The Club Report! – Ping Scottsdale TR Putters

Written by: Dave Wolfe (@Golfspy Dave)

So did anyone happen to watch The Masters?  I know, I know, we all watched The Masters.  One of the interesting things to think about though is the different ways that we watched it.  I’m not talking about how we watched it: on the computer, the phone, HDTV, boring regular TV, or uber cool Google Glass specs.  Instead, I am talking about what we paid attention to during the coverage.  Some of you zeroed in on the beauty of Augusta National, while some of you marveled at the beauty of Adam Scott.  The more gear-headed tried to see details about the clubs the pros were bagging, because obviously those specs would work for Joe-average as well.  I’m giving the gear guys grief, that’s what I usually check out during the tournament (sorry Mr. Scott).  My putter-philia really takes over during the majors.  I want to know what the best players in the world are rolling during such an important tournament.

There were a couple of real putter standouts in the coverage.  Jason Day’s Taylormade Ghost Spider S Slant helped him to get close, again.  We all saw Adam Scott drain the winner with his supposedly unanchored long Cameron Futura X prototype.  I usually don’t pay as much attention to the custom tour putters  though because I know that I don’t fiscally stand a chance of bagging anything with a Circle T on it.  Why I’m barely able to fund coffee at Circle K.  Rather than drool over putters I can’t have, I always look for putters that we all have access to, no tour van required.  In my opinion, the putter that made the largest off-the-rack splash at The Masters was Angel Cabrera’s Ping Scottsdale TR Shea H.  Mr. Cabrera came awfully close to chipping in on that first playoff hole, possibly sending Australia back with a second place, again.  I think for second you win the green boxers.  Anyway, Cabrera did putt lights out with the Scottsdale TR Shea H, but he was not the only Ping pro who performed well with one during the tournament.  Lee Westwood also bagged a Shea and finished T-8.  Nothing tour-only about either putter.  You can likely find  an identical one in your local shop right now.  That definitely warrants taking a closer look at a few of the models from the Ping Scottsdale TR putter line.

General Specs: Ping Scottsdale TR

• Black PVD Finish
• Variable-depth-groove technology insert
• Fixed-length and Adjustable-length shafts
• Multiple Shaft Options for Stroke-Type Fitting (mallets)
• Oversize Winn grip
• Twelve Head Shapes (Anser 2, Anser 2B, B60, Carefree L, Greyhawk, Piper C, Senita, Shea, Shea H, Tatum, Tomcat S, & ZB S)

Anser 2

We will start with the classic Ping head; the Anser 2 is truly iconic in the putter world.  This version of the Anser 2 has a single sight line, full-shaft offset plumbers neck, and fits a slight-arc putting stroke.  If you have bagged an Anser 2 in the past, you will immediately feel comfortable with this one at address, and then pleasantly surprised with the feel of the insert when it rolls the ball.

Piper C

It has been a couple of model runs since we have seen a center-shafted Piper C from Ping.  I think the last one came around in the G2 line, and even that one was a bit different from this one.  The Piper C features two widely spaced alignment lines, a central spud neck, and fits a straight putting stroke.  Not much offset with this one, but that is what center-shafted players usually look for anyway.  The insert is wide across the face and really provides a great deal of forgiveness for off-center strikes.

Senita

The Senita is one of the two large mallets in the line, with the other being the Grayhawk.  The Senita was also present in last years Scottsdale line, and I think that comparing the 2012 to the 2013 Senita really demonstrates the less-is-more improvement in terms of finish.  I found the maroon color and white circle on the previous Senita to be distracting, and definitely visually inferior to the new, simpler black and white scheme.  Additionally, both of the mallets in the Scottsdale TR line also feature the ability to customize the shaft to fit a players stroke like we saw with last year’s Ping Nome.  That means that you can play the Senita with a straight, slight arc, or strong arc putting stroke.  Just order it with the appropriate shaft.  I can’t even think of any other company that is making a strong arc large mallet right now.

Tatum

The Tatum is a bit of an off-shoot in its head shape.  It’s a blade that plays like a mallet.  We are back to the blallet head shape.  I think that this is the first appearance of the Tatum, but I am not 100% certain as all of my research online seems to lead me back to Channing Tatum and I don’t think that his MOI conforms to the rules of golf.  Unlike Channing, this Tatum has a good deal of mallet-like perimeter weighting, paired with a blade-like slanted neck.  The angle of the neck and the neck’s position give the Tatum face-balanced toe hang, perfect for straight “arc” players.

General Impressions

Looks

Ping has put together a great looking line of putters with the 2013 Scottsdale TR line. I think that that statement is significant, because their “looks” track record has been a little suspect in years past.  The 2012 Scottsdale line had way too much maroon and white.  The holes in the iN line prior to that were an optical miss.  The Anser Milled line is gorgeous, as was the, also higher-end Redwood line.  Ping’s entry line of putters has lacked visual pop, until this year.  Whoever decided to go matte black with simple alignment graphics made the right decision.  These putters look great in play, on TV, and seeing 20+ all lined up side-by-side in the pro shop is very impressive.  Even the large-headed mallets look SR-71 sleek with the black finish.

Feel

I love the feel of the Ping Scottsdale TR insert, and I really didn’t like the one in last year’s Scottsdale.  This insert feels far livelier to me, really putting a nice roll on the ball.  It’s got some pop, and yet retains the soft feel that makes people look to inserts in the first place.  That’s only part of the story though.  Ping has done something novel with this insert; they have deadened the sweet spot.  That’s right, if you hit it in the sweet spot, it rolls less than it could without the deadening.  The result of this madness is that now the edges of the insert are hotter than the center.  With most putters, off center hits will result in a loss of distance when compared to the sweet spot hits.  By making the middle less responsive, Ping has actually created an insert that should produce similar roll distances, regardless of where you hit the insert.  More consistent distance, no matter where you hit the face, seems like a great recipe for the amateur and pro golfer alike.

Alignment

Alignment schemes are simple with the Scottsdale TR, and that’s a great thing.  I think that the simple black and white color scheme combined with single sight lines on most models makes for putters that most players will feel comfortable aiming.  Even the Senita, with its complex head geometry, just sits on the turf and points its line at the hole.  These are very easy to aim as a result.

FIT FOR STROKE™

Don’t change your stroke. Change your putter.

The Ping Scottsdale TR line features putters that will fit all three of the strokes identified by the iPing app:  Straight, Slight Arc, and Strong Arc. A quick jaunt to the Scottsdale TR product page will let you know which of the other models in the line may be right for you.  Remember, you can get the mallets with different shafts that will allow even a strong arc player to roll a mallet.  No longer must the strong arc-ers be stranded in the land of heel-shafted half mallets.

Ping has also included adjustable shafts as an option in this year’s line.  You can still order your putter from Ping with a standard shaft, but the adjustable shaft lets you customize length all on your own.  There is a collar below the grip that releases the grip section from the shaft with the assistance of the threaded tool (included).  Traditional models adjust from 31” to 38”, belly models go from 37.5” to 46.5”, and brooms can be adjusted between 44.5” and 55.5”.  That’s a pretty huge variation of lengths.  No longer do you need to hope that a shop has your correct length.  Now the shop doesn’t even need to have multiple lengths in inventory.   Rather you can now just customize the length to fit the customer. That’s pretty win-win on both sides of the purchasing equation.

The One For Me

Senita, no question.  I had fully expected to bond with the Tatum, as it has the square body shape that I seem to be leaning toward these days.  The Senita was way more consistent for me.  Honestly, I was amazed.  This may come as a shock to you but I really didn’t care for last year’s Scottsdale Senita.  It was too big, busy, didn’t feel that great, and was overall uninspiring.  Yes, you read that right.  There is a putter out there that I don’t like.  100% in the other direction we have the Scottsdale TR Senita, one of my favorites to play on the course with this year.  The insert feels great, it’s easy to aim, and playing to my golf bag vanity, the Senita looks amazing.  It was painful to move on to other putters.  All for you faithful readers…

In Conclusion

Straight to the point, Ping has really nailed it with the Scottsdale TR line this year. There is great variety in the line, both in head shapes and shaft options.  The adjustable shaft may be a short-run novelty, or it may be something that changes the putter market, we will need to watch and see on that one.  Huge kudos to the Scottsdale TR’s insert though.  It almost bagged one major victory already this year.  I would not be surprised if a Scottsdale TR gets one (come on Westy).  The price is right on these as well.  The non-adjustable shaft models can be had for about $150, with the adjustable shaft setting you back a couple of extra Hamiltons.  It’s a great looking, great rolling putter at a solid price point. Well done Ping.