Club Test 2011: Ping Scottsdale Putters

From Golf Magazine (June 2011)

Ping Scottsdale Wolverine
Category: High-MOI Mallet Putters
We tested: 34", 35" shaft length

Key Technologies: The face balanced, 355-gram head features a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) face insert with applique that elicits a soft yet solid feel and crisp sound. The combination of TPE and enhanced perimeter weighting leads to improved feel and roll.

OUR TESTERS SAY: Among the best models tested; it's a very good redo of the Craz-E.

PROS
DISTANCE CONTROL: Lots of shot correction - face insert delivers consistent, accurate, controlled roll (speed) and distance on or off the sweet spot.

FEEL: Lots of useable feedback when you miss a putt, rather than a reprimand; nice balance and weight, putter glides through the stroke.

LOOK: Stealth black metal and contrasting red-and-white alignment feature draw your eye to the centerline.

CONS
Dissenters find the complexity of the curves behind the face to be a distraction; a few testers believe impact is too soft and lacks enough feedback.

$160

Ping Scottsdale Half Pipe
Category: Midsize Mallet Putters
We tested: 34", 35" shaft length

Key Technologies: The thermoplastic elastomer face insert delivers a soft yet crisp sound and feel at impact to enhance distance control. The club boasts plenty of perimeter weighting for a true roll and bold alignment aids to help with aim.

OUR TESTERS SAY: One of the best models tested - ranks near the top in all three categories.

PROS
DISTANCE CONTROL: Lively face helps to get the ball to the hole - "never up, never in" doesn't apply to this putter.

FEEL: Soft, cushioned sensation at impact; some testers find it to be the softest feel in the test; sufficient head weight covers up mis-hits.

LOOK: Scalloped back frames ball very well; easy putter to align square to the cup; it's minor, but the half-pipe back makes it easy to scoop balls up off the green.

CONS
Insert is too soft (not enough feedback) for a small number of testers; a few find that putts occasionally jump off the face and travel farther than intended.

$130

Ping Scottsdale Anser 2
Category: Blade Putters
We tested: 34", 35" shaft length

Key Technologies: The thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) face insert with applique delivers a soft yet solid feel. Additional perimeter weighting leads to improved roll. The long sightline and red alignment aid on the face should help with aim and accuracy.

OUR TESTERS SAY: This updated classic offers straightforward, expected performance.

PROS
DISTANCE CONTROL: Good offering for players of all abilities; reliable distance control; easy to swing the putterhead back and through.

FEEL: Soft feel with a fairly crisp sound at impact; off-center hits have a distinctive feel.

LOOK: The striking black clubhead against a white insert works well visually; attractive new look to a traditional Ping classic; white sightline makes addressing the ball a snap.

CONS
Some testers find impact to be too cushioned overall and seek more positive feedback; a few guys don't see enough performance difference from previous Anser-style putters.

$130
ping.com

From The Shop Blog (August 12, 2010)
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — K.J. Choi and Kenny Perry have recently been using new putters that are part of Ping's latest putter line, the Scottsdale series.

There are 14 different models in the new line, and first thing golfers will notice is the finish, which is much darker than previous Ping putters. That should help the maroon and white alignment aids and sightlines stand out more.

But Ping hopes it's the white insert found in face of all Scottsdale putters that will make them stand out.

Matt Rollins, a Ping PGA Tour rep, said, "We feel this is the best-feeling insert we've had in a putter in a while." He says the polymer insert is softer than the insert used in the i-Series putters, so Ping hopes that it will match well with today's mutli-layer golf balls.

The line features such Ping standards as the Anser and the B60, but there are some new headshapes too, including the blade-style TomCat and the extreme perimeter-weighted Y Worry.

More putters on Golf.com

Blade putters
Mid-sized mallet putters
High-MOI mallet putters