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

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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.

Ping_Limited_Edition_Anser_2016_Address

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.

Ping_Limited_Edition_Anser_2016_sole

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.”

Ping_Limited_Edition_Anser_2016_hosel

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.

Ping_Limited_Edition_Anser_2016_face

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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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

9 Comments

  1. 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…

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Anser 4

    Jun 15, 2016 at 12:58 am

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

  5. 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.

    • 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).

    • Joe Duffer

      Jun 15, 2016 at 12:08 pm

      Wrong… a nice original Scottsdale Anser will still bring north of $1000

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Whats in the Bag

Kris Kim WITB 2024 (May)

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Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees @13.5)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 73 TX

Irons: TaylorMade P770 (2, 4), TaylorMade P7MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX (2), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X

Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (50-09SB, 56-12SB, 60-11TW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 WV 125

Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

Check out more in-hand photos of Kris Kim’s equipment here.

 

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Welcome to the family: TaylorMade launches PUDI and PDHY utility irons

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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.

TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.

TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.

Can you see where this is going?

Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”

 

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TaylorMade PUDI

TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)

Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.

In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.

TaylorMade PDHY

TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).

Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.

Club Junkie’s take

Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.

For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.

PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?

TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:

  • PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
  • PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
  • Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
  • PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
  • PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family

Pricing, specs, and availability

Price: $249.99

At retail: Now

Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)

Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)

PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed

PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed

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Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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