Everything you need to improve your putting
The Ping Scottsdale Putter range - full review
Unique feature - fully adjustable shaft length!
Ping Scottsdale putters have a clear unique selling point - they give you the chance to alter the length of the putter by simply loosening a clamp below the grip and sliding the shaft telescopically up and down.They're a bit like the kind of putter a club fitter would use - the length can be altered from 31-38 inches which is enough of a range to cater for pretty much all golfers.
If you'd like to see what putter length is recommended for you, click here.
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on a Ping Scottsdale putter... |
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How do they look behind the ball?
The designs available in the Ping Scottsdale range include almost all the successful designs the company has made over the last 30 years (think Anser, B60 etc.) and there are couple of new shapes too, such as the Grayhawk. The designs are exactly as you'd expect from Ping - no nonsense shapes (except from the way-out newcomers) and highly refined and polished.In other words they're a class act.
The very dark gray finish looks good and produces just about zero glare even in the sunniest conditions. It also contrasts well with the white aiming lines which are a feature throughout the range.
For my money, though, the dark colored paint does not have the elegance of the premium milled Ping Redwood range, which are a cut above.
One advantage the Scottsdale range has over even the Redwoods is an insert face that gives you a terrifically soft feel off the putter face. Because the face is white and stands out against the surrounding black mass of the putter head, you can clearly see the a slither of the insert when you're addressing the ball.
I found this gave me another good alignment aid because you can clearly see when the face is open or closed to the because the slither of insert disappears from view at either the toe or the heel. It's a small point, but could make the difference between making and lipping out on a putt.
How do they feel?
As mentioned above, the feel from the insert of the Ping Scottsdale range is gorgeous. It's one of the softest inserts I've tested, and easily Ping's best effort at a technology which up to now has been spearheaded by Odyssey.What I was less sure about what the feel of putter in my hands. It's definitely a little heavier than standard - on account of the grip extension mechanism, I assume - and the grip feels a little thicker. I'm sure you could get used to these two factors, but it may take a little time.
The material of the full cord grip, however, felt fabulous - no complaints here!
Is the adjustable shaft feature worth having?
This is a matter of personal preference.
A golfing buddy of mine who stands 6 feet 5 inches tall found this to be an absolute godsend. He didn't have to extend the putter when he bought his Scottsdale Anser, and found through experimentation that the length he'd been using before wasn't actually what felt most comfortable.
He's putted far better ever since.
The mechanism to unlock the shaft is operated by a tool which you insert into the collar just below the grip - see in the picture. It's easy to pull out the shaft and re-tighten the grip. It's quick, too... about 90 seconds per change.
Putter length charts are at best an estimate and the only way to know for sure that you're using the right length for you is to experiment, and that's not easy when you have to hack the grip off and glue an extension piece into the shaft before replacing the grip.
Of course, once you've found the length you're happy with you're rarely if ever going to use the feature again - indeed this type of tinkering could be very counter-productive, so beyond the initial period of use, the feature is less useful.
In case you were not aware, changing the length (or any other playing characteristic) of a club during a round is against the rules!
How does a Ping Scottsdale roll the ball?
Just as you'd expect from the company which has made more Tour-winning putter designs than any other in the history of the game, the roll you get from the Ping Scottsdale range is excellent.
A quality range of putters from the game's most enduring putter manufacturer. Fabulous looks, feel and roll.
The shaft-extending feature could be highly beneficial to help you find the best fit for you, although ultimately you'll probably not want to be changing the length every five minutes!
Make sure you're happy with the additional weight in these putters before buying.
Others to consider
Ping Anser
The Anser is the putter that has been copied a thousand times - now available from Ping at a variety of prices.Ping B60
The lesser known Ping classic. Favored by putting great Nick Faldo in his later career. Slightly firmer feel, but excellent touch on fast greens and available in numerous styles over the years Ping Zing
Curvy and pretty putter shape popularized in the 1980s and 1990s, used by Curtis Strange for two US Open wins and Jose Maria Olazabal for two Masters titlesPing 1A
The first putter Ping ever made. A collectors' piece now. Not great to use, and very loud!Ping Redwood Anser
The design which has won more pro events than any other, made with top quality materials. This Ping is a winner!
Ping Zing 2 More up-to-date and better version of the legendary Ping Zing. Great roll and feel
Ping Anser G5i
A hideous beast to look at, but beautiful to use.Ping Crazy E
One of the easiest putters to line up we've ever tested, but feel is hollowPing Karsten Anser
Unbeatable on price and right up there for feel and design.Ping Scottsdale Pickemup
This cross between the Batman sign & a Star Wars fighter has surprisingly good feelPing iN Wack-E
A radical spin off from the successful (but hollow-sounding) G5i Craz-EPing IN
Technology has led the Ping designers to create a holy mess of a putter. If you love the weird and the whacky, you might (just) like thisReturn to the Best-Putter.com homepage
