Ping PLD Custom Putter Rusting?

[mkidding]

Just saw Rick Shield's new video and at the beginning he shared that the custom itched logo on his new Ping Custom putter started to rust. See the screenshot:

 

 

FYI it looked like this at the beginning (from his other video, according to him, he only practiced with the putter once)

 

 

It makes me wonder what material are these putters build with? Is it carbon steel?

 

And for anyone who has a PLD Custom, does yours have a rust issue?

 

Thanks!

[BYK]

Well, I've got a carbon with patina finish, which will rust if you look at it wrong

I oil it pretty consistently, so it's fine, but lookit the pros like Hovlands or other pros as well

they just let it go.  And i think those great too.

 

[BYK]

Oh, sorry forgot to add

for those who like rust free, there's options like stainless and more durable finishes on carbon that are way easier to maintain

great thing is there are a lot of options

[MattM97]

I kinda want to tear into Rick a bit for that video because for someone that into the golf space he should know more about metals when it comes to putters.

 

Carbon putters can rust, that RS logo is basically raw carbon, it was going to rust, it was meant to rust and it did rust. When carbon putters don't rust is when they have a finish that creates a barrier between the carbon and the elements. 

 

When Rick did the fitting they would have said "carbon will rust over time" and Rick probably had that 1000m stare and said "ok" and completely forgot about it. On top of that he was putting with it in the rain, put it back in the head cover and b*tched that it rusted, of course it would you just put it in a breeding ground for optimal rust production. The other thing too is if you don't like rust and you live in the UK why would you buy a carbon putter? Oh cause it's soft? Come on Rick. 

 

For PLD rusting, yeah the ones that got carbon finishes and wanted them to rust they rusted, stainless ones they don't unless some extreme circumstances. Ping knows what they are doing and if he really has an issues he could send it back in, get it refinished to something that won't rust since he can't take care of it. 

[Tkart007]

Although Rick clearly doesn't take care of his putters well, he does mention that he didn't remember asking for that logo to be added. He should know that it's a carbon putter, but I wouldn't be surprised if he just glossed over that part with Ping. I'll give him half a pass.

[ColinKelvin]

This whole thing is weird.  Watched the video and the following seemed odd:

• Rick is a very high profile vlogger and was "invited" to Ping for the fitting so it's fair to assume he didn't pay for anything.
• He "didn't remember" asking for the logo - would Ping really have added that off the bat as a surprise without his say so/request/permission?
• He apparently didn't know the head material - so either he didn't listen during the fitting, which he criticised as "average", or wasn't informed about the differences between carbon and SS, which would be a major f*ck up by Ping UK.
• The putter was "lighter than he's used to" - did he not agree the weight in the fitting?
• He reviews what he likes about the putter and what he doesn't like on the practice putting green - again, wasn't the the point of the fitting to build him a putter he likes in every way?

IMO Ping is overcharging UK customers at £2k so he is right about that, and I am also unsurprised that he wasn't all that impressed with the experience, as based on what I have read the HQ one in AZ will inevitably be better than over here.  But his moaning about the putter he ordered is.... strange.

 

Have many other people ordered carbon with a black finish? I assumed that carbon almost automatically went with a patina finish - and the buyer would be made well aware that it would rust if wet.  Maybe Ping overestimated Rick's attention span and knowledge of putter materials.

 

[WiscoLefty]

This is like buying a raw wedge and complaining that it rusted. Like buddy what did you think was going to happen, that’s kinda the point…

[gsrjc]

Yeah. I’m shocked that he sorta badmouthed Ping UK and they invited him. I bet he’s not going to be allowed back. 

[Humble]

I have a ping anser 2d carbon steel custom . I opted for the black pvd finish. I was applying the silicone spray here and there when I first got it and then realized the black pvd is bulletproof. My putter is nearly two years old and still looks like the day I got it. I never put it away wet and always dry it before putting the putter cover back on. My money is some negligence on his part. 

[Phabs]

Bought a carbon putter and cries it rusts.  Seems about right for the wrx 

[BagofToast]

I don't think the fitting experince is the same in the UK as it is in the US, might not tell you everything.

[ColinKelvin]

4 hours ago, BagofToast said:

I don't think the fitting experince is the same in the UK as it is in the US, might not tell you everything.

 

I'm sure it isn't.  I just don't buy that Ping made this putter out of carbon with his logo but a) didn't discuss the material choice at all or mention that it would rust, and b) didn't do the logo on request/with his permission or agreement.  Whatever happened, it's resulted in both Ping and RS looking a bit silly.