Equipment

For its 50th Anniversary, Ping is recreating the original Anser putters

Published

8 years ago

Jun 14, 2016

In 1966, Karsten Solheim invented the Ping Anser putter, which has became so popular that when golfers see an imitator — and there’s a lot of them — they’re often dubbed “Anser-style.” Fifty years later, Ping has gone to great lengths to create a limited-edition line of Anser putters that are as much like the originals as possible.

The limited-edition putters are made from the original Anser molds, using the original parts and metals, and created in the same foundry that produced the first Anser putters. So for golf history buffs, this release is something special.

Making the story better is that Karsten’s son and current Ping CEO John Solheim will have his hands on every single putter released. Ping plans on releasing 1,550 right-handed versions, and 150 left-handed models. Solheim is grinding the soles of each putter, just as he used to do with the original Ansers in his father’s garage.

The putters will have the original Ping grips, which Tiger Woods has since made famous, and the shafts are made by True Temper, with the same step pattern as the originals.

What’s “modernized” about the new putters are the toe and heel bumpers, which used to be shaped by hand using sandpaper. The 2016 versions had that shaping already built into the molds.

Speaking of those molds, there’s either a “K,” which stands for Karsten, or an “A,” which stands for “Allan,” John’s brother, engraved on the hosel of the putters, which indicate which of the two original molds were used to cast each putter. According to John Solheim, the putters produced by the different molds will not be identical because the Karsten, or “K” mold, had the radius on its heel slightly nicked. So the heel on the “K” putters have what John calls the “slope side.”

While the putters are made from the same high-strength, manganese-bronze metal, the hosels are applied with epoxy, while the originals were not. Without the epoxy, the original Anser putters sometimes cracked at the hosel, according to Solheim.

You will also notice inserts in the toe and heel, which are tungsten weights used to bring the heads “up to weight.” The putter heads weigh 350 grams, which is significantly heavier than the originals, but standard these days.

The putters have no release date at this point, but sometime before the 51st Anniversary would be a safe bet. Remember, John Solheim is grinding each of the putters, which he says takes roughly 4-5 minutes each. There is no set price, either, but according to Solheim, “They won’t be cheap.”

See what WRXers are saying about the putters in our forum.

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Andrew Tursky

He played on the Hawaii Pacific University Men's Golf team and earned a Masters degree in Communications. He also played college golf at Rutgers University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

9 Comments

cgasucks

Jun 20, 2016 at 2:38 pm

If Mr. Solheim himself is going to grind the putters like his dad did you know its not gonna be cheap…

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MisawaGol4

Jun 16, 2016 at 6:23 am

So these are exactly like the originals, same metal, same molds, and from the same garage. Minus the fact that now they have added weight plugs and the hosels are attached differently, but John Solheim will be guaranteed to have touched these for at least 4 whole minutes! Who can put a price tag on that? Apparently Ping can. There is a reason the originals value will increase and these will start high but never really amount to much. I never buy a limited or collectors edition of anything. You are guaranteed that they will be anything but that.

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jimmy snodgrass

Jun 15, 2016 at 11:04 am

maybe i should’nt give my secrets away but i could never afford pro shop prices for clubs or clothing, i play golf at public courses because of the mostly private club restrictions on attire. i wear golf polo shirts, with whatever nice club logo i know, have a dozen masters shirts, several congressionals, and even a bob hope chrysler classic, most of them bought for 2 to 3 dollars. i wear levi’s , not holed up because they fit me best. i had a fairly nice, pleated pair of pants with the pockets cut down the sides, hopped into a golf cart, and lost most of the items in my pockets, because, when sitting, the pockets were parallel, coins and a swiss army knife were lost somewhere on the course, and i still have 2 pairs of leather footjoy classics with steel spikes, in great shape, just waiting for the day when they are re-allowed.

Reply Report comment
- Ryan morris
  
  Jun 16, 2016 at 4:46 am
  
  I missed the secret.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - The MailMan
    
    Jun 19, 2016 at 3:30 am
    
    Not true. I am actually doing your husband.
    
    Reply Report comment
Anser 4

Jun 15, 2016 at 12:58 am

If this came in Anser 4 I would be over it like a rash.

Reply Report comment
Weekend Duffer

Jun 14, 2016 at 11:13 pm

You can buy the actual originals for $35 on eBay, yet they will likely charge $350 for the remake.

Reply Report comment
- Joey
  
  Jun 15, 2016 at 8:58 am
  
  Less than that. You can get Zings and My Days for around $10 bucks (shipping not included).
  
  Reply Report comment
- Joe Duffer
  
  Jun 15, 2016 at 12:08 pm
  
  Wrong… a nice original Scottsdale Anser will still bring north of $1000
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

Spotted: Project X Denali hybrid shaft

Published

50 mins ago

Apr 25, 2024

Brian Knudson

Project X’s Denali wood shafts have been seen in more and more golf bags this year as we start off the season. As a refresher, Denali Blue is the mid-launch and mid-spin model while Denali Black is for players seeking lower launch and spin.

Denali combines great feel with stability and increased ball speed. Currently, Project X only offers Denali Blue and Black in wood shafts, but we spotted a hybrid shaft in Daniel Berger’s bag at the 2024 Zurich Classic.

Check out in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s full WITB here.

The shaft looks to be a Denali Blue 105G – HY in TX flex. No word on details from Project X yet but we can assume that this is a mid-launching shaft that weighs around 105 grams in Tour X-Stiff flex.

Berger has this shaft in his TaylorMade P770 3-iron, likely for some added launch and spin to hold the green from longer distances.

Hopefully, this means we will see some more shafts coming under the Denali name in the future, as I think many of us would like to try one in a hybrid or utility iron!

Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Zurich Classic
Check out in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s full WITB here.

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Whats in the Bag

Daniel Berger WITB 2024 (April)

Published

21 hours ago

Apr 24, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here.

Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X

Check out more in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s clubs in the forums.

6-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2011 (4-PW)
Shafts: Project X Denali Blue 105 TX (3), Project X 6.5 (4-PW)

Check out more in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s clubs in the forums.

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F), Callaway Jaws Raw (60-08C)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (56, 60)

Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Mini DB
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy PistolLock 1.0

Check out more in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s clubs in the forums.

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Wrap

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Check out more in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s clubs in the forums.

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Equipment

Heavy Artillery: A look at drivers in play at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Published

22 hours ago

Apr 24, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

What are the driver and shaft combinations of the best golfers in the world? For gearheads, it’s an endlessly interesting question — even if we can only ever aspire to play LS heads and 7 TX shafts.

At this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, GolfWRX got in-hand looks at the driver setups of a wealth of players.

Check out some of the most interesting combos below, then head to the GolfWRX forums for the rest, as well as the rest of our galleries from New Orleans.