Review: Ping Ketsch Adjustable Putter

There's No Ketsch, It Just Works
When it comes to golf products, there always seems to be a catch.  It might hit the ball further, but it is very expensive.  It might make more putts, but it’s anchored.  Those golf balls might fly straighter, but they feel horrible.  There is always something that makes us wonder if it really is for us, especially when it sounds too good to be true.  The Ping Ketsch putter has won other website’s rave reviews and tests (sometimes even by landslides), so it begs the question; What’s the catch?  After using this putter for the last month, I have to admit, There is no Ketsch, it just works.
Ping has been a putter innovator for years.  I still read about the “everything is just a copy of an Anser” line.  The Ketsch is the real deal in terms of innovation.  The Ketsch as a package has a lot going for it; the TR grooves, the weighting, the shape, the alignment and the fit for stroke allows anyone to get the right fit for success on the greens.

 

I went with the adjustable length putter because I’ve been messing around with my posture a little and sometimes my standard 34″ putter just doesn’t feel right.  Also since I’ve been playing a counter-balanced putter I could adjust this grip too a little and get a similar feel without doing the full counter-balanced Ketsch model.  Within each model you also have the fit to stroke; straight back-straight through, slight arch and strong arch.  I’m definitely a strong arch putter.  When the putter arrived I started rolling some putts on my floor and adjusted the length to 37.5″  It feels much like my longer counter-balanced putter.  It allows me to choke down on the grip a little while having just a little weight over the hands, but not feeling like I’m table-top putting.

Right out of the box, you immediately feel the balance of this putter.  The big, heavy head that feels like all the weight is in the sole plate.   You can feel the weight distribution being low and back.  Even compared to other mallet putters, it feels lower and further back.  The MOI on this putter is off the charts.  It also is a little heavier than most come stock too which I think offers a good balance of heft, without getting heavy.

I haven’t been a mallet guy for a number of years, but with all the rave reviews of this putter I just had to give it a try.  On my first round with it, I dropped a number of long bombs and made every short putt.  The mid range putts were all close to going in, but left tap in 2-putts.  The best aspect of this putter has to be distance control.  The ball was always right around the hole, even if it didn’t go in.  This putter is super easy to align and control distance.  The three white lines on the black body point the putter through the ball on the intended line.  Since it is fit for stroke, you don’t need to manipulate the head so that the ball would go on the right line, it just did.

The Ping Ketsch putter could easily stay in my bag the rest of the season.  My scores have been really good with it in the bag.  While I’m not really a mallet guy, this putter has me considering a change.  Not only is it easy to align, easy to control distance; it offers crazy forgiveness for a putter.  While most often we talk about forgiveness on drivers and irons, putters also by design can have more MOI.  This putter is so stable you can putt the ball almost anywhere on the face and it will still go straight on the intended line without any twisting of the putter or even much loss of feel.

The Ping Ketsch putter comes in many different options to fit your putting needs.  It really is as good as everyone is saying.  The combination of roll, alignment, feel and forgiveness make this a really great putter.  There’s no Ketsch, it just works.

For more information: www.ping.com

Quick Hits
+Excellent distance control
+Easy to align
+Adjustable length
+Solid feel
+TR grooves roll the ball nicely
+Stroke fitting options