Equipment
Why Ping is sending Ketsch putter owners $30
If you bought a Ping Ketsch putter, good news: Ping wants to send you “a gift of $30.” The bad news? The putter grooves were deeper than expected.
The full statement of Ping Chairman & CEO John A. Solheim, below.
“In the highly-praised Ketsch putter, which is widely used on Tours around the world, our internal team recently determined the grooves in the face technology are deeper than intended. As a result, we suspended production and shipments of the putter. Today, we are announcing the Ketsch putter is returning to production and will soon be available with new grooves.
Since this affects all Ketsch putters (standard and counter-balanced), we are providing current owners of the putter a gift of $30. Ketsch putters currently available for purchase at golf shops (shipped by PING before production was suspended) are eligible for the gift. Details on how to receive the gift will be communicated over the coming weeks.
We are also confirming all Ketsch putters conform to the Rules of Golf. As a company built on standing behind the technology and performance of its products, we thank our customers for their continued loyalty and support.”
Neal Shipley was the first to admit that he enjoyed his food while in college. But since his days at Ohio State, he’s slimmed down and earned a PGA Tour Card.
That hasn’t stopped him from having fun with his wedge stampings, though it’s led to some misunderstandings.
On the 54 (degree), we have ‘Big Fudge,'” Shipley told GolfWRX. “It was supposed to be ‘Big Fridge,’ so this happened a little while ago. ‘Big Fridge’ was a nickname between my college teammates and I, with ‘fridge’ meaning stomach, a big stomach.
“We told the Ping guys to put … ‘Big Fridge’ on it, and I think maybe some bad cell service or something, and they thought I said ‘fudge,’ so they put fudge on it.”
On Shipley’s 50-degree he also continues the food theme, this time with his go-to order at the “Golden Arches,” and his stamping “DONS 7.”
“The number 7 meal, the two cheeseburger meal, that was my McDonald’s order, back when I would have McDonald’s frequently,” Shipley shared.
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @raw10628 has a L.A.B. DF3 putter and Masters putter cover up for grabs.
From the listing: “Some great items here today, time to thin out and make room for next set of gear. All prices include shipping.
LAB DF3 Purple 33.5” 68° lie with TPT – $725. LAB Masters release DF3 cover – $150.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules
Driver: Ping G440 LST (9 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 5-M4
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
5-wood: Ping G440 Max (19 degrees @18)
Shaft: Accra TourZ Green 6-M4
Hybrid: Ping G440 (23 degrees)
Shaft: Oban Isawa Red Hybrid Shaft 04 Flex 70 Gms
Irons: Srixon ZXi7 (5-P)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i80
Wedges: Cleveland RTZ (50-MID, 54-FULL, 58-MID)
Shafts: Aerotech SteelFiber Private Reserve i105
Putter: L.A.B. Golf OZ.1i
Shaft: ACCRA Putter Shaft
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
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aidan
Nov 1, 2014 at 7:19 am
any updates on what the difference in performance will be. nothing on pings website???
Groundhog
Jan 10, 2015 at 9:31 am
Where is the $30.00 I keep sending emails to Ping and all they say is the website for refund is not yet set up.
Bobby
Aug 25, 2014 at 3:04 pm
Who cares? I am draining putts from everywhere with this thing. Grooves Schmooves…I will take $30 though 🙂
James
Sep 7, 2014 at 1:39 pm
Well Said.. As long as the grooves are legal
Paul
Aug 23, 2014 at 3:51 pm
Is this offer available in the UK?
MHendon
Aug 20, 2014 at 12:07 pm
If it works, why sweat the small stuff.
DigiBurdie
Aug 19, 2014 at 10:42 pm
damn i bought one last night, saw this today. at least i’ll get the $30. but still confused .. is this a defect? advantage/disadvantage? conforming? illegal?
Rich
Aug 20, 2014 at 7:21 am
You did read the article right?
Ketsch CB owner
Aug 19, 2014 at 8:53 pm
I just received my custom ordered CB Ketsch putter. If Ping is willing to give us $30 because the grooves are deeper then they had intended, does that mean the putter will lack in performance when compared to the yet to be released Ketsch 2?
I would like to believe if there is a performance issue with the grooves, Ping would honor all those who purchased the Ketsch, with the Ketsch 2.
Can any Ping representatives touch on this??
Ping Player
Dec 23, 2014 at 8:22 pm
The ketsch is still the best putter out there, even with the grooves. The new one will probably just be more forgivable.
bobbycj
Aug 19, 2014 at 8:28 pm
I’m so confused. I bought one 6 weeks ago. Are the grooves non-conforming ? Do they give an added advantage ? Disadvantage ? I make tons of putts with mine.
Zak Kozuchowski
Aug 19, 2014 at 9:53 pm
The grooves are 100% conforming.
enrique
Aug 19, 2014 at 5:15 pm
In a related story, “Deep Groove OG Ketcsh” putters are now selling on BST for Cameron 009 money.
markb
Aug 19, 2014 at 5:05 pm
I own a Ketsch and its grooves are very deep. While this doesn’t impact USGA conformity, what super deep grooves do is negate any supposed effect of Ping’s touted variable-depth-grooved True Roll technology. Meaning, if all your grooves are too deep everywhere, you will see no distance variance dampening with off-center hits that should be striking shallower grooves.
This may or may not be true, but I couldn’t care less about a Ketsch 2 or a $30 rebate. When I tested my Ketsch I thought its sharp ridges and deep grooves really made a urethane ball grab the turf with traction and I found my putts coming up short a lot. But they also didn’t skid out of control on slippery downhill putts. So adjusted, I hit uphill putts more firmly and I’m happy. Whatever they did, it works.
ryan
Aug 19, 2014 at 1:56 pm
Wish I knew how long it would be before you could order a new one.
Vadim
Aug 19, 2014 at 12:01 pm
I wonder how this effect if at all putter performance?
BS
Aug 19, 2014 at 12:06 pm
Lots of backspin like their Eye2