BeCu or BeNi?

[Coppertop1880]

Curious. Beryllium Copper or Beryllium Nickel - Which is preferred or better?

 

I've played a few rounds with BeCu now and really like the feel. I've heard that BeNi feels even better and I've heard the difference is minimal.

Sounds like it may be a personal preference but thought I'd ask those who have handled both.

 

Thanks in advance.

[elwhippy]

I have tried a BeNi Anser at Cleveland 797 wedge. Both felt too soft. Very quiet off the face. 

[golfunderpar18]

It depends.   Ping didn’t make many BeNi available for retail sale (ISI’s only) so there isn’t a lot of choice.  Putters I have a list of which ones were made in BeNi and becu.   More choices in copper. I like both.  Love how the becu gets aged patina. 
 

there are some pretty cool non retail ping models in BeNi.   Karsten made a select few - I hear about 10- sets of BeNi eye 2’s for friends and family.  A friend of mine in a Facebook ping group owns some very select  BeNi eye 2 wedges.   They are cool!    Also there were also some very limited number of BeNi karsten iron sets made.   Another friend of mine has a couple of the sets.  The hosels are marked NiBe (strange the marking is reverse vs BeNi).  

Edited July 24, 2023 by golfunderpar18

[golfunderpar18]

Some beryllium nickels.  The karsten irons were produced in 1973.  10 sets made . Serial #4 through #13 confirmed by ping.   Notice that the back cavities are hollowed out more as they are heavier than stainless.  See comparisons of the 2 pitching wedges.

also a very rare set of eye 2 BeNi wedges.  
 

10 sets of both Karsten I’s and Karsten III’s were produced in BeNi 

Edited July 25, 2023 by golfunderpar18

[elwhippy]

What an amazing selection of Pings. 

[ezgoer]

13 hours ago, golfunderpar18 said:

What are those 2 putters in the background? They are very interesting looking with the smooth ramp down. You have some incredible stuff! Interesting how the cavity size changes the look of the Karsten iron so much to me. 

 

 

[JungleJimbo]

16 minutes ago, ezgoer said:

14 hours ago, golfunderpar18 said:

What are those 2 putters in the background? They are very interesting looking with the smooth ramp down. You have some incredible stuff! Interesting how the cavity size changes the look of the Karsten iron so much to me. 

 

 

@ezgoer Looks like the "STR" putter.

 

I asked @ColinKelvin about its provenance/rarity in a recent thread.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2023 by JungleJimbo

[JungleJimbo]

 

 

[Binson]

On Putters, 100% BeNi from a feel perspective. 

 

BeCu putters look cool but, I am not a fan of the feel / sound.  BeCu or BeNi Irons and Wedges both feel good to me. 

[golfunderpar18]

21 hours ago, ezgoer said:

On 7/23/2023 at 4:26 PM, golfunderpar18 said:

What are those 2 putters in the background? They are very interesting looking with the smooth ramp down. You have some incredible stuff! Interesting how the cavity size changes the look of the Karsten iron so much to me. 

 

 

Putters are ping STR.  As stated above these clubs are not mine.  I’m a ping collector as well, but i have a few friends who have some amazingly rare clubs in their ping collections.   The ping historian rob griffin is great at sharing info as well when asked.  He‘ll often ask John solheim directly if he needs to.  Know he’s consulted John on a Couple of my personal inquiries.

Edited July 25, 2023 by golfunderpar18

[golfunderpar18]

The ping karsten 3 and my echo were also made in BeNi (limited # of prototypes). My friend has a couple. The framing of these and the irons is from ping headquarters. 

[PARETO]

To me, BeNi is the best of Ping. I’m playing well right now with G425’s but whenever they misbehave, the BeNi set comes out and the feel reminds me why BeNi was loved so much. Butter when we’ll struck. 

[hammergolf]

On 7/23/2023 at 6:26 PM, golfunderpar18 said:

Some beryllium nickels.  The karsten irons were produced in 1973.  10 sets made . Serial #4 through #13 confirmed by ping.   Notice that the back cavities are hollowed out more as they are heavier than stainless.  See comparisons of the 2 pitching wedges.

also a very rare set of eye 2 BeNi wedges.  

Man, a BeNi Eye2 LW is the grail of wedges! How many were made?

Edited July 25, 2023 by hammergolf

[golfunderpar18]

9 minutes ago, hammergolf said:

Man, a BeNi Eye2 LW is the grail of wedges! How many were made?

Yep i know.  Ive had a stainless eye 2 lob in my bag since 1990.  I have numerous becu and stainless “spares” .  My favorite club

 

im not 100% but believe ~10 sets of eye 2 BeNi irons were made.  Not sure of the ser make up of they were 1-lob or?

Edited July 25, 2023 by golfunderpar18

[Coppertop1880]

Eh... went with BeCu ISI irons.

 

I liked the BeNi sets but it seemed just about every set that caught my eye, a previous owner had their name engraved on the hozel. Something about having a set personalized for "Rob Griffin" when I'm not Rob.

 

Set comes with stiff shafts, so it'll end up being another re-shafting project. Will still be on the search for a set of BeNi but it'll have to wait until my wife gets used to the extra set of clubs in the house. 

[mshills]

BeCu for me. Difference in feel was negligible with BeNi, and the copper simply looks better to my eye.
 

I still have a set of ISI in BeCu and an Eye2 LW. Can’t realistically play them any more and I’m not a collector, so will be hitting the BST soon!

[golfunderpar18]

On 7/27/2023 at 2:49 PM, Coppertop1880 said:

Eh... went with BeCu ISI irons.

 

I liked the BeNi sets but it seemed just about every set that caught my eye, a previous owner had their name engraved on the hozel. Something about having a set personalized for "Rob Griffin" when I'm not Rob.

 

Set comes with stiff shafts, so it'll end up being another re-shafting project. Will still be on the search for a set of BeNi but it'll have to wait until my wife gets used to the extra set of clubs in the house. 

Rob griffin is the long time ping historian working for the solheims  so if you had one of his sets that’s a nice find. 

Edited August 1, 2023 by golfunderpar18

[Forged Hack]

I play both regularly alternating between the two sets. BeCu to me feels slightly softer than my BeNi’s. 
ProV1x ball of choice.

[golfunderpar18]

A super cool one of a kind becu eye 2 wedge.  This was made for Joel Goldstrand  who was the first pga pro to play pings .   As you can see the grooves are vertical vs horizontal. This is the only ping iron I’ve ever seen like this.    My friend now owns this.  Acquired from a friend of Joel’s who sold some of his equipment after Joel passed.   I bought some of his clubs including a karsten proto wedge. https://www.startribune.com/longtime-minnesota-pro-joel-goldstrand-sees-minnesota-pga-stop-become-reality/512036492/

Edited August 1, 2023 by golfunderpar18

[JungleJimbo]

1 hour ago, golfunderpar18 said:

A super cool one of a kind becu eye 2 wedge.  This was made for Joel Goldstrand  who was the first pga pro to play pings .   As you can see the grooves are vertical vs horizontal. This is the only ping iron I’ve ever seen like this.    My friend now owns this.  Acquired from a friend of Joel’s who sold some of his equipment after Joel passed.   I bought some of his clubs including a karsten proto wedge. https://www.startribune.com/longtime-minnesota-pro-joel-goldstrand-sees-minnesota-pga-stop-become-reality/512036492/

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185002210365 

("LYNX MAVERICK GOLF WEDGE ( RARE ) VERTICAL GROOVES") 

 

[golfunderpar18]

6 hours ago, JungleJimbo said:

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185002210365 

("LYNX MAVERICK GOLF WEDGE ( RARE ) VERTICAL GROOVES") 

 

I’ve seen other brands as well, but you’ll never see another ping like the one I posted above.  
 

[mshills]

7 hours ago, golfunderpar18 said:

A super cool one of a kind becu eye 2 wedge.  This was made for Joel Goldstrand  who was the first pga pro to play pings .   As you can see the grooves are vertical vs horizontal. This is the only ping iron I’ve ever seen like this.    My friend now owns this.  Acquired from a friend of Joel’s who sold some of his equipment after Joel passed.   I bought some of his clubs including a karsten proto wedge. https://www.startribune.com/longtime-minnesota-pro-joel-goldstrand-sees-minnesota-pga-stop-become-reality/512036492/

 

Now that is remarkable.  I've owned some cool Ping gear in my life but have never seen anything like that.  Very cool thanks for sharing.

 

Play your best!

[greenlight]

In high school I really wanted the BeNi ISI and didn’t like the look of the copper. But after hitting them both, the copper is what I chose….Just felt like it seemed more responsive. 

 

 

[Coppertop1880]

Took the Becu ISI irons out for a round today.

I was shocked how soft they feel. I have a set of BeCu Eye2 irons that aren't shabby but the ISI's are just enjoyable to use.

Ball flight is on target more and I get about 10 yards more distance.

Really impressed and fighting the urge to buy another set

 

[mshills]

ISIs are still fantastic irons. I played them until 2019!
 

Definitely in the Ping Hall of Fame with the Eye2s, S59s and i5s. 

[Coppertop1880]

Already refreshed a set of BeCu Ping Eye 2 and ISI irons. Add BeCu Ping Zing 2 wedges.

 

Ran across a set of used BeNi ISI irons at a steal of a price but the set is missing the 7 iron. 

Couldn't resist. Figure I can find a replacement BeNi 7 iron.

Won't have a matching serial number but the golf ball won't know the difference. 

 

I think I have a problem...

[Coppertop1880]

To avoid starting another discussion... got the BeNi set today. Irons look good but the finish has what looks like tarnish speckled around the sole of the iron. It doesn't feel raised or sunken like a divot. Never messed with BeNi and not sure what it could be.

 

So... any thoughts on cleaning it or is it just the BeNi patina? Just reshafted and if I was thinking straight, I would have taken a picture. Let the epoxy dry and if this doesn't ring a bell, I'll post a picture later.

 

First impressions are good but the BeCu are more impressive just based on appearance. Figure they'll be re-shafted, re-gripped in enough time to take to the driving range this weekend. Curious how they compare performance wise with the BeCu.

[LeftyMac]

I have settled on BeCu.

 

[Coppertop1880]

Took the BeNi out to the driving range this morning and have to say, I like the BeCu better. Has a bit of a softer feel to things. So it'll be the BeCu ISI irons with BeCu Zing 2 wedges (really like those).

 

Just gotta figure out what to do with the BeNi.

 

It's a bit of a Frankenstein set. 3-6 and 8-SW are black dot and the 7 iron is blue dot. Re-shafted the 7,8,9 and PW (all I really use) and the heads are in good shape. Just not sure if there's much value in such a set.