The precision with which we mill the PING Vault 2.0 putters allows us to fine-tune the specifications that best match a golfer’s stroke and feel preference. With our new weighting system, we’re able to add or reduce the overall headweight to achieve the best balance for each player which will lead to more consistency on the greens.

It was a couple of Augusts ago when PING rolled out their first batch of Vault putters. At the time, I thought that naming the putter line after PING’s vault of gold-plated (and a few solid gold) putters was a bold statement, considering that all of the putters in that gold-putter vault were tournament winners.

Now I can’t say for sure if there are any gold versions of those Vault putters in the PING gold putter vault, but Trey Mullinax did roll a PING Vault Bergen to a T9 finish at the 2017 US Open. No, Trey didn’t get a gold putter for his top ten finish, but his Vault Bergen did get him a top ten in a major which is no small accomplishment, and winning $279,524 with the Bergen probably didn’t feel too bad either.

This February, PING will roll out the next class of Vault putters, Vault 2.0, once again evoking images of golden excellence. As one should expect from PING, these new putters aren’t just a rehash of the previous ones, but rather improvements on the originals, along with some new models too.

Before we get to the new models though, let’s take a look at the features that will separate this batch of putters from their predecessors.

PING Vault 2.0 Putter Feature: TR Grooves

Precision-milled TR technology ensures full-face forgiveness for consistent speed off the face. The individually milled face pattern varies in depth and pitch across the face, which speeds up off-center impacts, improving consistency and ultimately leading to fewer three-putts.

PING’s TR grooves have graced the faces of PING putters for a number of years now, and they continue to do so for the simple reason that they work. The variable-depth grooves help the ball get to the hole, even if you miss the center of the face. I said “you” in that sentence on purpose, because pros don’t miss the middle of the face often, but amateurs like you and I sure do.

A recent SAM lab session says that I am actually pretty good about consistent center-face contact when I putt, but the strikes did deviate. That’s where the grooves come in. If impact wanders a bit from center, these will help the ball still have the pop needed to get to the hole. Yes, if you like to play deaden-the-ball-downhill shots off of the putter’s toe, you still can. The grooves won’t speed up the ball way out there. No groove on the planet is going to help much if you miss the center by two inches, but for the little misses, they work wonders.

PING Vault 2.0 Putter Feature: Sole Weights

The new custom-weighting system offers sole weight options in steel (standard weight head), tungsten (15 gms heavier than standard) and aluminum (15 gms lighter than standard) to match a golfer’s feel and balance preferences.

The grooves may be the same, but these weights are a big deal of newness for PING. Historically, if you wanted to add weight to your milled Anser, you had to send it into PING to get tungsten plugs added. Now some of you are getting ready to tell me that PING already experimented with removable weights back with the iWi line in 2008. Kudos to you putter historians, PING has indeed offered “interchangeable weight inserts” in the past.

So the concept of adjustable weights is not totally new for PING, but one notable difference this time is that they are using different materials so that the weight can be increased, or decreased, which was not an option with the iWi weights, where your options were to make your putter heavier, or even heavier.

Now, if you prefer a head that is a little lighter, or heavier, you can order your putter with weighting to fit your fancy. Yes, I did say order it that way. Unfortunately for those of us who like to tinker, the various weights will not be available in an extra kit this time. Perhaps this will change if the Vault 2.0 putters prove popular, and consumers demand drives aftermarket availability.

PING Vault 2.0 Putter Feature: Finishes

The original Vault putters were offered in two finishes. With the Vault 2.0 update, the finish number climbs to three. The five stainless steel heads will be available in Stealth, Copper, and Platinum finishes. The aluminum Ketch will come in Slate or Stealth. The lack of a copper finish for the Ketsch is disappointing, but the finish doesn’t play nicely with the aluminum.

Not all of the finishes will show up in your local shop. All of them are available, but some will need to be special ordered from PING through your retailer. Check the model details below for the finishes that will require a custom order.

Having to order directly from PING is not a terrible thing though, as you can also have PING set all of the putter’s specs for you. That’s why all of the putters in these photos have orange dots, reflecting my need for 2° flatness. Select the finish, select the weight, dial in your dot, and in a short period of time, your custom-fit putter will be in your bag.

PING Vault 2.0 Putter Feature: Grips

Four proprietary PING Pistol tapered grips provide golfers with variances in shape and feel. The PP60 is a midsize, lightweight design with a foam under-listing and dominant flats for face awareness. The PP61 has an exaggerated pistol to fit the contour of the golfer’s hands, and a rubber under-listing for a softer response. The PP62 is a lightweight, oversized grip with a rounded profile. The CB60 is standard on custom counter-balanced putters in the line.

I love the feel and playability of PP62 grip on my Vault Anser 2. At the time, it was my favorite PING grip, if not favorite putter grip from any company. I have been known to say “man, I love this grip” out loud to strangers whenever I take the Vault Anser 2 to the course.

Well, the PP62 on the Vault 2.0 putters is every bit the great grip that it was with the original line, but I am now torn between it and the PP61. All of these grips feature great texture, both from the material and the depressions, but I think that I may like the overall shape of the PP61 a little better than the PP60.

You may be saying to yourself, “Who cares which grip you like?” and I get your point, but my point is that you have different grips you can pick from, and they are quite different from each other. You have real options here, and as with finish, if your shop doesn’t have the one you want, order it from PING.

Enough about the grips and finishes, let’s get on to the putters!

PING Vault 2.0: Dale Anser

The new Dale Anser is inspired by one of the original Anser putter molds created by Allan Dale Solheim and detailed by his father, Karsten Solheim.

• 350g, fully machined 303 stainless steel
• Available in Copper, Platinum or Stealth finish
• Slight Arc
• 35″ std. length, 3º std. loft, lie angle adjustable +-4º
• U.S. MSRP: $325.00

If you are going to talk about a new line of PING putters, you should probably start with the one that is the true icon. No, not the DOC 17, but the PING Anser.

The Anser is one of the most iconic putters ever to roll a ball, and it has spawned countless other putters which celebrate its innovation through imitation. I love that this Anser has a bit of history associated with it, and the marriage of old design with new technology is a great analogy for PING in general. PING celebrates its history, but doesn’t live in the past; instead constantly engineering new (and typically better) golf equipment.

Vault 2.0 Dale Anser vs. Vault 1.0 Anser 2

Some of you may be wondering how the Vault 2.0 Dale Anser differs from the Vault Anser 2. To address this, let’s take a quick detour through Dave’s Anser Academy. I think that the above address photo shows some of the most significant physical differences. Yes, they are both heel-toe weighted blades, but there are differences.

The Anser 2 has a more squared-off overall profile when compared to the Dale Anser. Look at the rear corners, as well as at the trailing bumpers, and you will see that the Anser 2 is square where the Dale Anser is round. Though they are very similar in length, the Anser 2 looks longer heel to toe when compared to the Dale Anser.

The Dale Anser has a thicker top line, and it feels like there is a little more metal at the impact point on the face than the Anser 2. To my ear, this makes the Dale Anser impact tone a little deeper and softer than the more pronounced click of the Anser 2 at impact. Check the gallery at the end of the article for another side by side comparison shot.

PING Vault 2.0: Piper

• 360g, fully machined 303 stainless steel
• Available in Stealth finish (Copper or Platinum available special order)
• Slight Arc or Straight
• 35″ std. length, 3º std. loft, lie angle adjustable +-2º
• U.S. MSRP: $325.00

The Piper may not be the icon that the Anser is, but it has been a PING staple for many years. At first glance, there’s not much to see here. The Piper is a small mallet, featuring a big sight line, and a heavily rounded rear edge.

This Piper does something pretty interesting though when you set it at address. For me, most of the trailing curve vanishes, leaving just the line and the thick, blocky front end. Additionally, my eye is drawn to the heel and toe edges where the angle of the flange creates little fangs. Once I noticed this, I loved using them for alignment at address. Normally my eyes and round mallets don’t mesh well when aiming, but I could happily game the Piper.

PING Vault 2.0: Ketsch

The award-winning Ketsch mallet combines a fully-machined 6061 aerospace-grade aluminum body with a stainless steel sole plate for an extremely high MOI and offers exceptional alignment features.

• 365g, fully machined 6061 aluminum head, stainless steel soleplate
• Available in Stealth finish (Slate finish available special order)
• Slight Arc or Straight
• 35″ std. length, 3º std. loft, lie angle adjustable +-2º
• U.S. MSRP: $325.00

I wonder if the “award-winning” part of that press release line from PING is referring to the Ketsch’s 2015 MGS Most Wanted Putter domination. That Ketsch just smashed the competitors that year, hitting the hole again and again and again. Not too bad for a putter that was released without much fanfare.

Ketsch releases generate interest and excitement these days, and I’m sure that PING would love for the Vault 2.0 version to take home MGS Most Wanted honors again. If it does, I’d say that win is worth a gold putter addition to the PING vault.

Vault 2.0 Ketsch vs. OG Ketsch

So what has PING changed with this new Ketsch? Looking at the top side, one might say “not much”, and that’s a good thing since the Ketsch’s shape and lines help promote accuracy.

Flip the putters over though, and you see a whole new belly on the Vault 2.0 Ketsch. No longer is the sole plate restricted to the rear of the putter. Now that plate extends forward, even creeping around the edges of the putter a bit. The weights are also new, and the overall stock head weight jumps up to 365g. Remember though, should you want it lighter or heavier, you can order it that way from PING.

How will these design changes affect performance? We will just have to wait a few months for the Most Wanted 2018 Putter testing.

PING Vault 2.0: Voss

• 350g, fully machined 303 stainless steel
• Available in Stealth finish (Copper or Platinum available special order)
• Slight Arc
• 35″ std. length, 3º std. loft, lie angle adjustable +-4º
• U.S. MSRP: $325.00

The Voss returns for a repeat performance in the Vault 2.0 line. While the differences between the Dale Anser and the Anser 2 are somewhat subtle, the Voss’ blocky profile sets it apart from the Ansers.

Sure, it’s still a heel-toe weighted blade, but it’s by far the boxiest of the bunch at address. That’s a cool feat considering that the bumpers have such dynamic, non-boxy swoops. The Voss is like a Magic Eye painting. At first, you see one thing, but once you really look at it, you see something else.

PING Vault 2.0: B60

• 355g, fully machined 303 stainless steel
• Available in Stealth or Copper finish (Platinum available special order)
• Slight Arc
• 35″ std. length, 3º std. loft, lie angle adjustable +-4º
• U.S. MSRP: $325.00

PING markets the B60 as a blade, and it has some blade-like features, but I’m OK if you want to call it a mallet. Think of it as a transitional mallet. If you want to go a bit larger, but the big mallets intimidate you, spend some time with the B60 to ease yourself into mallet play.

Or, do what many golfers have done over the years and just stay with the B60 and give zero cares if it’s a blade or a mallet. Really, it’s both. The thin top line and plumbers neck are very blade, while the large bumpers swoop into mallet-esqe MOI readings. Best of both worlds if you will.

PING Vault 2.0: ZB

• 350g, fully machined 303 stainless steel
• Available in Platinum (Copper or Stealth available special order)
• Slight Arc
• 35″ std. length, 3º std. loft, lie angle adjustable +-4º
• U.S. MSRP: $325.00

The Vault 2.0 ZB represents PING’s first milled ZB since the 2009 Redwood line. There was a Scottsdale line version of the ZB a few years after the Redwood, but I don’t think that either one will stand up next to the Vault 2.0 ZB.

The ZB has the deepest toe hang of the Vault 2.o line, and though it’s listed as a Slight Arc putter, I wouldn’t be surprised if Strong Arc players gravitate toward the ZB as well. While the design seems simple, the ZB gains some visual complexity at address. The sight dot represents a minimalistic alignment scheme, but when you notice the face and flange lines, you’ll realize that the dot is not the whole story. The dot helps you to place the putter properly behind the ball, then the lines on the putter help you to square the putter perpendicular to the target line. It’s not overt like the Odyssey Versa black and white alignment scheme, but it works similarly. You’ll see what I’m talking about when you demo the ZB.

The Vault Opens February 8th

PING’s Vault 2.0 putters should be arriving at a PING retailer near you on February 8th. That gives you a little bit of time to figure out what head, grip, finish, shaft, and weight that you would like. Remember, if your shop doesn’t have exactly what you want, you can have them order it from PING. It doesn’t cost more, and you can get the loft/lie/length adjusted to your specs as well.

The $325 price on these is very competitive when you compare them to other milled putters in the marketplace. You’ll pay more for a Scotty Cameron, and likely end up with a less custom-fitted putter. If you are looking to spend that much on your next putter, you’ll want to take a hard look at what PING is taking out of the vault. With the Vault 2.0 line, PING is offering multiple visual options to fit golfers’ visual preferences and tested groove technologies that will help golfers to make some putts. That’s a win-win in my book.

Retail availability begins February 8th.

You’ve read my take on these, but what do you think? Which model are you most excited to roll? Is there a finish that you prefer? Is there a model that you’d like to see in the Vault 3.0 release?