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Last week, easyyy, Asleep, and I had the ridiculously awesome opportunity to meet with the fine folks at PING. Over the next little bit, we'll be recounting the details of that trip as they come to us (I'm still buzzing) and as we get the green light to show and tell the new product lines. But, as many of you have read: today is the day PING announces their line of Precision Milled putters. 
On June 7 at 10:45 am local time, we talked with the people behind the new line of Anser putters. It was obvious that they were proud of what they've come up with and their goal was clear: a reclamation of the Anser. Having oogled, handled, and sampled the putters, I'm inclined to believe that they've accomplished their goal.
Milled from 303 stainless with headweights of 350 grams (353 for the anser 5), the line of Anser putters are as solid as you could hope for. It is easy to transition from one model to the other as PING wanted to ensure consistency between each. This was accomplished through subtle design details that would have been lost on me had they not been explained. While serving to increase aesthetic value, the mill marks on the shoulders serve to cut reflection, helping to reduce glare in direct sunlight.
On Ansers 2, 4, and 6, there is a slight beveling on the face to help thin the appearance of the topline without having to sacrifice the feel, which would have been the effect had PING thinned the entire face. These three Ansers also see the customary sharpening and slight heel drop we've come to expect in this design.
Personally, I'd have liked to see more distinction in the bumpers between the two head designs (more rounding in the 0, 1, 3, and 5; more flattened in the 2, 4, and 6), but the "hybrid" bumper serves both shapes well. Throughout the putter, lines are softened with radii cuts that are only seen in the highest quality putters. One of the most subtle details is how the radius cuts on the heel and the toe essentially define the putter in harder lines--almost by shadow. The effect is nearly invisible except at address where it serves to better frame the ball.
What this all boils down to is the creation of a putter that the golfer can form an emotional connection with. It is a PING Anser that is more reminiscent of past iterations than some of it's more blocky, mechanic, and even impersonal contemporaries and offers all the benefits of a premium line. No more does PING have to suffer Anser envy, even to the most expensive tour putters.
But for PING, designing clubs is much more than coming up with something perdy. Much as Karsten Solheim did way back when, the folks at PING wanted to come out with a product and ideology where the focus is on putting BETTER, namely by creating (recreating) a line of Ansers that work best with individual strokes.
As Asleep posted HERE, PING has provided golfers with a tool that takes the guesswork out of trying to figure out what kind of stroke we have. Before the fitting I was positive that mine was a straight back/through stroke. However, evidence suggested otherwise--which explains why I've always loved the Anser 4/Anser style putters. Moreover, PING has marked each of their new putters to correspond with the stroke they're designed to go with: straight, slight arc, and strong arc.
In this Precision Milled line of putters, PING has introduced the Sydney. This is a face-balanced putter (straight) that is made of aircraft aluminum with the same nanotech coating found in the iN putter inserts. This gives the putter a much stronger resistance to dings and scratches than it would otherwise have (see: the Doc putters). It is actually a strong enough finish that a ping-pong ball with a nanotech coating is strong enough to stand on without being crushed. Either way, it is PING's premium mallet, and actually looks very nice.
Finally, the Premium Milled line of Ansers all come with a refreshed, full-cord version of the PP58 grip, identical to the Pingman grip we've all grown to love but with a grey color, accented with a full cord that is a VERY welcome addition (in my mind, at least). The headcovers are also quality--a thick leather-like material with a magnetic closure that are a breeze to take on and off.
Right now, I'm not too sure what the release date is for these putters--I was having a hard enough time listening while they were passing them around the table (and, to be honest, i was trying to figure out how i could walk out with one or five of them at the time
), but it can't be too much longer. But one thing I do know--LEFTY AVAILABILITY ON ALL OF THEM! 
But for now, here's the pics!
On June 7 at 10:45 am local time, we talked with the people behind the new line of Anser putters. It was obvious that they were proud of what they've come up with and their goal was clear: a reclamation of the Anser. Having oogled, handled, and sampled the putters, I'm inclined to believe that they've accomplished their goal.
Milled from 303 stainless with headweights of 350 grams (353 for the anser 5), the line of Anser putters are as solid as you could hope for. It is easy to transition from one model to the other as PING wanted to ensure consistency between each. This was accomplished through subtle design details that would have been lost on me had they not been explained. While serving to increase aesthetic value, the mill marks on the shoulders serve to cut reflection, helping to reduce glare in direct sunlight.
On Ansers 2, 4, and 6, there is a slight beveling on the face to help thin the appearance of the topline without having to sacrifice the feel, which would have been the effect had PING thinned the entire face. These three Ansers also see the customary sharpening and slight heel drop we've come to expect in this design.
Personally, I'd have liked to see more distinction in the bumpers between the two head designs (more rounding in the 0, 1, 3, and 5; more flattened in the 2, 4, and 6), but the "hybrid" bumper serves both shapes well. Throughout the putter, lines are softened with radii cuts that are only seen in the highest quality putters. One of the most subtle details is how the radius cuts on the heel and the toe essentially define the putter in harder lines--almost by shadow. The effect is nearly invisible except at address where it serves to better frame the ball.
What this all boils down to is the creation of a putter that the golfer can form an emotional connection with. It is a PING Anser that is more reminiscent of past iterations than some of it's more blocky, mechanic, and even impersonal contemporaries and offers all the benefits of a premium line. No more does PING have to suffer Anser envy, even to the most expensive tour putters.
But for PING, designing clubs is much more than coming up with something perdy. Much as Karsten Solheim did way back when, the folks at PING wanted to come out with a product and ideology where the focus is on putting BETTER, namely by creating (recreating) a line of Ansers that work best with individual strokes.
As Asleep posted HERE, PING has provided golfers with a tool that takes the guesswork out of trying to figure out what kind of stroke we have. Before the fitting I was positive that mine was a straight back/through stroke. However, evidence suggested otherwise--which explains why I've always loved the Anser 4/Anser style putters. Moreover, PING has marked each of their new putters to correspond with the stroke they're designed to go with: straight, slight arc, and strong arc.
In this Precision Milled line of putters, PING has introduced the Sydney. This is a face-balanced putter (straight) that is made of aircraft aluminum with the same nanotech coating found in the iN putter inserts. This gives the putter a much stronger resistance to dings and scratches than it would otherwise have (see: the Doc putters). It is actually a strong enough finish that a ping-pong ball with a nanotech coating is strong enough to stand on without being crushed. Either way, it is PING's premium mallet, and actually looks very nice.
Finally, the Premium Milled line of Ansers all come with a refreshed, full-cord version of the PP58 grip, identical to the Pingman grip we've all grown to love but with a grey color, accented with a full cord that is a VERY welcome addition (in my mind, at least). The headcovers are also quality--a thick leather-like material with a magnetic closure that are a breeze to take on and off.
Right now, I'm not too sure what the release date is for these putters--I was having a hard enough time listening while they were passing them around the table (and, to be honest, i was trying to figure out how i could walk out with one or five of them at the time
), but it can't be too much longer. But one thing I do know--LEFTY AVAILABILITY ON ALL OF THEM! But for now, here's the pics!
