ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE

Transcription

SCORE
BETTER
Drills to groove
the perfect tempo
How to hole-out
under pressure
GEAR
GUIDE
Find the putter
for your stroke
From Scottsdale
to Karsten, discover
the PING range
TIPS FROM
THE TOUR
Lee Westwood
Miguel Angel Jiménez
Louis Oosthuizen
Rhys Davies
Bubba Watson
Hunter Mahan
John Parry
Grégory Havret
THE TIPS | THE PLAYERS | THE PUTTERS | THE HISTORY
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
first emanated from our 1A putter more than
50 years ago. Advancements in technology have
given golfers opportunities to enjoy the game in
ways never imagined. Many of those innovations,
including perimeter weighting and customfitting, can be traced back to that garage where
my father, Karsten Solheim, changed the way
golf equipment was designed and manufactured.
I hope this putting supplement gives you an
insight into our desire to push ourselves to make
better products and continue to demonstrate
the integrity that has earned the trust of golfers
around the world.
SCORE
BETTER
Drills to groove
the perfect tempo
How to hole out
under pressure
GEAR
GUIDE
Find the putter
for your stroke
From Scottsdale
to Karsten, discover
the PING range
TIPS FROM
THE TOUR
Lee Westwood
Miguel Angel Jiménez
Louis Oosthuizen
Rhys Davies
Bubba Watson
Hunter Mahan
John Parry
Grégory Havret
THE TIPS | THE PLAYERS | THE PUTTERS | THE HISTORY
Equipment Photography: Kim Porritt
Instruction: Paul Severn & Kevin Murray
Words: Neil Tappin & Paul O’Hagan
Design: James Mason
Subbing & Production: Jon Couch
The PING Tour player instruction content for this supplement
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
Prices quoted throughout this supplement are
recommended retail prices. Product information is based
on claims and representations made by PING
JOHN SOLHEIM, PING CHAIRMAN & CEO
Ultimate Putting Guide 3
NAIL DOWN YOUR BASICS
PING TOUR PRO
LOUIS
OOSTHUIZEN
Winner of
2010 Open
Championship
There are some basic principles that are well worth considering
before you approach the game on the greens. Here, I’ll tell you
about the set-up and stroke essentials that will give you the best
possible chance of success. I’ll also offer some key thoughts on
successful green reading to ensure that you pick up on all the
crucial clues that will help you hit your target every time.
1REDISCOVERING
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 onehanded 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.
This is an important element of the game on
the greens as it helps with the rhythm and
direction of the stroke.
✘
You must learn to
release the putter
through the ball
PING PUTTER MAJOR WINS: 1969 The Masters Anser 1969 British Open A-Blade 1970 US Open A-Blade 1975 British Open A-Blade
4 Ultimate Putting Guide
INSTRUCTION
2
ESSENTIAL
TECHNIQUE
Photography Kevin Murray
The way you stand to the ball has a huge
impact on your success rate on the greens. I
have an alignment stick that I lay down on the
green very regularly in practice. Quite simply
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.
Use an alignment
stick to check
clubface position
3
READING
GREENS
4
READING
GRAIN
For me, it always makes sense to look
at tricky putts from a different angle,
preferably from the side. Just by walking
10 paces away and looking at the putt from
a new perspective you get a better feel for
the shape of the green. That really helps.
Sometimes you need to walk away and by
doing this you might be able to pick up on a
crucial element that you miss when looking
directly down the line.
Grain comes into play more than you might
think and for us, it is something we always
need to be on the look out for. The good
news is that you can usually see it quite
clearly from a distance. The simple rule is
that when the grass on your line looks shiny,
it is down grain and will run slightly faster.
If the grass between your ball and the hole
looks darker, you’ll be putting into the grain
so allow for a slightly slower roll. Keep this
in mind, especially if you are playing a golf
course that you are unfamiliar with.
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
OPTIMISING YOUR FEEL
PING TOUR PRO
RHYS DAVIES
Winner of
2010 Hassan II
Trophy
There is a balance that every player needs to strike. It pays
to understand your technique, but we all have to make sure
that we don’t get too bogged down with the mechanics.
My set-up and approach are designed to help find the most
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
Finding good pace control
through a natural feel is all about
the rhythm of your putting
stroke. This is why feel is hard
to teach because if your stroke
does not have a consistent tempo
your pace control will always be
off. The key is to reduce any jerky
movements and to try and make
the change of direction in your
stroke as smooth as possible.
Keep the rhythm the same for
every putt, but alter the length of
the stroke to determine distance.
This is the most reliable and
natural way to gain control.
2 STANCE WIDTH
I try to stand tall over the ball with a narrow stance and let the
putter swing in a pendulum style. Anchoring the stroke can affect
the flow, so let your arms hang and try to take the control out of the
stroke. Posture is as important when you putt as it is when you make
a full swing and by standing tall, you let the tension out of your
arms. Of course, I’ll widen my stance in the wind to find a stable base
but generally I like a narrow stance so my arms can hang naturally.
1981 USPGA Championship B60 1982 US Open Pal 1982 British Open Pal 1982 USPGA Championship B60 1983 The Masters Anser 1983 US Open B60
INSTRUCTION
3FLOW THROUGH THE BALL
As I have already mentioned, a good putting stroke is a flowing
movement. For this reason I don’t like my left wrist to be too firm.
The importance of keeping your wrists solid when you are putting is, for
me at least, a myth. It works for some people, but I personally don’t feel
you can release the putter properly to the target when your left wrist is
rigid. I find the face often opens through the ball, pushing it out right,
so in my stroke, my left wrist breaks quite a lot. It’s that movement that
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,
especially when you are struggling for form.
So I make a mark on my ball to help with
my alignment. I just line it up to make sure
I’m roughly heading in the right direction
and then try to feel the ball going in. By
placing tees in the ground either side of my
putterhead during practice, I know that I’m
returning the putter square to the target.
5
THINK
AGGRESSIVE
Do not be afraid to miss. Your objective is
to think of holing the putt you face and
after that, if it doesn’t go in, try to make
the next one. Every putt you hit should
get to the hole, or at least most of them
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
and give yourself a chance.
1983 British Open Pal 1984 US Open Zing 1984 British Open Anser 1984 USPGA Championship A-Blade 1985 British Open B60
PUTT YOUR BEST
UNDER PRESSURE
PING TOUR PRO
JOHN PARRY
Winner 2010
Vivendi Cup
When the pressure’s on it’s easy to forget your routines. I try to
use mine even on the practice green with my caddie, reading
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.
1
TO GROOVE
RHYTHM,
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
others one after
another, trying
to send them the
same distance. If
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!
Keep your head
down to groove
your rhythm
2
STICK
TO 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
INSTRUCTION
3LOOK IN THE MIRROR
Putting is probably the easiest technique in golf as all you’ve got to do
is move your shoulders. But if you’re lining up poorly, or your shoulders
are out, you’ll have to make other adjustments in your stroke to
compensate. Get the basics right in practice and the more cemented
and automatic they’ll become when it really counts. This mirror, which
I use regularly, helps me do just that. There are a number of lines to
help ensure your eyes are over the ball, where they should be, and your
shoulders are square. It’s an ideal way to get the basics right.
5
READING
DOWNHILL
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.
Photography Paul Severn
4KEEPING IT ON LINE
Sticking with the mirror, the two tee pegs are to check your putting stroke through the ball. If
you’re cutting across the line you’ll hit one of them. The blue and yellow lines act as guides, and
I’m looking to take the white line on my putter back along the central blue line on the mirror.
On short putts, the putter should stay pretty much on the line, but on longer ones it will start to
come inside the line a little if, like me and many of the other guys on Tour, your stroke is ‘in-to-in’.
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
LONG PUTTERS AND
LONG PUTTING
PING TOUR PRO
GREGORY HAVRET
Runner-up at the
2010 US Open
The belly putter has been an important part of my game for
some time now. Here, I’ll explain the reasons why I converted
from the short to long putter and how I have trained and
adjusted my technique to be as consistent and mechanically
sound as possible, especially from long range.
1
WHY THE
LONG 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
the address right with a longer putter and I
wanted to have the best technique possible.
2
SETTING UP
SQUARE
Make sure you
set up the same
every time
You will also notice that my left hand is below
my right at address. This helps square up my
shoulders. A rightbelow-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
INSTRUCTION
Maintain
a stable
lower body
3KEEP A SOLID BASE
One of the most important elements for me, especially when putting
from long range, is to keep my lower body steady. If your legs are
moving unnecessarily, the putter will not work back and through on a
good line. I use this training aid in practice just to make sure that the
face of my putter is square through impact. It involves putting between
two ball bearings that are fractionally wider than the ball. If your face is
either open or closed at impact, you’ll know immediately. I do this every
day to build confidence and technique.
4
LONG PUTTING
DRILL
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
far past, go back to the beginning and start again.
This will add a little pressure to the situation,
recreating the feeling you’ll have on the course.
1992 The Masters Anser 1992 British Open B60 1993 US Open Zing 2 1993 British Open Anser 2 1993 USPGA Championship Anser
FIND THE RIGHT PUTTER
FOR YOUR STROKE
TOP 25 COACH
BARNEY
PUTTICK
Head pro,
Mid Herts GC
Now that you have seen what the Tour players have to say
about putting, it’s time to turn your attention to whether your
equipment and technique are combining effectively. If you can
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
schools of thought. The first revolves around
finding a straight path that keeps the putter
working along the target line throughout
the stroke. Many players feel that by moving
on one simple line they are optimising their
chances of success. The second approach,
however, involves a curved stroke. A gently
shaping stroke, as right, allows the arms to
work naturally around the body, offering feel
and control. The key point to take from this
is to figure out which category your stroke
falls into. Then, you’ll need to make sure your
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
INSTRUCTION
2
UNDERSTAND
FACE-BALANCED
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-backand-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.
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.
HEEL-AND-TOE
EYES OVER
EYES INSIDE
3
TECHNICAL
Photography Tom Miles
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
shown left. Again, this encourages the sort of
rounded stroke you’re after.
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
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
advancements, is the classic Anser shape
putter still so popular today?
Its functionality is exceptional. It has good
heel-toe balance, the weight is in the right
spot, and it has a low centre of gravity. But
the reason it’s become the gold standard of
the industry goes beyond how well it works.
Its shape, the soft edges of its ballasts, its
angles, its proportions, they all resonate
with people. The attraction goes beyond
measurables. Our founder, Karsten Solheim,
got it right with this model more than 45
years ago and golfers have been putting
better ever since.
Director of Club Design
: Brad Schweigert
How do you measure feel, or is that an
unquantifiable factor? How important is it?
From our research, feel is critically important,
but it’s highly subjective. Most people
associate feel only with impact, but we also
measure how the weight and balance of the
putter feels. In focusing on impact, the word
virtually every golfer in our research uses
to describe feel is “solid”. They don’t want a
“clicky” or “tinny” feel. We try to convert these
subjective measures into more objective data
by breaking impact “feel” into measureable
frequency and amplitude data of vibrations
felt through the hands, and sound heard
through the ears. Still, our research tells us
that the ideal “solid” feel varies among golfers.
That’s a major reason we have different
product lines with different “feels” such as the
Karsten 1959 and the Scottsdale series.
If aesthetics were of no importance to the
golfer, what shapes would you produce?
We’re conducting a lot of research into how
different shapes affect the golfer’s ability
to improve their alignment. Our ability to
quantify and measure that is getting better.
Q&A
The first patent sketches of the Anser
What factors do you test when producing a
new design?
We have a robotic putter tester to look at
consistency across the face, and forgiveness. We
do a lot of player research with our employees.
They test prototypes on our putting course
where we track their scores, ask them about
feel and sound, aesthetics, alignment features,
and their perceived performance with different
models.
We improved the MOI of the Karsten putter by
thinning the face, but used an elastomer back
insert to dampen vibrations and provide the
really solid feel and sound that players want
and expect from a thick, steel-faced putter.
What has been the most exciting putter
technology you’ve worked on in recent years?
The most exciting stuff is in our deep research
into people’s putting strokes and alignment.
We can’t share everything we’re doing, but
studying stroke styles and consistency and
providing real performance benefits on the
green is what excites me most. What we’ll start
to reveal is the tip of the iceberg into building
knowledge that’s going to make a real
difference in people’s games.
How much player testing is involved, both with
the general public and Tour players?
With prototypes we don’t have the luxury of
working with the general public because of
intellectual-property rights; however, we do
conduct front-end general research outside our
walls with the golfing public. Tour players
PING’s Tour player feedba
are very involved in development; we get
ck 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.
You see a lot of different options because
putters are a very personal preference so
people can find out for themselves what they
like. It comes down to the individual’s own
perception as to which shape helps you most.
Some players swing the putter on an arc, some
straight back and through. In your testing,
have you discovered a path that produces
optimal results? In your designs, how do you
allow for different types of swings?
There isn’t one ideal swing path. But we have
clear evidence that golfers with a strong
arc putting stroke deliver the clubface more
consistently with a toe-down balanced putter.
Conversely, golfers with a straight-back-andthrough stroke are more consistent with a
face-balanced putter. Our research shows
that the largest group comprises those in
the middle who have a slight arc. That group
generally performs best with a mid-balanced
putter, like our traditional Anser, which is
probably another reason the Anser has been
so popular.
What materials do you think might be
introduced into future heads and face inserts?
Face inserts are an effective way to control
impact feel. Based on our research, the
Scottsdale’s elastomer insert produces the
soft yet solid feel that people want and expect
from an insert putter. Currently, we don’t see
a huge consumer pull for a new feel, but we’re
working on expanding insert technology to
achieve a more consistent ball velocity across
a larger area of the face. The theory is easy, but
sometimes it’s a lot harder to develop a “real”
solution that produces “real” results.
What are the difficulties of producing
classic heads with new technologies?
For a while our strategy was to update
our old models with new technologies
because they still really resonate with
people. But now we’re giving the classics
their own category and celebrating them
that way. Moving forward, our strategy
is to learn which technologies provide
real performance gains. We’re focused on
measuring and improving consistency
in alignment, swing path, face angle at
impact, and ball velocity. We’re confident
that if we can help golfers be more
consistent in these areas they will
improve their putting.
What are the benefits of high MOI to a
player who’s struggling on the greens?
We did some studies that surprised us
just how much higher the dispersion
patterns are in high-handicappers
compared to, say, a 5-handicap. So
our goal with MOI is to create more
consistent rolls across the face. It’s
interesting that our research shows that MOI
impacts distance more than direction. Most
experts agree that speed, or distance control,
is the most critical factor in improving putting
performance, especially on longer putts.
Do you take ideas from the long game and try
to incorporate them into putters, or do you try
to keep the two separate?
Irons and putters are similar in that people
want products that look good, feel good, and
perform consistently. The elastomer back insert
on the Karsten putters is a good example
of how we borrowed from iron technology;
specifically our custom tuning ports in irons.
PING’s Scottsdale Anser features a face insert
SCOTTSDALE
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.
ANSER 2 £112
B60 £112
Balance: Heel-Toe
A classic-looking heel-toe
balanced head with weight in
the heel and toe to help
square the putter at impact.
The dark finish is combined with
a single alignment line on
the back of the head.
Balance: Heel-Toe
This sits between an Anser-style
shape and an all-out mallet
design. Much like the Anser, the
compact design will suit golfers
with a slight arc stroke who miss
putts to both the right and left.
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 facebalanced 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 straightthrough stroke who tend to
miss putts to the right.
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
The largest of the
Scottsdale heads provides
maximum forgiveness for
those who need added
confidence when putting.
Weight is placed back and
into the corners of the
head to help square the
putter at impact.
Balance: Heel-Toe
The most compact head of all
the Scottsdale range, the ZB
will appeal to those who like
a traditional look at address. A
small white alignment marking
on the top of the head helps to
identify the middle of the putter.
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
photograph above. Sketched
on the back of a 78 rpm
record sleeve in January
1966, this drawing represents
the moment that golf’s most influential
equipment design was sparked into life.
In combining an offset hosel that offered
a clear view of the face and a perimeter-
T
The Solheims create the first ‘Anser’
weighted head, Karsten Solheim was
unwittingly – in a simple bid to make the
game a little easier – on the verge of a
landmark breakthrough. So he quickly set
about bringing the sketch into life, but
there was something missing. The new
model needed a name and it was his wife,
Louise, who came up with the idea. As his
invention was intended to help players find
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
engineer
living and
working in
Redwood, California.
Words Neil Tappin
Hollow victory: The original 1A
Solheim presents his new putter
Drawing board: Solheim’s 1A sketches
His burgeoning passion for golf, however,
led him to turn his attention specifically to
putter design. Working nights from his garage,
Solheim set about moving weight away from
the 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
and most influential equipment companies.
Over the years, PING has become synonymous
with game-improving golf equipment in every
category, designed to help a wide range of
players get the most from their game. The
design of the putter, however, born on the
sketches illustrated here, remains at the very
heart of what the company is all about.
Winning formula: Solheim with the ‘Anser’
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.
EQUIPMENT
ANSER 2 £87
ANSER X £87
Balance: Heel-Toe
A classic-looking blade with a
thin top rail that gives a clean
look to inspire confidence.
Features a single alignment line
on the back of the head. Weight
in the heel and toe helps to
square the putter at impact.
Balance: Face
Like the Anser 2, this features a
classic-shaped head with weight
removed from behind the centre
of the face and placed in the
heel and toe. The shaft runs into
the putter head, making it facebalanced rather than heel-toe.
KARSTEN B60 £87
CRAZ-E £108
Balance: Heel-Toe
The B60 head sits between
an Anser head and an all-out
mallet. The heel and toe feature
extra weight, but this has been
smoothed off to provide a
different look. A single white line
on the back of the putter helps
aid alignment.
Balance: Face
Now a well-established model
in the PING range, the Craz-E is a
high MOI design, which makes it
easier to deliver the face square
to the ball at impact. The shape of
the head and markings on top of
the putter make it easier to set up
on the intended line.
MY DAY £87
ZING £87
Balance: Heel-Toe
A classic heel-toe balanced putter,
similar in shape, but with a
different neck design compared
to the Zing. This head will help
players with a severe arc in their
swing, who tend to miss putts to
the left. Again a single sightline
aids alignment.
Balance: Heel-toe
Designed predominantly for
those with a strong arc stroke
who tend to miss putts to the
left. This is prevented with a toedown balanced head that helps to
square the face at impact. This is
all achieved in a traditional look.
MY PUTTER
PUTTER
MY
LEE WESTWOOD
WESTWOOD
LEE
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
My
current
a Redwood
Anser
thatcode
is 35lie
inches
long,putter
has 3˚isloft
and a black
colour
inches
long,
has
3˚
loft
and
a
black
colour
code
(70˚ angle). It really is the sort of standard PINGlie
putter
standard
(70˚
It really
the
sort of off
PING
putter
thatangle).
you would
pickisup
straight
the shelf.
This
has
off three
the shelf.
This
has
that
wouldinpick
straight
beenyou
a fixture
myup
bag
for about
years
now
forwith
about
three
been
a fixture
my bag
years my
now
and I’ve
playedinreally
well
it. It’s
become
well
and
I’ve
played
really
with
it.
It’s
become
my
‘go-to’ putter, but at the World Match Play earlier
at the
World Match
Playmallet,
earlier
‘go-to’
putter,
butthe
this year
I did try
Scottsdale
Half Pipe
Pipe mallet,
this
I did try
thetoScottsdale
HalfAnser
onlyyear
to revert
back
the Redwood
after the
only
to revert
back
toyears,
the Redwood
the
first round.
Over
the
however,Anser
I haveafter
played
first
round.
Over the
years,shapes
however,
even played
now I’ll
plenty
of different
mallet
andI have
plenty
of different
nowI won
I’ll
often pick
up a newmallet
malletshapes
to seeand
howeven
it feels.
to
see
how
it
feels.
I
won
often
pick
up
a
new
mallet
the Dunhill Links Championship in 2003 with a halfthe
Dunhill
Links Championship
in 2003
a halfmallet
belly-length
putter. Whereas
lotswith
of other
mallet
Whereas
lotson
ofaother
playersbelly-length
will get theirputter.
favourite
grip put
putter,
put on a putter,
players
will get their
I’ll use whatever
feelsfavourite
good. Sogrip
my Redwood
Anser
I’ll
use
whatever
feels
good.
So
my
Redwood
has the same standard PING grip on it that Anser
has
same
standard
PING grip
on it that
it up.
wasthe
there
when
I first picked
was there when I first picked it up.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
RECENT
HIGHLIGHTS
Won 2 1/2 points
at the Ryder Cup
Won
2 1/2second
pointsat
atThe
the Masters
Ryder Cup
Finished
Finished
Finished second
second at
at The
The Masters
Open
Finished
second
atbecame
The Open
October 31st,
2010
World No.1
October 31st, 2010 became World No.1
24 Ultimate Putting
putting Guide
guide
24 Ultimate putting
Putting Guide
guide
ON TOUR
ON TOUR
MY PUTTER
PUTTER
MY
MIGUEL ANGEL
ANGEL
MIGUEL
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
While
otherfor
players
specific
putters
and stick
with them
years,find
I’m not
afraid
to change
to
with
them
for
years,
I’m
not
afraid
to
change
to
look for improvement. Last year I won three times,
look
improvement.
Last year
I won
eachfor
with
a different putter
in the
bag!three
Sometimes,
of the
each
with
a different
bag!been
Somefaceof the
putter
in thehave
putters
I have
had over
the years
putters
I have
had
over
the heel-and-toe
years have been
facebalanced,
some
have
been
– for
me,
balanced,
some
have
been
heel-and-toe
–
for
me, I
it’s all about how it feels in my hands. The model
it’s
about how
it is
feels
my hands. The
model I
amall
currently
using
the in
centre-shafted
Scottsdale
am
currently
using
is the
centre-shafted
Pickemup,
which
I also
used
at the RyderScottsdale
Cup. I like
Pickemup,
which
I also used
Cup.but
at the
I like
the way the
ball comes
off the
faceRyder
– it’s firm
the
the
way
the
ball
comes
off
the
face
–
it’s
firm
but
the
feel is still soft. One recent adjustment I have made
feel
still
soft.
Onedown
recenttoadjustment
havesimply
made
is toiscut
the
length
33.5 inches.I This
is
to cut
length
33.5 inches.
This
helps
mythe
arms
hangdown
downtomore
naturally
insimply
the
helps
myposition.
arms hang
down
naturally
in the
address
I have
mymore
putters
quite upright,
address
position.
I
have
my
putters
quite
upright,
as I stand tall and have the putter close to my feet.
as
tall and
thelieputter
close to
my the
feet.
MyI stand
Scottsdale
is athave
green
(2˚ upright)
with
My
Scottsdale
at green lie (2˚ upright) with the
standard
PINGisgrip.
standard PING grip.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
RECENT
HIGHLIGHTS
Won 2010 Dubai
Desert Classic
Won
Won 2010
2010 Dubai
FrenchDesert
Open Classic
Won
Open
Won 2010
2010 French
European
Masters
Won
European
Masters
Won 2010
two points
at the
2010 Ryder Cup
Won two points at the 2010 Ryder Cup
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, sandblasted 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
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
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 glarereducing 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.
EQUIPMENT
ZING £220
D66 £220
Balance: Heel-toe
Extra weight in the toe, compared
to the likes of the Anser, helps those
with a severe arc in their stroke to
get the face back square at impact.
The clean lines of the putter will help
to remove distraction at address.
Balance: Heel-toe
A more compact head shape compared
to the Anser but another design with
weight moved from behind the middle
of the head to aid consistency. The heelshafted design has very little offset and
will also suit players with a slight arc in
their stroke.
PIPER S £220
ZB £220
Balance: Face
A compact mallet that is the
heaviest of the Redwood putter
designs. The face-balanced
weighting will be most suited
to players with a straight-back
straight-through stroke, particularly
if they tend to miss to the right.
Balance: Heel-Toe
The most compact of the
Redwood series designs, the ZB
has a blade-like look at address.
An alignment marking on the top
of the head helps to identify the
middle of the putter.
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.
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
‘70s when PING’s founder,
Karsten Solheim, decided
to commemorate those
professionals who won
tournaments using his putters. The idea
was simply to make two gold-plated replica
versions of the winning model, one for the
player and the other for a vault kept in PING’s
I
A solid gold Anser
headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. The putters
were engraved with the professional’s name
and the tournament that he or she won. As
these exclusive photographs show, the vault
has snowballed to become perhaps the most
significant collection of putters in the game.
There are now more than 2,500 putters
in the Arizona vault commemorating the
achievements of a whole host of the game’s
FEATURE
Words Paul O’Hagan
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. PINGsponsored 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
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
commemorates some of the greatest-ever
achievements by the greatest-ever players, the
PING Gold Putter Vault is unique. As such it
is virtually impossible to give it a price tag. In
fact, you might say it was priceless.
Adding up: squeezing another winner in
Nick Faldo’s Open-winning replica
Join the club: Louis gets a solid gold putter
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.
EQUIPMENT
JAS CRAZ-E
£174
JAS CRAZ-D
£174
Balance: Face
The square design
features 96 grams of
tungsten in the corners
of the aluminium head
to increase forgiveness.
The black anodized
coating helps aid the
durability of the head
and reduces glare in
sunny weather.
Balance: Face
A multi-tiered alignment
system improves accuracy
by making it easier to aim
the face on the intended
line. The square head shape
increases moment of inertia
and makes it easier to
square the face at
impact.
JAS CRAZ-E
MOMENT £174
The polymer insert is coated using
nano-nickel technology to help
produce a solid feel at impact as
well as improve the impact sound. A
white line on top of the head stands
out against the black urethane core
to aid alignment.
FAITH ANSER £103
A classic head shape is combined
with a urethane insert to provide
a consistent feel for improved
distance control. Weight in the
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
consistency and makes it easier
to start the head on the intended
target. Weight saved from using a
lightweight insert is repositioned in
the perimeter of the head for added
control, particularly on short putts.
A large modern mallet aids
confidence by offering added
stability through the stroke. Material
has been removed from the centre
of the head and repositioned to the
perimeter. This makes the stroke
more consistent and helps to square
the face at impact.
60
INSTRUCTION
SECOND
CHECKLIST
SOLID RELEASE
FACE ANGLE
AS YOU SWING
THROUGH THE BALL,
PRESSURE
RELEASE THE PUTTER POINT
AND AVOID TRYING
DEVELOP A
TO GUIDE THE FACE
ROUTINE AND
TOWARDS THE
STICK TO IT, BOTH
TARGET
ON COURSE
AND DURING
PRACTICE, TO
STROKE LENGTH
HELP YOU STAY
TRY TO GROOVE A SMOOTH
CALM UNDER
RHYTHM AND LET THE LENGTH PRESSURE
OF YOUR STROKE DETERMINE
HOW FAR YOU HIT THE BALL
REGULARLY CHECK TO MAKE
SURE THE FACE OF YOUR
PUTTER IS SQUARE TO THE
TARGET THROUGH IMPACT
RHYTHM CHECK
IMPROVE THE FLOW
OF YOUR STROKE
BY STANDING TALL
AND LETTING YOUR
HANDS HANG DOWN
NATURALLY. TRY NOT
TO LET TENSION
CREEP INTO YOUR
ADDRESS POSITION
PUTTER
CHOICE
CONSISTENCY CHECK
BE CAREFUL TO ADDRESS THE BALL THE
SAME WAY FOR EVERY PUTT YOU HIT
PACE
CONTROL
TAKE TIME
TO HIT
LONG PUTTS
BEFORE YOU
PLAY TO
DEVELOP A
BETTER FEEL
FOR THE
PACE OF THE
GREENS
READING PUTTS
LOOK AT THE LINE OF YOUR
PUTTS FROM MORE THAN ONE
ANGLE TO GAIN A BETTER FEEL
FOR BREAK. ALWAYS REMEMBER
THAT IF THE GRASS ON THE LINE
OF YOUR PUTT LOOKS DARK IT IS
INTO THE GRAIN AND IF IT’S LIGHT,
IT’S DOWN GRAIN
IF YOUR STROKE
IS IN-TO-SQUARETO-IN, THINK
ABOUT AN ANSERSHAPED PUTTER.
ALTERNATIVELY,
CONSIDER A MALLET
IF YOUR STROKE IS
STRAIGHT-BACKAND-THROUGH
AGGRESSION
GIVE EVERY PUTT A CHANCE OF
GOING IN BY GETTING THE BALL
PAST THE HOLE. YOU NEED TO BE
BOLD TO SCORE YOUR BEST

ULTIMATE PUTTING GUIDE

Transcription

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