Which PING ANSER model is this

[KjBowen]

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1229952-i-love-the-thrift-store/page__pid__12213692#entry12213692

[scomac2002]

I believe it is an original Scotsdale Anser based on the head stamping. The head is investment cast manganese-bronze. There were no serial numbers to verify production date at that time.

[birly-shirly]

Sorry, but I don't think that's an original Scottsdale. Or rather, if it is, then I have one too!

The PO Box 9990, Arizona stamping is the giveaway. It matches mine, and I think means it's about 30 years old and of no collectable value.

It's a very nice putter though and a steal for $2 plus whatever a new grip costs you ;-).

Feel is subjective, but I think mine feels great. However, by modern standards, it's quite light in the head - I think sub-300g. I think the lighter head works naturally quite well with a longer than currently trendy shaft. I believe that the way Ping used to measure their putters means that what they called a standard 35" is more like half an inch longer. I tried adding weight and playing it shorter, but did not like it as much. I think it always felt better set up as Karsten intended.

My one quibble is that it does not want to sit square. With reasonable loft on the face, the sole will not rest flat on the ground but has "negative bounce". I bent mine so that it would sit flat, with the shaft in a reasonable position - but that entailed giving it the loft of a 2 iron. I've not used it recently to want to reset it - but seeing yours gives me the notion again.

[KjBowen]

It is very light.

[birly-shirly]

True, though I sometimes wonder if modern thinking on headweight has gone too far. Years ago, the advice was to use light blades on fast greens, and heavy mallets on slow greens. Now, the advice seems to be the very opposite - which makes me wonder whether it matters all that much, or if you just adapt to whatever weight you have. All bets are off though if you have a light putter that's been cut down.

[Jaylasvegas]

85068 zip, not rare or expensive but nice flat stick, problem with all of the Ping bronze putters is how light they are.

[rex235]

Visit Dalton Daves site-

[url="http://www.pongman.com"]www.pongman.com[/url].

[MoaningM]

No not one of the rare ping ansers has the pheonix stamp, which is post 1973 or so, still a great little putter

[BIG STU]

[quote name='birly-shirly' timestamp='1440691302' post='12218458']
True, though I sometimes wonder if modern thinking on headweight has gone too far. Years ago, the advice was to use light blades on fast greens, and heavy mallets on slow greens. Now, the advice seems to be the very opposite - which makes me wonder whether it matters all that much, or if you just adapt to whatever weight you have. All bets are off though if you have a light putter that's been cut down.
[/quote]As usual Birly I agree with you. I had fell into that trap recently. Had went as far as to cut the Zing to 33 inches and gasp! put a larger grip on it. With the help of a friend I came back to my senses and put it back to 34" and a Pingman grip just like Karsten designed it. Darn it putts so much better now. Learned my lesson in the future I will not try to out engineer Mr. Karsten

[tatertot]

[quote name='KjBowen' timestamp='1440631533' post='12214708']
It is very light.
[/quote]

Probably somewhere around 310-320 gram head.

[BIG STU]

[quote name='Royal Flush' timestamp='1440691624' post='12218498']
85068 zip, not rare or expensive but nice flat stick, problem with all of the Ping bronze putters is how light they are.
[/quote]My answer to that used to be that is what lead tape is for but now I am not so much sure. See my reply above to Birly and you will understand where I am coming from. And when you cut an inch or so out it really does screw one up weight wise and I also feel total overall balance wise. But on the weight thing heavy versus light I think it had to do with what you have putted with most of your golfing life and have developed a feel for as far as weight. Most of my "golfing life" I have putted with Ping putters or at least since 1972

[birly-shirly]

[quote name='BIG STU' timestamp='1441226834' post='12253208']
[quote name='birly-shirly' timestamp='1440691302' post='12218458']
True, though I sometimes wonder if modern thinking on headweight has gone too far. Years ago, the advice was to use light blades on fast greens, and heavy mallets on slow greens. Now, the advice seems to be the very opposite - which makes me wonder whether it matters all that much, or if you just adapt to whatever weight you have. All bets are off though if you have a light putter that's been cut down.
[/quote]As usual Birly I agree with you. I had fell into that trap recently. Had went as far as to cut the Zing to 33 inches and gasp! put a larger grip on it. With the help of a friend I came back to my senses and put it back to 34" and a Pingman grip just like Karsten designed it. Darn it putts so much better now. Learned my lesson in the future I will not try to out engineer Mr. Karsten
[/quote]

I am haunted by the very first anser that I got to put with. A fellow junior acquired it - it had been broken, and what with the ballbearing fixing the shaft in the hosel, someone had just drilled out the bottom of the hosel to release the shaft and had jammed in any old scrap shaft as a replacement. It was a ratty old thing with a grip that had no endcap, and the putter was quite a bit shorter than standard. I remember borrowing it for a round and holing just about everything I looked at - and no amount of pleading or bargaining would persuade the owner to part with it.

So when I got an anser of my own, I thought that playing it shorter would recreate the magic - but it didn't. I then thought that lead tape would make the difference. I've added lead tape to both an anser and a B60 and neither has been an improvement. I've also added weight to a Wilson Tour Special - it feel pleasantly heavy to swing, but not particularly sweet when it impacts the ball.

The best feeling heavier putters that I have were made that way. I wonder if there's a limit to what you can achieve with lead tape, as opposed to having a thicker manufactured face in the first place. I also wonder whether those expensive adjustable weight putters are all they're cracked up to be.

[Kathy Marie]

Good question, BS!! But to be honest, I wonder that about [i]all [/i]the adjustable weight stuff, myself...





Kathy Marie