Trevor Ng
Ping, Inc. (stylized as PING) is an American sports equipment manufacturing company based in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded by Karsten Solheim, a former engineer at General Electric. Solheim founded the company in 1959, making putters in his garage in Redwood City, California. In 1967, he resigned from General Electric to focus on the PING company and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Today, PING is a top-selling golf club manufacturer, known for its innovative product designs and commitment to engineering excellence. The company has maintained its position as a leader in the golf equipment industry while remaining true to its family-owned roots. The current president and CEO, John K. Solheim, is the grandson of the founder and continues to drive the company's success.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder | Karsten Solheim |
| Current Owner | John K. Solheim |
| Founder's Occupation | Engineer at General Electric |
| Year Founded | 1959 |
| Headquarters | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Founder's Birthplace | Bergen, Norway |
| Founder's Death | 2000 |
| Founder's Age at Death | 88 |
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What You'll Learn
Karsten Solheim founded Ping in 1959
This early design, known as the "PING 1A", was named after the distinctive "ping" sound it made upon impact with the ball. By 1960, Solheim had refined his design, creating six variations and crafting over 2,000 putters by hand in his garage. The unique sound of the clubhead striking the ball not only inspired the company's name but also contributed to its growing popularity.
In 1961, Solheim and his family moved from Redwood City, California, to Phoenix, Arizona, establishing a permanent base for the company. Despite the increasing sales of the PING putter, Solheim continued to craft his putters single-handedly in his garage even after leaving his job at General Electric in 1967. That same year, he expanded his creations to include irons, naming his first set "69", reflecting a good score in golf. Solheim's commitment to innovation and engineering excellence was evident in his relentless experimentation with heel-toe weighting and cavity-backed irons for enhanced performance.
The Golf World Cup of 1965 further propelled the success of PING putters, as top players showcased their performance during the televised event in Japan. In 1966, Solheim faced a challenge when the USGA, golf's governing body, outlawed all PING putters except for the Anser model. However, this obstacle was overcome when Julius Boros won the PGA Tour's Phoenix Open in 1967 using the Anser putter, leading to widespread acceptance. Later that year, Solheim officially resigned from General Electric, transitioning his business from his garage to a factory and establishing Karsten Manufacturing Corporation (KMC) in Phoenix, Arizona.
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The company remains family-owned
Ping, Inc. (stylized as PING) is an American sports equipment manufacturing company based in Phoenix, Arizona. It was founded by Karsten Solheim, a former engineer at the General Electric company. In 1959, Solheim began making putters in his garage in Redwood City, California, frustrated with the equipment available at the time. He applied scientific principles to golf club design, which had previously been based largely on trial and error, transferring much of the weight of the club head to the perimeter.
The name "PING" came from the sound the metal made when striking the ball. By the end of 1960, Solheim had six designs, intentionally muffled the "ping", and had made over 2,000 putters in his garage. In 1961, he moved from California to Phoenix, Arizona, where the company would find its permanent home. That same year, he invented his first set of irons, which he named "69", considering it a good round of golf.
Solheim's company grew from a one-man operation to a global golf equipment powerhouse, all while remaining true to its family-owned roots. In 1995, Solheim, who suffered from Parkinson's disease, handed over his company to his youngest son, John. John K. Solheim, President and CEO, has said, "Our commitment to innovation and engineering excellence remains as strong today as it was when my grandfather started PING in his garage."
Ping has continued to thrive as a family-owned business, maintaining its position as an industry innovator. The company's commitment to engineering excellence, custom fitting, and quality manufacturing has established it as a leader in the golf equipment industry. The legacy of Karsten Solheim, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, lives on through the company's continued focus on innovation and quality.
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Ping is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona
Ping, Inc. (stylized as PING) is an American sports equipment manufacturing company headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. The company was founded by Karsten Solheim, a Norwegian golf club designer and businessman, in 1959. Solheim started making putters in his garage in Redwood City, California, frustrated with the difficulties of putting with the equipment available at the time. He applied his engineering expertise to golf club design, transferring much of the weight of the club head to its perimeter.
In 1961, Solheim and his family moved from California to Phoenix, Arizona, where the company would establish its permanent headquarters. That same year, Solheim invented his first set of irons, which he named "69", considering it a good score in golf. Despite the increasing sales of the PING putter, Solheim continued to create his putters single-handedly in his garage after leaving his job at General Electric.
Solheim's innovative designs and engineering excellence laid the foundation for PING's success. The company pioneered several industry-changing innovations, including the process of investment casting, which enabled precise control over weight distribution in club heads. PING's custom-fitting approach, combined with its technological advancements, has set industry standards and shaped modern golf equipment.
PING's headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, reflects the company's commitment to innovation and quality. The Solheim family's legacy and their focus on keeping the business in the family have contributed to PING's success and reputation as a leader in the golf equipment industry. The company has maintained its position as an industry innovator while thriving as a family-owned business.
Today, PING is recognized as one of the top-selling club manufacturers in golf, with a range of equipment, including drivers and putters. The company has come a long way from its humble beginnings in Solheim's garage, now operating from its headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, and delivering its innovative products to the international market.
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Ping's clubs are used by many professional golfers
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. Frustrated with the golf equipment of the era, Solheim started making putters in his garage in Redwood City, California, in 1959. The name "PING" came from the sound the clubhead made when striking the ball.
Ping has since become one of the top-selling club manufacturers in golf, with many professional golfers using their clubs. They have maintained endorsement deals with leading tour players, including Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland, Louis Oosthuizen, Sahith Theegala, Bubba Watson, and Lee Westwood. Ping's success can be attributed to its commitment to innovation and engineering excellence, as well as its focus on custom fitting and quality manufacturing. They were the first manufacturer to offer high-quality cast clubs using investment casting, which reduced costs and allowed better quality control for high-tech features.
Ping's clubs gained popularity in 1965 when many top players used them during the televised Golf World Cup in Japan. This was followed by the first major championship win using a PING putter in 1969 at the Masters. Ping's innovations, such as their industry-changing process of investment casting, have become standard in the golf equipment industry.
Ping has remained a family-owned business, currently led by John K. Solheim, the third Solheim chairman and CEO. The company continues to thrive while maintaining its position as an industry innovator, pushing the boundaries of golf equipment technology and setting standards for modern golf equipment.
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Ping's innovations have become industry standards
Ping, Inc. (stylized as PING) is an American sports equipment manufacturing company based in Phoenix, Arizona, that focuses on golf equipment, including golf clubs and bags. The company 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. He applied scientific principles to golf club design, which had previously been based largely on trial and error.
Another significant innovation by Ping was the PING Anser putter, which was patented on March 21, 1967. The Anser putter faced an initial obstacle when the USGA, golf's governing body, outlawed all PING putters other than the Anser for tournament and handicap play due to a special bend in the shaft that gave players an advantage. However, the Anser putter gained acceptance when Julius Boros won the PGA Tour's Phoenix Open using this putter in 1967.
In 1969, Ping introduced irons based on the same principle of perimeter weighting, which quickly became successful. Other golf equipment manufacturers followed Ping's innovations, and they became industry standards. Ping was also the first manufacturer to offer high-quality cast clubs using investment casting, which reduced costs and allowed better quality control for high-tech features. This technical advancement has paved the way for many of today's innovations and has become an industry standard.
Ping has maintained its position as an industry innovator while thriving as a family-owned business. The company's commitment to engineering excellence, custom fitting, and quality manufacturing has established it as a leader in the golf equipment industry. The legacy of Karsten Solheim, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, continues to shape the modern golf equipment industry through Ping's focus on innovation and quality.
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Frequently asked questions
Ping is a family-owned business founded by Karsten Solheim. Karsten's son, John K. Solheim, is the current President and CEO.
Karsten Solheim was a Norwegian golf club designer and businessman. He founded Ping in 1959, driven by his obsession with the game and his desire to create better equipment than what was available on the market.
Karsten Solheim started experimenting with golf clubs at the age of 42 while working as an engineer at General Electric. He patented his first product, the PING 1A putter, in 1959. The name "Ping" came from the distinctive sound the club made when striking the ball.
Ping's business model focuses on innovation, engineering excellence, custom fitting, and quality manufacturing. They aim to let their equipment do the talking rather than relying heavily on marketing campaigns.
Karsten Solheim developed Parkinson's disease and handed over his company to his youngest son, John, in 1995. John K. Solheim is the third Solheim chairman and CEO, and he continues to uphold the family's legacy and commitment to innovation.
