Ping PLD Custom Program

[5hort5tuff]

What exactly is the glaze? 

[newportbeach]

21 hours ago, MattM97 said:

 

Good to know finish looks great and one I'm interested in if/when I do a PLD putter. 

 

I was even thinking of doing a "Double Glaze" if possible for fun. 

 

Is there a double glaze donut finish? Guess I haven't seen that one other than at Krispy Kreme 🙂 

[MattM97]

1 minute ago, newportbeach said:

 

Is there a double glaze donut finish? Guess I haven't seen that one other than at Krispy Kreme 🙂 

 

There are some finishes they can apply twice I believe to get a darker/deeper look to it. 

[newportbeach]

12 hours ago, MattM97 said:

 

There are some finishes they can apply twice I believe to get a darker/deeper look to it. 

Any pictures out there I’d like to see it. 

[MattM97]

6 hours ago, newportbeach said:

Any pictures out there I’d like to see it. 

 

I'd have to scroll the thread. I don't know if anyone has done a double glaze, I think there's a double Oyster finish done. 

[14max]

I wanted to share an update to my silly, stupid, first-world problem with the paintfill on my PLD.

 

I reached out to Alex on Friday and confessed to him that I'd made a judgement error in the paint color choice of blue.  He was very understanding and totally got my frustration with my dumb decision to put blue on black.  Initially, he suggested I might be able to remove the paint (which I tried this weekend) but, damn, that stuff is tough.  I then asked him if I could return it to have PING redo it and I'd be more than happy to foot the bill to have it professionally done.

 

Fast forward to today where I received an unexpected email from Alex.  Now, this dude is not only a master at what he does but he is a consummate professional.  He had touched base with Josh Damron @ Labworx to let him know that the paint was an issue.  I was instructed to talk to Josh about sending the putter to Labworx (they had done the original finish and paint.)  I spoke to Josh for about 10 minutes and let him know that I was completely in the wrong with that color choice and would be totally willing to pay whatever to get it redone.  Josh then told me that he'd be happy to take it and redo it in different colors for me ON HIS DIME.  I was taken aback by this unnecessary act of generosity.  I picked up my jaw off the floor and insisted on paying as it was clearly my poor choice and fault.  He told me that it was settled and to send him the putter with new paint instructions.  On top of all this, Alex sent me an overnight FedEx label and now the putter is on its way back to Waco, TX for a new and simpler color scheme.

 

I gotta say, these two companies are pretty special and these gentlemen are extraordinary.  To say that PING and Labworx value customer service is an understatement.  They are exemplary and totally worthy of the praise that I or anyone else can heap on them.

 

If there is anyone who is still on the fence about purchasing a custom PLD or having work done on a beloved putter by Labworx, please rest assured that your decision to go with either one is justified.

Edited February 25, 2023 by 14max

[Scottbox]

Got this one last summer. Not bad!

 

[Arlin964]

Today's the day!  I had to cancel my trip to Phoenix unfortunately, so I changed my in person fitting with Alex to be virtual.  Maybe someday I'll get back there and go through the experience in person.

 

Based on my stroke and the iPing recommendations (I'm barely on the slight arc side of the line with straight), I'm kind of stuck between the Anser shape and the DS72.  I could see myself liking both.  I suppose I'll wait to see what Alex says, but I'm wondering how people chose a model if they were between two different ones.  Testing?  Just figuring out what looks best?

[blt2280]

anser looks better than ds72

[Adam Edmunds]

27 minutes ago, Arlin964 said:

Today's the day!  I had to cancel my trip to Phoenix unfortunately, so I changed my in person fitting with Alex to be virtual.  Maybe someday I'll get back there and go through the experience in person.

 

Based on my stroke and the iPing recommendations (I'm barely on the slight arc side of the line with straight), I'm kind of stuck between the Anser shape and the DS72.  I could see myself liking both.  I suppose I'll wait to see what Alex says, but I'm wondering how people chose a model if they were between two different ones.  Testing?  Just figuring out what looks best?

I struggled to chose between the answer & DS72 so bought both of them! 

[Arlin964]

15 minutes ago, Adam Edmunds said:

I struggled to chose between the answer & DS72 so bought both of them! 

Spoken like a true GolfWRX sicko.  Love it!

[14max]

5 hours ago, Arlin964 said:

Based on my stroke and the iPing recommendations (I'm barely on the slight arc side of the line with straight), I'm kind of stuck between the Anser shape and the DS72.  I could see myself liking both.  I suppose I'll wait to see what Alex says, but I'm wondering how people chose a model if they were between two different ones.  Testing?  Just figuring out what looks best?

Alex recommended the Anser D, DS72 H, or Kushin H for me.  I've been a mid-mallet guy for a while so I went with what looked best to my eye.  He also showed me a one-off stainless steel Arna that WRX had done, but I'd had one before with the Vault line so I passed and went with my first choice.  If that Arna had been done in carbon steel with a plumber's neck, I'd have scooped it up.

 

[Arlin964]

I’ve played mallets for the last 15 years so the Anser shape is “new” to my eye. But I have figured out thru trial and error that I line up a blade better. We will see in about an hour…

 

 

EDIT:  Now post fitting...

 

The virtual fitting was really great.  Like everyone has said before, it's amazing what they can decipher just from the iPing data in conjunction with the type of putter you use for the data collection.  Much of which I can't remember already!

 

So I mentioned I was torn between Anser and DS72.  After seeing the slides of their options,  I was immediately taken by the Kushin.  It just looks perfect to me.  Basically the Anser shape with sharp lines and slightly deeper to give me just enough of that DS72 mid mallet look.

 

Alex said I could use a bit of toe hang, so we settled on the H neck (their name of plumbers neck).  Said I could also do a double bend that is bent lower than normal for that bit of toe hang.  Also said I can send it back to redo from H neck to double bend, but weight would need to be added.  So it's safer to do it this way first.

 

Going with:

Kushin

Plumbers neck

34" which is my norm

Stainless steel with oyster finish

Black stepless steel shaft

0.5 degree flat

Top line alignment in white

 

Still thinking over other stampings and design elements.  Turns out these are the hard decisions!

 

 

Edited February 24, 2023 by Arlin964

[valmario]

8 hours ago, Arlin964 said:

Today's the day!  I had to cancel my trip to Phoenix unfortunately, so I changed my in person fitting with Alex to be virtual.  Maybe someday I'll get back there and go through the experience in person.

 

Based on my stroke and the iPing recommendations (I'm barely on the slight arc side of the line with straight), I'm kind of stuck between the Anser shape and the DS72.  I could see myself liking both.  I suppose I'll wait to see what Alex says, but I'm wondering how people chose a model if they were between two different ones.  Testing?  Just figuring out what looks best?

 I was in the same boat... it was a toss up for me between the Anser D and the DS72 as far as performance, but ended up going withe the DS72.  Heel to toe it is quite a bit shorter than the anser heads.   

[leftycabe]

Hey Guys,

 

I used to look to this thread for different ideas, etc. I finally got this one in last week, so I thought I’d share in case it’s useful for anyone. I think my experience has been well documented that it has been very positive. In fact, I’ve yet to ever have a poor experience with Ping as a whole. Anyway, here’s some super quick pics I took. I can take better ones if anyone needs them. 
 

 

 

[Hugh44]

Anyone ordered from Canada? Every time I try to go to the pld custom booking site it tells me that ping is unavailable in my region.

[Adam Edmunds]

7 hours ago, Hugh44 said:

Anyone ordered from Canada? Every time I try to go to the pld custom booking site it tells me that ping is unavailable in my region.

I ordered from the UK, It will be the same for Canada because at the moment the PLD programme is only available to those living in the States.

 

I did an in-person fitting at Ping, all booked while on my VPN otherwise it was impossible, my back up plan was to have the putter shipped to a friend in the States who would then forward it to me in the UK, this is where Ping stepped up.

 

They agreed to ship it direct to Ping UK who would then arrange to get the putters to me, I had the head of marketing personally meet me close to my home & hand deliver them, not only did this save me the import tax it saved me a lot of hassle & stress to make sure they arrived.

 

My advice would be book it & explain the situation, no doubt they will help get the putter to you safely 

[RH82]

7 hours ago, Hugh44 said:

Anyone ordered from Canada? Every time I try to go to the pld custom booking site it tells me that ping is unavailable in my region.

Same. Can't even look at photos or anything related to the PLD program.

[MattM97]

For the Canadians Ping Canada did mention they are working on brining the PLD program to Canada. 

 

Whether that's virtual fittings or in person fittings at Ping HQ Canada. They said within the coming months but that was 2.5 months ago. So maybe some point in 2023 if they need to update the fitting area at HQ in Canada. 

[ChipStrokes]

50 minutes ago, Adam Edmunds said:

I ordered from the UK, It will be the same for Canada because at the moment the PLD programme is only available to those living in the States.

 

I did an in-person fitting at Ping, all booked while on my VPN otherwise it was impossible, my back up plan was to have the putter shipped to a friend in the States who would then forward it to me in the UK, this is where Ping stepped up.

 

They agreed to ship it direct to Ping UK who would then arrange to get the putters to me, I had the head of marketing personally meet me close to my home & hand deliver them, not only did this save me the import tax it saved me a lot of hassle & stress to make sure they arrived.

 

My advice would be book it & explain the situation, no doubt they will help get the putter to you safely 

wow, this is awesome. 

 

every time i think the customer service from this program can’t get any better, another more awesome story pops up. 

[Mclancy94]

Just put my deposit down waiting for my kit as my virtual fitting is not until the 13th. I am going to leave the head shape and neck decisions up to my data and Alex but in the meantime does anyone know what the limitations are on stamps/engravings? I would really like to have the cavity have either the pingman or the pat pending style specs but I imagine it has to have PING in the cavity 

[Arlin964]

2 hours ago, Mclancy94 said:

Just put my deposit down waiting for my kit as my virtual fitting is not until the 13th. I am going to leave the head shape and neck decisions up to my data and Alex but in the meantime does anyone know what the limitations are on stamps/engravings? I would really like to have the cavity have either the pingman or the pat pending style specs but I imagine it has to have PING in the cavity 

I don't know for sure, but I imagine the back cavity is pretty "off limits."  So far the only different ones I've seen have been whether or not it includes the three lines underneath the PING text.  Sounds like it's hit or miss when that is available in different models.  Alex got me a Kushin H with no underlines.

 

However, I will say, they went out of their way to draw a custom graphic for me to put on the sole.  I haven't seen an official mockup of it yet, but within two business days Alex told me the engineer was going to draw up a couple options for me to choose from.  Absolute class from my perspective, and I happen to be just a random guy willing to spend the money to get a first class custom putter.

[bmbsawy]

7 hours ago, Mclancy94 said:

Just put my deposit down waiting for my kit as my virtual fitting is not until the 13th. I am going to leave the head shape and neck decisions up to my data and Alex but in the meantime does anyone know what the limitations are on stamps/engravings? I would really like to have the cavity have either the pingman or the pat pending style specs but I imagine it has to have PING in the cavity 

Funny you ask this, I emailed Alex a few days back and he said cavity can’t be customized currently.

[tleader]

On 2/27/2023 at 9:06 AM, MattM97 said:

For the Canadians Ping Canada did mention they are working on brining the PLD program to Canada. 

 

Whether that's virtual fittings or in person fittings at Ping HQ Canada. They said within the coming months but that was 2.5 months ago. So maybe some point in 2023 if they need to update the fitting area at HQ in Canada. 

oh, this could be expensive for me!!

[MattM97]

1 minute ago, tleader said:

oh, this could be expensive for me!!

 

You're telling me I'm 20min from HQ 

[bambooluv]

Just sharing my excitement. Flying out tomorrow for my fitting with Alex Thursday 😃 . Long overdue, I've had to reschedule my fitting twice since November. 

 

My current gamer, PLD milled A2 is already one of the best putters I've ever put in the bag! 

Edited February 28, 2023 by bambooluv

[tleader]

2 hours ago, MattM97 said:

 

You're telling me I'm 20min from HQ 

lol. I’m about an hour away, so close enough!! 

[MattM97]

3 minutes ago, tleader said:

lol. I’m about an hour away, so close enough!! 

 

Exactly no flight or no hotel needed, basically covers the putter cost for us.

[Scottyb943]

After months of debating options for my new gamer, I pulled the trigger and will be doing the in-person fitting on March 8th! 

Spent the last 6 months monitoring this thread, considering every other brand out there, even went to a fitting a TrueSpec (my first putter fitting ever) but this program still was on my mind. Should have made this decision months ago seeing as I live in the Phoenix are but oh well. 

 

My plan is to go in with a very open mind in terms of options. Going to trust the data and the staff at Ping and go from there. 

 

[tleader]

12 hours ago, MattM97 said:

 

Exactly no flight or no hotel needed, basically covers the putter cost for us.

hmmmm. It’s like they would be giving me a free putter then…I’m sure my wife will agree. Lol.