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Ping celebrates 50 years of Anser putters with limited-edition release

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In June, we covered the planned release of Ping’s 50th Anniversary Anser putters, the original heel-toe weighted blade that’s still the most popular style of putter on the professional tours. Make sure to read Andrew Tursky’s story to catch up on the important details.

Here’s what else you need to know about the putters, which are currently available from authorized Ping golf shops.

  • The limited-edition Anser putters ($900) are made from high-tensile manganese bronze, and manufactured in the U.S. using the same vendors Ping used in 1966. Each putter come with a commemorative presentation box, a leather putter cover and a certificate of authenticity signed by Ping Chairman and CEO John Solheim.
  • Each putter’s sole is hand ground by John Solheim, who also ground the soles of the original Anser putters for his father Karsten (Ping’s founder) in his family’s garage.
Photo courtesy of Ping

John Solheim grinding a limited-edition Anser putter (photo courtesy of Ping).

“Most people don’t realize the amount of hand work that went into the original Anser putters 50 years ago,” John Solheim said. “The radiuses on both of the hand-machined tools were finished with a file and sandpaper by Karsten. I built most of the original Ansers in the garage, starting with machining and grinding the raw castings and continuing on through final assembly. My brother Allan machined the second mold, which is slightly different and often referred to as the ‘slope-side’ mold. We wanted to bring that hand crafted approach back as part of the Anser’s 50-year celebration and its remarkable contribution to golf.”

  • The limited-edition putters are made from the original Anser molds with the same sand-casting process. They are produced by one of two molds (one machined by Karsten, and one machined by Karsten’s son, Allan) at East Bay Brass Foundry in Richmond, California.
  • The putters are finished at Ping’s headquarters in Phoenix. Tungsten heel and toe weights are added to give the putters a modern weighting.
  • Ping will produce 1,550 right-handed Anser putters, 775 from Karsten’s mold and 775 from Allan’s mold. The putters will be distinguished by a K or an A on the serial number on inside of the hosel. Left-handed models will also be available.
  • The shafts are made by True Temper (Emory, Mississippi), and use a high-step design like the original Anser putter shafts. The Ping PP58 grips also maintain the original design, and are made by Golf Pride (Southern Pines, N.C.). Even the grip tape manufacturer is the same: 3M (St. Paul, Minnesota).

Anser history

  • Karsten Solheim sketched the original Anser on a 78-rpm record sleeve. The design was patented the next year.
  • The putter’s name came from Karsten’s wife, Louise. Karsten was searching for the “answer” to the putting problems of the time. Louise suggested the name Answer, but when it wouldn’t fit on the toe of the putter she suggested that Karsten shorten the name to Anser.

Ping_50th_anniversary_putters

  • The Anser’s first win came from Lionel Hebert in 1966 at the Florida Citrus Open (now the Arnold Palmer Invitational). Its first major championship victory came from George Archer at the Masters in 1969.
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16 Comments

16 Comments

  1. Pingback: Limited Edition PING Anser Putter – Ted & Dave Custom Golf

  2. Darryl

    Nov 17, 2016 at 8:00 am

    The close up picture at the top of the page doesnt speak well to the quality of finish. Imperfection at the base of the hosel and a quite rough looking finish elsewhere. I love all things Ping but this just looks like bandwagon jumping, especially with the price tag.

  3. Tom

    Nov 9, 2016 at 9:20 pm

    I like that made in U S A .

  4. Mike

    Nov 9, 2016 at 4:53 pm

    A really cool putter that I’m sure many would love to own, but they definitely missed their target when pricing at $900/ea. Also, making 1500 pcs doesn’t make this all that rare. As many have pointed out you can get an original for a small fraction of the price. Unfortunately, I don’t see many justifying the price tag on this one.

  5. mka

    Nov 9, 2016 at 4:31 pm

    I have their Scottsdale Anser limited that was launched several years ago…same mold I believe. So glad I already have one because $900 is beyond my price range.

  6. Dennis

    Nov 8, 2016 at 10:07 pm

    Took my old Anser and stuck it in the fireplace. Saved 900 bucks.

  7. Philip

    Nov 8, 2016 at 7:53 pm

    Can pick up a used one for under $30 … best part – it looks the same!

  8. Dude

    Nov 8, 2016 at 5:15 pm

    For $900 they better come with a circle T.

  9. Tom

    Nov 8, 2016 at 4:23 pm

    I haven’t seen anything that black since my first wife burnt the thanks giving turkey

  10. Mark

    Nov 8, 2016 at 1:43 pm

    I was interested until I saw the price.

  11. Jamie

    Nov 8, 2016 at 11:41 am

    If taylormade did this, there would be a revolt.

  12. Rors

    Nov 8, 2016 at 10:41 am

    Scotty who???

  13. BrentF

    Nov 8, 2016 at 10:35 am

    $900 for a Ping Anser? What a chunk of change!

  14. Desmond

    Nov 8, 2016 at 9:08 am

    Nice, but if the Ansers of the ’90s are any indication, they were pretty light in headweight. Looks as if they added tungsten weights to the heel and toe of the face. A bit pricey, but it’s history.

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made

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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 Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.

From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.

Specs/ Additional Details

-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)

-Original Anser Design

-PING PP58 Grip

-Putter is built to standard specs.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made

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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Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes

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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.

The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.

On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.

Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.

At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.

“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.

Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.

“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.

“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.” 

In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.

Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.

On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.

According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.

“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.” 

See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here. 

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Why Rory McIlroy will likely use the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper at the RBC Heritage

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Although we spotted Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper last week during practice rounds at the Masters, he ultimately didn’t decide to use the club in competition.

It seems that will change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage, played at the short-and-tight Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head.

When asked on Wednesday following his morning Pro-Am if he’d be using the new, nostalgic BRNR Copper this week, McIlroy said, “I think so.”

“I like it,” McIlroy told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday regarding the BRNR. “This would be a good week for it.”

 

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According to Adrian Rietveld, the Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, the BRNR Mini Driver can help McIlroy position himself properly off the tee at the tight layout.

Here’s what Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday:

“For someone like Rory, who’s that long at the top end of the bag, and then you put him on a course like Harbour Town, it’s tough off the tee. It’s tight into the greens, and you have to put yourself in position off the tee to have a shot into the green. It kind of reminds me of Valderrama in Spain, where you can be in the fairway and have no shot into the green.

“I’m caddying for Tommy [Fleetwood] this week, so I was walking the course last night and looking at a few things. There’s just such a small margin for error. You can be standing in the fairway at 300 yards and have a shot, but at 320 you don’t. So if you don’t hit a perfect shot, you could be stuck behind a tree. And then if you’re back at 280, it might be a really tough shot into the small greens.

“So for Rory [with the BRNR], it’s a nice course-specific golf club for him. He’s got both shots with it; he can move it right-to-left or left-to-right. And the main thing about this club has been the accuracy and the dispersion with it. I mean, it’s been amazing for Tommy.

“This was the first event Tommy used a BRNR last year, and I remember talking to him about it, and he said he couldn’t wait to play it at Augusta next year. And he just never took it out of the bag because he’s so comfortable with it, and hitting it off the deck.

“So you look at Rory, and you want to have the tools working to your advantage out here, and the driver could hand-cuff him a bit with all of the shots you’d have to manufacture.”

So, although McIlroy might not be making a permanent switch into the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper, he’s likely to switch into it this week.

His version is lofted at 13.5 degrees, and equipped with a Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft.

See more photos of Rory testing the BRNR Mini here

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