Which Ping Karsten Series (1-4) do you guys like the most and why? Need help choosing

[jmoore22]

Hey guys I'm looking to pick up an older ping karsten set to have sent back to ping to get refinished. Which set do you guys like and what's the advantages and disadvantages of them? Can't find much info on them.Thank you!

[ScooterMcTavish]

Ignore, I'm an idiot.

[jmoore22]

? Umm.... scooter I said ping karsten not bullseye and I'm not sure about the 2007 refrence I don't remember Karstens out then. I'm talking about the original karsten series the 1,2,3, and 4 from the 70s and 80s. Any ideas guys

[ScooterMcTavish]

Ignore, I'm an idiot.

[Wriggles]

[quote name='jmoore22' timestamp='1430849468' post='11503851']
Hey guys I'm looking to pick up an older ping karsten set to have sent back to ping to get refinished. Which set do you guys like and what's the advantages and disadvantages of them? Can't find much info on them.Thank you!
[/quote]

Are you asking about the iron sets? All (1-4) are quite similar. I play the Karsten 2's from 1975. Very good irons, actually quite modern in my opinion. I bought mine for $84, including tax close to 15 years ago. Mr. Scruffynick just got a set earlier this year.

Seems others think you may be talking about putters, so if so, please excuse. Sounds like iron sets to me.

Either way, play well!

[ScooterMcTavish]

Ahhhh, Wriggles, you identified correctly the word "Set" in the OP. No wonder I am confused. Time to go edit my posts.

Ignore, I'm an idiot. Repeat.

[Davewn]

From what I recall reading in one of these threads, the Karsten 1's could be prone to digging due to a sharp leading edge and not much bounce. Not sure at all of the differences between the 2 and 3's or the 3 and 4's.

[jmoore22]

Thank you wriggles, I was particularly wondering/worried about the leading edge for playability. I have read that there quite sharp and dig easily. Have you had this problem? I would love to get them refinished and then put into bag. Was there one model better than the rest on that?

Yeah Dave that is what I'm wondering about

Yeah Dave that is what I'm wondering about

[Wriggles]

I personally have had no problems with digging into the dirt. I think I read somewhere that the K'2s addressed that problem. (I'm not sure, though.)

Anyhow, I've been playing them almost exclusively this year. As far as refinishing them, my set still looks great. They might have been buffed down before I got them, but I have only used water and a toothbrush to keep them clean. Once or twice in the fifteen years I've owned them, I've just dabbed some Turtle Wax chrome polish on them and lightly rubbed. They still look great.

When I bought them at a local 2nd Swing (now closed) , I thought they were only a few years old. The shafts were clean and shiny, with the shaft labels in very good condition. I doubt the store put much effort to recondition them, probably bought for a song as an estate tiem. Some clubs (3,4) had the original Ping rubber cord grips, others had newer generic grips. I put two tone softee grips on them, a nice vintage look.

I'd recommend them to anyone, for what it's worth.

[jmoore22]

Thank you so much for the replies guys!

[scruffynick]

I've done a ping karsten 3 thread below this one.....might help. But I love my k3s which have the rails and are very easy to line up. I use to have the k2s but the k3s for me strike the ball better. I'm so impressed by the k3s that I ditched and sold my eye 2s which I considered the best iron ever made. I've used all sorts from mizuno tp 11s to ping g2s and by mistake and chance, the ping karsten 3s are the best iron I've ever hit.....simply way ahead of its time and just as good as anything out there now! Can't stress enough how much I love the k3 rails!

[mocokid]

I played Eye 2 for 15 yrs, if this is what you are referring to in your Q, I HIGHLY recommend.

[scomac2002]

[quote name='mocokid' timestamp='1431099959' post='11523309']
I played Eye 2 for 15 yrs, if this is what you are referring to in your Q, I HIGHLY recommend.
[/quote]

I don't think so. The Karsten series of irons were prior to the Eye series. Here's a link to a post in another thread on the topic to give you an idea of what they looked like.

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1133675-ping-karsten-iii-irons/#entry10925363

[yaquigrande]

Well I finally have my Vintage Ping dream bag. I already had some ping Karsten 1 irons that I love. The previous set says made in USA in the cavity. Also they soles have been contoured like a set of eye 2,s. I believe my first set with zz lite shafts we're remakes around the time if the original ping cat eyes. They have the same grips and shafts. This new set I just got on eBay is incredible. They have the original TTT heel to balance shafts and pro only ping man grips. These clubs have literally never been hit and still have the brand new tumbled texture. I dont believe these are not the 69 pings like advertised as they dont say pat pend, but the Karsten I is a single stamp and the shafts and grips match the originals, not the remakes. I would guess these are 71, to 72. I am a little upset as the seller didn't even take the time to wrap the heads or shafts before shipping. There a couple of Nick's now on the faces from the shipping in transit. They were just thrown in a box. All in all for 150 bucks to get a brand new never hit set 2-sw of vintage ping Karsten irons is incredible. Now I have the proper set to match my original Karsten 1 woods. 1,3,4,5,6 and Pat pend ping zero putter. The only club missing from the bag is the ping chipo! Now I really want this club. Check out my pings in their new home. See the picture of the 2 iron that got scratched in transit. Good thing I am not collecting these and will actually game them or I would have been a lot angrier. Interested to see how the super flat original soles with no grind feel. How cool these clubs don't even have the numbers on the sole.

[Uncle T]

I had the Karsten 1, 2 thru sw about 5 years ago. I loved the way they felt on a solid hit. Sold em to an older guy on the range one day. Said he played them as a teenager. Couldn't help it, I parted with em for a good reason.

[yaquigrande]

Now I'm really confused. I only own 1 Karsten I pat pending iron. This is the pat pending with no color codes or dot system yet for loft and lie. The sole on this club is dead flat with no grind. What confuses me is the sole isn't supposed to have the numbers on the bottom like the new set I just posted yesterday. Anyway I thought you guys might like to see a Pat pend no dot original.

[Uncle T]

Now I'm really confused. I only own 1 Karsten I pat pending iron. This is the pat pending with no color codes or dot system yet for loft and lie. The sole on this club is dead flat with no grind. What confuses me is the sole isn't supposed to have the numbers on the bottom like the new set I just posted yesterday. Anyway I thought you guys might like to see a Pat pend no dot original.

 

Those are the ones I had. 1964 Karsten I.

[yaquigrande]

Wow that's awesome!!! I didn't realize they went back that far. I thought 68 was the earliest. Too cool!!!

[Uncle T]

Wow that's awesome!!! I didn't realize they went back that far. I thought 68 was the earliest. Too cool!!!

 

As far as IK. Yeah that's the model. Mist be before they completed the Color fitting. I also played a 65 Ping My Day Putter with that set.

[scruffynick]

Brilliant looking irons....still using my k3s! Had some rounds out of them for very little money

 

Thought I would share a picture...great what £45 can get you..

 

[shart6]

Now I'm really confused. I only own 1 Karsten I pat pending iron. This is the pat pending with no color codes or dot system yet for loft and lie. The sole on this club is dead flat with no grind. What confuses me is the sole isn't supposed to have the numbers on the bottom like the new set I just posted yesterday. Anyway I thought you guys might like to see a Pat pend no dot original.

 

Numbers were often added later. I even seen K1s with numbers on the bottom of the toe.