BeCu Putters - Overrated sound and feel?

[Binson]

First off, I like BeCu Irons / Wedges.  And, I know I'm gunna get flak for this from other Ping fans on the blasphemy I'm about to spew.

 

But, I have also collected a few BeCu putters since many rave about them and they have all been a resounding disappointment to me in the sound/feel department. I much prefer the Stainless and BeNi versions of the same putter since they have a duller sound and what I perceive to be a much softer, responsive feel. 

 

The high pitched ting on the Copper putters just messes with my ability to feel through impact and I'm not really too sensitive to sound on any club other than on the flat stick (and partial wedge shots).  The ball feels like it clanks off the putter.  It gets worse when you play a harder ball and it basically sounds like a 1-A.

 

Is it just me? Are all my BeCu putters broken? Am I broken?  I have:

 

Anser 2 (two of them)

Anser 4

Zing 2 (The BeNi is so nice in comparison)

Pal 4

[North Butte]

I've never pursued exotic (i.e. expensive or hard to get) materials in putters or other clubs. I did sort of fall into a super cheap deal on some BeCu Ping Eye2 irons 10-15 years ago so I bought them out of curiosity. That was a different head shape and shaft than I was used to (and not a head and shaft that worked for me at all) but I couldn't tell that the material mattered.

 

I know what you mean at the ringing sound of those old 1-A putters (not a fan) but I'll be darned if I can hear any difference between various material used to make a putter. The only thing that affects what I hear is the insert (if there is one) or the construction of something funky like a 1-A.

 

[Bigarch]

I always thought the BeCu putters felt too hard.  I've had a B60 and a Pal 4 over the years and didn't get along with either one.  Gimme the stainless or the bronze over the BeCu versions every day.

[JungleJimbo]

4 hours ago, Binson said:

First off, I like BeCu Irons / Wedges.  And, I know I'm gunna get flak for this from other Ping fans on the blasphemy I'm about to spew.

 

But, I have also collected a few BeCu putters since many rave about them and they have all been a resounding disappointment to me in the sound/feel department. I much prefer the Stainless and BeNi versions of the same putter since they have a duller sound and what I perceive to be a much softer, responsive feel. 

 

The high pitched ting on the Copper putters just messes with my ability to feel through impact and I'm not really too sensitive to sound on any club other than on the flat stick (and partial wedge shots).  The ball feels like it clanks off the putter.  It gets worse when you play a harder ball and it basically sounds like a 1-A.

 

Is it just me? Are all my BeCu putters broken? Am I broken?  I have:

 

Anser 2 (two of them)

Anser 4

Zing 2 (The BeNi is so nice in comparison)

Pal 4

@Binson "+1" i.e. you're not alone w.r.t. your feeling that BeCu's are pretty but not the best feeling. I have a BeCu Ping Anser and a B60... and often wondered the same thing.

 

[weakputt]

Interesting discussion. Pings standard back in the day was the Manganese Bronze putters.

MBr putters consisted of between 85% to as high as 88% copper, if my memory serves me. 

I have a 60's MBr Dale Head Anser and a remake 1990's version Scottsdale BeCu and they feel very similar to me.

... but then again, I can't hear and I wear mittens when I putt.

[ColinKelvin]

I don't think the BeCu Pings from the 90s are particularly soft feeling (although they sound and feel softer to me than any MgBrz putter with a sound slot - I actually like the harder 'ting' from those) - but bear in mind that when they were manufactured, balata balls were in play for those who could afford them - new balls are harder feeling.  Also, tech has moved on since then and everyone is used to milled faces and inserts.  These are just (great looking) cast lumps of metal.

 

Also, I had a harsh-feeling Anser 2 BeCu a while back with a worn/thin PP58 grip.  It felt a lot better when I put a new PP58 midsize on it.

[RobotDoctor]

10 hours ago, Bigarch said:

I always thought the BeCu putters felt too hard.  I've had a B60 and a Pal 4 over the years and didn't get along with either one.  Gimme the stainless or the bronze over the BeCu versions every day.

BeCu putters felt great when using a Balata ball.  But with the current day elastomer ball I would tend to agree.

[bcstones]

Not sure if these 2 putters are BeCu or brass: a First Flight "Pong" & a Burke "Ding-a-Ling"....I put Ping putter grips on each. So now I can putt w/a Ping Pong putter or a Ding-a-Ling Ping putter....ain't golf supposed to be fun?

Edited November 21, 2022 by bcstones

[Wonder Bread]

BeCu is harder than the stainless.