Ping Hand Me Downs

[Skip Castaneda]

A high school friends father passed away late last year. He went to clean out his fathers estate and found a bunch if golf clubs. Some were junk.

My friend knew I was a classic club collector. So he gave me these Ping Karsten 1 irons I think are from the 1974-1977.

I had this old golf bag in storage. I knew I would need it someday.

[gsea33]

great set, what are the woods? Love the bag

[Wriggles]

I regularly play with the Karsten II model. Very good clubs, hard to believe they're from the mid 1970's.

 

Enjoy your clubs.

 

PS: I haven't seen a post from you in a while. Hope all is well!

 

Dave

[Shallowface]

1977 was the first year for the Karsten II, III and IV models, as well as the first year that the Karsten I had numbers on the sole in addition to the ones on the back.

 

It's been awhile since I saw a set, but I believe when they added the numbers to the sole of the Karsten I they also added some contour to the sole. The ones without the numbers have pretty flat soles.

 

That's a neat set you've got there Skip. I love those old Pre-Eye2 Pings, especially the Karsten II which was designed for diggers like me. The story as I remember it was that Karsten designed the II for Bob Gilder, who complained about his irons "catching" through impact. The rounded leading edge was added to prevent that.

[Juice__25]

Let's see the woods!!

[Skip Castaneda]

I'll take pictures of the woods tomorrow. I didn't think about taking pictures of them.

[scruffynick]

Fantastic set of sticks....I started off playing golf with the IIs.....still got the rail IIIs. All the early pings are great designs and just as good as anything produced today and they simply last forever!

[uncle rico]

Great set of clubs, I received my grandfathers Ping Rails after he passed. The Ping Rail irons are very sentimental to me.

[Skip Castaneda]

I regularly play with the Karsten II model. Very good clubs, hard to believe they're from the mid 1970's.

 

Enjoy your clubs.

 

PS: I haven't seen a post from you in a while. Hope all is well!

 

Dave

All is well Dave! I haven't posted for awhile because I forgot my password. I just reset it and now I can post again. Hope all is well with you as well!

[yaquigrande]

Karsten Solheim was way ahead of his time on the design of those clubs. I just picked up a set of karsten 1's at a yard sale. the grooves are perfect and hardly no dings, however the soles are very scratched like someone hit them or practiced off of concrete. nothing too deep, I am going to grind out the scratches and put them in my harbor freight tumbler. Will post pics after I do it. Excited to give those heads a try. My first set of "real" clubs lol were ping cat eyes I played those for like 10 years absolutely loved them. These seem very similar in weight and size and shape. Will let you guys know how they come out. I might bore out the hossel to take .370 shaft. I like the stiff shafts in those but damn they are heavy!! does anyone know the weight or grams in those old shafts? Feels like swinging a broomstick.

[oldschoolrocker]

Goodwill this morning. 2-sw black dot eye2s plus ping cart bag.. Waiting for them to process it in.

[Wriggles]

Karsten Solheim was way ahead of his time on the design of those clubs. I just picked up a set of karsten 1's at a yard sale. the grooves are perfect and hardly no dings, however the soles are very scratched like someone hit them or practiced off of concrete. nothing too deep, I am going to grind out the scratches and put them in my harbor freight tumbler. Will post pics after I do it. Excited to give those heads a try. My first set of "real" clubs lol were ping cat eyes I played those for like 10 years absolutely loved them. These seem very similar in weight and size and shape. Will let you guys know how they come out. I might bore out the hossel to take .370 shaft. I like the stiff shafts in those but damn they are heavy!! does anyone know the weight or grams in those old shafts? Feels like swinging a broomstick.

 

I can't understand how clubs can get that scratched and beat up. I recall, as a young teen, my Dad bought me a $2 generic putter. I putted a few times on the cellar concrete floor, and scratched and dinged up the sole. Last time I ever had scratched up soles.

 

My Karsten 2's were in great shape when I got them 15 or so years ago. I've played them a lot though the years, still look great. The stainless steel seems indestructible. Forged clubs are a different animal. They get bag chatter and dings from normal play.

 

I have a set of 8 Callaway X-14 pro series irons, bought from the Goodwill store four or five years ago. A total of $16, they're pretty beat up. I got them looking pretty decent, but it amazes me to see how stainless clubs get to look that bad.

 

Play well!

[braincramp52]

Goodwill this morning. 2-sw black dot eye2s plus ping cart bag.. Waiting for them to process it in.

 

Damn! I never find anything good at goodwill.

[yaquigrande]

Yes are absolutely correct. The stainless steel in those old pings is very durable. I don't think golf club companies want their clubs to last forever anymore they want you to buy new ones every so often. Yes I have a set of hogan apex clubs, that metal must be butter soft. They sure feel good when hit well though. If I ever get a new set, iron covers will be a must. The have dents from the bag chatter. I am supripsed being so sold the lofts don't change after hitting for a while. Ground out the soles of the pings and polished them. Now to gI've them the tumbled finish. They should look brand new when I'm done. Glad the numbers on the bottom were deep enough to grind the soles and not loose my numbers!! Will post pics when I'm done.

[yaquigrande]

Goodwill this morning. 2-sw black dot eye2s plus ping cart bag.. Waiting for them to process it in.

great find old school rocker!!! That is awesome!. Hit then well.

[oldschoolrocker]

Just picked up the eye2 lot, which included:

Ping White old school cart bag

Ping eye2 black dot 2-sw, w orginal grips in decent shape

Ping b60 putter with orginal grip

Taylormade 1,3,5 Oldschool Burner, r300u shafts

Ping 1,3,5 red/blue fuzz head covers in 9/10 condition

15 unopened Titlest NXT balls

Various other balls, tees,

Divot tool from The River Course and Cassique

 

$50.00 usd on the barrel head.

 

Getting the Coke ready now

[scruffynick]

Just picked up the eye2 lot, which included:

Ping White old school cart bag

Ping eye2 black dot 2-sw, w orginal grips in decent shape

Ping b60 putter with orginal grip

Taylormade 1,3,5 Oldschool Burner, r300u shafts

Ping 1,3,5 red/blue fuzz head covers in 9/10 condition

15 unopened Titlest NXT balls

Various other balls, tees,

Divot tool from The River Course and Cassique

 

$50.00 usd on the barrel head.

 

Getting the Coke ready now

Wow! Jammy sod!

[braincramp52]

Just picked up the eye2 lot, which included:

Ping White old school cart bag

Ping eye2 black dot 2-sw, w orginal grips in decent shape

Ping b60 putter with orginal grip

Taylormade 1,3,5 Oldschool Burner, r300u shafts

Ping 1,3,5 red/blue fuzz head covers in 9/10 condition

15 unopened Titlest NXT balls

Various other balls, tees,

Divot tool from The River Course and Cassique

 

$50.00 usd on the barrel head.

 

Getting the Coke ready now

 

Damn! You need to go get some lottery tickets! Actually,with your luck you only need to buy one.

[scomac2002]

Damn! BZ Randy!

[oldschoolrocker]

It was the oddest thing. A couple of weeks ago I found a steal in a set of Zings, and was thinking to myself, "Self those sure would look good in an Oldschool White Ping bag. Well this morning I was driving down Folly Road, (actual name of road) and as I passed the local Goodwill I thought, ah what the heck, I'll pull in and take a peek. Well, out of the corner of my eye I spied the Ping bag, had just been dropped off, not even processed into the system yet. I walked in gave them my number and they contacted me this afternoon.

My oldest son stopped by before work, saw me soaking them, and said, "you know those aren't your specs Dad," as he took the seven iron out of the bucket of Coke and gave it a swing.

His younger brother already laid claim to my Isi nickels when he found out I had the Zings. Kids, gotta love 'em.

[scruffynick]

It was the oddest thing. A couple of weeks ago I found a steal in a set of Zings, and was thinking to myself, "Self those sure would look good in an Oldschool White Ping bag. Well this morning I was driving down Folly Road, (actual name of road) and as I passed the local Goodwill I thought, ah what the heck, I'll pull in and take a peek. Well, out of the corner of my eye I spied the Ping bag, had just been dropped off, not even processed into the system yet. I walked in gave them my number and they contacted me this afternoon.

My oldest son stopped by before work, saw me soaking them, and said, "you know those aren't your specs Dad," as he took the seven iron out of the bucket of Coke and gave it a swing.

His younger brother already laid claim to my Isi nickels when he found out I had the Zings. Kids, gotta love 'em.

Just put of curiosity, what does the coke do?? I take it the pings come out like a penny when you add coke? Only asking as I'm going to do this to my karsten IIIs but I thought I'd ask before doing anything. Also what coke?? The real stuff or can a cheapo version be just as good....Ta in advance

[scomac2002]

You want the real thing full strength. The carbolic acid in coke is one of the best removers of oxidation from metals. Leave the club heads immersed for 24 hours. Works great on beryllium copper iron heads

[oldschoolrocker]

24 hours seems to be the magic number. It really does a fine job without all the elbow grease.

[scruffynick]

Ta for that, I'll give a go over the Easter break!

[Ross Rogers]

Nice set of old Pings. Congrats

[scruffynick]

Karsten Solheim was way ahead of his time on the design of those clubs. I just picked up a set of karsten 1's at a yard sale. the grooves are perfect and hardly no dings, however the soles are very scratched like someone hit them or practiced off of concrete. nothing too deep, I am going to grind out the scratches and put them in my harbor freight tumbler. Will post pics after I do it. Excited to give those heads a try. My first set of "real" clubs lol were ping cat eyes I played those for like 10 years absolutely loved them. These seem very similar in weight and size and shape. Will let you guys know how they come out. I might bore out the hossel to take .370 shaft. I like the stiff shafts in those but damn they are heavy!! does anyone know the weight or grams in those old shafts? Feels like swinging a broomstick.

 

I can't understand how clubs can get that scratched and beat up. I recall, as a young teen, my Dad bought me a $2 generic putter. I putted a few times on the cellar concrete floor, and scratched and dinged up the sole. Last time I ever had scratched up soles.

 

My Karsten 2's were in great shape when I got them 15 or so years ago. I've played them a lot though the years, still look great. The stainless steel seems indestructible. Forged clubs are a different animal. They get bag chatter and dings from normal play.

 

I have a set of 8 Callaway X-14 pro series irons, bought from the Goodwill store four or five years ago. A total of $16, they're pretty beat up. I got them looking pretty decent, but it amazes me to see how stainless clubs get to look that bad.

 

Play well!

I've got a set of x14s but for some reason I never get on with them. I know they are a cracking iron and I'm keeping them because I think they'll be great for my girl in a few years time. But I always end up going back to my karsten III at the moment, for whatever reason I just hit them better and to my eye look miles better than anything else. Even the eye2s just don't feel and look as good to me.

[oldschoolrocker]

An update on the Zings,

Put them in play yesterday during a senior event. Weather conditions mirrored the ones at the "other event in Augusta," 3/4 inch of rain during the night, winds 15-20 mph steady, with gusts to 30. Tough sledding, but due to the heavier, stiffer shafts in the Zings was able to keep the trajectory down and produce some decent golf shots.

Can not work the ball near as much as I am accustomed, especially left to right, and high, but, that said, they are as advertised a well designed workhorse of a club that when struck properly produce a very strong ball flight that can maneuver one around the course quite adequately.

Also, for a non-forged, non-blade design I felt the distance control was very consistent.

I will be regripping the eye2 plus set and comparing them as well.

[scruffynick]

Like oldschoolrocker hit a bit of luck in an American golf store. I took my girl to gymnastics and the store is next door to the sports arena, so I had a little look. And there in the 2nd hand rack was a full set of ping eye 2s, black dot 3 to pw. Now they were only £59 and the grips were totally shot, but I couldn't resist. I took the grips off and put knew one's on yesterday and at present time they are in a bucket of coke......awaiting outcome tomorrow! I'm quite excited about hitting these eye2s soon.

[russad]

Are you giving them the coke treatment because they are the BeCu model? Any chance of posting some pics to show the result of the coke?

[scruffynick]

Are you giving them the coke treatment because they are the BeCu model? Any chance of posting some pics to show the result of the coke?

The eye2s aren't BeCu but they've cleaned up quite nicely after 24 hours. I'll take some photos and try and post them