Equipment
Ping celebrates 50 years of Anser putters with limited-edition release
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.
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.
- 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.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Pingback: Limited Edition PING Anser Putter – Ted & Dave Custom Golf
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.
Tom
Nov 9, 2016 at 9:20 pm
I like that made in U S A .
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.
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.
Dennis
Nov 8, 2016 at 10:07 pm
Took my old Anser and stuck it in the fireplace. Saved 900 bucks.
Philip
Nov 8, 2016 at 7:53 pm
Can pick up a used one for under $30 … best part – it looks the same!
Dude
Nov 8, 2016 at 5:15 pm
For $900 they better come with a circle T.
Dave
Nov 8, 2016 at 8:17 pm
Why do you want a Ping copy?
Tom
Nov 8, 2016 at 4:23 pm
I haven’t seen anything that black since my first wife burnt the thanks giving turkey
Mark
Nov 8, 2016 at 1:43 pm
I was interested until I saw the price.
Feel the Bern
Nov 8, 2016 at 11:55 am
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PING-ANSER-PUTTER-zipe-code-85029-Left-Handed-/391614639323?hash=item5b2e0d2cdb:g:sXAAAOSw-CpYB9AN
20 bucks…
Jamie
Nov 8, 2016 at 11:41 am
If taylormade did this, there would be a revolt.
Rors
Nov 8, 2016 at 10:41 am
Scotty who???
BrentF
Nov 8, 2016 at 10:35 am
$900 for a Ping Anser? What a chunk of change!
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.