improve the impact sound. A with a urethane insert to provide white line on top of the head stands a consistent feel for improved out against the black urethane core distance control. Weight in the to aid alignment. heel and toe of the putter helps prevent the face from opening or closing at impact.
FAITH CRAZ-E £128 FAITH WACK-E £128 A high stability design that improves A large modern mallet aids consistency and makes it easier confidence by offering added to start the head on the intended stability through the stroke. Material target. Weight saved from using a has been removed from the centre lightweight insert is repositioned in of the head and repositioned to the the perimeter of the head for added perimeter. This makes the stroke control, particularly on short putts. more consistent and helps to square the face at impact.
Ultimate Putting Guide 33
ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE INSTRUCTION SECOND 60 CHECKLIST
FACE ANGLE SOLID RELEASE REGULARLY CHECK TO MAKE AS YOU SWING SURE THE FACE OF YOUR THROUGH THE BALL, PRESSURE PUTTER IS SQUARE TO THE RELEASE THE PUTTER POINT TARGET THROUGH IMPACT AND AVOID TRYING DEVELOP A TO GUIDE THE FACE ROUTINE AND TOWARDS THE STICK TO IT, BOTH RHYTHM CHECK TARGET IMPROVE THE FLOW ON COURSE OF YOUR STROKE AND DURING PRACTICE, TO BY STANDING TALL STROKE LENGTH AND LETTING YOUR HELP YOU STAY TRY TO GROOVE A SMOOTH HANDS HANG DOWN CALM UNDER RHYTHM AND LET THE LENGTH PRESSURE NATURALLY. TRY NOT OF YOUR STROKE DETERMINE TO LET TENSION HOW FAR YOU HIT THE BALL CREEP INTO YOUR ADDRESS POSITION PUTTER CONSISTENCY CHECK CHOICE BE CAREFUL TO ADDRESS THE BALL THE SAME WAY FOR EVERY PUTT YOU HIT IF YOUR STROKE IS IN-TO-SQUARE- TO-IN, THINK READING PUTTS ABOUT AN ANSER- PACE SHAPED PUTTER. LOOK AT THE LINE OF YOUR CONTROL ALTERNATIVELY, PUTTS FROM MORE THAN ONE TAKE TIME CONSIDER A MALLET ANGLE TO GAIN A BETTER FEEL TO HIT IF YOUR STROKE IS FOR BREAK. ALWAYS REMEMBER LONG PUTTS STRAIGHT-BACK- BEFORE YOU THAT IF THE GRASS ON THE LINE AND-THROUGH PLAY TO OF YOUR PUTT LOOKS DARK IT IS DEVELOP A INTO THE GRAIN AND IF IT’S LIGHT, BETTER FEEL IT’S DOWN GRAIN FOR THE AGGRESSION PACE OF THE GIVE EVERY PUTT A CHANCE OF GREENS GOING IN BY GETTING THE BALL PAST THE HOLE. YOU NEED TO BE BOLD TO SCORE YOUR BEST
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