PING recently launched a new line of putters called the Vault series. Equipment companies always attach some meaning when it comes naming a new line of equipment, but calling an entire line of putters by a name which has a much deeper meaning within the company is quite bold to say the least.
To understand what The Vault means, we have to go back in the company’s history for a bit.
In the 1970s, Karsten Solheim, the founder of PING was looking for a unique way to thank and reward professional golfers for using PING putters en route to their victories. He decided to commemorate each victory by creating two gold-plated replicas of the winning putter. One is kept in the PING vault and the other presented to the winner.
The Gold Putter Vault at the PING headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, is without a doubt the most valuable collection of putters in the entire world, golf’s version of Fort Knox as some call it. Today it holds close to 2800 putters and even a few wedges.
“The PING Vault Series recognizes our unequaled putter success on tour since 1959 and continues our focus to advance the design and process of making putters,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO.
There are four models in the Vault series, two blades (Anser 2 and Voss) and two mallet designs (Oslo and Bergen). The Vault putters debuted on Tour at the FedEx St. Jude Classic earlier this year.
“Since launching the PING Vault putters on tour in June we’ve had considerable interest, which has put our delivery schedule a little behind,” Solheim said. “These putters require a lot of time and precision in the manufacturing process. The higher demand means golfers may have to wait a couple of extra weeks to get one in their bag. It will be well worth the wait.”
PING has already used the TR face technology in their Cadence and Scottsdale putters, but the Vault putters utilize it slightly differently. The entire line of putters has variable depth across the face which make it quite forgiving towards off-center hits.
The two blade putters, the Anser 2 and the Voss, are both milled from 303 stainless steel forged billets. Both these putter weigh 350g which adds stability to the putter. The Voss is a new design that features a ball-width cavity for easier setup and sloped heel-toe weights for precise setup. The continued popularity and tour success of the Anser 2 made it an obvious choice to be part of the PING Vault line.
The two mallet putters, the Oslo and the Bergen, are both milled from 6061 T-6 aluminium. Both models feature a precision double-bend shaft that can be adjusted to match either a Slight Arc or Straight stroke type. Both putters are easy to align and offer tremendous stability due to the extremely high MOI.
Solheim said the new model names are a tribute to his father, Karsten Solheim, and his home country of Norway.
“He was born in Bergen more than 100 years ago. Oslo is the country’s capital and Voss is a beautiful town known for its outdoor activities,” commented Solheim. “We think it’s a nice way to further his legacy.”
All four putters are available in a Platinum or State finish, and will be available in small quantities beginning August 25th as the company works to increase capacity to meet the high demand.
Pre-orders have started at golf shops around the world. All putters will retail for $325 and come with the new PING Pistol (PP62) grip. The lightweight (68g), oversized grip is soft and ensures a comfortable feel.
