Jackson Reid
Ping, Inc. (stylized as PING) is an American sports equipment manufacturing company based in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded in 1959 by Karsten Solheim, a golf club designer and businessman, who was frustrated with the equipment available at the time. Solheim's innovative approach to golf club design, which applied scientific principles rather than relying on trial and error, led to the creation of the iconic PING 1A putter, named after the distinctive ping sound it made when striking the ball. This putter featured a new design where the shaft was attached to the centre of the blade rather than the heel, transferring much of the weight of the club head to the perimeter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Ping, Inc. (stylized as PING) |
| Founder | Karsten Solheim |
| Year Founded | 1959 |
| Headquarters | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Industry | Golf equipment manufacturing |
| Products | Golf clubs, golf bags, headwear, gloves, on-course gear |
| Key Innovations | Perimeter weighting, investment casting, Anser putter |
| Brand Ambassadors | Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland, Tyrrell Hatton, Sahith Theegala, Cameron Champ, Brooke Henderson, Leona Maguire, Jennifer Kupcho |
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What You'll Learn
Ping's origins and founder
Ping, Inc. (stylized as PING) is an American sports equipment manufacturing company based in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded by Karsten Solheim, an engineer at the General Electric company. Solheim was born in Norway and moved with his family to Seattle, Washington, as a toddler. Frustrated with the golf equipment of the era, he started making putters in his garage in Redwood City, California, in 1959.
Solheim invented a new putter in his garage, known as the "PING 1A". He attached the shaft in the centre of the blade instead of at the heel, transferring much of the weight of the club head to the perimeter. The name "PING" came from the sound that Solheim heard when the metal struck the ball. By the end of 1960, he had six designs, intentionally muffled the "ping", and had made over 2,000 putters in his garage.
In 1961, Solheim moved from Redwood City, California, to Phoenix, Arizona, where the company would be permanently based. That same year, he invented his first set of irons, which he named "69", and continued to experiment with heel-toe weighting. In 1962, John Barnum achieved the first PGA Tour victory using a PING club at the Cajun Classic Open Invitational. Sales of the PING putters rose steadily, and in 1965, many top players used the PING putters during the televised Golf World Cup in Japan.
In 1966, Solheim designed a new putter, sketching the design on the dust cover of a 78 RPM record. His wife, Louise, suggested the name "Answer" for the new putter, later shortened to "Anser". In 1967, Solheim resigned from General Electric, moved his business from his garage to a factory, and established Karsten Manufacturing Corporation (KMC), makers of the Ping brand of clubs in Phoenix, Arizona. The Anser putter was patented on March 21, 1967, and the first major championship to be won using a PING putter came in 1969 at the Masters.
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The PING 1A putter
Ping, Inc. (stylized as PING) is an American sports equipment manufacturing company based in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded by Karsten Solheim, an engineer at the General Electric company. Solheim started making putters in his garage in Redwood City, California, in 1959, frustrated with the difficulties he faced in putting with the equipment of that era. He applied scientific principles to golf club design, which was previously largely based on trial and error.
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The Anser putter
Ping, Inc. (stylized as PING) is an American sports equipment manufacturing company based in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded by Karsten Solheim, an engineer at the General Electric company. Solheim started making putters in his garage in Redwood City, California, in 1959. He resigned from General Electric in 1967 to develop the PING company.
The Ping Anser putter is one of the most iconic clubs in golf history. The Anser's cavity-back head lowered the centre of gravity and pushed weight to the heel and toe for added stability. The name "Anser" came about when Solheim's wife, Louise, suggested naming the putter "Answer" as it was "an answer for the vexing problems in putting". However, Solheim balked at the name, saying that it was too long and wouldn't fit on the putter. Louise then suggested dropping the "w", resulting in the name "Anser".
The Ping Anser putter was first sketched by Solheim on a 78 RPM record jacket in January 1966. He introduced the putter to professionals at the Phoenix Open in March of that year, and it quickly gained popularity. The Anser received its first PGA Tour win at the Florida Citrus Open Invitational just two months after its introduction. The putter was so successful that it became the standard for putters, with other manufacturers creating their own Anser-style putters after Solheim's patent expired in 1981 (or 1984, according to another source).
The Ping Anser has won more than 500 Tour events and 19 men's major championships since its debut. It has been used by many notable golfers, including George Archer, who became the first golfer to win a major with the Ping Anser at the 1969 Masters. Other big names to use the Anser include Gary Player, Tony Jacklin, Scott Verplank, and Tiger Woods.
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Ping's innovations and impact on the industry
Ping, Inc. (stylised as PING) is an American sports equipment manufacturing company based in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded by Karsten Solheim, an engineer at the General Electric company, in 1959. Solheim started making putters in his garage in Redwood City, California, out of frustration with the equipment available at the time. The name "PING" came from the distinctive "ping" sound the club made when striking the ball.
Solheim's commitment to innovation and engineering excellence has been instrumental in shaping the modern golf equipment industry. One of his most significant contributions was the application of scientific principles to golf club design, which had previously been largely based on trial and error. By attaching the shaft in the centre of the blade instead of at the heel, he transferred much of the weight of the club head to the perimeter. This innovation expanded the club's sweet spot, resulting in better performance from off-centre hits. Ping was also the first manufacturer to offer high-quality cast clubs using investment casting, which reduced costs, improved quality control, and enabled precise control over weight distribution in club heads.
Ping was the first company to introduce a colour-code fitting system in 1972. A coloured dot on each club indicated the lie angle, allowing golfers to purchase clubs that matched their height and swing. Ping also pioneered factory fitting, offering a variety of clubheads in different lies and offsets to cater to individual needs.
Ping's innovations in golf equipment have become industry standards, with other manufacturers following their lead. Their perimeter-weighted irons, introduced in 1969, were quickly successful and continue to influence club design today. Ping has also developed popular irons such as the Ping Eye 2, G710, i210, and i500, which offer a blend of control, forgiveness, and distance.
Beyond equipment, Ping's founder played a role in establishing the Solheim Cup, a biennial tournament showcasing the best women golfers from the US and Europe. Ping's reputation for innovation and quality has made it one of the top-selling golf club manufacturers, with a portfolio that includes clubs, bags, gloves, and apparel.
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Notable brand ambassadors
Ping, Inc. (stylized as PING) is an American sports equipment manufacturing company that focuses on golf equipment, producing golf clubs and golf bags. The company was founded by Karsten Solheim, an engineer at the General Electric company, in 1959. The name "Ping" came from the sound that Solheim heard when the clubhead struck the ball.
Tony Finau: Finau is an American professional golfer. He has won two events on the PGA Tour and has represented the United States in the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup. Finau is known for his powerful and athletic golf swing, and he has been using Ping Golf equipment for several years.
Viktor Hovland: Hovland is a Norwegian professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. He has won multiple events on the tour and rose to prominence by winning the 2018 U.S. Amateur Championship. Hovland has been a Ping Golf ambassador since turning professional and has achieved success with their equipment.
Tyrrell Hatton: Hatton is an English professional golfer who plays on the European Tour and the PGA Tour. He has won multiple events on both tours and is known for his unique swing and aggressive style of play. Hatton has been a long-time user of Ping Golf equipment and is an official brand ambassador.
Brooke Henderson: Henderson is a Canadian professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. She has won multiple events, including major championships, and is one of the top-ranked female golfers in the world. Henderson has been a Ping Golf brand ambassador for several years and has achieved much success with their equipment.
These brand ambassadors, along with other notable golfers, help promote the Ping Golf brand and showcase the performance and quality of their equipment. Ping has maintained strong relationships with professional golfers across all major tours, contributing to their reputation and influence in the golf industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Ping Golf, or PING, is an American sports equipment manufacturing company that focuses on golf equipment, including golf clubs and bags.
Ping Golf was founded by Karsten Solheim, a golf club designer and businessman. Solheim founded the company in 1959 after a career as an engineer at General Electric.
The name "Ping" came from the sound that Solheim heard when the metal struck the ball.
