The story of PING: from a garage putter to a tour-tested empire
PING is one of golf’s most influential—and quietly ambitious—brands. Founded by an engineer who treated clubs like machines, PING’s innovations reshaped how clubs are designed, manufactured, and fitted. Below is an in-depth look at PING’s history, major technological breakthroughs, product evolution, fitting philosophy, and the current crop of Tour players using PING equipment today.
1) Origins — Karsten Solheim’s garage and the birth of PING (1959–1970)
PING started as a one-man experiment. Karsten Solheim, an engineer at General Electric and an avid weekend golfer, hand-made putters in his garage in Redwood City, California, beginning in 1959. Frustrated with the putters of the era, he applied engineering principles to head shape and weight distribution—most famously creating the Anser putter (designed in 1966) and shifting weight to the perimeter for more forgiveness. The company moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and grew from a garage business into Karsten Manufacturing Corporation (KMC). The “PING” name itself came from the ringing sound the metal head made on impact. (Wikipedia)
Key early milestones:
- 1959: First garage putters and early experimentation with head shape and balance. (Wikipedia)
- 1966–67: Design and patenting of the Anser putter—an instant classic that established PING’s reputation for functional, research-driven design. (Ping)
2) The technology that changed clubs — perimeter weighting, cavity backs, and the Eye2 (1970s–1980s)
Karsten Solheim’s core insight—moving weight away from the sweet spot and toward the perimeter—was revolutionary. This concept became the basis for cavity-back irons that offered more forgiveness and predictable ball flight for mid- and high-handicap players. PING’s Eye2 iron (introduced in the early 1980s) became one of the best-selling irons in history and influenced the whole industry. Some design features (like square grooves in later Eye2 iterations) stirred regulatory attention, but the Eye2’s profile and performance cemented PING’s place in golf. (Wikipedia)
3) Manufacturing, quality control, and fitted clubs — the PING difference
PING expanded beyond raw design into strict manufacturing and custom fitting. Two things set PING apart:
- In-house manufacturing and quality control that emphasize consistency and durability. (Wikipedia)
- A long-standing commitment to custom fitting: PING was an early adopter of measuring players and recommending head/shaft/length/grip combinations tailored to individual swing characteristics. That focus on fit (not one-size-fits-all) is a hallmark of the brand. (Ping)
4) Iconic products, innovations and controversies (1990s–2010s)
Over the decades PING kept refining core ideas and introducing new models across categories:
- Putters: the Anser family remained a touchstone; later PING putters broadened shapes while keeping balance and feel a priority. (Ping)
- Irons: from the Eye2 to the G-series and the modern Blueprint/i-series, PING evolved iron design to mix playability with precision. (Swing Yard)
- Drivers and metalwoods: PING embraced new materials and aerodynamics, launching multiple G-series drivers (G425, G430, G440 and successors) to chase forgiveness and speed while maintaining low-spin options for better players. (Golf Monthly)
Controversies: certain PING features (e.g., groove shapes on Eye2) drew USGA scrutiny in past decades. While occasional models sparked conformity debates, PING generally complied with governing body rulings and moved forward with iterative design. (Swing Yard)
5) Recent product direction — performance, forgiveness, and player-specific lines (2020s–2025)
In the 2020s, PING’s strategy has been twofold:
- Keep engineering fundamentals (CG manipulation, forgiveness, face technology) at the center of consumer clubs. Recent game-improvement drivers and irons emphasize stability and ball speed for a broad set of players. (Golf Monthly)
- Expand “player” or tour-style options (i.e., Blueprint, Blueprint T, iBlade) for better players who want tighter shot shaping and workability combined with modern face tech. (GolfLink)
PING’s G-series drivers (G425, G430, G440 and their LST variants) remain notable on tour and in retail testing for their blend of forgiveness and speed. Golf testing outlets frequently list a PING G-series model among the top-performing drivers in given years. (Golf Monthly)
6) PING on tour — who uses PING today (2024–2025 snapshot)
PING supports a significant number of professional players across the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA and other circuits. A few high-profile examples (and the roles they play for brand visibility):
- Viktor Hovland — one of PING’s most visible Tour ambassadors. Hovland has used PING irons (notably i210s and variants) and PING equipment in his bag for major PGA Tour wins; his success has been central to PING’s modern marketing and credibility among better players. (Ping)
- Corey Conners — a long-time PING user, often photographed with PING irons and drivers on the PGA Tour roster lists. (PGA Club Tracker)
- Keegan Bradley — has carried PING drivers/irons in recent seasons and appears in PING’s roster of touring pros. (PGA Club Tracker)
- Tyrrell Hatton — listed among PING’s Tour players and noted for using PING fairway/wood options. (PGA Club Tracker)
- Harris English, Jennifer Kupcho, and others — PING lists numerous professionals across tours who use various combinations of PING drivers, irons, wedges and putters. PING’s official “pros” pages maintain current rosters. (Ping)
Why this matters: seeing top players use PING on Tour validates the brand’s performance claims and shows that PING’s product strategy supports both forgiveness and playability for elite swings. Note that professional players’ bags change over time—PING’s official pros page and equipment trackers are the best places to confirm up-to-the-minute setups. (Ping)
7) PING’s business & identity today
PING remains privately owned (the Solheim family has long been involved in leadership). The company is headquartered in Phoenix and still emphasizes engineering, testing, and a no-frills approach: make reliable gear, fit it properly, and serve golfers from beginners to Tour pros. PING’s reputation for durability, consistent tolerances and lifetime support (e.g., cast steel head longevity, re-gripping and fitting services) keeps it popular with a wide range of players. (Wikipedia)
8) The PING fitting experience — why it’s important
PING’s cultural contribution to golf includes normalizing the importance of proper fit. Their process typically covers:
- Static measurements (height, wrist-to-floor, posture)
- Dynamic swing metrics (launch, spin, ball speed via launch monitor)
- Custom length, lie, and shaft recommendations tailored to how a golfer actually swings
This emphasis on fit helps golfers of all levels achieve better contact, more consistent ball flight, and improved distance control. PING’s retail and tour-level fitting tools have evolved to be data-driven while still grounded in their engineering ethos. (Ping)
9) How PING stacks up (short comparison and buyer guidance)
- For forgiveness & consistency: PING’s game-improvement irons and G-series woods are excellent choices; many independent tester lists include a PING model among top performers. (Golf Monthly)
- For better players: the Blueprint T / i-series provide players with tighter shot control while keeping modern face-speed technologies. (GolfLink)
- For putters: the Anser lineage is still a benchmark; PING putters emphasize balance and feel above flashy tech. (Ping)
If you’re deciding whether to buy PING: get fitted. PING’s greatest strength for most golfers is matching a built club to swing geometry and launch characteristics—nothing shows PING’s advantage more clearly than a properly fitted set.
10) Notable recent tour success (context)
Across professional tours PING clubs have continued to win events. Recent season summaries and equipment trackers show multiple wins by players using PING drivers and irons—an indication that PING remains highly competitive at the elite level. For instance, industry trackers in 2025 showed Ping among the brands with double-digit wins on significant tours that year. (Golf Monthly)
11) Final thoughts — why PING still matters
PING’s story is a model of engineering mindset applied to sport: start with a problem, prototype, test, and iterate. From a garage putter to a full line of drivers, irons, wedges, and putters, PING’s steady innovations—perimeter weighting, practical fitting processes, and reliable manufacturing—have left a permanent imprint on the equipment industry. Its presence on tour, through players such as Viktor Hovland and others, shows PING’s tools are not just for beginners but can also serve the very best players in the world.
Sources and further reading
- PING official history & pros pages. (Wikipedia)
- “Anser” history and PING media articles. (Ping)
- Eye2 and iron history articles. (Swing Yard)
- Recent equipment testing and tour win summaries (Golf Monthly, industry trackers). (Golf Monthly)
- Player equipment trackers and “what’s in the bag” updates (e.g., Viktor Hovland). (Golf Monthly)