PING PRESS RELEASE ARCHIVE
Bubba Watson has caused quite a stir since joining the US PGA Tour at the start of the 2006 season.
Watson, 27, a PING staff player from Bagdad, Florida, is currently the runaway leader on the Tour’s Driving Distance table with an average of 324.9 yards and is eliciting the sort of rave reviews that used to be reserved for John Daly.
The 6’ 3” left-hander qualified for the US PGA Tour by finishing 21st on last season’s Nationwide Tour and he made an instantaneous impact when he finished tied for fourth place on his main Tour debut at the recent Sony Open in Hawaii.
Watson closed with a sizzling 65 to win almost $245,000 on his debut but it was the distance he hit his PING G5 driver that created the biggest headlines. He hit four drives over 360 yards on a Waialae CC course that sits at sea level and one a colossal 398 yards.
South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini was one of a number of Tour veterans who were amazed by the distance that Watson was hitting the ball.
“He’s unbelievable,” the South African told the assembled media in Hawaii. “I remember when I was a rookie I would just stand up and let go. But there’s no possibility I could ever hit it that far.
“Some of Bubba’s drives went right off the radar.”
Watson himself is well aware that he ranks right up there with the biggest hitters on the Tour.
“I don’t think John Daly or Hank Kuehne or Scott Hend can hang with me when I’m hitting it,” said Watson who followed his top-5 finish at the Sony with a share of 56th place at the subsequent Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines.
“If I hit my best, there are not too many people that can get within shooting distance.”
Watson uses a 45-inch shaft in his PING G5 driver – about ¾” shorter than the standard length for that driver.
“We don’t have a single player on our tour staff worldwide that uses a longer-than-standard shaft,” said Chance Cozby, one of PING’s US PGA Tour reps. “Guys still want to hit the fairways as much as gain a few yards.”
PING has agreed to sponsor a new English Ladies’ Golf Association better-ball tournament for lady club golfers in England.
The PING Ladies’ Four-Ball Better-Ball Tournament starts in April with a series of qualifying tournaments at participating golf clubs. It continues with four Regional Finals, to be staged in August and September, and climaxes with a Grand Final played at the PING-owned Gainsborough Golf Club, Lincolnshire, on October 18th 2006.
The new PING Ladies’ Four-Ball Better-Ball Tournament is co-sponsored by ECCO and PING Collection, who will supply shoes and clothing to all 96 golfers who make it through to the Grand Final.
ELGA is writing to all affiliated golf clubs inviting them to hold a qualifying round on a date of their choice between April 1st and June 30th, 2006.
Under the rules of the tournament, all qualifying rounds must be played as four-ball better-ball stroke play events, with participants receiving three-quarters of their handicaps.
The pairs returning the two best nett scores at club level will qualify for one of four Regional Finals, held at Langley Park GC, Kent (August 9th), Ilkley GC, Yorkshire (August 24th), Trentham GC, Staffordshire (August 30th) and Woodbury Park GC, Devon (September 19th). The pairs with the best 12 nett scores at each of the Regional Qualifiers will go through to the Grand Final, with the overall winners holding the PING Four-Ball Better-Ball Trophy for a year. They will also receive a memento, plus either PING ladies’ golf clubs to the value of £500 (less the value of any prizes won in a previous round), or a choice of clothing from PING Collection’s exclusive ladies’ range. The runners-up and the third-placed pair will receive prizes to the value of £100.
“We are delighted to sponsor the new PING Ladies’ Four-Ball Better-Ball Tournament which coincides with the launch of our new G5 ladies’ range, said John Clark, Managing Director of PING Europe. “It promises to be a tremendous tournament; one we hope will soon develop into one of the most prestigious events in the ladies’ golfing calendar.”
Clare Tyler, ELGA’s marketing, press and PR officer, said: “We are delighted to work with PING on this new event. It’s a great format and we are sure it will be hugely popular with our members.”
For further information about the PING Ladies’ Four-Ball Better-Ball Tournament, contact ELGA on 0121 456 2088 or log onto www.pingchampionship.co.uk
Information about PING’s acclaimed new G5 ladies’ range can be found on www.pingeurope.co.uk/images
PING has put three brand new Fitting Vans on the road in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
These new vans will replace the two existing vans that have been operating for a number of years and is part of a major new campaign that also sees the company add one new member to its team of full time specialist fitters.
The new vans will attend a series of pre-arranged Demo and Fitting days at clubs and golf facilities within their areas.
The new Vans (see picture) have been ergonomically designed to hold an extensive selection of PING’s latest top-selling clubs. They also carry advanced Vector Launch Monitor systems and other state-of-the art custom fitting equipment.
“PING is the market leader in custom fitting and the introduction of the three new vans in the UK and Ireland plus others in France and Germany will help us to consolidate our position,” said John Clark, Managing Director of PING Europe.
“The vans are all staffed by full time specialist staff adept at demonstrating the advantages that come with purchasing custom fitted clubs. We’re confident the Fitting Vans will offer a popular service to wider range of golfers than we have ever reached before.”
Golfers who want to know the whereabouts of PING’s new Fitting vans should log onto www.pingeurope.com and click onto the Demo Day locator.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
Images available at www.pinggolf.com/media
PING, G2, G5, i5, G5i, Anser, Zing, B60, Mini-c, Tess, Craz-E, Ug-Le and Custom Tuning Port are trademarks of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation.
PING has opened a brand new Fitting Centre at the newly-revamped St Andrews Links Golf Academy at The Home of Golf.
The new Fitting Centre will offer PING customers exactly the same fitting experience available at its headquarters at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, where the company is currently fitting more than 100 golfers each week. The technology available at the new centre includes the state of the art Trackman launch monitor system.
“We are delighted to have opened a new Custom Fitting Centre at the St Andrews Links Golf Academy,” said John Clark, PING Managing Director of PING Europe Ltd. “It is a fantastic facility and offers a great environment for our customers to be fitted by expert staff.
The new Fitting Centre can handle up to 15 appointments a week, all to be booked through authorised PING stockists.
“We are recognised as the leading custom fit company in golf and this new facility will confirm that position and will complement the excellent service already offered by our existing Scottish accounts,” said Clark. “Our aim is to give full support to our existing fitting accounts in Scotland and we hope that by opening the new centre at St Andrews we can help them to build on their recent success. “
The new Fitting Centre is part of a major extension to the existing St Andrews Links Golf Practice Centre, which has seen the creation of an additional 14 covered bays, taking the total number of bays to 51, improved outdoor bays and upgraded lighting. The new facilities also include four indoor instruction studios equipped with some of the most advanced ball-tracking, digital analysis and ultrasound putting scan technology available.
Alan McGregor, General Manager of St Andrews Links Trust said: “The academy will be an excellent facility which I’m sure will benefit golfers from near and far. We believe it will be one of the best facilities of its kind offering a range of state-of-the-art technologies and coaching expertise. The Academy will be open to golfers of all abilities from beginners to professionals and will add a new dimension to the golfing experience in St Andrews.
Golfers who wish to make an appointment at PING’s new Fitting Centre should contact their local PING stockist who will be able to make all the necessary arrangements.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
Images available at www.pinggolf.com/media
PING, G2, G5, i5, G5i, Anser, Zing, B60, Mini-c, Tess, Craz-E, Ug-Le and Custom Tuning Port are trademarks of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation.
PING has introduced a stylish new range of 100% milled putters that are designed to optimise performance while at the same time also pay homage to the expertise of the company’s late founder, Karsten Solheim, who designed and engineered the world’s first heel-toe putter in his garage in Redwood City, California, back in the late 1950s and who was responsible for many of the technical innovations still used is putter design today.
The new Redwood range comprises of three classic models – the Anser, the Zing and the Piper S – and has already met with considerable Tour approval, with Lee Westwood using the Piper S model with great success at the Ryder Cup and several other PING staff players having put one in their bags.
The new Redwood range are precision milled from 3003 stainless steel to create classic shapes and flowing clean lines that fill the user with confidence as soon as he picks up the club. All three Redwood putters feature slightly heavier-than-standard heads that are designed to enhance feel and promote a more solid strike and come with a distinctive new AVS Redwood multi-textured grip that enhances feel and adds to the aesthetic appeal of the club.
The Redwood putters are designed to look as good as they feel and with that in mind each model features enhanced sole aesthetics and the same attractive black nickel coating found on PING’s popular Tour Wedges. Both these features reinforce the clean classic look of the range but also give it a unique visual appeal.
The new Redwood putters come in RH an LH models and can be customised for length, loft and lie. Each is sold with a plush red and black head cover which features a prominent Redwood logo and confirms to everyone just how serious you are about your game.
The recommended retail price of the three models in the Redwood range is £190
PING has recently introduced its best performing driver ever.
The new 460 cc titaniumG5 driver which is available in two versions – G5 and G5 Offset – is part of the new G5 family launched in September 2005 and also featuring G5 fairway woods, a G5 Hybrid, G5 irons, i5 irons, Tour Black Nickel wedges and eleven new G5i putters. Collectively the new G5 range represents the biggest product launch in the company’s history.
The new PING G5 driver is based on the company’s award winning G2 driver but has been adapted and enhanced to make it perform even better than its predecessor. Improved weight placement enhances its stability, forgiveness and control. Distance has been increased by altering weight distribution and its aesthetics have been enhanced by striking new sole plate graphics that give the G5 driver a more appealing presence in your golf bag.
The G5 driver comes in a variety of lofts ranging from 7.5°, 9.0°, 10.5°, 12.0° to 13.5°. The PING TFC100D is the standard shaft and is available in four flexes (Soft Regular, Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff). The Aldila NV 65 and Grafalloy ProLaunch 65 are also offered as stock shaft choices in three flexes (Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff).
The new G5 Offset has been designed specifically for golfers who tend to slice the ball from the tee. The club features all the technological advances found in the G5 but with additional offset to strengthen ball flight and result in longer and straighter drives. The G5 Offset comes with the same shaft options as the G5 and with a choice of three lofts: 9.0°, 10.5° and 12.0.
The G5 and the G5 Offset have a recommended retail price of £249
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
Images available at www.pinggolf.com/media
PING, G2, G5, i5, G5i, Anser, Zing, B60, Mini-c, Tess, Craz-E, Ug-Le and Custom Tuning Port are trademarks of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation.
PING has opened Europe's most advanced custom fitting centre at Gainsborough Golf Club in Lincolnshire.
The introduction of the new state of the art facility, which offers hi-tech technology coupled with traditional expertise, represents the latest step in PING's campaign to further strengthen its position as the world's No. 1 in custom fitting technology.
In the 60’s, Ping founder Karsten Solheim started to design and manufacture the first PING clubs, and even back then he placed great emphasis on custom fitting. He believed that all golf clubs should be fitted to the golfer rather than the other way round, and from that belief grew the foundation for Ping custom-fitting, still a core company philosophy.
More than 30 years on technology has advanced considerably, enabling PING's highly trained custom fitters to offer traditional advice in a 21st century setting.
Customers who book an appointment at the new custom fitting centre at Gainsborough Golf Club, a 36-hole complex owned by PING, will be able to spend an hour with their own personal fitter who can make full recommendations for irons, woods and putters.
During that time, the visitor will be:
• Tested in one of three specially designed fitting bays, each complete with a roller shutter door enabling access to the driving range so the fitter can observe the ball flight that is crucial during the fitting process.
• They will also be analysed on the Vector ball flight monitor system, one of the latest systems that measures swing speed, spin rate and launch angle, all vital elements in the fitting process.
• Fitted for one of PING's wide range of putters on the full-size synthetic practice putting green.
• Shown round the new show room where all PING's latest irons, woods, putters, bags and accessories are on display.
Continued
Alternatively existing PING owners can visit the new fitting room for a ‘fitting check-up’, and if necessary their clubs can be altered. They will also be given the opportunity to try out the very latest equipment from PING.
“The new fitting centre offers a major advance in the level of service we can offer our customers," said John Clark, Managing Director of PING Europe. "We have always been renowned for the quality of our fitting and the opening of the new centre is part of our company philosophy to continuously improve everything we do”.
Fittings and adjustments are by appointments only. An hour-long fitting can be arranged by contacting an authorised PING stockist. Adjustment appointments can be made directly to Ping by calling 01427 619219.
PING will continue to offer packages to golfers wishing to combine both a visit to the fitting centre with a game of golf on one of Gainsborough Golf Club's fine courses. The company can offer this unique package to groups, societies and corporate golf days and can, if the numbers are adequate include a factory tour. For further details of these packages contact 01427 613088
Photographs of the centre can be accessed on www.gmsgolf.co.uk
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
PING, the world-renowned golf club manufacturer, is celebrating one of its most successful seasons on the European Tour, with four of its Staff Players finishing in the top-12 on the Tour’s official Order of Merit.
That Tour success mirrors the company’s current sales figures, with sales of its drivers, fairway woods, irons and putters all up year on year both in Britain and many of its other key European markets.
Forty-year-old Spaniard, Miguel Angel Jimenez, was PING’s most successful Staff Player during 2004, amassing four European Tour victories on his way to finishing fourth on the Order of Merit with earnings of almost £1.9 million. His Ryder Cup colleague, Lee Westwood, was seventh on the money list, with Argentina’s Angel Cabrera and Australia’s Nick O’Hern occupying 11th and 12th places, respectively.
Jimenez changed to PING’s S59 irons towards the end of the 2003 season and almost immediately won the Turespana Mallorca Classic. This year, he has switched to the new S59 Tour irons, G2 Driver and PING Tour Wedges and has built on that success, winning in Thailand, Portugal, China and Germany to take his haul of European Tour victories to eleven.
Cabrera is renowned as one of the world’s longest hitters, averaging 308.6 yards on this year’s European Tour. He has also wielded his 39-inch long PING Lil’C putter with such effect that he finished first in the Tour’s Putts per Greens in Regulation statistical category, averaging a miserly 1.702. He also came third in the Putts Per Round category, with an average of 28.4.
Westwood and O’Hern were among the Tour’s most consistent performers this season.
The Englishman, who ended the 2004 season using a G2 Driver, Craz-E putter and the new S59 Tour irons, was runner-up twice, at the Smurfit European Open and the HSBC World Match Play. He also came fourth at The Open and was a stalwart at the Ryder Cup, winning 4.5 points out of five and defeating Kenny Perry in the singles. Interestingly, prior to switching to the new PING S59 Tour irons he had used PING Zing 2 irons for the previous 13 seasons.
O’Hern notched no less than 11 top-ten finishes in 23 Tour starts, including second place finishes at the French Open and the Linde German Masters.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Miguel Angel, Lee, Angel, Nick and the other Staff players for all their successes this season,” said John A. Solheim, PING’s Chairman and CEO. “It represents a significant achievement for PING to have four players in the top-12 on the European Tour Order of Merit”.
PING Staff Players also enjoyed considerable success on the other side of the Atlantic with Heath Slocum and Mark Hensby both winning on the US PGA Tour and Chris DiMarco and Chris Riley making it onto the US Ryder Cup side. Elsewhere, former Ryder Cup captain, Mark James, celebrated his first year on the Champions Tour by winning one of the Seniors Tour’s majors, the Ford Seniors Players Championship.
PING’s latest Tour successes came during a year in which the company successfully launched a new G2 driver, its S59 Tour irons, its Tour wedges and both the Doc 17 and Doc 15 putters. Those launches, coupled with strong sales for the G2 irons and fairway woods, the i3+ irons and the revolutionary Craz-E putter helped the company to buck the market trend and post record sales figures.
“It really has been a great year for PING,” said Solheim. “Happily, our successes on Tour have been replicated by strong sales for our drivers, fairway woods, irons and putters. All year long, the G2, launched late in 2003, has been a big success for us and this year’s launches, G2 driver, the Craz-E putter and the Tour wedges, have subsequently continued that trend.
“The driver, in particular, has been revelation,” added Solheim. “In fact, it could well be one of the most successful launches we have ever had.”
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
PING Chairman & CEO John Solheim has announced the introduction of the Craz-E, a G2i insert model designed with a geometric shape for increased inertia and easy alignment.
“It’s an exciting new addition to our putter line,” Solheim said. “Golfers who have tried it are extremely positive about its performance. It has a tremendous feel, sets up easily and, most importantly, inspires the confidence to make putts.”
The Craz-E design features strategic weight placement near the heel, toe and rear of the putter through its geometric shape and use of lightweight urethane inserts. The result is an extremely high moment of inertia and a centre of gravity positioned low and away from the face to ensure accuracy and consistency.
“Our engineering team enjoyed the challenge of applying our proven technology to a completely new shaped PING putter,” Solheim added. “The combination of the weight distribution and the use of the lightweight urethane inserts in the face and flange allowed us to eliminate unnecessary material while maintaining the solid feel golfers expect from their putters.
“We also focused the design around creating an optically pleasing putter. The crescent-shapes and an extra-long sightline contrast with the blue urethane inserts to provide an alignment aid. It sets up square and makes alignment almost effortless.”
A blue urethane insert, which extends across most of the face, and a blue grip provide the same soft, responsive feel golfers embraced with the introduction of the G2i putters in August 2003.
The E-shaped flange inspired the putter’s name, according to Vice-President of Engineering John K. Solheim, who oversaw development of the putter.
“We had some fun with the name,” he said. “It’s kind of crazy looking for us, but it performs to our high standards. We’re confident the putter’s performance and unique look will result in a lot of golfers making a lot of putts.”
Suggested retail for the Craz-E is £125
The putter is face balanced and features a double-bend shaft. Standard length is 34”. Worldwide shipments begin February 16, 2004.
The company also announced the addition of the Piper H to the G2i putter series. The mallet-shaped head features a heel-shafted, blade style hosel. All G2i putters feature a blue insert and blue grip. Suggested retail is £100. Worldwide shipments begin March 15, 2004.
Photographs of the Craz-E can be accessed on www.gmsgolf.co.uk
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
Phoenix, Ariz., May 4, 2004: Boasting the highest moment of inertia (MOI) of any PING® putter to date, the Doc17 was officially introduced today, according to PING Chairman and CEO John Solheim.
The milled aluminium putter, which features a semicircle shape and has been used on the PGA, European, LPGA and Nationwide Tours, begins shipping May 17.
The over-sized putter’s body measures 17.02 centimetres (6.7 inches) and is fully machined from high-grade aluminium, creating precision lines and weight placement that expands perimeter weighting to new levels.
“Visually, this putter represents another major departure for a PING putter,” said Solheim, whose company introduced the radically-shaped Craz-E model earlier this year. “Technically, it follows our design strategy of continually pushing the limits of perimeter weighting and centre of gravity location. Its shape really opens some doors for us from a performance standpoint.”
The semicircle shape of the Doc17 positions the majority of weight on the extreme perimeter and far away from the centre of gravity to create an extremely high moment of inertia. The sole design keeps weight low and is contoured to provide a balance and feel that makes stroking putts of all lengths easier.
“To the best of our knowledge, no other putter on the market has a comparable MOI,” Solheim added. “This Doc17 gives new meaning to the term ‘forgiveness.’ It’s hard to mis-hit a putt with this one.”
In addition to pushing the technology curve, the new design measures right up to the proposed USGA limit on putter body length of seven inches.
“It got the USGA’s attention,” said Solheim. “It’s right up to the proposed limit. But they’ve reviewed it and it conforms. We’re excited to get it into golfer’s hands so they can start making more putts.”
The putter’s electroless nickel-plated, finish creates a rich appearance and adds durability to the aluminium head.
Suggested retail of the Doc17 is £150. A light green Winn® AVS grip is standard on the face-balanced putter.
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
Angel Cabrera lived up to his reputation as one of the world’s longest-hitting golfers when he finished No. 1 in Driving Distance on the 2005 European Tour.
Cabrera switched to the latest best-selling PING G5 driver this summer and the new club helped him to head the Driving Distance tables for the first time since 2002 with an average blow of 306.0 yards.
The club was also in the bag when the charismatic 36 year old from Cordoba closed with a three under par 68 to win the Torneo de Maestros Copa Personal at Olivos Golf Club in Buenos Aires for the third year in a row with a six under par total of 278.
Cabrera’s win was his first since the BMW Championship in May and his fourth in a year in which he has consolidated his position just outside the top-10 on the official World Ranking.
Cabrera has always been regarded as one of the Tour’s biggest hitters and he believes his new G5 driver is helping him to stay ahead of his competitors.
“The G5 is definitely the longest driver I have ever used,” said the Argentinean. “It’s also incredibly forgiving so it’s a great club to have in the bag.
Cabrera’s is currently using a 7.5 degree G5 driver with an Aldila shaft. He also uses PING S59 irons and a PING G5i Ug-le putter.
PING’s new 460 cc titaniumG5 driver is available in two versions – G5 and G5 Offset – and is part of the new G5 family which was launched to considerable acclaim in September 2005. The range also featuring G5 fairway woods, a G5 Hybrid, G5 irons, i5 irons, Tour Black Nickel wedges.
The new PING G5 driver is based on the company’s award winning G2 driver but has been adapted and enhanced to make it perform even better than its predecessor. Improved weight placement enhances its stability, forgiveness and control. Distance has been increased by altering weight distribution and its aesthetics have been enhanced by striking new sole plate graphics that give the G5 driver a more appealing presence in your golf bag.
PING’s latest G5 driver comes in a variety of lofts ranging from 7.5°, 9.0°, 10.5°, 12.0° to 13.5°. The PING TFC100D is the standard shaft and is available in four flexes (Soft Regular, Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff). The Aldila NV 65 and Grafalloy ProLaunch 65 are also offered as stock shaft choices in three flexes (Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff.
The new G5 Offset has been designed specifically for golfers who tend to slice the ball from the tee. The club features all the technological advances found in the G5 but with additional offset to strengthen ball flight and result in longer and straighter drives. The G5 Offset comes with the same shaft options as the G5 and with a choice of three lofts: 9.0°, 10.5°, and 12.0°.
The G5 and the G5 Offset have a recommended retail price of £249
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
Swede Mikael Friberg will need no excuse to spend a good deal of time on the 2006 Ladies European Tour.
Friberg, PING’s General Manager in Scandinavia, can offer support to compatriot, Maria Hjorth, and the other PING staff players on the Tour. He can also watch proudly as his daughter, Louise, a former Swedish amateur international, plays her first full season on the women’s Tour after earning a Tour Card by finishing tied sixth at the LET’s recent Qualifying School at the La Cala Resort in Mijas, southern Spain.
Louise has long been regarded as one of Sweden’s most promising golfers and she lived up to that reputation at the Q-School, posting rounds of 73, 71, 74 and 73 to finish on one under par 291. Now this talented 25 year-old from Helsingborg can compete regularly alongside the likes of Hjorth, Helen Alfredsson, Sophie Gustafson, Carin Koch, Liselotte Neumann, Catrin Nilsmark, Annika Sorenstam and the other top Swedes who have made such a big impact on women’s golf on both sides of the Atlantic.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Louise for earning her Tour Card in such style,” said John Clark, Managing Director of PING Europe. “The School can be a daunting prospect for up-and-coming golfers, but Louise withstood the pressure admirably and now has a great opportunity to make her name in the women’s professional game.”
Louise was a regular in the Swedish ladies’ team between 1996 and 1998 before accepting a golf scholarship at the University of Washington. While in the States, she was named in the All-Pac-10 Conference team for two years in-a-row. Subsequently, she turned professional, honing her game on the Futures Tour and the West Coast Tour before finishing fourth on the 2005 Swedish Ladies Tour.
“We are delighted that Louise has earned her Tour Card,” said her father Mikael, who is better known as Micky within the golf trade. “She has worked extremely hard and deserves the chance she has carved out for herself.”
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
Former Ryder Cup player, Pierre Fulke, a three-time European Tour winner, has become the latest PING Staff Player.
Fulke, 34, from Eksjo, Sweden, joins Angel Cabrera, Peter Fowler, Anders Hansen, Gregory Havret, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Nick O’Hern, Louis Oosthuizen and Lee Westwood as one of PING’s representatives on the PGA European Tour.
Recently, PING also signed up American sensation, Ryan Moore, winner of the US Amateur, US Public Links, Western Amateur and World Amateur during 2004. Moore, 22, joins Mark Calcavecchia, Chris DiMarco, Mark Hensby, D.A. Points, Ted Purdy and Heath Slocum among PING Staff Players on the US PGA Tour.
Fulke won his first European Tour title at the 1999 Lancôme Trophy and the following year he added the Scottish PGA Championship and the Volvo Masters Andalucia to his name. He made his Ryder Cup debut during 2002 but then suffered a debilitating neck and back injury before bouncing back to form with four top-ten finishes on the 2005 European Tour.
“We are delighted that Pierre has agreed to become a PING Staff player and feel sure he will be a great ambassador for us,” said John Clark, Managing Director of PING Europe.
“Pierre is a hugely talented golfer and now that he is free of injury there is no reason why he can’t regain his place as one of the leading figures in the European game.”
Fulke has signed up to use **.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
PING has launched a brand new set of golf clubs aimed at budding champions aged between eight and twelve.
The new Moxie Junior set, which is designed for boys and girls between 4’3” and 4’11” tall, comprises a titanium driver, high-lofted fairway wood, four irons (5, 7, 9 and sand wedge), junior Craze-E putter and a lightweight, junior carry bag with stand and dual strap. The recommended retail price of the package is £199.99.
The new Moxie Junior set has been put together using the same proven technology found in PING’s market-leading adult clubs.
The pre-packaged set is manufactured with lightweight heads, junior-sized grips, lightweight graphite shafts and flatter lie angles than standard adult equipment. The 15 degree titanium driver measures 40” inches in length and has a head size of 325cc while the 24 degree 3-wood is 37” long and has a head size of 145cc. Both come with matching PING head covers.
The peripherally-weighted irons are also designed to be easy to swing. The 5-iron has 30 degrees loft and is 34.5” in length, the 7-iron has 37 degrees of loft and is 33.5” long, the 9-iron has 44 degrees loft and is 32.5” long and the sand wedge has 51 degrees loft and is 32” long. The Craz-E junior putter is centre-shafted and is 30” in length while the Junior stand bag weights a mere 3.4 lbs and comes in an attractive Royal Blue/Black combination.
“The new Moxie Junior set is designed to help youngsters to get maximum enjoyment out of the game of golf,” said John Solheim PING’s Chairman and CEO.
“The clubs have been specifically designed to be lightweight, forgiving and easy to hit and the result is higher-launching, longer-carrying, fun-inspiring shots.”
PING’s new Moxie Junior set are to be available in both right-handed and left-handed models. The right-handed sets went on sale in mid-March, with the left-handed models due to follow at the start of July.
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
PING has introduced a brand new pair of padded mittens for all those golfers who find it hard to keep their hands warm while golfing in the winter.
The latest fleece-lined mittens retail at £15 and are black and trimmed with the same blue used to improve the aesthetics of the company’s acclaimed new G5 range of golf clubs. They are designed to be oversized to make them easy to put on or take off in even the most inclement weather and come with a special swivel hook clip so that they can be attached to your golf bag.
PING’s new mittens are just one product in the biggest launch in the company’s history. Their introduction coincides with the launch of two G5 drivers (regular and offset), G5 fairway woods, G5 hybrids, G5 irons, i5 irons, a new Black Nickel Tour wedge and a choice of eleven new G5i putter including the distinctive new UG-LE as used by Angel Cabrera at the recent World Golf Championship event in San Francisco. A new range of travel accessories is also available.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
Phoenix, Ariz., June 30, 2005: Ryan Moore, one of the most successful and decorated amateur golfers in history, has agreed to a multi-year contract to play PING® golf equipment, company Chairman & CEO John Solheim announced today.
Moore, who turned professional following the completion of the U.S. Open, made his debut at the PGA Tour’s Barclays Classic. He recently completed a four-year career at UNLV, where he earned All-American honors each year and won the 2004 NCAA Individual Championship. In May, he was honored with the Ben Hogan Award as the nation’s top college player. He was also a three-time academic All-American and earned Academic All-Mountain West Conference (MWC) honors all four years at UNLV.
“A player of Ryan’s caliber and character rarely comes along” said Solheim. “He’s a product of our college program who owns one of the greatest amateur records in the history of golf. His talent speaks for itself. Adding him to our staff raises our profile even higher and reaffirms our commitment to building a staff of the game’s top players.”
In the summer of 2004, Moore amassed what many described as the greatest collection of amateur titles in the history of golf. Following his win at the NCAA Championships, he went on to win the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Amateur Public Links, Western Amateur and Sahalee Players Championship. He was a member of the winning team at the World Amateur Team Championships while claiming the individual title. At this year’s Masters, his tie for 13th earned him low amateur honors.
“It’s important that I begin my professional career playing with equipment that gives me the confidence to succeed as a professional golfer,” said Moore. “I have had a lot of success since I switched to my PINGs and I want to continue that success as a professional.
“I believe in the products that PING manufactures. It is developed and marketed by people who care. The product, coupled with the people, made it an easy choice to go forward with PING.”
The 22-year-old native of Puyallup, Washington will play a PING driver, PING irons and a PING putter. He’ll also wear a PING Hat and carry a PING Staff Bag.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray at GMS on +44 (0) 1438 718399 or David Fanning on +44 (0)1427 619232
PING and PING Collection have signed up to be the official Equipment and Apparel sponsors for the hugely successful Volkswagen Masters Golf tournament.
The new deal is for the 2005 Volkswagen Masters Golf tournament, with an option to extend it into future years.
The Volkswagen Masters Golf tournament was launched in the UK in 2004 and has already become established as a major international amateur golf tournament, which brings together club golfers of all levels from over 15 countries worldwide. This year, the entrants who come through the Regional Finals will qualifying for the UK Final due to be staged at The Grove, Hertfordshire, on Wednesday August 31st. Three players will then progress to the World Final, held at Gleneagles, Perthshire on Thursday October 6th to Sunday October 9th.
Last year, the UK national winner, Tyrone Carter, from Stevenage, also went on to claim victory at the Word Final, held at the Arabella Country Estate course in Kleinmond, South Africa.
“We are delighted to become the official Equipment sponsors for the 2005 Volkswagen Masters Golf tournament and look forward to a forging a relationship that will be beneficial to both parties,” said John Clark, Managing Director of PING UK.
“Last year, the Volkswagen Masters Golf tournament established itself as one of the premier events in the amateur game,” said PING Collection’s Managing Director, Anthony Little. “This year, with the backing of PING and PING Collection, I am sure it will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Information about the Volkswagen Masters Golf tournament is available via telephone on 01908 214304 or by Email at golfmasters@volkswagen.co.uk
Media enquiries regarding PING or PING Collection should be directed to Neil Gray at GMS on +44 (0) 1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk).
PING won a top golf trade award at the recent TGI Golf Show in Harrogate.
Members of the 360 strong buying group, exhibitors and delegates voted PING as the Best Hardware Brand of 2005 in recognition of the success of its top-selling G2 series.
Voters were asked to base their judgement on a number of different criteria - technical innovation, retail price, ability to maintain profit margin and value for money to the customer – and the result was an overwhelming win for the PING brand.
“PING’s G2 series was the hottest hardware range in golf this year and its success meant that many of our delegates were eager to see the new G5 products,” said Eddie Reid, TGI’s Golf Retail Development Manager. “This (the G5 range) is an even better range of clubs and an even more appealing proposition to both retailers and customers.”
Reid went on to praise PING’s distribution system: “TGI Golf members also have confidence in PING’s ability to supply its products efficiently.
“That ensures it gets into the hands of the end user.”
Managing Director of PING Europe, John Clark thanked voters for the award and stressed that he believed the new G5 range would be even more successful than its predecessor.
“PING is delighted to receive the TGI Golf award as the Best Hardware Brand for 2005 and thank everyone who took the trouble to vote for us,” said Clark.
“The G2 series was a phenomenal success in all the key golf markets but we believe that success will be eclipsed by the introduction of the new G5.
The introduction of the G5 series represented the biggest simultaneous launch in PING’s history. The company launched two versions of the new PING G5 driver, G5 fairway woods, G5 irons, i5 irons, a Tour Black Nickel wedge, and eleven new G5i putters in September and that was closely followed by a choice of G5 Hybrid clubs and a wide selection of new golf bags.
The attached photograph shows Steve Carter, PING’s Southern Regional Sales Manager, receiving the TGI Golf Best Hardware Brand of 2005 from Eddie Reid, TGI Golf’s Retail Development Manager.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
TopGolf Game Centres have appointed PING and PING Collection as their official golf partners for 2005.
Under the terms of the agreement PING will be given a branded custom fitting bay at the existing TopGolf centres in Watford and Chigwell and at future centres. PING will also feature as TopGolf’s official golf partner in all of the company’s literature, press releases, customer mail shots and signage and will be entitled to run promotional messages on the big screens and ball dispensers at all three of centres. In return PING will provide promotional clubs at all TopGolf Game Centres and will supply logoed PING Collection garments for the use of key TopGolf staff. PING will also supply the services of one of its Tour Staff members at the opening of TopGolf’s third centre.
“We are delighted to have agreed this deal with TopGolf and look forward to what I am sure will be a fruitful relationship for both parties,” said John Clark, Managing Director of PING UK.
“PING has been looking to enhance its profile in the south east of England and this agreement with TopGolf will go a long way to achieving that aim.”
“TopGolf is looking forward to working with PING over the coming months,” said Stephen Lewis, Chief Executive of Baydrive Ltd, the owners of TopGolf Games Centres in the UK and Eire.
“We believe TopGolf is continually setting standards in our area of the golf business and so we have an obvious synergy with a world renowned company like PING.”
TopGolf is a state-of-the-art practice facility where premium golf balls containing tiny microchips are hit from driving bays onto a 250 metre long outfield. The microchip relays the distance and accuracy of each shot to the player's screen in each bay. The result is a fun, fast moving golf game, which appeals to all ages and abilities of golfers and new players alike.
Further information about PING or TopGolf is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk)
PING has introduced a stylish new range of travel accessories to coincide with the launch of its acclaimed new G5 series.
The range includes a Split Roller, a Duffel Bag, a Messenger Bag and a choice of two Travel Covers capable of transporting your golf bag all over the world.
PING’s new Folding Travel Cover is one of the most ingenious products its designers have ever developed. At 53” it is more than capable of holding a Tour Staff bag and a broomhandle putter but it also folds to less than 12” when not in use meaning that it is simple to store as well.
The new Folding Travel Cover which has a recommended retail price of £100 is made from durable textured nylon which is specifically designed to stand up to the rigours of modern travel. It comes complete with a 6-wheel base meaning that it can easily be moved about in even the busiest airport. A club or company logo can be embroidered on the lower zip-off pocket if required.
The latest Lightweight Travel Cover is ergonomically designed to be both strong and easily storable. It has been manufactured to accommodate PING carry bags and medium size cart bags but folds into a drawstring pouch that doubles up as a shoe bag. It retails at £35 and can also be customised on the back of the drawstring pouch and between the straps on the travel cover itself.
PING latest luggage range is manufactured using durable black ballistic nylon and is finished with a blue trim similar to the colour used to enhance the aesthetics of the new G5 series clubs.
The Split Roller which retails at £80 is a commodious travel case complete with retractable handle. It has two main compartments with mesh, zippered barriers, a front compartment accessible from outside or inside the bag and a zippered ticket pocket designed to hold all your travel documents. A laundry/shoe bag is also supplied.
PING’s new Duffel Bag retails at £40 and is designed for golf outings or short weekend breaks. It has four pockets, including an extended side pocket with mesh ventilation, dual handles and a removable shoulder strap.
The new PING Backpack is an item that will appeal to the company’s younger clientele. It has a side-entry laptop pocket, two padded interior media pockets with external cord port, front cord pocket and a removable mobile phone pouch. It also comes with a padded bottom and adjustable, padded shoulder straps and chest harness. The PING Backpack has a retail price of £40.
The discerning business traveller will also be interested in PING’s latest Messenger Bag that comes complete with a padded laptop compartment with three pockets for cords and computer accessories. There are also three side pockets designed to hold a water bottle, cell phone or other small items and an accordion file folder with snap closure.
The new Messenger Bag has a recommended retail price of £35. All three luggage items can be embroidered with a logo if required.
The latest travel accessories were launched at the same time as PING introduced its stunning new G5 range of golf clubs.
The new G5 ranges includes a choice of two G5 drivers (regular and offset), G5 fairway woods, G5 hybrids, G5 irons, i5 irons, a new Black Nickel Tour wedge and a choice of eleven new G5i putter including the distinctive new UG-LE as used by Angel Cabrera at the recent World Golf Championship event in San Francisco.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
PING has introduced an extensive range of knitted headwear in time for the winter season.
The expanded new range includes a Classic Knit Cap in a black or blue, a Sport Stripe Knit Cap in black/blue, black/grey and blue/black and a choice of three colourful Argyle Knit Caps (pictured) which come in grey/red, green/orange and blue/grey and are guaranteed to brighten up even the gloomiest winter’s day.
PING’s new range of “woolly hats” also includes three Cable Knit Caps which are available in oatmeal, army green and black and feature the popular Mr PING logo and a choice of three Multi Stripe Knit Caps which come in three tones of blue, brown and black.
Recommended retail prices start at £10 for the Classic Knit Cap and go up to £13 for the Argyle Knit Cap.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
PING has introduced an extensive range of knitted headwear in time for the winter season.
The expanded new range includes a Classic Knit Cap in a black or blue, a Sport Stripe Knit Cap in black/blue, black/grey and blue/black and a choice of three colourful Argyle Knit Caps (pictured) which come in grey/red, green/orange and blue/grey and are guaranteed to brighten up even the gloomiest winter’s day.
PING’s new range of “woolly hats” also includes three Cable Knit Caps which are available in oatmeal, army green and black and feature the popular Mr PING logo and a choice of three Multi Stripe Knit Caps which come in three tones of blue, brown and black.
Further information about PING’s extensive range of caps and hats is available from Neil Gray or Adam Roberts at GMS on +44 (0) 1438 718399.
PING has put three brand new Fitting Vans on the road in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
These new vans will replace the two existing vans that have been operating for a number of years and is part of a major new campaign that also sees the company add one new member to its team of full time specialist fitters.
The new vans will attend a series of pre-arranged Demo and Fitting days at clubs and golf facilities within their areas.
The new Vans (see picture) have been ergonomically designed to hold an extensive selection of PING’s latest top-selling clubs. They also carry advanced Vector Launch Monitor systems and other state-of-the art custom fitting equipment.
“PING is the market leader in custom fitting and the introduction of the three new vans in the UK and Ireland plus others in France and Germany will help us to consolidate our position,” said John Clark, Managing Director of PING Europe.
“The vans are all staffed by full time specialist staff adept at demonstrating the advantages that come with purchasing custom fitted clubs. We’re confident the Fitting Vans will offer a popular service to wider range of golfers than we have ever reached before.”
Golfers who want to know the whereabouts of PING’s new Fitting vans should log onto www.pingeurope.com and click onto the Demo Day locator.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
PING has opened a brand new Fitting Centre at the newly-revamped St Andrews Links Golf Academy at The Home of Golf.
The new Fitting Centre will offer PING customers exactly the same fitting experience available at its headquarters at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, where the company is currently fitting more than 100 golfers each week. The technology available at the new centre includes the state of the art Trackman launch monitor system.
“We are delighted to have opened a new Custom Fitting Centre at the St Andrews Links Golf Academy,” said John Clark, PING Managing Director of PING Europe Ltd. “It is a fantastic facility and offers a great environment for our customers to be fitted by expert staff.
The new Fitting Centre can handle up to 15 appointments a week, all to be booked through authorised PING stockists.
“We are recognised as the leading custom fit company in golf and this new facility will confirm that position and will complement the excellent service already offered by our existing Scottish accounts,” said Clark. “Our aim is to give full support to our existing fitting accounts in Scotland and we hope that by opening the new centre at St Andrews we can help them to build on their recent success. “
The new Fitting Centre is part of a major extension to the existing St Andrews Links Golf Practice Centre, which has seen the creation of an additional 14 covered bays, taking the total number of bays to 51, improved outdoor bays and upgraded lighting. The new facilities also include four indoor instruction studios equipped with some of the most advanced ball-tracking, digital analysis and ultrasound putting scan technology available.
Alan McGregor, General Manager of St Andrews Links Trust said: “The academy will be an excellent facility which I’m sure will benefit golfers from near and far. We believe it will be one of the best facilities of its kind offering a range of state-of-the-art technologies and coaching expertise. The Academy will be open to golfers of all abilities from beginners to professionals and will add a new dimension to the golfing experience in St Andrews.
Golfers who wish to make an appointment at PING’s new Fitting Centre should contact their local PING stockist who will be able to make all the necessary arrangements.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
PING has agreed to sponsor a new English Ladies’ Golf Association better-ball tournament for lady club golfers in England.
The PING Ladies’ Four-Ball Better-Ball Tournament starts in April with a series of qualifying tournaments at participating golf clubs. It continues with four Regional Finals, to be staged in August and September, and climaxes with a Grand Final played at the PING-owned Gainsborough Golf Club, Lincolnshire, on October 18th 2006.
The new PING Ladies’ Four-Ball Better-Ball Tournament is co-sponsored by ECCO and PING Collection, who will supply shoes and clothing to all 96 golfers who make it through to the Grand Final.
ELGA is writing to all affiliated golf clubs inviting them to hold a qualifying round on a date of their choice between April 1st and June 30th, 2006.
Under the rules of the tournament, all qualifying rounds must be played as four-ball better-ball stroke play events, with participants receiving three-quarters of their handicaps.
The pairs returning the two best nett scores at club level will qualify for one of four Regional Finals, held at Langley Park GC, Kent (August 9th), Ilkley GC, Yorkshire (August 24th), Trentham GC, Staffordshire (August 30th) and Woodbury Park GC, Devon (September 19th). The pairs with the best 12 nett scores at each of the Regional Qualifiers will go through to the Grand Final, with the overall winners holding the PING Four-Ball Better-Ball Trophy for a year. They will also receive a memento, plus either PING ladies’ golf clubs to the value of £500 (less the value of any prizes won in a previous round), or a choice of clothing from PING Collection’s exclusive ladies’ range. The runners-up and the third-placed pair will receive prizes to the value of £100.
“We are delighted to sponsor the new PING Ladies’ Four-Ball Better-Ball Tournament which coincides with the launch of our new G5 ladies’ range, said John Clark, Managing Director of PING Europe. “It promises to be a tremendous tournament; one we hope will soon develop into one of the most prestigious events in the ladies’ golfing calendar.”
Clare Tyler, ELGA’s marketing, press and PR officer, said: “We are delighted to work with PING on this new event. It’s a great format and we are sure it will be hugely popular with our members.”
For further information about the PING Ladies’ Four-Ball Better-Ball Tournament, contact ELGA on 0121 456 2088 or log onto www.pingchampionship.co.uk
PING has introduced a stylish new range of 100% milled putters that are designed to optimise performance while at the same time also pay homage to the expertise of the company’s late founder, Karsten Solheim, who designed and engineered the world’s first heel-toe putter in his garage in Redwood City, California, back in the late 1950s and who was responsible for many of the technical innovations still used is putter design today.
The new Redwood range comprises of three classic models – the Anser, the Zing and the Piper S – and has already met with considerable Tour approval, with Lee Westwood using the Piper S model with great success at the Ryder Cup and several other PING staff players having put one in their bags.
The new Redwood range are precision milled from 3003 stainless steel to create classic shapes and flowing clean lines that fill the user with confidence as soon as he picks up the club. All three Redwood putters feature slightly heavier-than-standard heads that are designed to enhance feel and promote a more solid strike and come with a distinctive new AVS Redwood multi-textured grip that enhances feel and adds to the aesthetic appeal of the club.
The Redwood putters are designed to look as good as they feel and with that in mind each model features enhanced sole aesthetics and the same attractive black nickel coating found on PING’s popular Tour Wedges. Both these features reinforce the clean classic look of the range but also give it a unique visual appeal.
The new Redwood putters come in RH an LH models and can be customised for length, loft and lie. Each is sold with a plush red and black head cover which features a prominent Redwood logo and confirms to everyone just how serious you are about your game.
The recommended retail price of the three models in the Redwood range is £190.
PING is pleased to announce that its G5 Driver has recently been confirmed as the Number 1 selling driver in the UK for 12 consecutive months in 2006.
The PING G5 driver is based on the company’s award winning G2 driver but has been adapted and enhanced to make it perform even better than its predecessor. Improved weight placement enhances its stability, forgiveness and control. Distance has been increased by altering weight distribution and its aesthetics have been enhanced by striking new sole plate graphics that give the G5 driver a more appealing presence in your golf bag.
Adding to the success of the G5 Driver, PING’s G5 Irons were also announced as the Number 1 selling Iron in the Uk for 11 out of 12 months in 2006.
“We have always believed in the performance of the G5 range since its launch in 2005,” said John Clark, Managing Director of PING Europe. “To have this backed up by such fantastic sales figures clearly illustrates the enduring popularity of the G5 range.”
The G5 Driver and Irons are part of an extensive G5 range that was launched to considerable acclaim in September 2005. The range also features a G5 offset driver, G5 fairway woods, G5 Hybrids, i5 irons, Tour Black Nickel wedges and a host of G5i putters.
PING has recently introduced a brand new range of fairway woods that is destined to take the game of golf by storm.
The new G5 fairway woods are part of an extensive new G5 range that was launched to considerable acclaim in September 2005 and also features the G5 driver, G5 Hybrids, G5 irons, i5 irons, Tour Black Nickel wedges and eleven new G5i putters.
Collectively the new G5 range represents the biggest product launch in the company’s history.
PING’s latest G5 fairway woods feature larger heads than the previous G2 model and this coupled with improved weight placement gives the new clubs a higher moment of inertia for even more stability, forgiveness and control. The thin, high strength 455 stainless steel face is precisely machine to increase distance and give a hotter feel while the rocker sole is designed to keep the club square from a wide variety of different lies.
The G5 fairway woods are available in five lofts (13°, 15°, 18°, 21° and 24°) with an additional 27° model soon to be available for ladies only. There is a choice of five different shaft options (TFC100F, Aldila NV 75, Grafalloy ProLaunch 75, JZ Steel and Dynamic Golf X-100).
The recommended retail price of the new G5 fairway woods is £129 with a steel shaft and £169 per club with a graphite shaft.
For additional information, contact James Lovett on +44 (0)1438 718399 james@gmsgolf.co.uk
PING has recently introduced one of the most forgiving Hybrid clubs the game of golf has ever seen.
The new G5 Hybrid is the first Rescue club PING has ever produced and is the result of countless hours of research and development undertaken at the company’s testing centre in Phoenix, Arizona.
It is part of an extensive G5 range that was launched to considerable acclaim this autumn and also features the G5 driver, G5 fairway woods, G5 irons, i5 irons, Tour Black Nickel wedges and eleven new G5i putters.
Collectively the G5 Hybrid and new models in the G5 range represents the biggest product launch in PING’s history.
The G5 Hybrid is designed for golfers who want a club that offers a high launch angle coupled with longer ball flight. The face of the Hybrid is machined from high strength 455 stainless steel which maximises distance and produces a hotter feel. The sloped crown lowers the centre of gravity to give the club more control, spin and lift while the compact design and rocker sole help to keep the club square through impact from all sorts of different lies.
The new PING Hybrid is launched in November 2005 and is available in four different lofts (16°, 19°, 22° and 25°). It comes with a choice of two steel shafts (JZ Steel and Dynamic Golf X-100) and three graphite shafts (TFC100H, Aldila NV Hybrid and Grafalloy ProLaunch Hybrid).
The recommended retail price of the G5 Hybrid is £130 per club with a steel shaft and £145 per club with a graphite shaft.
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS on +44 (0)1438 718399 james@gmsgolf.co.uk
The new UG-LE™ and the revamped Craz-E™ are just two of the high performance new putters found in PING’s latest G5i putter range.
The company offers an Anser®, a B60™, a Mini C™, a Tess® and a Zing® in addition to the UG-LE and five different versions of the Craz-E and all feature a brand new dual durometer insert made from high tech polyurethane materials and designed to provide optimal sound and feel for ultimate performance on the greens.
PING has been producing innovative putters for almost 50 years and the G5i range is no exception. In addition to the patented dual durometer insert they also feature strategic thro’ holes and sole cavities that increase moment of inertia and make the G5i putters approximately 10% more forgiving than previous models. Alignment is improved with a ball-width, crescent-shaped top rail – a feature first introduced on the original Craz-E. The new series also has a new Optigraphic Alignment System in the back of each model to make it even easier to line up putts.
The G5i putter range comes with a choice of two new dual textured Blue Winn grips – a PP58 style for non-face balanced models and a pistol style for face balanced models. Each putter is available in RH and LH and has a G5i magnetic head cover. Standard lengths are 34”, 41” (belly) and 48” (long).
Recommended retail price ranges from £95 to £150 depending on model.
The eleven G5i putters are part of an extensive new G5 range that was launched to considerable acclaim in September 2005 and also features two versions of the G5 driver, G5 fairway woods, G5 Hybrids, G5 irons, i5 irons and the new PING Black Nickel Wedges.
Collectively the G5 range represents the biggest product launch in the company’s history.
For additional information, contact James Lovett on +44 (0)1438 718399
The new Piper, Pal and Ally are three new additions to be found in PING’s latest G5i putter range.
The company offers an Anser®, a B60™, a Mini C™, a Tess® and a Zing® in addition to the UG-LE and five different versions of the Craz-E and all feature a brand new dual durometer insert made from high tech polyurethane materials and designed to provide optimal sound and feel for ultimate performance on the greens.
PING has been producing innovative putters for almost 50 years and the G5i range is no exception. In addition to the patented dual durometer insert they also feature strategic thro’ holes and sole cavities that increase moment of inertia and make the G5i putters approximately 10% more forgiving than previous models. Alignment is improved with a ball-width, crescent-shaped top rail – a feature first introduced on the original Craz-E. The new series also has a new Optigraphic Alignment System in the back of each model to make it even easier to line up putts.
The G5i putter range comes with a choice of two new dual textured Blue Winn grips – a PP58 style for non-face balanced models and a pistol style for face balanced models. Each putter is available in RH and LH and has a G5i magnetic head cover. Standard lengths are 34”, 41” (belly) and 48” (long).
Recommended retail price ranges from £95 to £150 depending on model.
The G5i putters are part of an extensive new G5 range that was launched to considerable acclaim in September 2005 and also features two versions of the G5 driver, G5 fairway woods, G5 Hybrids, G5 irons, i5 irons and the new PING Black Nickel Wedges.
Collectively the G5 range represents the biggest product launch in the company’s history.
For additional information, contact James Lovett on +44 (0)1438 718399
PING has recently launched a brand new iron that its engineers believe is the longest and straightest iron the company has ever produced.
The G5 irons are part of an extensive new G5 range that was launched to considerable acclaim in September 2005 and also features two versions of the G5 driver, G5 fairway woods, G5 Hybrids, i5 irons, Tour Black Nickel wedges and eleven new G5i putters.
Collectively the G5 range represents the biggest product launch in the company’s history.
PING is renowned for producing forgiving irons but the company’s engineers have excelled themselves with the new G5. A wide sole similar to the G2 HL irons moves the centre of gravity further back from the face for a higher trajectory. Enhanced perimeter weighting makes the G5 extremely forgiving while the new PING CTP cap and blue metallic G5 badge enhance the aesthetics of the club.
The G5 irons were launched in August 2005 and are available in 2-9, PW, UW, SW and LW. They can be custom fit for shaft, length, flex, lie and grip size.
Recommended retail price of the G5 irons is €120.00 per club with a steel shaft and €140.00 per club with a graphite shaft.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
For immediate release: August 5, 2005--Phoenix, Ariz.: Citing major performance improvements, PING Chairman & CEO John Solheim announced the introduction of the G5™ Series, marking the first-time in the company’s 46-year history products in all categories have been launched under one name simultaneously.
The new series includes drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons and putters. Additionally, the company introduced the i5™ iron, a mid-sized club head with reduced offset.
“We’re bringing golfers a series of clubs that represents our on-going commitment to innovation,” said Solheim, who introduced the new clubs to PING’s worldwide sales team August 2. “Each club in the G5 Series is engineered to help golfers lower their score and increase their enjoyment of the game. We applied our usual careful analysis of every product and set out to improve the performance of each. We’re confident we’ve succeeded in every case.”
Under the G5 name, golfers can create a set of clubs to match their ability and personal preference. From the G5 driver, which follows the market-leading G2 driver, to the G5i putter line, golfers will find options suited to every level of ability.
“We’re in the business of improving the scores of all golfers,” added Solheim. “The G5 Series features technology which will benefit every skill level. Plus, with the i5 iron we can satisfy the needs of golfers looking for a slightly smaller club head with the performance features golfers expect from PING. This launch expands our product line deeper than ever before.”
G5 Driver
The 460cc titanium head features new internal weighting distribution that re-positions the CG for lower spin rates and greater distance. Eight grams of weight was moved from the crown and face to the sole to achieve the lower CG location. New face geometry ensures high ball speed for maximum distance. Similar in shape to the popular G2 driver, the confidence-inspiring head provides forgiveness and includes a thinner moon-graphic alignment aid.
The lower spin rates allowed the engineers to increase the available lofts (7.5°, 9°, 10.5°, 12° and 13.5°) by ½° to ensure golfers are fit to the proper launch angle. Three graphite shaft options are offered to further custom fit the driver. The PING TFC100D is the standard shaft and is available in four flexes (Soft R, Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff). The Aldila NV 65 and the Grafalloy ProLaunch 65 also are offered as stock shaft choices in three flexes (Regular, Stiff and X-Stiff).
RRP is £249. Shipments begin September 1, 2005.
G5 Offset Driver
Designed to promote a right-to-left ball flight, it features a ¼” offset that blends subtly into the head to create a clean appearance. The G5 Offset Driver includes all the technology of the standard G5 and is available in 9°, 10.5° and 12° lofts.
RRP is £249. Shipments begin September 1, 2005.
G5 Fairway Woods
Large, stainless steel heads combine with a 455 steel face to create a long, forgiving set of fairway woods. The strength of the face allows our engineers to design a thinner, more responsive hitting area. The face is machined and robotically, plasma welded to ensure consistency.
Internal weight pads progress toward the back of the club in the higher lofted fairway woods for optimal spin, lift and control. The rocker sole design helps square the face at impact from a variety of lies.
Available in two 3-woods (13° and 15°), 5-wood (18°), 7-wood (21°), 9-wood (24°) and L-wood (27°).
Steel and graphite shafts are available. RRP is £129 per club with a steel shaft and £169 per club with a graphite shaft. Shipments begin September 1, 2005.
G5 Hybrids
The first-ever wood-like hybrid from PING is distinguished by a sloped crown which positions the center-of-gravity low and back to promote a higher launch. The stainless steel head’s compact design ensures playability from all conditions. The 455 steel face is machined and robotically plasma welded to provide distance and consistency.
Available in 16°, 19°, 22° and 25° lofts.
Steel and graphite shafts are available. RRP £125 per club with a steel shaft and £145 per club with a graphite shaft.
Shipments begin November 1, 2005.
G5 Irons
A deeper, parallel cavity design widens the sole and expands the perimeter weighting to make the G5 the most forgiving PING iron to date. The larger head, cavity design and sole width provide higher launching, more consistent shots. The 17-4 stainless steel heads are investment cast and heat treated at Karsten Manufacturing’s foundry in Phoenix, Arizona.
The G5 iron’s feel is improved through a larger, thinner Custom Tuning Port (CTP). The expanded port is positioned closer to the face to ensure consistency and a solid, pleasing feel. The lead-edge radius is designed for improved ground impact and more solid ball contact.
Available 2-9, PW, UW, SW and LW.
Ten color codes are offered to custom fit each golfer to the proper lie angle. Steel and graphite shafts are available. RRP is £80 per club with a steel shaft and £95 per club with a graphite shaft.
Shipments begin September 1, 2005.
i5 Irons
The i5 iron is a mid-size, stainless steel iron with reduced offset. The perimeter weighted iron shares many of the G5 iron features, including the larger, thinner Custom Tuning Port (CTP) for improved feel. The sole width and cavity size are created for forgiveness and playability. The lead edge and bounce angle are designed for a smoother, forgiving transition through the turf and from the rough.
Available 2-9, PW, UW, SW and LW.
Ten color codes are offered to custom fit each golfer to the proper lie angle. Steel and graphite shafts are available. RRP is £80 per club with a steel shaft and £95 per club with a graphite shaft.
Shipments begin September 1, 2005.
G5i Putters
Numerous advancements, including a dual durometer face, set the G5i putter series apart from the rest. The new insert design features a soft perimeter injected with a higher durometer impact surface for optimal feel and sound. The insert cavity is precision machined to ensure consistency. Inertia increases average 10% across the new line and are attributed to re-distribution of weight resulting from the addition of thru holes and sole cavities.
Alignment is improved with a ball-width, crescent-shaped top rail—a feature first introduced on the popular PING Craz-E Series. The new series also applies a new Optigraphic Alignment System in the back of each model to further assist in alignment.
Available in 11 models: Anser, Zing, B60, Mini-c, Tess, Craz-E, Craz-E B (mid-length), Craz-E C (center-shafted), Craz-E H (Anser-style hosel), Craz-E L (long) and Ug-Le.
A new, dual textured blue Winn grip is standard on each model.
RRP ranges from £95-150 depending on model.
Shipments begin September 1, 2005.
Tour Black Nickel Wedges
First introduced in 2004, the PING Tour Wedge offers a versatile head size for golfers who rely on their wedges to play a variety of shots. The latest addition offers a Black Nickel Chrome finish that creates higher spin rates for improved control on approach shots and around the green.
The rounder sole profile adds to the versatility by allowing golfers to set the club head in most any position to play the required shot. The machined face and grooves ensure proper spin rates and consistency for wedge shots of any length.
Blasted and polished finishes provide golfers additional options based on their personal preference.
Available in 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58° and 60° lofts.
Low bounce (8°) versions are available in 58° and 60° lofts.
Ten color codes are offered to custom fit each golfer to the proper lie angle. Steel and graphite shafts are available.
RRP is £80 per club with a steel shaft and £95 per club with a graphite shaft.
Shipments begin September 1, 2005.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray or Adam Roberts on +44 (0)1438 718399
Leading golf equipment manufacturer PING has announced the launch its stunning new i-Series putters, a range that effortlessly brings together the performance benefits of an insert feel with striking modern design features, to create a putter that stands out on the greens.
The creation of the i-Series is a result of PING's constant pursuit of enhanced feel with proven weighting properties. A two-piece insert fuses together a urethane insert and face applique to produce a firm response with a soft feel. The thicker urethane insert provides the firmness required for a solid response whist the thin, applique guarantees a soft feel.
Popular alignment models, including the well-known B60 and Craz-E, are joined by the new ½ Craz-E and ½ Moon designs which feature increased MOI and enhanced alignment features. A higher moment-of-inertia is achieved in these models by using sole inserts which extend weight to the perimeter of the putter. The back of the putter is also level with the top line for improved alignment. Golfers loyal to the more traditional designs can choose from proven favourites, including the Anser and Zing models.
The i-Series range of putters represents yet another advancement in feel, forgiveness and alignment from a company synonymous with putter design, and as always with PING, the entire range has been manufactured so that each model can be custom fitted to suit individual putting strokes.
The eye-catching i-Series range comes with a matching head-cover and is available in a variety of classic and new PING designs including; Anser, Anser 4, Zing, B60, Piper, Craz-E, ½ Craz-E and ½ Moon.
RRP: £95 for Anser, Anser 4, B60, Zing, Piper, ½ Craz-E and ½ Moon.
£115 for Craz-E model.
£120 for ½ Craz-E L (Long Putter) and ½ Craz-E B (Belly Putter
Further information is available at www.pingeurope.com
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS
+44 (0)1438 718399
james@gmsgolf.co.uk
Leading golf equipment manufacturer PING has announced the launch its new Karsten series of putters that draws inspiration from some of the company’s most classic designs, such as Anser and Zing. By combining these timeless designs with the benefits of modern manufacturing processes designers have been able to produce a fantastic modern take on a timeless product.
The Karsten series is a perfect choice for golfers who prefer the performance and feedback of a steel face with the added benefits of an insert feel. This has been achieved by adding an elastomer insert in the cavity thus providing enhanced feel while maintaining the solid response of a steel-faced putter. Weight savings from the new cavity shapes have been redistributed to the perimeter to increase each putter's moment-of-inertia for added forgiveness. Multi-level alignment aids are also designed into most models.
The Karsten series of putters represent the latest advancement in feel, forgiveness and alignment options, and as always with PING, has been designed so that they can be custom fitted to suit individual putting strokes.
Karsten Putters are available in the following popular and well-known PING designs; Anser, Anser 2, B60, C67, Craz-E, Piper and Zing.
UK RRP: £65 for Anser, Anser 2, B60, C67, Piper and Zing models.
£85 for Craz-E model.
Further information is available at www.pingeurope.com
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS
+44 (0)1438 718399
james@gmsgolf.co.uk
Aug. 7, 2007; Phoenix Arizona: Two new custom-fit PING® iron series featuring game improvement technology for players of all skill levels are available world-wide to golfers beginning September 1, according to John A. Solheim, company Chairman & CEO.
“Golfers are looking for various attributes in their irons,” said Solheim. “Forgiveness, feel, control and appearance are factors that golfers consider when matching an iron to their games. The G10™ provides golfers maximum forgiveness in a larger, higher launching head design. The i10™ has a players’ iron look at address and still provides a high level of forgiveness for its compact size. Both irons represent our on-going commitment to improving the game through innovation, quality and custom fitting.”
G10 Irons
The 17-4 stainless steel G10 irons are engineered with extreme low toe weighting to increase the moment-of-inertia for added forgiveness and consistency. The large, perimeter-weighted head features a new cavity shape and wider sole.
The center of gravity is positioned away from the face and low in the club head to promote higher launching, lower spinning shots. By creating a new shape for the Custom Tuning Port (CTP), PING engineers stabilized the hitting area for consistent ball velocity across the club face. An elastomer CTP insert helps produce a solid feel and sound. The wide sole provides forgiving ground impact and contributes to the high launch characteristics of the iron.
“The new cavity design of the G10 allowed us to add a lot more performance to our large headed, maximum forgiveness iron option,” said John K. Solheim, PING’s Vice-President of Engineering. “We’re able to remove weight from the face yet make it even more stable than before. The weight is then repositioned in the low toe to drive up the MOI and increase forgiveness. It’s a game improvement iron that will appeal to a variety of golfers. ”
The G10 irons feature a stainless steel shot finish and Atomic Orange color scheme.
Available 2-9, PW, UW, SW and LW.
UK RRP is £75 per iron with PING AWT steel shaft (Soft R, R, S & X flexes) and £90 per iron with TFC 129i graphite shafts (Soft R, R & S flexes)
Shipments begin September 1, 2007.
i10 Irons
The i10 irons are designed to appeal to golfers who prefer the look of a smaller, blade-style club but still rely on the forgiveness of a cavity back. Its compact head features blade-like offset and a thin top rail to give it a players’ iron look. A narrow, cambered sole ensures performance and playability for golfers who place a high priority on shot control.
The new cavity design is engineered to provide consistent performance and a solid feel across the club face. The rib structure of the Custom Tuning Port (CTP) stabilizes the face and improves feel and consistency. Weight savings from the new cavity and face structure is positioned on the low toe to provide a high moment-of-inertia for its blade length. Its center of gravity location is closer to the face than the G10 iron to create a lower, more penetrating ball flight.
The i10 irons feature a stainless steel shot finish and Atomic Orange color scheme.
Available 2-9, PW, UW, SW and LW.
UK RRP is £75 per iron with the PING AWT steel shaft (Soft R, R, S & X flexes) and £90 per iron with the TFC 129i graphite shafts (Soft R, R & S flexes).
Shipments begin September 1, 2007.
PING Ascending Weight Technology (AWT) Shaft Design
The standard steel shaft in both the G10 and i10 irons is the new PING-designed Ascending Weight Technology (AWT) series. In the new series, the long iron shafts are lighter than the short irons shafts to produce a set that provides the golfer consistent weight progression from driver (the lightest shaft in the bag) through the wedges (the heaviest shaft in the bag).
The new shafts help increase club head speed in the long irons and add control and consistency to the short irons.
PING TFC 129i Graphite Shaft
The PING TFC 129i is a new PING proprietary graphite shaft engineered to match the player profile and ball-flight characteristics of the intended user. The S-flex, for example, features a stiffer tip and heavier butt weight to reduce spin and produce a boring trajectory. The R-flex is designed with a softer tip and is lighter to promote a higher trajectory.
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS
+44 (0)1438 718399
james@gmsgolf.co.uk
March 3, 2008; Phoenix Arizona: PING professional Lorena Ochoa relied on 14 PING® clubs, including the new Redwood® Series ZB™ putter model, in winning her season debut by 11 shots at the HSBC Women’s Champions event in Singapore.
Ochoa’s first tournament with the new putter resulted in 23 birdies over the four rounds on the Tanah Merah Country Club’s Garden Course. Her 20-under-par total was 11 shots better than the runner-up and marked her largest margin of victory in 18 career wins.
The number one ranked female golfer in the world, Ochoa began using PING clubs as a 13 year old. She’s used PING equipment in all 18 of her wins as a professional.
In Singapore, where the field included the top 15 players in the world, she played a PING Rapture® Driver, G10™ 3-wood, Rapture 5-wood, Rapture 21° Hybrid, S58® irons (4-9, PW) and Tour Wedges (50° and 56°).
The ZB model is one of two new PING Redwood models being introduced this month. The ZB and D66™ models are 100% precision-milled from 303 stainless steel. Shipments begin April 1, 2008. Suggested retail price is £190 per putter.
Since signing an endorsement agreement with PING in June of 2007, Ochoa has won six times, including her first major championship at the Women’s British Open in August.
“Naturally, we’re excited and pleased with Lorena’s performance,” said John Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “Her tournament record speaks for itself. Beyond that, she makes it a point to use her success to have a positive effect on others. Since our association with her officially began last year, we’ve seen first-hand how her personality touches the lives of others. She’s a delightful and genuine person. We’re proud to be associated with her.”
Further information is available at www.pingeurope.com
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS
+44 (0)1438 718399
james@gmsgolf.co.uk
Aug. 7, 2007; Phoenix Arizona: PING’s quest to improve golf equipment performance and lower the scores of golfers through innovation and custom fitting continues with the introduction of the G10™ Metal Wood Series.
The new series, which includes drivers, fairway woods and hybrids, is available to golfers beginning September 1, 2007.
“Technology is moving fast and we’re finding ways to improve our products like never before,” said John Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “The design and research tools available to our engineers are amazing. It’s a lot of fun to be a golf club engineer right now. The G10 family and our other new products are evidence of our desire to continually push technology with the goal of helping golfers lower their scores and enjoy the game more.”
G10 Driver & G10 Draw Driver
The 460cc G10 driver is engineered with a cast body and fully machined face from high-grade 6-4 titanium. The 460cc club head features a larger profile with a taller face and deeper crown that produces a higher moment-of-inertia for greater forgiveness and increased ball velocity.
Using finite element analysis driven by a Cray Supercomputer, company engineers optimized the crown, sole and face structure interaction to ensure maximum energy transfer to the ball. Thinner crown and face designs provided discretionary weight which was positioned inside the club head to lower the center of gravity for reduced spin and higher launch. PING’s patented variable face thickness technology produces a thin, highly responsive hitting surface for increased ball velocity and greater consistency across the face.
Initial response from PING’s worldwide tour staff has been positive, with several players switching to the new driver, including Chris DiMarco and U.S. Open Champion Angel Cabrera. The long-hitting Cabrera first used the G10 driver at the Barclay’s Scottish Open where he led the field in driving distance.
“We’ve engineered a lot of little improvements into the G10 driver which added up to significant performance gains,” said John K. Solheim, PING’s Vice President of Engineering and the grandson of company founder Karsten Solheim. “Golfers of all skill levels will see improvement in distance, accuracy and consistency.”
A G10 Draw version is available to promote a right-to-left ball flight. The internal weight pad is positioned farther back and closer to the heel to help club head rotation. Together with a hosel positioned .25” farther forward, the strategically placed weight pad helps provide golfers a custom-fit option to help correct a left-to-right ball flight.
Available TFC 129D shaft flexes: Soft R, R, S and X. Also offered in Grafalloy ProLaunch Red (R, S & X) and UST V2 High Launch 65 (R, S & X).
The standard G10 driver is available in 7.5˚., 9˚, 10.5˚, 12˚ and 13.5˚ lofts. The draw version is offered in 9˚, 10.5˚, 12˚ and 13.5˚ lofts.
UK RRP is £239 per club (Graphite shaft only)
G10 and G10 Draw Fairway Woods
The G10 Fairway Woods are engineered with a crown that intersects the sole to create a low profile head that combines with a shallow face for improved performance from all types of lies.
The intersection of the crown and sole results in a skirt-less design which allowed PING engineers to reposition mass for a lower center of gravity location. The low center of gravity (CG) is achieved by positioning a large weight pad on the sole. The weight pad is formed from discretionary weight repositioned from the crown, face and hosel. The location of the CG provides higher ball velocity and reduced spin.
The shallow face is longer heel to toe to increase the effective hitting area for added forgiveness and consistency. Its low lead edge and bounce angle effectively lower the center of gravity which produces increased energy transfer and makes getting under the ball easier.
A G10 Draw version is available to promote a right-to-left ball flight. The internal weight pad is positioned farther back and closer to the heel to help club head rotation. Together with a hosel positioned .15” farther forward, the strategically placed weight pad helps provide golfers a custom-fit option to help correct a left-to-right ball flight.
Available in 3-wood (14˚), 3 (15.5˚), 4 (17˚), 5 (18.5˚), 7 (21.5˚) and 9 (24.5˚). Draw version available in 3 (15.5˚), 4 (17˚), 5 (18.5˚) and 7 (21.5˚).
Available TFC 129F shaft flexes: Soft R, R, S and X. Also available in Grafalloy ProLaunch Red (R, S & X) and UST V2 High Launch 75 (R, S & X).
UK RRP is £165 per club (Graphite shaft only).
Shipments begin September 1, 2007.
G10 Hybrids
The 17-4 stainless steel G10 hybrid is engineered with a sloped crown to create a high-launching, solid feeling, versatile alternative to mid and long irons. Six lofts provide replacement options from the 1-iron through 6-iron and fairway woods.
Discretionary weight from the crown and face is combined into a weight pad running parallel to the ground that positions the center of gravity low and back to increase launch angle and reduce spin. The variable face thickness design is machined and plasma welded for higher ball velocity and consistent response across the hitting area.
The sole design is tapered and the bounce height is increased in the higher lofted hybrids to provide performance from all conditions.
Available in 15˚, 18˚, 21˚, 24˚, 28˚ and 32˚ lofts.
Available TFC 129H shaft flexes: Soft R, R, S and X. Also offered in Grafalloy ProLaunch Red Hybrid (R, S & X) and UST V2 High Launch Hybrid (R, S & X).
UK RRP is £114 per club w/steel shaft and £129 w/graphite shaft.
Shipments begin September 1, 2007.
PING TFC 129 Graphite Shaft
The PING TFC 129, a new PING proprietary graphite design, is one of three standard shaft options in the G10 Metal Wood Series. The shaft is designed to match the player profile and ball flight characteristics of the intended user. The X-flex, for example, features a stiffer tip and heavier butt weight to reduce spin and produce a boring trajectory. The R-flex is designed with a softer tip to promote a higher trajectory.
According to John K. Solheim, this new approach to shaft design will benefit golfers of all abilities.
“In the TFC 129 Series, each of the four flex offerings is engineered to match the specific profile of the golfer,” he said. “Faster swing speed golfers will reduce spin with the stiffer tip while golfers with slow swing speeds who need help launching the ball higher will benefit from the softer tip.”
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS
+44 (0)1438 718399
james@gmsgolf.co.uk
PING’S commitment to make golf clubs specifically tailored to the requirement of the Junior golfer continues with the introduction of the new Moxie and Pal sets.
Equipment properly engineered to match a young golfer's strength, size and ability is important to a child's early experiences with golf. Since juniors, like adults, come in various sizes, PING offers two different junior club sets - the Pal and the Moxie.
For juniors aged 6 to 8, the Pal set includes a driver, hybrid, three irons and an Anser putter, along with a lightweight dual-strap carry bag.
For juniors 9 – 11, the clubs in the Moxie set are slightly longer and include a fairway wood. The clubs in both sets are lightweight, forgiving and easy to hit. The result is high-launching, longer-carrying, fun-inspiring shots.
“The Moxie and Pal sets were developed exclusively for juniors using the proven technology engineered into our standard club line. It is very important to provide young golfers with equipment that gives them the best opportunity to develop the proper mechanics of the golf swing and help increase their enjoyment of the game,” said PING Chairman and CEO John Solheim. “The two size options provide more fitting choices to help juniors experience the benefits of properly fit equipment.”
Moxie Junior Set
Featuring a 360cc titanium driver, stainless steel fairway wood, hybrid, 3 irons, an Anser putter and a lightweight carry bag with stand, the Moxie Junior set has everything an aspiring junior golfer needs to develop his or her skills. With flexible graphite shafts to help juniors get their shots airborne, these lightweight clubs are designed for boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 11. Junior-sized grips help the golfer release the club properly through impact.
The Moxie is available in both left- and right-handed versions, and comes as a complete package with a driver, fairway wood, hybrid, 3 irons, putter and a dual-strap carry bag with stand.
UK Moxie RRP: £199
Pal Junior Set
Featuring a 300cc titanium driver, stainless steel hybrid, 3 irons, an Anser putter and a lightweight carry bag with stand, the Pal Junior set is engineered to help junior golfers enjoy the game more. With flexible graphite shafts to help beginning juniors get their shots airborne, these lightweight clubs are designed for boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 8. Each junior-sized club uses similar technology found in our standard products, making them easy to hit and producing greater distance and control.
The Pal set is available in both left- and right-handed versions, and comes as a complete package with a driver, hybrid, 3 irons, putter and a dual-strap carry bag with stand.
UK Pal RRP: £180
Further information is available at www.pingeurope.com
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS
+44 (0)1438 718399
james@gmsgolf.co.uk
Leading golf equipment manufacturer PING has announced the launch of the stylish and innovative SF6 Trolley Bag for both the male and female golfer ahead of the summer golfing season.
With over 40 years experience in the golf equipment industry, PING's approach to designing golf bags is a mirror image of the way it engineers golf clubs, focusing on quality, performance and design, while delivering constant innovation that golfers demand. The distinctive SF6 Trolley Bag is no exception to this rule, encompassing function, style, performance and convenience as with every bag that carries the PING name.
Developed to appeal to a wide variety of golfers, the SF6 Trolley Bag is available in separate male and female designs and has been developed exclusively for use with both electric and pull-trolleys. Whilst the men’s bag is available in a variety of classic colour combinations the distinctive floral motif and coloration of the women's version creates an ideal blend of function and style for the discerning lady golfer. It has the same features and benefits as the men’s bags but is 1" shorter to accommodate ladies length clubs.
Further adding to this visually striking bag is an array of features that includes; 6 pockets, 10-way divider top, rain guards that protect clothing pockets from both wind and rain, waterproof zipper pockets that ensure personal items remain secure and safe from the elements, expandable beverage pocket, integrated strap holder with carry handle, rain hood and full size towel loop.
The SF6 Trolley Bag is available in Black/Silver/Red, Navy/Silver/Gold, Black/Atomic Orange/Black and Silver/Silver/Royal Blue for men and Black/Light Pink/Bright Pink and Mulberry/Silver/Lavender for women.
UK RRP: £99
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS on 01438718399
or email james@gmsgolf.co.uk
Sept 25, 2007; Phoenix Arizona: PING announced the release of its new Tour-W™ Wedges featuring shot-making technology for players at every level. The new wedges will be available globally to golfers starting October 1, 2007, according to John A. Solheim, company Chairman and CEO.
The wedges feature a tungsten weight in the toe of the club which increases the moment of inertia and improves forgiveness. The use of this high-density material also allows the club to be slightly smaller for increased playability out of various conditions.
“The goal behind any wedge we make is to provide the golfer with a club that performs consistently well from the various positions within the scoring zone,” said Solheim. “The precisely machined face and grooves provide exceptional performance. Players are going to be impressed at the variety of shots these wedges add to their game and take away from their score.”
PING pro Lee Westwood used two of new Tour-W Wedges in his recent victory at the Quinn Direct British Masters. Hunter Mahan and Ted Purdy have also put the Tour-W Wedges into play.
By using a vertical Custom Tuning Port™ (CTP), PING engineers were able to move the center of gravity down and forward to allow the correct head rotation during a shot.
Designed with a traditional tear drop shape, the Tour-W Wedges allow golfers to be more creative on pitch and chip shots around the green.
The wedges feature a patented hosel notch that controls the bend point for precise loft and lie adjustments. They are available in 47°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58° and 60° lofts with multiple bounce options at 54°, 56°, 58° and 60°. These various lofts and bounce options help golfers to improve their game by offering a more precise fit for an assortment of swing styles and turf conditions.
The Tour-W Wedges will be available in a brushed silver chrome finish in all loft/bounce options and black nickel chrome finish in limited loft/bounce options.
U.S. MSRP is $125 w/steel shaft; $152.50 w/graphite shaft.
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS on 01438718399
Or email james@gmsgolf.co.uk
Leading golf equipment manufacturer PING has announced the launch of two new carry-bags for the 2008 golfing season, the Latitude and the Freestyle.
With over 40 years experience in the golf equipment industry, PING's approach to designing golf bags mirrors the way it engineers golf clubs, focusing primarily on quality, performance and design, while delivering constant innovation that golfers expect. The Latitude and Freestyle bags are no exception to this rule, both encompassing function, style, comfort and convenience as with every bag that carries the PING name.
Featuring an impressive eleven pockets, the Latitude provides golfers with space never seen before in a carry-bag, quite simply there's space for all imaginable golf necessities and more. As well as a lined valuables pocket and water-proof zips, this stylish bag also has a never-seen before detachable ball pocket that can be easily utilised as a range ball holder. In addition to the design features and quality crafted into every PING bag, club organization is enhanced with a spacious six-way top including putter well. Improved dual pre-curved straps have been designed to give extra support to the golfer’s back when carrying. New double-bend Mantis legs increase bag stability and expand/retract easier than ever before.
The Latitude Bag is available in Black/Graphite/Silver; White/Atomic-Orange/Silver; Black/Royal/Silver and Grey/Crimson/Silver colour options.
UK RRP: £ 125
Innovation and style come together in the design of the Freestyle, the lightest PING stand bag available for 2008. Weighing less than five pounds, this bag relies on a secondary spring wire stay that extends through middle of bag to provide added structure for easy club removal and replacement. High-tech in appearance and design, the Freestyle features eight pockets, including a lined valuables area, four-way top, three full-length dividers, dual pre-curved straps for added carrying stability, double bend Mantis legs, towel loop and velcro loop for golf glove and rain hood. Curved pockets and vibrant colour options have been designed to appeal to golfers looking for the latest innovations in carry bag design.
The Freestyle Bag is available in Black/Black/White; Royal/White/Pewter; Red/White/Pewter; White/White/Black; Black/Red/Yellow; Atomic-Orange/Black and Chartreuse/Lime/White colour options.
UK RRP: £ 85
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS on 01438718399
or email james@gmsgolf.co.uk
Further information can be found at www.pingeurope.com
Leading golf equipment manufacturer PING has announced the launch of its new Rhapsody Series of golf clubs for women. Playing your best starts with equipment that matches your individual needs and with the Rhapsody series you'll find features engineered just for women—making it an ideal choice to help lower your scores. Add PING's industry-leading custom fitting process and you'll have clubs as individual as you. From the lightweight, high-launching Rhapsody Driver to the forgiving, easy-to-swing Rhapsody irons, you'll elevate your game—and enjoyment—to a new level.
RHAPSODY DRIVER
Greater forgiveness and higher launching, longer flying shots are among the benefits of the Rhapsody Driver Series. The confidence-inspiring, 460 cc titanium head is engineered with a high moment-of-inertia (MOI) and an increased face size to provide increased distance and accuracy. Three loft options (12°, 14° & 16°) and ultra-lite graphite shafts in Ladies and Ladies Soft R flexes are available to match your swing speed and optimize your results off the tee.
UK RRP: £239 per club, Ladies Graphite shaft only.
RHAPSODY IRONS
The extreme perimeter weighting and wider soles of the Rhapsody Irons result in higher-launching, more accurate approach shots. Combined with a lighter overall weight and wider loft gaps, the stainless steel irons provide you consistent results from every club in your set. When matched to your swing speed with the proper shaft flex, you'll see how custom fitting and technology can raise your enjoyment while lowering your scores.
UK RRP: £75 per club with Ladies Steel shaft and £90 per club with Ladies Graphite shaft.
RHAPSODY FAIRWAY WOODS
Custom-fit Rhapsody Fairway Woods are engineered for distance, accuracy and control. Whether you're using them off the tee or from the fairway, the stainless steel heads produce higher launching, more accurate shots to strengthen your long game. The higher lofted metal woods feature a lighter overall weight to help increase club head speed for improved performance. Rhapsody fairway woods are available in 3-wood (18), 5-wood (22), 7-wood (26) and 9-wood (30)
UK RRP: £165 per club, Ladies Graphite shaft only.
RHAPSODY HYBRIDS
Blending an easy-to-hit, custom fit Rhapsody Hybrid into your set is a great way to add versatility to your game. The sloped crown design and low center of gravity position of the stainless steel head provides higher launching, longer-flying results from all conditions. As a mid-iron alternative that's available in three loft options ( 26°, 30° & 34°), you'll find they provide the confidence to attempt any shot, from anywhere.
UK RRP: £114 per club with Ladies Steel shaft and £129 per club with Ladies Graphite shaft.
Further information is available at www.pingeurope.com
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS
+44 (0)1438 718399
james@gmsgolf.co.uk
England’s Lee Westwood became the first man to win a European Tour event using PING’s new G10 series clubs when he closed with a magnificent seven under par 65 to claim the prestigious Quinn Direct British Masters at The Belfry.
It was Westwood’s second win on the 2007 European Tour and his 18th European Tour victory since turning professional in 1993.
Westwood played some hugely impressive golf while posting rounds of 68, 70, 70 and 65 to finish on 15 under par 273 and five shots ahead of his nearest challenger. He drove the ball an average of 284.4 yards wielding a new G10 9º driver and hit 78.3% of greens in regulation using two G10 fairway woods (15.5º and 18.5º) an i10 irons (3-PW). He also used two new Tour W Wedges (54º and 58º) and averaged 29.0 putts per rounds with a G2 Piper putter.
“I barely put a foot wrong out there and holed some key putts when I needed to on the back nine,” said the jubilant Englishman after collecting the €434,727 winner’s cheque.
“I’m feeling very happy. I’ve had some special moments in my career here (at The Belfry) and this one is right up there with the best of them. I don’t think I’ve ever been clapped the entire length of the final hole which is obviously very, very special.”
PING’s new G10 series was launched on September 1st 2007 and includes G10 drivers, G10 fairway woods, G10 hybrids, G10 irons and i10 irons. “The G10 family and our other new products are evidence of our desire to continually push technology with the goal of helping golfers lower their scores and enjoy the game more,” said PING Chairman and CEO, John Solheim.
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS
+44 (0)1438 718399
james@gmsgolf.co.uk
Angel Cabrera claimed the biggest title of his burgeoning career when he closed with a three under par 69 to pip England’s Barry Lane at the International tournament at The Belfry last weekend.
Cabrera won his first European Tour title at the 2001 Open de Argentina but he moved into a different class at The Belfry when he overcame a strong field that included most of the leading names in European golf. The former caddie from Cordoba opened with a four under par 68 and then added rounds of 73, 68 and 69 for a 10 under par aggregate of 278. He finished one shot ahead of Lane and two in front of an illustrious trio comprising Colin Montgomerie, Padraig Harrington and New Zealand’s Michael Campbell.
The Argentinian won last year’s Driving Distance statistical category on the European Tour with an average of 303.5 yard and his prodigious hitting was one of the keys to his success at The Belfry.
Cabrera uses a 5.5 degree PING TiSI Tec driver that conforms on both the European Tour and on the US PGA Tour and at The Belfry he wielded it with such effect that he averaged a colossal 304.5 yards from the tee.
Cabrera’s TiSi Tec driver is 45 inches long and features a RSS hosel and a Grafalloy Tour X shaft. He also plays the PING i3 O-Size irons, red colour code lie angle fitted with Dynamic Gold X100 shafts, and an Anser 2 putter, 34 inch, black colour code lie angle, which he used to hole several crunch putts coming down the stretch.
The win at The Belfry came on Cabrera’s first trip across the Atlantic this season. Prior to his arrival in Europe, he spent several successful months on the US PGA Tour during which he had several high finishes and secured his US playing card. These included a share of fifth place at the Genuity Championship, a tie for eighth place at the Worldcom Classic and a share of ninth place at the Masters at Augusta National.
Further information available from Neil Gray at GMS on 01438 718399 (neil@gms.ms) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on 01427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
Ping Europe Ltd was awarded Silver at the In-Store Marketing British P-O-P British P-O-P Awards 2002 held on Thursday, 26th September at The Hilton, Park Lane, London.
The Concept shop was short listed in the Sports, Toys and Accessories category along with Nike UK for their Innovation Wall sports shoe display and Wilson for their ‘Deep Red’ club stand. The judges awarded Nike the gold award with Ping closely following in second place.
An In-Store Marketing magazine spokesman commented on the judges decision to award the Concept Shop the silver award.
‘As well as its smart and professional look, judges were impressed by the flexible, mix- and –match nature of the design which allows it to be installed in a wide cross section of retail outlets’
The Concept shop is now installed in over 200 golf retail outlets across Europe and the feedback from accounts has been excellent as it allows Pings equipment and accessory range to be displayed together bringing modern product category management to the golf retail outlet which makes it easier for Pings consumers to shop and retailers to stock product.
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk
Leading golf equipment manufacturer PING, is delighted to announce that it has signed a multi-year agreement with the immensely talented two-time Welsh Walker Cup player Rhys Davies.
Davies, 23, from Royal Porthcawl, turned professional immediately after the Walker Cup at Royal County Down, where he won both his singles matches against the Americans. On the back of an extremely successful Amateur career he looks set to be one of the most promising young talents to enter the professional ranks. He will carry a PING bag, wear PING headwear and play a minimum of 11 PING clubs
A prolific winner on the American college circuit during a four-year scholarship at East Tennessee State University, Davies claimed 10 titles and was a NCAA All American from 2005 to 2007. Prior to his four-year spell in the States, Davies won the British Boys' championship in 2003 at Royal Liverpool, 12 months after losing in the final of the same event at Carnoustie. He also qualified to play in this year’s US Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club.
Davies' impressive list of accolades also includes being the youngest member of the 2003 Walker Cup squad, captain of the 2002 Great Britain and Ireland Boys Team, and the BBC's 2002 Wales Junior Sports Person of the Year.
Commenting on signing for PING Davies said: "I am really looking forward to getting out there. I have enjoyed every minute of my amateur career and I think between the competitions I have played here and the experience of playing four years of college golf I have really prepared myself well for the Tour."
“I have been using PING equipment to great effect on the Amateur circuit for quite a few years now, so it felt only natural that when I turned Professional I would continue playing their products, which suit my game so well.”
“Rhys is a young golfer who has shown tremendous potential for many years and we are delighted that he has decided to continue playing PING equipment now that he has turned professional,” commented John Solheim, PING Chairman and CEO.
For further information on PING please visit www.pingeurope.com
For additional information regarding this release please contact James Lovett at GMS
+44 (0)1438 718399
james@gmsgolf.co.uk
Westwood and Mason Achieve Double Success for PING
PING staff players, Lee Westwood and Carl Mason, achieved a notable European Tour double when they both won on their respective Tours this weekend.
Westwood won his second European Tour title in the space of a month when he closed with a five under par 67 to win the dunhill links championship with a 21 under par aggregate of 267. That win, following hard on the heels of his success at last month’s BMW International in Germany, moved him up to fourth on the European Tour Order of Merit. The £490,000 first prize also made him a red hot favourite to secure a place in the European team to face the Americans at Oakland Hills Country Club, Detroit, next September.
“It’s incredible really,” said Westwood.”I was quite emotional after the BMW in Germany and I’m quite emotional now. This is a very special victory for me. Everyone wants to win at St Andrews – the Home of Golf – it’s a dream come true. I’m really pleased.
Mason claimed his third European Seniors Tour titles of the season when he closed with a one under par 71 to win the inaugural Merseyside English Seniors Open at Hillside Golf Club in Southport. That win, worth £22,500, secured him the John Jacobs Trophy, awarded annually to the leader on the Seniors Tour Order of Merit and gave him a great chance to shatter several Seniors Tour records at the season-ending Estoril Seniors Tour Championship at Oitavos Golf Club, Portugal in two weeks time.
The Englishman goes into the final event on the 2003 Seniors Tour having amassed £217,616 to date this season and knowing that, if he wins or comes second, he would set a new Seniors Tour money record, overhauling the previous record set by Japan’s Seiji Ebihara 12 months ago.
Were he to win, Mason would also become just the second man to claim four titles in a single season on the Seniors Tour. Even if he fails to secure the title, he could still shatter the Seniors Tour’s record for average earnings per tournament. Last year, Ebihara collected an average of £17,278 per event. To date this season, Mason is averaging over £21,700 in each of the ten events he has contested.
"I can't begin to tell you what this means to me," added Mason.
"When I turned 50 in June I hadn't played much competitive golf for quite a a few years so I thought it would take me a while to get going. My goal then was to win a tournament before the end of the season so to win three is beyond my wildest expectations."
Westwood won his 16th European Tour title with ** PING clubs in his bag. He used **.
Mason, a PING player for most of his 30 years as a professional, used **
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
PING won both the driver and iron count at the recent Evian Masters in France.
The official survey conducted by Darrell Surveys revealed that 23 competitors teed up at the Evian Tour’s leading event using a PING driver and 24 members of the field used PING irons. In both instances their nearest rival had a count of 21.
“We are delighted to come out on top in both the driver and iron count as the Evian,” said John Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “The driver count shows how popular the new PING TiSI Tec driver has become since it was launched late year and the iron count illustrates the enduring popularity of our PING i3 irons.”
PING is a big supporter of the women’s professional game. The company sponsors the Solheim Cup and the PING Banner Health tournament on the LPGA Tour. Its collection of Tour Staff Players includes Paula Marti, Marine Monnet, Elaine Ratcliffe and Kirsty Taylor on the Evian Tour and Pat Hurst, Carin Koch, Colleen Walker, Val Skinner, Amy Fruhwirth, Sherri Steinhauer, Heather Bowie, Gail Graham, Maria Hjorth, Angela Stanford and Wendy Ward on the LPGA Tour.
More information about PING’s involvement with women’s golf is available from
Neil Gray at GMS on +44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
Whoever coined the phrase “space is the new frontier” could just as easily have been referring to the newest cart bag offering from golf equipment innovator PING.
Designed and engineered specifically to meet the needs of golfers who use trolleys and ride carts, the PING FrontierBag maximises storage space in a golf bag while maintaining its cart-specific design.
“The Frontier Bag meets, and in some cases exceeds, four criteria that our team of engineers sought in creating a unique cart-specific golf bag,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman and CEO.
These four criteria are performance, ingenuity, usability and style.
Effective use of space – both internally and externally – was a key design element in the creation of the Frontier Bag.
“From the outset, we wanted to create a cart bag that featured accessible cargo space – a bag that was very functional and new to the traditional premium golf bag market,” said Solheim.
“All of the pockets have been designed to be reached from the back of the cart when the Frontier Bag is strapped onto a cart. It’s a totally unique look and incredibly golfer-friendly,” he said.
The Frontier Bag features seven primary pockets, one of which is a velour lined valuables pouch. It has three hidden pockets. There’s even a small fabric-mesh pocket to air dry gloves. The largest pocket has mesh sides for storage and easy access to apparel and other large items, including shoes.
The pockets are strategically distributed to maximise available space, accessibility and weight balance.
The patented rib design of the bag top provides club separation and tapers from back to front to make removing and replacing clubs easier. The top features a six-way, 9-inch x 9.5-inch opening with soft cover and full-length dividers to separate and protect clubs. The bag top is riveted to the centre tube for maximum stability and strength.
An innovative divider in the Frontier Bag is a short sleeve utility well for shorter clubs, such as a putter or wedge.
Two front handles, one rear handle and a trunk handle are ergonomically placed for ease of handling.
Available in six colours, the Frontier Bag weighs only 8.1 pounds, extremely light for this category of golf bag. Its slim, streamlined profile makes the Frontier Bag an easy fit onto golf carts.
All trim accessories on the Frontier Bag are attractive, black nickel hardware. The rain hood is designed to handle clubs up to 50 inches in length. RRP is £140.
LADY FRONTIER BAG
PING has designed a Lady Frontier Bag with special features appealing to women golfers.
Taking into consideration that most women’s golf clubs are shorter than men’s clubs, the overall length of the Lady Frontier Bag is one inch shorter, and features a six-way, 8-inch x 8.5-inch top with soft cover.
The Lady Frontier Bag contains all of the features of the Frontier Bag, except it weighs only 7.8 pounds and is available in three colours (black, black/red and black, navy/khaki and black) with a RRP of £140.
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
PING will soon introduce a family of 16 new putters in a move to enhance its classic designs of tour-proven, winning putter models.
Named the G2 series, the project involves taking the most popular PING® putters of all time and improving the already good inertia weighting by as much as 20 per cent. By doing this, the great lines of each model were kept and actually squared even more for a really clean look, including the ANSER, PAL, B60, ZING and MY DAY. Several new models are also being introduced.
The ANSER, PAL, B60, ZING and MY DAY putters have accounted for more than 1,000 wins on the major professional tours worldwide in the past 35 years, according to the company.
Overseeing the project is John K. Solheim, PING vice president of engineering, who named the putters G2 because many are the second generation of PING’s winning models.
“Every factor that we deem important in the design of a putter has been greatly improved in the G2 putter family,” said Solheim. “We’ve increased the inertia by design, as well as adding mass to the G2 putters. We’ve also lowered the centre of gravity, creating more forgiveness and better roll.”
The G2 putters are tuned to provide the optimum feel when used with the latest golf ball technology.
“I’m also excited about the OPTIGRAPHIC EFFECT of the G2 putters. They have clean, square lines for easy set-up. This will help golfers with alignment at address and getting their putts started at the target,” said Solheim.
A visual improvement which will debut with the G2 putters is a rectangular-shaped hosel that is set to minimise what the golfer sees at address. The new hosel improves aesthetics and makes alignment easier.
The square appearance of the G2 putters will be accomplished in the investment casting process -- not by grinding -- to ensure tightest tolerances. They will be cast from 17-4 stainless steel and heat treated to achieve consistency and tuned feel.
Standard length for the G2 putters will be 34 inches, standard lie 18 degrees and standard loft 3 degrees. An innovative, step-less steel shaft has been developed with a stiffer tip to achieve superb feel. It is tuned to the increased head weight of the G2 putters.
A new G2 putter cover will be offered with each putter. Standard grip will be the Karsten Etched grip, except for face balanced putters which will feature a PING Finger Lock grip. All other PING putter grips are optional at no additional charge.
Following are the 16 models of G2 putters and their distinguishing features:
ANSER
• Improved aesthetics. Tuned head shape and hosel to create clean, square lines
• Anser inertia is increased by more than 10% to improve performance
• Clean lines on head and hosel with black-filled line in the flange for easy alignment
• All-time winning putter design in professional golf made even better
PAL
• Increased inertia by more than 20% and lowered centre of gravity by more than 15% to improve performance
• Classic design now in stainless steel
• Tuned head and hosel to create clean, square lines
• Trailing edge is parallel to top rail. Black-filled sight line in the flange
B60
• Proven technology
• Increased inertia by more than 4% and lowered centre of gravity by 6% to improve performance
• Single black-filled sight line in the flange
ZING
• Increased inertia and lowered centre of gravity by more than 12%
• Classic design now in stainless steel
• Toe is wider than heel for classic look
• Heel shafted. Sight line in flange
---continued---
MY DAY
• Increased inertia and lowered centre of gravity by more than 5%
• Classic design now in stainless steel
• Trailing edge is parallel to top rail. Sight line in flange
C67
• New model. Centre shafted, symmetrical in design
• Standard small shaft bend; optional straight shaft
• Optional single alignment score line in flange
• +/- 1 degree lie angle adjustment
ZSB (Zing Straight Back)
• New model. Proven technology from PING Zing design
• Back of putter is parallel to the face, with single alignment score line in flange
• Longer hosel, and shaft tilts back so that golf ball is easily seen at address
• High inertia; low centre of gravity
PIPER
• New model. Mallet style, heel shafted head with a double bend shaft. Centre balanced hosel.
• Heel/toe weighting for high moment of inertia
• Unique tri-level flange and centre ball-width trough to aid alignment
PIPER C
• New model. Face balanced mallet putter with new centre balanced hosel
• Heel/toe weighting for high moment of inertia
• Unique tri-level flange and centre ball-width trough to aid alignment
TESS
• New model. Traditional look of a blade putter
• Heavier head increases moment of inertia
• Heel shafted with no sight lines
ANSER C
• New model. Double bend shaft and centre balanced
• New, long hosel. Single alignment score line in the flange
• Proven technology, clean lines
ANSER B
• New model. Increased inertia by 36 percent
• Mid-length, belly-style putter with large, heavy head
• Sight line in flange
• PING two-piece Winn grip
ANSER D
• New model. Increased inertia by more than 10% and lower centre of gravity
• Similar head shape to the G2 Anser
• Classic design with new, slanted hosel
REMEDY
• New model. Captures lines and length of G2 Anser with a unique line structure
• Heel toe weighting to maximise inertia
• Ally-style sight lines. Top rail sight lines can be removed
• Blends the lines of an Anser with the look of a Pal
ALLY C
• New model. Improved aesthetics with a redesigned head shape to create clean, square lines
• New centre balanced hosel
• Three sight lines (2 on flange, 1 on top line) assist in alignment
• Shaft is off-centre. More symmetrical in shape but retains square look
C10
• New model. Newest long putter from PING; standard length is 50 inches
• Symmetrical head style designed to look very square
• Two lines in the flange to aid putting alignment
• Overall look of putter features balanced proportions, extreme heel toe weighting and low centre of gravity designed to maximise performance.
The entire line of G2 putters will be serialized and introduced this autumn and early next year in right and left-handed models, with the ANSER, PAL, ZING, MY DAY, C67 and ZSB scheduled for release in October. RRP for G2 putters is £85, except for the C10 long putter which is £100.
All putters in the G2 range will be available in all colour codes.
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
PING golf equipment has just completed the largest, most diversified, innovative and exciting product introduction in the company’s 44-year history before its World Sales Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.
Nearly 200 domestic and international PING sales representatives and distributors representing more than 70 countries gathered in Phoenix to learn firsthand about the company’s 2003 product line.
In total, there will be three new families of PING putters, two new sets of PING irons, new PING wedges, new PING lightweight carry bags and new cart-specific PING golf bags.
Following is a capsule description of each new PING product:
• PING JAS Putters forged from titanium with tungsten inserts to provide up to 40 per cent improved moment of inertia.
• PING G2 Putters, a family of 16 stainless-steel putter models, so
named because many are the second generation of the company’s winning models.
• PING Specify Putters will permit golfers to completely custom fit
the look, feel and weight of this family of putters – the ultimate in
putter fitting.
• PING i3+ Irons and i3+ Blade Irons, both fashioned from
investment-cast stainless steel, feature a series of enhancements
to the original i3® irons. Developed in concert with a new, proprietary PING steel shaft called the CS Lite (Constant Step) shaft.
• Six new tour-proven Wedges with playability features designed
for maximum performance under a variety of conditions. Very
traditional looking wedges with a cavity for weight adjustability
and forgiveness.
• Five lightweight carry bags ranging in weight from 5.4 pounds to an ultra-lightweight 1.2 pounds, should pique the interest of all avid golfers who enjoy walking while playing the game. One is specifically designed for left-handed golfers – an industry first.
• The Frontier and Lady Frontier bags, designed and engineered to meet the needs of golfers who ride carts, join the T9.5 Consumer Bag and Tour Staff Bag as new entries in the company’s premium bag line.
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
PING, the most widely used brand of irons last year by golfers in the United States, will debut its new version of the company’s popular i3 irons this autumn.
The latest line of PING irons, named the i3+ model, will feature a series of enhancements to the original i3 irons in both a Blade and a slightly larger game improvement model.
“We’ve taken the proven technology of our i3 model and fine-tuned it to improve the overall performance of the i3+ irons,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman and CEO. “We’re very excited about these new irons.”
Several important features will be seen in the i3+ irons including the new shape of the lead edge and bounce relationships, new steel and graphite shafts, an aesthetically pleasing slim profile, advancements to the Custom Tuning Port (CTP) and new cosmetics.
The PING Chairman pointed out that the lead edge of the i3+ irons has redesigned contours that lower the face surface and goes through the turf easier. This also promotes more consistent ball contact. The improved lead edge and bounce of the i3+ irons offer improved playability for a wide range of lies and conditions.
“The new lead edge will permit shots to come off cleaner, and players will have better control of their irons,” he said.
Fashioned from 17-4 stainless steel, the new i3+ irons have been developed in concert with a new, proprietary PING steel shaft that features a unique step pattern.
Called the CS (Constant Step) Lite shaft, it features double tapering and tri-wall construction for improved strength. It is lighter than its predecessors by 10 grams for better consistency and less fatigue.
“New technology in this family of CS Lite shafts will permit us to build lightweight shafts with the same flex patterns as proven steel shafts,” said Solheim.
PING will also offer a new i3+ proprietary graphite shaft in A, regular and stiff flexes for the i3+ irons. It will have an enhanced tip design and improved ranges between flexes for tighter shot patterns.
“Our team of engineers has developed the i3+ irons and these new shafts to work together as a system,” said Solheim.
Golfers who try the new i3+ Blade irons will see improved transition from the hosel to the top edge of the club head for easier alignment. There is also a little more offset in the shorter irons, which will help golfers square up shots easier, while maintaining a classic blade look throughout the set.
In addition, the new i3+ Blade irons have slightly less bounce, which will enable better golfers to pick the ball easier and not dig into the turf – a preference of low handicap players.
The i3+ irons will feature increased perimeter weighting for forgiveness on off-center hits. This model will have the same, solid feel of the Blade irons, combined with maximum forgiveness.
Additional features of the new i3+ Irons
CUSTOM TUNING PORT (CTP): Introduced in 1999 in the original PING i3 irons, the CTP is 15 percent larger in the weight port area of the new i3+ irons. This allows for fine tuning the club head weight and helps control club head vibration.
REDESIGNED CTP INSERT: Using 3D technology, the i3+ insert creates a new, visually appealing design.
BI-LEVEL FLAT TOP HOSEL: This feature reduces stress on the shaft and improves feel.
REDESIGNED NOTCHED HOSEL: A larger and deeper hosel notch allows for easier transition through grass, while precisely locating the point of loft/lie adjustment.
HEAT TREATED: Heat treating controls hardness, corrosion and uniformity of the high grade 17-4 stainless steel. It makes the metal more malleable, permitting easier loft and lie adjustments.
CAVITY BACK DESIGN: The i3+ irons feature extreme perimeter weighting for maximum forgiveness. More forgiving on off-center hits by increasing inertia.
PROGRESSIVE OFFSET: Optimizes trajectory in the long irons and provides for easier alignment in the short irons.
OPTIMUM OFFSET: Proper offset permits a club face to square up at impact for more accurate shots.
WHITE ALIGNMENT LINES: Strategically marked on the club face to assist golfers in club alignment.
The PING i3+ Blade and i3+ models of irons will be available in right and left-handed clubs for fall delivery (RRP £85 steel, £107 graphite.)
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
PING golf equipment’s autumn introduction of lightweight carry bags is the largest, most diversified and arguably the most exciting in the company’s history.
Five lightweight PING carry bags – four of them new and one redesigned to improve its styling and functionality – should pique the interest of all avid golfers who enjoy walking while playing the game.
Ranging in weight from 5.4 pounds to an ultra-lightweight 1.2 pounds, each carry bag brings PING’s unmatched quality and superior craftsmanship to the shoulders of golfers worldwide.
HOOFER 3
Heading the PING lightweight carry bag line-up is the new Hoofer 3, now entering its third generation as the industry’s leading carry bag. The Hoofer set the standard when PING introduced it in 1996.
The Hoofer 3, a redesigned and upgraded version of the Hoofer 2, weighs in at 5.4 pounds and features improved storage capacity and better organisation for the walking golfer.
Key features of the Hoofer 3 include five redesigned pockets (including two hidden pockets and a large apparel storage area), a full-length club divider system to ensure easy club retrieval and replacement, a patented bag stand, four-way divider top, durable water-repellent polypropylene fabric with ultraviolet inhibitors and padded straps adaptable for dual or single use.
Left-handed golfers will appreciate knowing that PING has kept them in mind by reversing pocket positions throughout the Hoofer 3 to accommodate lefties – another PING industry first.
The Hoofer 3 will be available in 10 popular colours to satisfy the tastes of all golfers. RRP is £150
J BAG, JUNIOR J BAG
Strengthening its dominant position as the #1 lightweight carry bag manufacturer, PING has made several improvements to its J Bag – the premium mid-size carry bag in the company’s line.
Among the new features are four redesigned pockets to help golfers better organize items in their carry bag, and a new club divider system which has reduced the overall weight of the bag to 4.5 pounds while providing improved club separation.
The patented four-way, full-length divider has a 7.5-inch x 9-inch top with soft cover, keeping clubs from scratching during removal and replacement.
PING’s patented lightweight aluminium bag stand further enhances the value of the J Bag, which will be available in 13 colours. RRP is £125.
And for younger golfers, who desire all of the above PING-proven features in a premium carry bag, the PING Junior J Bag will be just the ticket.
Engineered with a slimmer profile than the J Bag and weighing only 3.8 pounds, the Junior J Bag will be offered in four colors and features a 7-inch x 7.5-inch bag top with soft cover and a matching rain hood. It will be four inches shorter than standard length carry bags offered from PING. RRP will be £80.
PING will introduce a top quality entry level carry bag to its 2003 lightweight carry bag line called the K56 bag.
K56 BAG
Golfer-friendly conveniences are plentiful in the K56 bag, including four pockets plus a water bottle pouch, full-length divider, four-way 7.5-inch x 9-inch bag top with soft cover, patented PING bag stand, padded shoulder straps for dual or single use, a rain hood matching the bag color, and water-repellent polypropylene body fabric with UV inhibitors.
The K56 bag weighs in at 4.1 pounds and will be offered in six popular colours. RRP is £95.
MOON BAG WITH HOOD
This sturdy lightweight carry bag from PING is perfect for juniors and golfers who don’t want to carry a full set of clubs. It’s also ideal as a practice bag.
Fashioned from tube construction and covered with water-repellent polypropylene fabric, the Moon Bag with Hood features a two-way, four-inch divider that comfortably accommodates up to eight clubs.
Extremely lightweight at 2.1 pounds, the Moon Bag with Hood has an adjustable single padded strap and a handle for easy lifting. Available in three colors, it has an attractive, spacious hood that is attached and folds back when in use.
The Moon Bag with Hood is available in three colours. RRP is £40.
PING has been a long-time supporter of collegiate golf, and the company’s lightweight carry bags continue to be the favourite of top collegiate golfers and junior golfers across the United States. Ninety-five percent of the participants at the Men’s and Women’s NCAA Championships this year carried a PING lightweight carry bag, as did 96 percent of the members of the American Junior Golf Association.
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
Spain’s Paul Marti has been crowned as the Evian Ladies European Tour Order of Merit winner for 2002.
The 22 year-old PING Staff player, who hails from Barcelona and is one of European golf’s brightest young talents, also came second in the race for the prestigious Waterford Crystal Ladies European Tour Player’s Player of the Year Award.
Marti did not win a tournament during the 2002 European Ladies European Tour season but her remarkable consistency meant that she amassed a total of 6,589 points from 12 starts, finishing over 100 points ahead of her nearest rival.
The Spanish sensation started her 2002 season with a spectacular win in the Educom Australian LPGA Championship less than a month after signing a one-year deal to use PING clubs and headwear. She began her European campaign with a fine ninth place finish at the ANZ Ladies Masters and then went on to record a second place finish at the French Ladies Open, a tie for second at the Weetabix Women’s British Open and a tie for Caja Duerto Spanish Ladies Open. She accumulated a total of 222,501 Euro during the season in Europe.
Marti is one of a number of high profile PING Staff players. She uses the new PING TiSi Tec driver, PING i3 irons and a PING Pengyo Isopur2 putter.
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
PING, the world leader in custom-fit and custom-built golf clubs, has taken putter fitting to the next level by introducing a new Colour Code system that optimises performance and feel for its extensive range of putters.
The new PING® Colour Code system refers to the lie angle of each putter, and is similar to the Colour Code system that PING has offered in its irons for the past 30 years.
“A proper fitting matches the putter to each person’s stroke and other preferences. This helps build putting confidence, leading to more holed putts and more enjoyment in a round of golf,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO.
“With putting accounting for approximately 40 percent of the average golfer’s score, the importance of being properly fit for a PING putter cannot be emphasised enough,” he added.
The new PING putter Colour Code system is wide-ranging and designed to properly fit all golfers, no matter their height, putting style or playing ability. It is offered at no additional cost.
There are 10 putter Colour Codes available, each representing a different lie angle that varies by one degree. They include maroon (5 degrees upright), silver (4 degrees upright), white (3 degrees upright), green (2 degrees upright), blue (one degree upright), black (standard), red (one degree flat), orange (2 degrees flat), brown (3 degrees flat) and gold (4 degrees flat).
Selecting the proper PING putter Colour Code could prove to be a vital aid to better putting, given that the proper lie angle helps the golfer to align the putter to the target line, and also ensures that the toe or heel of the putter will not drag on the putting green and open or close the face during the stroke.
Golfers who use a putter that is too flat tend to hit most of their putts right of the target, whereas golfers who use a putter that is too upright tend to miss the hole to the left, according to the company. This can be a fitting problem rather than a mechanical flaw, and performance can be enhanced by using a properly fitted putter.
A sampling of PING professionals who play on the major tours worldwide shows the importance that these players attribute to properly fitting the lie angle of their putters.
Chris DiMarco uses a PING Anserâ Isoforceâ putter that is 4 degrees upright, while Mark Calcavecchia prefers that his mid-length Anser 2 putter is 3 degrees flat.
Jeff Maggert and Kevin Sutherland use PING putters with a red Colour Code (one degree flat), while Lee Westwood and Angel Cabrera have their PING putters set at two degrees flat. Rory Sabbatini prefers 1.5 degrees flat, while Bob May and Miguel Angel Jimenez use PING putters with a standard lie.
On the Ladies European Tour, new PING Staff player, Paula Marti uses a standard lie Darby putter.
In addition to Colour Code, PING custom fits putters for length, loft, grip size and putter model, meaning that golfers have an even better chance of enhancing their putting performance by finding the ideal combination of these variables.
Further information about PING’s new Colour Code putter fitting system is available from Neil Gray at GMS on 01438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or from Dave Fanning at PING Europe on 01427 615405 (dave@pingeurope.co.uk).
The 2001 Darrell Survey has found that PING irons and PING carry bags (small
and midsize) are the most popular products in their categories in the USA.
The Survey, recognised America's largest and most comprehensive study of
United States consumer golf equipment by brand, found that PING's O-size and
Blade i3 irons led the "New Irons Usage" category for the second successive
year. The PING products led the category with 17.2% of US golfers using its
custom-built, investment-cast clubs. The next closest brand had 12.7% of the
market.
PING also had a substantial lead at the top of the carry bag usage category.
PING, the preferred carry bag for nine out of ten competitive US junior and
collegiate golfers, maintained more than twice the share of its nearest rival
in the "New Golf Bags Usage" category, registering 19.7% overall usage.
PING's nearest rival claimed 8.6% of the market.
In the small or carry bag category, PING scored 28% usage on the strength of
its popular Hooferâ and Hooferâ2 lightweight carry bags.
PING has led the "Total Bags in Use" count every year since the Darrell
Survey Company began its annual US consumer report in 1982.
"We are particularly pleased to lead these two categories because the Darrell
Consumer Survey reports usage, thus revealing precise information about
golfers actually using our equipment," said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman &
CEO.
More information is available from Neil Gray at GMS on 01438 718399
(neil@gms.ms) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on 01427 619224
(davef@pingeurope.co.uk). Photographs of the PING products are available on request.
Spain’s Paula Marti made a dream start to her 2002 season when she won on her first time out at the Educom Australian LPGA Championship at the Horizons Resort, New South Wales, Australia.
The 22 year-old from Barcelona, who has just signed a one year deal to use PING clubs and wear PING headwear, closed with a level par 72 and then defeated Australia’s Karen Pearce on the third hole of a sudden-death play-off.
Marti, a former Spanish Amateur champion, has made a huge impact since turning pro at the end of 2000. Last season, she won on just her fifth time out on the Evian Tour when capturing the La Perla Italian Open at Poggio dei Medici and later she confirmed her reputation as one of the hottest golfers in the women’s professional game while also winning the Kelloggs All-Bran Ladies British Masters at Mottram Hall.
The Spaniard’s third professional victory comes less than a month after signing a one year deal to use PING clubs and wear PING headwear. Currently, she is using the new PING TiSi Tec driver, PING i3 irons and a PING putter.
Marti was not the only PING player to perform well over the weekend.
In the States, PING staff player, Chris DiMarco, continued his remarkable start to the 2002 season when he finished in a share of sixth place behind Len Mattiace at the Nissan Open at the Riviera CC in California.
To date this season, DiMarco has won once, at the Phoenix Open, and has notched a further three top-six finishes in his first five starts. The result at Riviera consolidated his place as No. 1 on the US PGA Tour money list with earnings of $1,110,807.
Meanwhile, another PING staff player, Rory Sabattini, performed even better at Riviera. The South African also closed with a 68 to finish tied for second one shot behind Mattiace. He moved up to tenth place on the US PGA Tour money list with $567,667.
Further information on Marti, DiMarco or any of the other PING staff players is available from Neil Gray at GMS on 01438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on 01427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
PING has announced that it has signed up one of the hottest golfers in the
women's professional game.
Spanish sensation, Paula Marti, has agreed an exclusive one year deal to play
PING clubs and wear PING headware.
Marti, 22, a former Spanish Amateur Champion from Barcelona, earned an Evian
Tour card at the 2000 Tour School and went on to make an immediate impact on
the 2001 circuit. She made a spectacular start to her new career when she won
her first professional title in only her fifth start at the La Perla Italian
Open at Poggio dei Medici and then also captured the Kelloggs All-Bran Ladies
British Masters title at Mottram Hall before finishing the season in seventh
place on the Evian Tour's money list with earnings of almost £74,000.
"I was delighted with what I achieved last season and with PING's support I
believe I can build on that success during 2002," said Marti.
Marti, who will play a selection of PING clubs, including the new TiSI Tec
driver, Ping i3 oversize irons and a PING putter, joins French star, Marine
Monnet, as a PING staff player on the Evian Tour.
Monnet, 23, a former French and British Amateur champion, has renewed her
deal with PING after a successful 2001 season during which she finished third
on the Evian Tour money list for the second season in succession.
PING also sponsors several US LPGA Tour regulars, including Sweden's Maria
Hjorth and Carin Koch, Britain's Lisa Hackey and Americans, Coleen Walker,
Pat Hurst, Val Skinner and Sherri Steinhauer.
The company's commitment to the women's game can also been seen by the fact
that PING is the only golf club manufacturer to sponsor Tour events.
It is the title sponsor of the Ping Banner Health LPGA event to be played at
the company's own Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix, Arizona in March, and
the originator of the Solheim Cup, the transatlantic team competition that
pits Europe's leading professional women golfers against their counterparts
from the US of A.
This year's Solheim Cup match, named after PING's founder, the late Karsten
Solheim, takes place at Interlachen Country Club, Edina, Minnesota, on
September 20-22.
Further information on Paula Marti, Marine Monnet or PING's wider involvement
with the women's professional game is available from Neil Gray at GMS on
01438 718399 (neil@gms.ms) or David Fanning at PING Europe on 01427 615405
(davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
PING urges all golfers who are planning to buy new clubs in time for the start of the 2002 season to get them custom fit rather than purchase them straight off the shelf.
The company is the industry leader in club fitting and has always stressed the huge benefits that accrue from having your clubs properly fitted to suit your physique and your game.
“We cannot overstate the importance of being properly fit for new clubs,” said John A. Solheim,” PING Chairman and CEO.
“We build golf clubs to fit each golfer so that they can play their best and it doesn’t cost him or her any more,” added Solheim.
PING was the first golf manufacturing company to stress the importance of custom fitting.
Company founder, Karsten Solheim, the father of current Chairman and CEO, John, began his pioneering custom fitting work back in the 1960s when he helped a series of US PGA Tour professionals to improve their performance by adjusting their equipment to fit their games and it is a process that the company has been refining ever since.
Through the years, Karsten’s club fitting system has now been continually developed and it now permits fitters, not only to fit clubs to a golfer’s build, but also to compensate for swing faults to produce more desirable results.
There are many variables to consider during the PING fitting process.
• For PING i3 irons, offset, bounce, clubhead size, colour code (lie angle), shaft flex and length, shaft type, swingweight, loft and grip size are all taken into account.
• For golfers wanting to be fit for the new PING TiSi Tec driver, loft, hosel (determining lie, face progression and face angle), shaft flex and length, swingweight and grip size will be taken into consideration.
• A key feature of the new TiSi Tec driver is the new Ping concept called “offset trajectory” or ET (5.5, 7, 8.5, 10 and 11.5 degrees). ET is the dynamic loft of the TiSi Tec driver, or the “effective loft” at impact with the ball. ET will differ slightly from the static loft of the club and should be factored into the club fitting process.
• A golfer’s preference for shaft type and clubhead type can also be tested during the fitting process by experimenting with different clubs that are offered at each PING Fitting Centre.
• When selecting a putter, it is essential to get it custom fitted as well, particularly when putting can account for up to 40% of strokes used in an average round of golf. That is why PING offers a unique putter fitting system, offer recommendations for putter length, lie, loft, grip, head design and head material.
Today, PING is the market leader in club fitting and custom-building golf clubs. The company has more than 3,500 custom fit sites around the world and has a well-trained team of PGA professionals and fitting specialists on hand to ensure you get the clubs you need.
To find out the nearest authorised club fitter to you, contact 01427 615405 or visit the PING website: www.pinggolf.com.
Further information on PING’s custom fitting system is available from Neil Gray at GMS on 01438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on 01427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk)
Golfers looking for help from the latest technological advances need look no further than the new PING TiSI Tec titanium fairway woods, which are introduced this Spring to complement PING’s highly successful TiSI Tec drivers.
The new PING TiSI Tec fairway wood range is to feature a strong 3-wood (12 degrees), a standard 3-wood (14 degrees), 5-wood (17 degrees) and 7-wood (20 degrees), all offering a wide range of custom fitting options. These include eight hosel positions with varying lie angles from two degrees flat to four degrees upright, three different face angles, various graphite and steel shaft options, plus grips in various styles and sizes.
The latest PING TiSI Tec fairway woods feature many of the technological advances built into the company’s highly successful TiSI Tec Drivers as well as a number of new advances that are unique to the fairway woods.
“With the TiSI Tec fairway woods, we’ve added several new design and manufacturing features to create an innovative product that enhances club performance, while still maintaining the ability to custom-fit each golfer individually,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman and CEO.
The TiSI Tec drivers and fairway woods are both manufactured using the latest CMT or Chemical Milling Technology. This process increases the performance and durability of the titanium while at the same time allowing PING to cut down wall thickness and reposition mass in the form of weight pads placed strategically to help to control ball flight. In the 3-wood, the weight pads are positioned towards the face to reduce spin and maximise roll. In the 5-wood, the weight pads are centred inside the club head whereas in the 7-wood the weight pads are situated nearer the back of the head, further away from the club face.
“Removing the titanium casting’s brittle alpha layer permits us to precisely control wall thickness and more than double the durability of our new titanium fairway woods. In addition, these new fairway woods feature a zirconium sole plate and a tungsten bottom weight for a low centre of gravity,” said Solheim. “They are very easy to hit.”
There is also a small, elliptical-shaped weight inserted into the back of the TiSI Tec fairway wood heads and it plays an important role in the performance of the clubs. The back weight is positioned far from the centre of gravity in line with the club’s impact point and is designed to stabilise the club head during impact.
“The back weight also provides resistance to twisting on heel and toe shots for greater accuracy, while reducing loft changes caused by hitting the ball high or low in the face,” confirmed Solheim.
Another important feature of the PING TiSI Tec fairway woods is the JX hosel, a multi-functional, thermoplastic devise patented more than two years ago. The ingenious JX hosel offers golfers eight combinations of lie angle to match their stance and swing, enabling them to hit longer, straighter and more accurate fairway shots.
The clubs also feature a Cushin Selective Filtering Insert, a product developed by PING in 1997 and standard in all PING steel and “350 Series” graphite shafts on metal woods. The benefit of the Cushin insert is that it screens out and dissipates unwanted shaft frequencies that can cause muscle fatigue.
The new TiSi Tec fairway woods are offered in custom-fit steel shafts in JZ regular, stiff and extra stiff flexes. They are also available in five proprietary flexes and three PING Grafalloy flexes to give golfers the ability to select the proper shaft for their golf game, no matter their skill level. Called the “350 Series”, the proprietary flexes include L, A, R, S and X while the PING Grafalloy Tour flexes include R, S and X.
Standard length of the TiSI Tec 3-wood in both 12-degree and 14-degree models will be 43 inches although custom-fit lengths are also available. Head size will be 199cc.
Standard length of the TiSI Tec 5-wood will be 42.5 inches and is 42 inches for the 7-wood. Head size will be 165cc and 150 cc respectively.
Suggested retail price of the TiSI Tec fairway woods will be € 553 (steel shafts) and € 629 (graphite shafts). Both right and left-handed men’s and ladies models will be available.
More information about the new PING TiSI Tec fairway woods is available from Neil Gray at GMS on 01438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on 01427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
PING’s European Sales Conference, held at the Marriott Druids Glen resort in Ireland, not only saw the launch of the much-heralded new G10 range, but also witnessed Ian Walker being crowned as the company’s top European Sales Rep of the Year.
The 48 year old Scotsman, who’s has achieved excellent sales growth over the past 2 years, is the first UK recipient of the award since its inception in 2004. Walker received his award from PING’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, John Solheim.
“It is vital that as a company we recognise the hard work and dedication of our employees by showing our gratitude towards them. Without them PING wouldn’t be the success story that it is today,” stated Solheim.
Walker joined PING back in 1998 as one of the original sales team and has covered the Scottish region to this day. He is avid golfer, playing off an impressive scratch at his home club of Turnberry where he holds the Amateur course record over the famous Ailsa course with a score of 66. Quite the sportsman he is also a former professional footballer, having played for such teams as Wolves, Ayr United and Queen of the South.
“I am delighted to have received this accolade,” commented Walker. “It is reward for a year’s hard work and something I will cherish.
“With the new launch of G10 range hopefully the 2007/08 year will be even better.”
PING is the world’s largest family-owned golf equipment manufacturer and arguably the most innovative company the game of golf has ever seen.
To view the new PING G10 range please visit www.pingeurope.com
For further information please contact GMS on +44 (0) 1438 718399 or email Neil Gray at neil@gmsgolf.co.uk or James Lovett at james@gmsgolf.co.uk
Leading Golf Equipment Manufacturer, PING is delighted to announce that it has gone live with a brand new Micro-site, dedicated specifically to the new G10 and i10 series of golf clubs that were unveiled to the public in August. The new site can be found at www.pingpowerof10.com, and includes concise explanations of the technology behind each club in the series, club specs, product animations and videos featuring PING engineers describing the technology behind the new products.
The new Micro-site, however doesn’t replace PING’s main website as it is dedicated only to G10 and i10 information. Visitors to either site can easily link back and forth between both websites.
Initial response from PING’s worldwide tour staff to the new range has been extremely positive, with several players switching to the new driver and irons, including Chris DiMarco, US Open Champion Angel Cabrera and Lee Westwood.
“Technology is moving fast and we’re finding ways to improve our products like never before,” said John Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “The design and research tools available to our engineers are amazing. It’s a lot of fun to be a golf club engineer right now. The G10 family and our other new products are evidence of our desire to continually push technology with the goal of helping golfers lower their scores and enjoy the game more.”
To view the new PING micro-site go to: www.pingpowerof10.com
For further information on all PING golf equipment please visit: www.pingeurope.com
For additional information, contact James Lovett at GMS
+44 (0)1438 718399
james@gmsgolf.co.uk
May 15, 2007; Phoenix Arizona: Lee Westwood’s win at the Valle Romano Open de Andalucia in Spain will be forever linked to Mark Calcavecchia’s putting woes of nearly two months ago. The story begins—and ends—with a PING® prototype putter designed and built with Calcavecchia’s considerable input.
The putter, a fully machined, aluminum mallet design with an Anser® hosel, was used by Calcavecchia in the first round of the PGA Tour’s POD’s Championship in March but was quickly shelved after a round that required 36 putts. He then switched to a store-bought PING Redwood™ Anser putter for the rest of the tournament which he won in record-setting fashion.
The way in which Calcavecchia acquired the PING Redwood Anser—personally purchasing it at an Edwin Watts Golf store—received a great deal of national attention. The fate of the PING prototype putter wasn’t reported until last Friday, when it resurfaced in Westwood’s hands during his record-setting performance at the Aloha Golf Club in Andalucia, Spain.
The week after his win, Calcavecchia returned the prototype putter to the PING Tour Trailer, where it rested for two weeks. At the Shell Houston Open, Westwood was in search of a new putter and came upon the prototype while working with PING Tour Representative Matt Rollins. Westwood took the prototype, along with several other PING putters to test.
After experimenting with the one-of-a-kind design at The Masters, Westwood arrived in Andalucia with the prototype still in his possession along with several other putter models, including the PING lil’l c™ mid-length putter he used in an opening round of 72. The even par round was enough to send Westwood to the putting green for some more work with the prototype, which found its way into his bag for the second round.
That second round proved record setting for the 15-year veteran. His eight birdies set the course record 64 and moved him into contention entering the weekend. He followed his record performance with a 65 (7 birdies, 1 eagle) in the third round to grab the final-round lead.
A closing round 67 included eight more birdies that earned Westwood a two-shot victory. Fittingly, he holed a 40-foot putt for par on the final hole to seal the title, not to mention the fate of the PING prototype putter that found its way from Calcavecchia’s doghouse into Westwood’s trophy room.
For additional information, contact Pete Samuels at 602-687-5487.
PING Europe has recently opened a new Wrx Division at its headquarters in Gainsborough, Lincs. The new Wrx department offers its customers the ultimate in custom fitting choice and at the same time gives PING a valuable source of feedback when it comes to developing PING clubs for the future.
The PING Wrx Select Programme allows PING consumers the chance to “create clubs as unique as the players who use them”, by making available a huge selection of approved shaft, grip and grind options.
Commenting on the programme, PING’s Chairman and CEO John A. Solheim said: “Our 350 and JZ series shafts were engineered to work specifically with PING heads and grips to produce optimum results, and these are the shafts we recommend in our clubs. However, many people have requested other shafts and grips for their PING equipment and this is now possible through the PING Wrx Select Programme”.
“We are pleased to announce that, as of now, our PING Europe facility has been equipped to manufacture PING golf clubs with shafts and grips from the PING Wrx Select Programme. This means that our customers who want special shafts, grips etc on their clubs will be able to obtain their order without the clubs having to be assembled and despatched from the United States.”
Further information on the new Ping Wrx Select Programme is available from Neil Gray at Marketing Activity on +44 (0) 1628 534000 (neilg@marketingactivity.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0) 1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
Ping Europe Ltd received a Silver award at the In-Store Marketing British Point of Purchase Awards 2002 held at The Hilton, Park Lane, London.
The company’s Concept Shop received this prestigious award after being short-listed in the Sports, Toys and Accessories category along with some of the biggest names in sport.
An In-Store Marketing magazine spokesman commented on the judges’ decision to award the Concept Shop the silver award.
“As well as its smart and professional look, judges were impressed by the flexible, mix- and –match nature of the design which allows it to be installed in a wide cross section of retail outlets”
The Concept Shop has been installed in over 200 golf retail outlets across Europe and has been met with almost universal approval by retailers. The Concept Shop has been designed to enable account holders to display PING clubs and the PING accessory range side by side on an attractive unit. That maximises its impact on consumers and at the same time enables the retailer to display PING product in an attractive and efficient manner.
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
Leading golf equipment manufacturer PING, is delighted to announce that it has signed the immensely talented two-time Welsh Walker Cup player Rhys Davies to its playing staff.
Davies, 23, from Royal Porthcawl, turned professional immediately after the Walker Cup at Royal County Down, where he won both his singles matches against the Americans. On the back of an extremely successful Amateur career he looks set to be one of the most promising young talents to enter the professional ranks.
A prolific winner on the American college circuit during a four-year scholarship at East Tennessee State University, Davies claimed 10 titles and was a NCAA All American from 2005 to 2007. Prior to his four-year spell in the States, Davies won the British Boys' championship in 2003 at Royal Liverpool, 12 months after losing in the final of the same event at Carnoustie. He also qualified to play in this year’s US Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club.
Davies' impressive list of accolades also includes being the youngest member of the 2003 Walker Cup squad, captain of the 2002 Great Britain and Ireland Boys Team, and the BBC's 2002 Wales Junior Sports Person of the Year.
Commenting on signing for PING Davies said: "I am really looking forward to getting out there. I have enjoyed every minute of my amateur career and I think between the competitions I have played here and the experience of playing four years of college golf I have really prepared myself well for the Tour."
“I have been using PING equipment to great effect on the Amateur circuit for quite a few years now, so it felt only natural that when I turned Professional I would continue playing their products, which suit my game so well.”
“Rhys is a young golfer who has show tremendous potential for many years now and we are delighted that he has decided to continue playing PING equipment now that he has turned professional,” commented John Clark, Managing Director of PING Europe.
For further information on PING please visit www.pingeurope.com
For additional information regarding this release please contact James Lovett at GMS
+44 (0)1438 718399
james@gmsgolf.co.uk
Feel and custom-fitting, two of the most important ingredients golfers look for when selecting a putter, will be emphasised with the introduction of the new PING SPECIFY family of putters.
“SPECIFY is a very far-reaching and innovative putter concept that we’ve created with the fitting-conscious golfer in mind,” said John A. Solheim, PING chairman & CEO. “It will take customisation of putter building to the next level.”
Golfers will be able to completely custom fit each new SPECIFY putter, including the look, feel and weight – the ultimate in putter fitting.
The PING SPECIFY putters offer golfers three different putter body styles, four different hosels and three putter weights, for a total of 36 different combinations from which to choose.
The PING Chairman said the optigraphic effect (the visual contrast of the stainless steel face and the dark flange) of the SPECIFY putters is very striking and beneficial to golfers.
“The colour contrast of the front and back of the SPECIFY putters increases the golfer’s ability to align the putter to the target, and that translates to optical comfort and improved confidence over the ball,” said Solheim.
“The SPECIFY’s optigraphic effect is a natural alignment tool that a golfer doesn’t have to think about. It definitely promotes squareness to simplify putting alignment,” he said.
Being offered to golfers are four PING hosel shapes, including the tour proven ANSER, the flare tip which resembles a PAL2, the flat top which is similar to the ALLY2, and a face-balanced long-neck hosel. These will be fashioned from 17-4 aerospace quality stainless steel.
Shapes for body styles of the putters will include the popular ANSER, ALLY and ZING. The ANSER and ZING flanges will have an alignment line on the trailing edge of the putter, which identifies each putter’s sweet spot. The ALLY flange will feature two alignment lines that capture the sweet spot for easy alignment and contribute to the overall balanced look of the putter.
Three head weights, chosen by golfers in extensive swingweight putter testing, will be offered in light, standard, and heavy models, ranging from 310 to 370 grams.
“In short, golfers can specify the hosel that complements their stroke, the putter body design that suits the optics they enjoy, and the weight they prefer,” Solheim said.
Overall head weight will be determined by the weight of the flange, made from HSG (high specific gravity), a polymer injected with heavy tungsten powder. PING will vary the amount of tungsten in the manufacturing process to create the weight that is desired.
The face and flange of the PING SPECIFY putters will be joined by two screws that seat into the flange. A thin layer of VHB (very high bond) double-sided adhesive tape will be used for permanent bonding of the face and flange, enhancing the feel of the putter.
Additional putter fitting options for golfers who want the complete PING putter fitting experience include putter length, lie, loft and grip. Using a putter with the proper length will allow golfers to set up with their eyes over the ball for easier alignment.
By selecting the correct lie angle, the ball can be putted more solidly and more consistently on the correct line. Lie angle options for PING SPECIFY putters range from 8 degrees flat to 8 degrees upright. The lie angle or colour code of each putter will be designated by a small, coloured dot on the back of the putter near the cavity.
The correct amount of loft on a putter makes distance control easier because the ball begins to roll more quickly off the putter face. PING recommends a minimum of two degrees of putter loft, but can manufacture whatever loft that golfers request. Standard loft at impact will be 3 degrees.
All PING SPECIFY putters will be serialised and available in right-handed models in September. Left-handed models will initially be available with the ANSER hosel and others are scheduled for delivery soon after. RRP is £130.
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
It’s been said that golf is a game of tradition.
At PING, tradition meets cutting-edge technology with the announcement of a series of six, new, tour-proven wedges with playability features designed for maximum performance under a variety of conditions.
“Basically, we’ve designed a very traditional looking series of new wedges and added a cavity for weight adjustability and forgiveness,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO.
“We’ve also developed a new bi-level sole so that golfers can play these wedges from turf or sand and expect improved, consistent performance,” Solheim said. “They’re definitely multi-functional, in addition to being the most traditional looking wedges that our company has ever made.”
Tour player response to the new PING wedges has been outstanding, according to the company.
Former British Open winner Mark Calcavecchia reports the visual appearance of the wedges is great, and says it’s much easier to control the trajectory of his shots from the fairway with the new clubs.
“These wedges are the most versatile PING has ever made,” says Calcavecchia. “The bounce on the wedges is perfect for shots around the green, as well from a bunker. It’s easy to hit any shot you need with them. I’ve got the 56 and 60-degree wedges in my bag.”
PING professional Kevin Sutherland hit one shot with the new 56-degree sand wedge and knew it was going into his bag.
“It felt perfect the first time I hit it. I love it around the greens, especially for short, tight-lie chip shots. It’s a club I got very comfortable with almost immediately,” said Sutherland.
Other PING professionals using the new PING wedges on tour include Lee Westwood, Angel Cabrera, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Gregory Havret, Jeff Maggert, Bob May, Chris Riley, Rory Sabbatini and Ed Fryatt.
PING pro Bob Gilder won twice in July on the Senior PGA Tour with the new PING wedges in his bag.
“I’ve had the 56-degree wedge in my bag since The Tradition, and added the 60-degree wedge last month. The 60-degree is good for me, especially out of the sand,” said Gilder.
“The thing I notice most about these new wedges is that they are very consistent, both from the fairway and out of the rough. They perform like I expect them to, with no surprises,” he said.
On the LPGA Tour, PING professionals Sherrie Steinhauer, Wendy Ward and Gail Graham have the 56 and 60-degree wedges in play, while Maria Hjorth has replaced all the wedges in her bag with the new series. Pat Hurst, Carin Koch and Val Skinner have also reported improved short-game performance with the new wedges.
“Their performance is superior. The bounces are outstanding, permitting me to hit different types of shots in all kinds of situations,” said Skinner.
Completely redesigned to incorporate the latest PING wedge technology, the new PING wedges feature a Custom Tuning Port (CTP), first introduced with the popular PING i3 irons in 1999 to control club face vibration without altering the design and improve feel and feedback. The CTP permits PING to achieve precise swingweight tolerances required for building custom-fit clubs as well as increasing inertia.
A new shaft with a unique step pattern will be introduced in the new wedges. Called the CS (constant step) Lite steel shaft, it is approximately 10 percent lighter for increased feel and improved performance.
New technology creates a higher inertia compared to other traditional wedges and resists twisting on off-centre hits for a more forgiving club.
Large U-shaped grooves effectively displace foreign matter and allow maximum club-face contact with the golf ball to optimise spin and lift in rough and wet conditions for more control.
The short hosel permits more weight to be repositioned in the sole, while the flat top feature of the hosel reduces stress on the shaft and improves feel.
The hosel also has a notch at the back – not visible at address – which enables PING to control the connection of the hosel to the club head and precisely calibrate each club for loft and lie. The hosel is longer than on PING i3 wedges and optically pleasing, creating a smooth transition between it and the club head.
Lofts for the new PING wedges are 48, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 degrees. A pitching wedge is typically 48 degrees, while a sand wedge is 56 degrees and a lob wedge 60 degrees.
“This new wedge series presents golfers with a variety of options from which to choose for set makeup, based upon their every day playing conditions,” said Solheim.
The new wedges can be custom-fit and custom-built to fit all golfers’ preferences. Swingweights are recommended in the D4 to D5 range, but lighter and heavier swingweights can be accommodated. They can be ordered individually or as a set in right or left-handed clubs (£98 RRP).
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
Lee Westwood showed a welcome return to form when he earned three points out of five during Europe’s incredible 15.5 – 12.5 victory over America at the 34th Ryder Cup matches at The Belfry.
The Englishman finished as one of his side’s leading points earners using one of the revolutionary new PING JAS putters that have just gone on sale in Britain and on the Continent.
Westwood was delighted with the way he played at The Belfry and is convinced his new JAS putter had a good deal to do with his fine form.
“The ball rolls off the JAS putter beautifully and it feels great too,” he said. “It has given me a lot of confidence and I think that was obvious by the way I putted over the three days at The Belfry.”
Five models of PING JAS putters are available in cavity back, mallet and blade styles, including the ANSER, ALLY, ALLY MAX, PIPER and TESS.
The most popular of the models is the PING ANSER, the one used by Westwood at the Ryder Cup. This is a tournament-proven winner of more than 500 professional titles around the world and the most copied putter design in the history of the game.
“The ANSER is my father’s most famous putter,” said PING chairman, John A. Solheim, “and we have taken its design to new weighting extremes, giving it never-before-seen forgiveness. We’ve also optimised the head size, given it cleaner lines and created a new hosel that is more rectangular and square rather than rounded.”
Soheim sees the new JAS range as a significant breakthrough in putter technology.
“The JAS putter concept is something I’ve always wanted to do, but only recently has the technology become available to accomplish my objectives,” he said.
“We are maximising putter weighting to achieve extremely high inertia with our new family of JAS putters,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman and CEO.
What this means is that PING is significantly moving the weighting more toward the heel and toe as well as lower in the club face so that the golf ball will roll as true as possible when putted.
The PING Chairman said that the JAS putters will provide up to 40 per cent improved moment of inertia, or the resistance to twisting on an off-centre hit. Forgiveness will be maximised on miss-hit putts.
All JAS putters will be serialised and available at £325 RRP.
Further information about PING products is available from Neil Gray at GMS on + 44 (0)1438 718399 (neil@gmsgolf.co.uk) or Dave Fanning at PING Europe on +44 (0)1427 615405 (davef@pingeurope.co.uk).
M-Flex – The tightly woven, flexible micro-fibres of the M-Flex glove produce a sensitive, reliable feel while conforming to each individual’s hand. An advanced polymer coating surrounds the micro-fibres to create a bond which provides a firm grip in all weather conditions.
The M-Flex is available in for both men and women in left and right handed versions. Men’s gloves come in Small – XL in black or white/black. The women’s gloves are available in all white, sizes small, medium and large.
The recommended retail price for the M-Flex glove is £8.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray +44 (0)1438 718399
Multi-material technology combined with the expertise of PING engineering has produced the Rapture Series, the latest advancements in feel, distance, forgiveness, consistency and sound, according to PING Chairman & CEO John Solheim.
The Rapture Series, which begins shipping world-wide in September 2006, includes a driver, fairway woods, hybrids and irons. All clubs in the series feature TFC 909 graphite shafts engineered by PING and a new textured spiral grip.
“Multi-material technology gives our engineers tremendous opportunities to improve all aspects of a golf club,” said Solheim, who introduced the line last week while presiding over the company’s annual product introduction meeting in Phoenix. “Titanium, tungsten, super stainless steel, elastomer and graphite composites all have properties that can make a golf ball fly straighter and go further. The key is to understand what each component can contribute to a product’s performance. Our engineers have combined those materials into a series of products that furthers our reputation as a leader in technology.”
“The addition of the Rapture Series complements our market-leading G5 line,” added Solheim. “The G5 driver, fairway woods and irons were the top selling models for the first six months of the year and the G5 Hybrid has moved up to the top selling model in its category for June and July according to Golf Datatech (UK). We’re hopeful those trends will continue. Golfers expect the best from PING and now we’ve given them another choice with the Rapture.”
Rapture Driver
The 460cc driver features a visible, web-shaped titanium crown injected with lightweight composite. By utilizing the composite in the low stress areas of the crown, PING engineers re-positioned 20 grams of mass inside the club for higher launch and lower spin. The fully-machined variable thickness face increases ball speed for a hotter club face response.
Initial Tour response has been very positive. Several players worldwide, including two of the game’s longest drivers—Bubba Watson and Angel Cabrera—have added the Rapture Driver to their arsenals. At The Open Championship at Hoylake, eight drivers were in play. The new driver secured its first win at the Nationwide Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship. At the Women’s British Open, 15 Rapture drivers were used.
A team of PING engineers relied on computer optimization models driven by a Cray Supercomputer to analyze the crown to ensure structural integrity and performance. Acoustical engineering was also heavily employed to produce a solid, powerful sound.
“The driver exceeds our performance expectations, but we’re just as excited about the sound,” said John K. Solheim, PING’s Vice President of Engineering who oversaw development of the Rapture Series. “Our research indicated a general dissatisfaction with the sound of existing composite drivers, so we made it a high priority in our design criteria. Using finite element analysis (FEA), we’ve tuned the club’s frequencies to produce a powerful sound that we believe will turn heads on the tee box.”
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A complex manufacturing process, wherein the composite material is inserted into the web-shape crown using a bladder mold, creates the unique, eye-catching crown design. The bladder enters the club head through the skirt—which is also filled with composite—and is molded into position to ensure a strong, durable bond to the titanium head.
The standard shaft is the PING TFC 909D. The Aldila VS Proto 65 is also a standard offering in the Rapture Driver.
Available in 9, 10.5 and 12 degree lofts.
Shipments begin September 2006.
UK RRP £329 (graphite only).
Rapture Irons
The wide-soled, perimeter weighted Rapture Iron relies on strategic use of titanium, stainless steel and tungsten to create a high-performance, multi-material iron. Careful analysis and application of each material yields forgiveness and trajectory improvements while creating a face and cavity design that produces a solid, pleasing feel and sound.
The wide sole created by an undercut cavity design positions the centre of gravity lower and further back to improve launch angles for higher, lower spinning shots that resist ballooning and land softly.
The lightweight titanium face allows 25 grams of weight to be re-distributed in the form of tungsten and stainless steel to the perimeter of the club head. Twenty of the grams are found in the high-density tungsten toe weight which aids in squaring the face at impact for accuracy and consistency.
The titanium face and Custom Tuning Port (CTP) and an elastomer CTP Insert stabilize the face for a solid feel and sound.
Available in 2-9, PW, UW, SW and LW.
Custom fit for colour code (lie angle), shaft length/flex/type, grip size and swingweight.
The standard shaft is the PING TFC 909i. Steel shafts, including the PING CS-Lite, are also available.
UK RRP £115 per iron w/graphite shaft; £100 per iron w/steel shaft.
Shipments begin September 2006.
Rapture Hybrids
The combination of a 17-4 stainless steel body, tungsten nickel sole plate and 475 super steel face in the Rapture Hybrids raise hybrid performance to new levels of distance, forgiveness and control.
The thin, super steel face provides a hot, responsive hitting area and allows PING engineers to re-distribute weight in the form of tungsten nickel on the sole. The heavier sole plate positions the center of gravity low and away from the face for higher launch and low spin--resulting in high, penetrating trajectories for longer, softer landing approach shots.
The sloped crown—first introduced on the popular G5 Hybrid—also aids in increasing the launch angle and reducing spin. A large head and trailing edge relief design provides control from any turf condition. The shape and thickness of the sole plate extends weight to the perimeter for maximum forgiveness.
Available in 18, 21 and 24 degree lofts. The standard shaft is the PING TFC 909H. The Aldila VS Proto 80 Hybrid is also a standard offering in the Rapture Hybrids. Steel shafts, including the PING CS-Lite, are also available.
UK RRP £155 per club w/graphite shaft; £140 w/steel shaft.
Shipments begin September 2006.
Rapture Fairway Woods
Manufactured from 100% titanium, the large-headed Rapture Fairway Woods offer exceptional forgiveness. A 6-4 titanium face is machined to produce a thin, highly-responsive face for maximum distance. An internal weight pad positioned directly below the centre of gravity increases the launch angle and reduces spin to produce high, penetrating shot characteristics.
The fully-machined face is robotically plasma-welded to the body for consistency and durability. The precision welds allow additional weight savings that are re-distributed throughout the club head for maximum performance.
Available in 3, 5 and 7 woods. The standard shaft is the PING TFC 909F. The Aldila VS Proto 85 Fairway is also a standard offering in the Rapture Fairway Woods.
UK RRP £239 w/graphite shaft.
Shipments begin September 2006.
For additional information, contact Neil Gray +44 (0)1438 718399
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