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.
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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 titles
Ping 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 2More 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 hollow
Ping 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 feel
Ping iN Wack-E
A radical spin off from the successful (but hollow-sounding) G5i Craz-E
Ping 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 this