| Ping has an almost astounding number of choices of | | | | brand new product line which won't begin shipping to |
| putters for golfers. I counted 176 different varieties of | | | | retailers until October of 2007. The faces of these |
| putters that are available in different types of metals, | | | | putters are made of steel, and an elastomer insert is |
| inserts and other technologies. This does not count the | | | | added into the face in the ball contact area. Weight |
| 36 additional options that are available in the Specify | | | | has been redistributed to the perimeter of the club |
| line which lets golfers mix, for example, the front of a | | | | head which increases the club head moment of inertia |
| Ping Anser putter with the back of a Zing model. So if | | | | (MOI), and this adds forgiveness on off-center hits. |
| a golfer has an idea about the type and style of putter | | | | These putters also have what is called a mult-level |
| he prefers, Ping will almost certainly have a solution. | | | | alignment aid. The thin and rectangular top edge of the |
| The Ping philosophy is to offer putters from their | | | | putter contrasts to the aiming lines in the back cavity |
| established lineup of models in the different | | | | to make alignment easier. There are seven models to |
| technologies they have adopted. In other words there | | | | be offered in the Karsten series including the Anser, |
| is a Ping Anser putter available in just about every one | | | | Anser 2, B60, B67, Zing, Craz-E, and Piper models of |
| of the series that are offered. Each series of putters | | | | putter heads. |
| will use a certain metal or combination of metals, as | | | | The Redwood Series |
| well as a certain type of putter face insert or other | | | | This series is named after Redwood City, California, |
| technology. The company also has an on-line fitting | | | | where Karsten Solheim started working on putters in |
| program which directs golfers to the location of | | | | his garage, and this was the start of the Ping |
| qualified putter fitters. This article will describe the new i | | | | company. These putters are all milled from 303 |
| Series and Karsten series, as well as the Redwood | | | | stainless steel. Some golfers like the feel of a milled |
| series and the JAS Craz-E One putter, another new | | | | putter. Three traditional models are offered in this |
| product offering. | | | | format, the Anser, Zing, and Piper. |
| The i Series by Ping | | | | The JAS Craz-E One |
| The i Series is a brand new line of putters that won't | | | | This is a new addition to the JAS line of putters. This |
| ship to retailers until November of 2007. All the putters | | | | putter has a shape that somewhat resembles some |
| in this product line will have a two piece insert system, | | | | of the two ball putters on the market today, but it does |
| consisting of a urethane insert with a thinner material | | | | not use balls as alignment aids. It does have a |
| on top of the urethane. This technology is used to give | | | | rectangular alignment aid on its large back plate. The |
| good feedback to the golfer, in other words a soft feel | | | | putter head is made of lightweight C805 aluminum, and |
| and good sound. There are a total of 10 models | | | | 4 heavy tungsten weights have been added to the |
| available with the i Series technology, including old | | | | perimeter, which creates a very high MOI. In fact the |
| standards like the Anser and Zing, as well as the Piper, | | | | JAS Craz-E One has the highest MOI of any putter in |
| B60, Craz-E, ½ Craz-E, and ½ Moon | | | | the Ping lineup, so it is therefore the most forgiving |
| models. | | | | putter in the entire product offering. The color is deep |
| The Karsten Series | | | | black and it has a modern appearance. I would say it is |
| These putters are of course named after Karsten | | | | quite attractive looking. |
| Solheim who was the founder of Ping. Again, this is a | | | | |