Become a PING Putter Designer!
PING's new PLD1 putter is all about customization. With the launch of the PING Putting Lab Design Program, PING is giving you the chance to design your own putter. Not the head shape mind you, but the alignment line or dot, paint fill, engravings, loft, lie, length, and grip. Good news for the lefties, handedness is another of the options, so you can customize one as well.
While PING may not be giving you CAD design access and allowing you to create your metal masterpiece's head shape, they are giving you the ability to customize numerous aspects of the putter so that you can make one that is uniquely yours. And as a huge bonus, you can do it all from the comfort of your computer.
Here is the link to the PING Putting Lab Design Program.
I'll just wait here while you go spend the next hour goofing around with the different design options...
Not full custom, but customizable
If you are looking to add a rolled top line and hand peened bumpers, then the options available in the PLD program may seem lacking to you. However, PING is not touting the PLD1 as a fully custom putter, but rather a customizable putter. You get the chance to gussy up the PLD1 with the colors and character that will make it uniquely yours.
Plus, even if the options are considered limited, they are way more expansive than what we see from other companies right now, or at least they are more readily accessible. PING's online interface lets you design and buy the putter immediately. Other big OEM shops may have custom programs too, but not one that is easy as PING's. The build to buy speed is pretty impressive.
The $600 price tag on the PLD1 will rub some of you the wrong way, but those who have looked into customization of a putter through the Cameron Custom Shop should recognize that PING is right in the ballpark for this type of putter and service. Maybe even a little less expensive than others.
It's an expensive putter, for sure, but it's not outrageously so for what you are getting. The odds are that PING will get your putter in your hands faster than the Cameron Custom Shop too.
But What About the Putter?
Sort of lost in the customization discussion is the fact that the PLD1 is a new putter head. You are not just customizing an Anser 2 here. There are some cool cosmetic features on the PLD1, like the Voss-like lines on the bumpers and the blockier-than-an-Anser shape.
If you are still hung up on the price, think about what a Cameron with a unique head shape and customizable options would run you.
I can't relay any play thoughts about the PLD1 because I don't have one in hand yet. Hopefully, that will change soon, and I'll be able to pass along more info about the design process and the play of the PLD1 putter.
Here is the link one more time to the PING Putting Lab Design Program. It's not my fault if your work productivity suffers for the next few hours as you contemplate all of your design options.
Greg
6 months agoCustomised putters don’t come cheap. Just look at Toulon, Scotty and Lamb Crafted custom designs that are really pricey. it would seem that customising your putter is allowing a sales stream previously untapped. Who doesn’t want a putter to fit their swing,( loft, lie etc) with their name and nickname and colour coordinated!! I know I will buy one. I just want the face of Evnrol on my customised design.
Gary Hunter
6 months agoI notice people mentioning the price. Out of interest how much would people feel was the correct amount to charge for a custom option like this?
Mark Odom
6 months agoOk, buy a Old Anser clean it up with new grip, get you a couple dozen pro v 1’s and new Taylormade M1 driver and pay for a couple of rounds and still have money in your pocket. or 1- new $600.00 Ping putter?? Haha.
Fred Molo
6 months agoWith that price I’ll buy me a golf lesson
Smitty
6 months agoFor $600 buy an Anser custom paint fill it yourself and then go get a new driver. Wow $600 is crazy.
Kirby Oaks
6 months agoNot at that price. Color and engravings are not that important.
TexasSnowman
6 months agouh..it’s not identical to an Anser but damn close I’d say. I know the Anser is a classic design, but how many times can Ping and other Oems recycle this design? As far as this being big news in terms of customization: It’s NOT. Why not offer at least multiple head shapes that can be “customized”. Not Impressed with this and btw Overpriced.
Tom
6 months agoI’d say PING have earned the right to play around with the Anser head as much as they like for as long as they like. After all, Karsten Solheim did actually design it. Whether Cameron or any of the many other copiers should take any pride from reinventing the wheel is another matter.
Nathan Inwon Kim
6 months agowith that money, I’d buy Byron..
Ryan Helin
6 months agoSeems like a worse more expensive version of Scotty’s Custom Shop
J-Full
6 months agoSeems like it might just be cheaper to buy the putter outright and get the color customization done locally unless the putter would be $600 customized or not.
Jeff Tavone
6 months ago600.00
Geoff Morrison
6 months agoYep. For that price, Im getting a Scotty and sending it to their custom shop.
Jeff Tavone
6 months agoExactly
As much as I like the idea of it . Customizing a Scotty is better . More options
Smith
6 months ago“If you are still hung up on the price, think about what a Cameron with a unique head shape and customizable options would run you.”
I like PING as much as the next guy, but for $600, I can get any OTR Cameron, change the head weight, length, finish, add stampings and initials, select a custom shop grip and headcover. I could also get a Byron with a whole slew of options…once again including head weight, finish, stamping, select a cover etc.
I think this is a move in the right direction for PING, but $600 for basically adding paint and engraving (on bumpers only) seems outrageous to me.
Matt Bellner
6 months agoThis is a great idea. Time to kill some time and make a few designs.
Kenny B
6 months agoLet me know when a putter is fully customizable; loft, lie, length, head weight, counter-balance weight.
Carolina Golfer 2
6 months agosounds interesting, i may have to play around with this a bit. Will look forward to seeing more on this at the PGA Show.