Old Ping Putters

[awcrook]

Thank you everyone.  I just used Twinkle Copper/Brass cleaner to brighten it.  Will probably just let it sit for now and allow it to patina again.  First step is 10.5" up.  

[tripanfal]

Been a while since I picked up anything new but found a “5”, in a well patina’d manganese bronze. Love this thing - impressively forgiving for a blade. Feels solid on off center strikes like the Pal 5, but a touch more precise like a J Blade 5. Pretty comfy to move the ball out toward the toe to take a little off as well. Gonna give it a real go on course this weekend. 

[Dan Drake]

Came across this in a pile of old lost clubs.  Got kinda stoked and may have late-night-eBay’d the broomstick version as well! 😂

 

 

[Dan Drake]

Y’all aren’t going to believe what showed up today…..

 

Original grips, original grip sticker, and original sole sticker with length.  And the grips are still somewhat passable!  Holy moly.  
 

Now what do I do?  I bought it for two reasons: 1. Proof of concept for the 50” length for how is like to putt & 2. To put into play in my vintage bag.  Now I want to do both AND put it in my regular bag AND hang it on a wall and admire it! 

 

Decisions, decisions….

[tripanfal]

I have found myself upset that I acquired putters with stickers or original grips I don’t like putting with and I wouldn’t give them enough play time, so I really feel this one. Either way, what a unique beauty. Great find. 

28 minutes ago, Dan Drake said:

Y’all aren’t going to believe what showed up today…..

 

Original grips, original grip sticker, and original sole sticker with length.  And the grips are still somewhat passable!  Holy moly.  
 

Now what do I do?  I bought it for two reasons: 1. Proof of concept for the 50” length for how is like to putt & 2. To put into play in my vintage bag.  Now I want to do both AND put it in my regular bag AND hang it on a wall and admire it! 

 

Decisions, decisions….

 

[Jraallen]

On 5/28/2025 at 9:21 PM, Dan Drake said:

Y’all aren’t going to believe what showed up today…..

 

Original grips, original grip sticker, and original sole sticker with length.  And the grips are still somewhat passable!  Holy moly.  
 

Now what do I do?  I bought it for two reasons: 1. Proof of concept for the 50” length for how is like to putt & 2. To put into play in my vintage bag.  Now I want to do both AND put it in my regular bag AND hang it on a wall and admire it! 

 

Decisions, decisions….

I would buy 2 more and hang that one up.. but that doesn’t mean you should haha.

[J281sc]

Picked up a somewhat older ping answer for $20. Not really planning on playing it but thought it was cool. Whats the recommendation for cleaning these for collecting purposes? Would you regroup or leave the old cracked grip (not sure if that’s the original)?

 

[Foozle]

6 minutes ago, J281sc said:

Whats the recommendation for cleaning these for collecting purposes?

Recommendation is NOT to clean!

That patina takes a long time to develop and is beautiful just as Karsten intended.

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, J281sc said:

Picked up a somewhat older ping answer for $20. Not really planning on playing it but thought it was cool. Whats the recommendation for cleaning these for collecting purposes? Would you regroup or leave the old cracked grip (not sure if that’s the original)?

 

DO NOT clean it, the patina increases value. However that is not a Ping stock grip so if you want to regrip with a Ping PP58 grip that would be good.

[J281sc]

3 hours ago, Foozle said:

Recommendation is NOT to clean!

That patina takes a long time to develop and is beautiful just as Karsten intended.

 

2 hours ago, hammergolf said:

DO NOT clean it, the patina increases value. However that is not a Ping stock grip so if you want to regrip with a Ping PP58 grip that would be good.

Would a toothbrush dry or damp to clear the crud on the bottom of the stamped location to clear the crud out be fine or is that generally left as is also? I’ll look at getting one of those grips to replace 

[hammergolf]

16 minutes ago, J281sc said:

 

Would a toothbrush dry or damp to clear the crud on the bottom of the stamped location to clear the crud out be fine or is that generally left as is also? I’ll look at getting one of those grips to replace 

If it’s bothering you, some soapy water and a brush isn’t going to hurt anything. Most of the distortion in the cavity is not crud, just the marks of the worn down mold. It’s not worth a ton of money but the older models are desirable due to the higher copper content and head shape. 

[tripanfal]

Been busy the past few weeks for golf unfortunately but found one of my most wanted when all I was looking for was a head cover - but now I am still looking for a head cover as this one is too pretty to part. 

Edited June 15 by tripanfal

[Beenerpro]

Nice score! I gamed one for a couple of years. Should have kept it. Enjoy making everything!

[Scott Rivers]

I found this pre-patent Ping Putter that I've never seen. Does anyone have any more information? I've come across other models, but this is a first. Thanks, Scott.

[The Aspidistra in the Hall]

Sorry to appear dumb, but what am I missing?

It's clearly not a Patent Pending.

It looks to my eyes a standard Ping Anser. Happy to be educated.

[sheepdawg]

Got a newer shaftband on it. Probably mid 80s.

[Binson]

22 hours ago, Scott Rivers said:

I found this pre-patent Ping Putter that I've never seen. Does anyone have any more information? I've come across other models, but this is a first. Thanks, Scott.

Hmm, not sure what you mean by "pre-patent".  It clearly says "Patented" on it

[Foozle]

3 hours ago, Binson said:

Hmm, not sure what you mean by "pre-patent".  It clearly says "Patented" on it

Wonder if the OP means pre copy right trademark - circle stamp next to Ping on the bumper?

I think the trademark came in '67. 

It is not rare and as Karsten Mfg Corp not as interesting as Karsten Co or, obviously, Scottsdale.

[weakputt]

23 hours ago, Foozle said:

Wonder if the OP means pre copy right trademark - circle stamp next to Ping on the bumper?

I think the trademark came in '67. 

It is not rare and as Karsten Mfg Corp not as interesting as Karsten Co or, obviously, Scottsdale.

According to the Ping Collectable Manual Anser's did not stamp a Trade Mark on their putters until after the Spring of 1970. The putter is not a Dale Head and is probably a late 70's or early 80's Anser remake. The shaft label also tells us that. 

[Coopito]

Is there such a thing as a ping pal 3? I have a lefty 2, 4, 5, and 6 all in BeCu, a lefty OG pal in mgbr, but I can’t seem to find ANY examples of a 3. Do they even exist? 

[tripanfal]

12 hours ago, Coopito said:

Is there such a thing as a ping pal 3? I have a lefty 2, 4, 5, and 6 all in BeCu, a lefty OG pal in mgbr, but I can’t seem to find ANY examples of a 3. Do they even exist? 

Not that I have ever seen. There are 5ks (long neck hosel - offset and face balanced) and 5bv (no hosel - face balanced through shaft bend) versions. I am not sure if either came in becu though, maybe just manganese bronze and steel. 

Edited July 8 by tripanfal

[Coopito]

10 hours ago, tripanfal said:

Not that I have ever seen. There are 5ks (long neck hosel - offset and face balanced) and 5bv (no hosel - face balanced through shaft bend) versions. I am not sure if either came in becu though, maybe just manganese bronze and steel. 

Thanks for the info!!

[hammergolf]

On 7/7/2025 at 5:06 PM, Coopito said:

Is there such a thing as a ping pal 3? I have a lefty 2, 4, 5, and 6 all in BeCu, a lefty OG pal in mgbr, but I can’t seem to find ANY examples of a 3. Do they even exist? 

No, there was a Pal, Pal 2, and Pal 4. 

[Coopito]

1 hour ago, hammergolf said:

No, there was a Pal, Pal 2, and Pal 4. 

Thanks for confirming.
 

Here’s the lefty collection so far…

 

[ColinKelvin]

17 hours ago, hammergolf said:

No, there was a Pal, Pal 2, and Pal 4. 

and Pal 5 and Pal 6 ("the ice pick").

[tripanfal]

Look what the fedex man brought me today - NOS I think, barely played, with my favorite ping grip of all time on it. Worth every penny of 39$. 

[ColinKelvin]

On 7/9/2025 at 6:11 PM, tripanfal said:

Look what the fedex man brought me today - NOS I think, barely played, with my favorite ping grip of all time on it. Worth every penny of 39$. 

Always nice to find a nickel Ping, and a NOS even moreso! Strangely for a 90s putter it seems to have a very modern shaft with the stroke fitting on it?

[tripanfal]

2 hours ago, ColinKelvin said:

Always nice to find a nickel Ping, and a NOS even moreso! Strangely for a 90s putter it seems to have a very modern shaft with the stroke fitting on it?

A big part of it’s appeal was is that it is a bit of a mystery to me, my hypothesis is that it is one of the last out of the NOS stores and it got a later shaft but I have some research to do for sure (I have a stepless mgbrz Scottsdale Anser that has a similarly incongruously new shaft). Love putting with it though - ample forgiveness and very soft feel for a solid flat faced putter but with the nice density of the nickel for a bit more pop than the steel heads.

[ColinKelvin]

1 hour ago, tripanfal said:

A big part of it’s appeal was is that it is a bit of a mystery to me, my hypothesis is that it is one of the last out of the NOS stores and it got a later shaft but I have some research to do for sure (I have a stepless mgbrz Scottsdale Anser that has a similarly incongruously new shaft). Love putting with it though - ample forgiveness and very soft feel for a solid flat faced putter but with the nice density of the nickel for a bit more pop than the steel heads.

I think that is spot on - a NOS head which they shafted later. The OG shaft would have been a standard Mr Ping black/red band one anyway which is nothing special. I agree that the nickels feel nice, just a tad denser than SS as you say. I love the feel of my J-Blade 3 BeNi.

[sheepdawg]

Same shaft as my BeNi B60.