Info. re: Ping Karsten Anser 5KS

[fmac]

I took up golf at 40 years old 18 years ago. The first putter that I purchased was a used Ping Anser 5KS. I Found it again recently tucked away in my basement and did a little refinishing work on it. I tried to google, check Ebay Ping website etc. to find out any information in regards to this putter but have found out very little. I know it is heel - toe weighted, and I would assume that it is a stainless head. I would like to know what year these putters were manufactured and if the long neck was standard or if there were 2 versions. Pictures of club included. Also is there a safe method for cleaning white inserts on Odyssey putters to freshen up their face. Thanks.

[rgk5]

Produced during the mid 1980s and it is face balanced. The head is stainless steel. Not much you can do with the Odyssey insert which is one reason among others why I do not like them.

[fmac]

Thx. for the info.

[juanki]

i have one like that but in dark finish, its a great putter, i mix it between a craze jas moment, ally c, rite in 5, all face balanced, also have a pal 5, zing 5 and a cu 5.

[fmac]

I've been reading some of the other threads in regards to blackening stainless heads and I may give it a try. It would be a good club to practice on. The silver is fine but I think it would look better being darker.

[ParadiseGolf]

I picked one up used and normally play toe hang putters like newport 2s. This face balanced, zero sole graphic putter was pretty good!

[North Butte]

Yes, I know that @ParadiseGolf brought a 9-year-old thread back to life. But yes, I'm going to reply anyway.

 

My first putter was an Anser 5BZ which was basically like the 5KS except it used a single-bend shafts instead of an extra-long hosel to achieve face balance.

 

I remember having to decide between the KS and BZ when I was shopping but I the no-hosel single-bend shaft looked "cleaner" to me. Both were wonderful putters, that's a great memory.

[Ephemerlol]

I really like the 5ks, i have been playing one for a while now.  They made heads in steel, bronze, and copper and it is built with a ball bearing down the shaft so it can be a little bit tricky to replace. According to the PING book they were produced in the early 90s when Karsten started to lean into face balanced designs.  It has a boatload of offset on that long neck and nothing else I've seen really sets up like it. I converted mine to an arm lock and it has worked out great.