Equipment
Ping launches “PLD1” custom-putter program
Attention, putter collectors, creative minds and golfers with deep pockets: Ping has a new custom-putter program called PLD1 (stands for Putting Lab Design) that may be right up your alley.
PLD1 allows golfers to customize a milled Ping putter, a concept that’s “inspired by the one-off, milled putters that Bubba and several of our tour players use,” according to the company.
Using the PLD1 microsite, I created this digital beauty.
On the PLD1 microsite, golfers have their say over the following design aspects:
- Dexterity (right- or left-handed)
- Alignment Aids (line vs. dot)
- Heel/toe bumper engravings (max 6 characters each bumper)
- “Ping” cavity color
- “Ping” hosel color
- Eyemark logo color
- Length (28-38 inches, standard is 35 inches)
- Loft (standard is 3 degrees, adjustable +/- 2 degrees)
- Lie (standard is 70 degrees, adjustable +/- 4 degrees)
- Grip (30+ options, including Ping, SuperStroke and Salty)
The putters, which will be handcrafted by Ping machinists, will sell for $600 plus tax, regardless of your custom selections. Each putter also comes with a PLD1 box and putter cover, as pictured above.
Visit puttinglab.ping.com to learn more.
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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Maria Torres WITB 2026 (June)
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...
Eric Cole WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: PXG Lightning Tour Max (9 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees) Shaft:...
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Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (8.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X Mini driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Mini...
Wyndham Clark’s winning WITB: 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (10.5 degrees) Shaft: Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D Tour (15 degrees) Shaft: Project...
Bert
Jan 15, 2017 at 8:32 am
Marketing gone crazy? Guess it will work if golfers buy them; after all they buy other Ping replicas for big bucks; just add milling!
booya cornflakes
Jan 13, 2017 at 12:38 pm
So…400 bucks for stamping? It feels like all of the other options can be had off the rack, other than the paintfill color which takes all of what, 25 minutes to change? This seems badly planned, especially when $600 buys a LOT of putter fro anyone number of boutique brands that are actually, you know, custom.
MuskieCy
Jan 13, 2017 at 12:31 am
I get one of these, PXG irons and stupid expensive JDM titanium.
Viola, the first GOLFWRX $10K bag championship.
I win and am a total loser at the same time.
Blake
Jan 12, 2017 at 2:41 pm
Go to edel instead and get a completely custom putter. $600 is ridic
tlmck
Jan 12, 2017 at 11:25 am
Hopefully there is something different about these otehr than the paint job of grip choice. If it is like the milled ones I hit at the store, mu 1990 stainless with no grooves walks all over those turds.
Cwolfs
Jan 11, 2017 at 7:03 pm
You lost me at the price tag. Never
John
Jan 11, 2017 at 4:37 pm
A $600 Ping Anser?! Kingston Putters about to get PAY-EDDD
Anthony Polakov
Jan 11, 2017 at 1:29 pm
A big waste of money. But what else do golf equipment company’s have to do but try every way to get more of our money!
Shanks for the Memories
Jan 11, 2017 at 12:42 pm
I was hoping there would be more options or models or something. Basically a milled anser with stamped bumpers and your choice of siteline… oh, and colors. Your choice of colors.
rymail00
Jan 11, 2017 at 8:43 pm
Agree. $600 for your choice of paintfill, bumper stamping and alignent choice is not what I’d consider a custom putter worth that price point JMO.
Maybe if other options like carbon, different finishes, and choice of head weights with adding tunsten or whatever. Might be asking a lot though.
Rich
Jan 11, 2017 at 12:38 pm
Literally a Rife Vault 001 Iconic Putter
John
Jan 11, 2017 at 1:16 pm
RIFE doesn’t have an iconic putter. Nobody thinks RIFE is iconic.
Smith
Jan 11, 2017 at 4:43 pm
Rekt.