Golf News Equipment Editor Dan Owen gives the new Ping Heppler Ketsch putter a run out
With eight head shapes, plus different options for stroke-type, including an armlock version, and different hosel options for different strokes, Ping’s Heppler is one of the most comprehensive putter ranges on the market.
The real advantage over competitor’s products is the adjustable shaft. Adjustable from 32 inches all the way up to 36 inches, the shaft can be shortened or lengthened with the simple turn of a wrench. This is brilliant for fitting, but also for those times when a change is as good as a rest and you want a different feel to your flatstick.
I picked out the Ketsch, a refresh of an earlier Ping design manufactured from high-pressure aluminium and steel, in a black and copper colour scheme. It’s a large mallet, but with a relatively simple head shape. with no broken lines or slots through to the turf. Not classic, but definitely classy. Other favourites are the classic Anser, and the hi-tech Tomcat 14.
Feel-wise, it’s on the firmer side. The first Ping putter in a long time without any face milling, these putters are great for golfers who struggle to get the ball to the hole as the firmer face generates more propulsion than the more common inserts and grooved designs.
As a fan of shorter putters, it’s sometimes a struggle to find one off the rack that works, so dialing the shaft down was a great feature. At the longer lengths, there’s a little bit of shaft flex, however this has been made much firmer than Ping’s first-generation adjustable shaft. I’m not a massive fan of the stock putter grips though, which is an issue, as they are made to work with the adjustable shaft, but you may feel differently.
It’s not a steal – you won’t get much change out £250 for most premium putters these days – but with its adjustability and range of head options, I’m convinced any golfer could be fit into a Heppler putter and hole more putts.
RRP £275, ping.com