In 2023 Ping released a new line of putters without branding. Each individual putter had a name, but the line itself didn’t. Ping just refer to them as the “New Ping Putters” and in May 2024 six new models were added to a line that already featured some of the best putters on the market.
Usually when a new putter line is launched they will all feature a specific new technology or follow a fairly uniform design. The Odyssey Ai-One and Ai-One Milled ranges are a good example of this, as while there are a large number of models available, they all share the same design components and are immediately recognisable as being part of the same line. The “New Ping Putters” on the other hand buck that trend as each model has been developed individually and so there is no uniform design.
The 2024 Ping Anser D putter is a slightly different adaptation of the classic Anser design and provides the golfer with some of the stability and forgiveness of a mallet putter without sacrificing any of the aesthetic appeal of the blade. Basically it’s an Anser with a deeper profile (hence the ‘D’ in the name).
I have several classic Ansers in my collection at home as I’m a big fan of the design, so I was very much looking forward to trying out the 2024 version. Straight out of the box I loved how it looked. The head cover has a fairly plain but very classic, stylish look that will look fantastic in any bag.
The contrast of the raw blast stainless steel head against the black composite shaft really gives it a premium look, while for me there is no more visually-appealing putter grip than the classic 'Ping man' design. So straight away I was all in on this putter. Over the ball was a similar story as the deeper profile really suits my eye and the silver and black combination is really pleasing.
I’m not too confident using thinner blades and I find that there is a certain reassurance there with some of these wider designs. This isn’t quite as wide as some similar deeper blades on the market, such as the Bettinardi BB-1W model that I reviewed earlier this year, so it will still appeal to those who like the classic look.
In terms of the tech, the story here is that Tour Pros were consulted in the design and the result was that deeper profile which not only promotes confidence over the ball, but also helps to stabilize the stroke and increase forgiveness.
A shallow milled face ensures a firmish but still pleasing feel from the face while providing a consistent roll. The extra real estate in the head means it’s a little heavier than your standard blade but I found that helped with stability on the takeaway. It’s a slight arc design so that added weight helps to keep the face steady on the takeaway and through impact.
I tested the Anser D extensively at home on my artificial turf putting surface using the best premium golf golf balls and I also played two rounds with it; one at Bootle Golf Course and the other at Hurlston Hall.
The first putt I had on the course was an eight foot birdie that dropped right in the center of the hole. Nice! I gave that shot back with a rush of blood on the third hole when I raced a twelve footer well past the hole and didn’t make the one coming back, but I took some comfort in the fact that they were all out of the sweet spot.
That was the thing I enjoyed most about it. The consistency of strike surprised me and after hitting approach shots I found myself walking to the green with a spring in my step in anticipation of trying to make a putt.
In terms of the feel, it’s right in the middle of the firm/soft spectrum and strikes the balance well I think. Some may prefer a slightly softer feel but for a milled face I feel it is probably softer than most. As for the sound, it made more of a ‘tock’ than a ‘ping’ but again, it’s a pleasing noise when it comes out of the middle.
All in all I really enjoyed using this putter. Visually it ticks every box for me but I'm happy to say that the performance lived up to the looks, which isn't always the case. I haven’t had a blade putter in the bag consistently since I first started playing over thirty years ago and I’m not going to start now, but hand on heart, if I hadn’t already been professionally fitted into the Ping PLD Oslo 3 then I’d give serious consideration to making this my gamer as I love everything about it and it is definitely right up there when it comes to the best Ping putters.
