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The PING Heppler putters offer golfers nearly unlimited fitting possibilities. Sharp, distinctive look. A head shape for every stroke type.
Introduction
Most OEMs talk a good game when it comes to fitting, but PING walks the walk. With their Heppler putters, they give golfers the ability to dial in nearly every aspect of the putter to create a personalized flat stick. If you’re in the market for a new putter, the Heppler should be on your short list.
Looks
All the putters in the PING Heppler series have a distinctive black and copper color scheme. In the traditional models, this takes the form of a copper top line and a black flange. With the mallets, the copper is largely on the outer edges, though the Fetch is primarily copper.
I liked this color combination in photos, but I love it person. It’s eye-catching and different, but it’s not gaudy and won’t look dated in a couple years. The finishes are well done and give these putters a very high end look. Additionally, on the Anser 2, I found that the copper top line held all of my focus and led to some very good results.
With two exceptions, the head shapes in this line will be familiar to PING fans. There are the timeless designs – Anser 2 (seen here), Piper, ZB3 – and new favorites – Ketsch, Tyne, Fetch. The new additions are the Tomcat 14 (seen here) and the Floki. Both are giant mallets with very high MOI and substantial alignment aids.
Sound & Feel
PING promotes the Heppler line as having a firmer feel than the “lively” Sigma 2 putters [review HERE] thanks to their Solid Face Technology. The type of metal used in the face varies by model – some are aluminum, some are steel – but all are machined to perfect flatness.
The Anser 2 (above) has a steel face. With a premium golf ball, it has a solid, medium-soft feel on short putts. The firmer feel that PING touts becomes more evident on longer putts. A crisp, low-pitched sound is created at impact, and the pitch rises slightly on mishits. The Anser 2 has plenty of feedback through the hands but doesn’t produce much audio feedback.
The Tomcat 14 (above) has an aluminum face. I found that it produces a feel that is slightly “thinner” than the Anser 2 but not hugely different. On longer putts, it does feel firmer than the Anser 2. Overall, I’d rate the Tomcat 14 as one of my favorite feeling aluminum-faced putters. Like the Anser 2, it provides its feedback primarily through the hands.
Performance
PING’s emphasis on custom fitting is seen in all their products but is most evident in their putter line ups. As with all their recent releases, they have models to fit every putting stroke from Straight to Slight Arc to Strong Arc. In the case of several mallets, PING offers the same head shape with Straight and Slight Arc configurations. There are a total of eight distinct head shapes in the Heppler family – two blades, one traditional mallet, and five modern mallets.
An often-overlooked piece of the fitting equation is the grip, but PING overlooked nothing. There are four stock grip options: PP59, PP60, PP61, and PP62. I tested the PP59 (above, left) and the PP60 (above, right). The PP59 has a pistol shape and was very comfortable as it’s similar to what I game. I also liked the PP60 because the “V” at the back of the grip locked perfectly into my fingers. The PP61 is a larger, heavier pistol style grip, and the PP62 is a larger, round, light grip.
Finally, the Heppler putters include PING’s adjustable length shaft, which the company has continued to refine. While adjustable length may not be as sexy as other features, I can’t overstate how important it is. Having the ability to dial in a precise shaft length without any hassle is a huge advantage on the green. It’s also worth noting that PING has made the shaft firmer. Even on long putts at its full length, I didn’t find the shaft to be soft or loose.
On the green, I had immediate chemistry with the Heppler Anser 2. This wasn’t a surprise – this is the style I game normally – but I loved how the contrast between the copper top line and black flange kept my focus on the top line and ball. The level of forgiveness felt as good or slightly better than your average Anser. Small mishits were acceptable, big mishits were not.
The Tomcat 14 has the highest MOI of any putter in the Heppler line. With thick “wings” at the far corners and plenty of open space, this is obviously a design driven by forgiveness. If you hit the ball anywhere near the middle of the face, it’s going to get to the hole, and you need to hit a very long putt on the very outer reaches of the face to make the Tomcat 14 twist.
Equally impressive is the Tomcat 14’s alignment feature. The 14 dots were inspired by airport runway lights and are unusual but effective. I’m not typically a fan of large alignment features, but I found a lot of confidence standing over this putter.
Conclusion
Ranging in price from $235 to $270, the PING Heppler putters aren’t cheap, but they’re much more affordable than some of the flat sticks other big OEMs have been putting out lately. More importantly, you’re getting a lot for your money, especially when it comes to fitting. With adjustable length, four stocks grips, and a wide array of head shapes, any golfer can find more putting success with a well-fit PING Heppler putter.
Matt Saternus
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Matt, I just read your Ping Heppler putter review comments and enjoyed them very much. I’m a Ping fan and currently putt with the soft insert Sigma Crazy E mallet. I have been intrigued about the Heppler models. Your comments provided a good overview for someone not that familiar with the Heppler line. I would have also appreciated if you could have commented about how the firmer construction affected distance compared to other styles. If you have any comments about that I would appreciate that. Finally, I frequently try to explain to my golf friends about matching your putter with your swing pattern such as straight back, slight arc or strong arc. Most times their eyes roll to the back of their heads when I mention this but I wonder if your experiences could yield any helpful comments in that area. Thanks so much again
Mark,
It sounds like you’ve done what you can to try to educate your friends. As the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. Just continue enjoying the benefits of having a well-fit putter and keep taking their money on the course.
-Matt
Thee days it is hard to find a straight back and straight thru putter. Most still need a little inside arc. Bought a tomcat 14 and it is the closest one i have used
So where do I go to get fitted for the Ping Heppler Tomcat 14 putter. My area code is 02645- Chatham MA. What does the abbreviation MOI stand for? I am worried about what type and size grip I should get?
Andy,
MOI is Moment of Inertia. It’s the primary way in which forgiveness is measured.
Regarding a fitting, you can search for a PING fitter in your area or go to your nearest Club Champion.
Best,
Matt
I love the Flocki version but wondering if it comes in “slight arc?” I am only seeing it in “strong arc.”
Nice review.. I’m tall 6,3 and loved the long putter until they were banned. So now I’m looking for an armlock 42 inch. Do these extend that long AND I hear rumors of Ping in the woks to release an Arm Lock. 42 inch Tom cat 14 would be in my bag in a nano second. Have you seen an arm lock?
Btw a review of the best arm lock putters would be very helpful for us long putter alumni
Mike,
These putters don’t extend to 42”. I don’t have any inside knowledge about what’s coming from PING, but I’ll certainly share anything I learn.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt
I play to a 20 handicap. Presently I use an Odyssey 2 ball mallet putter, my biggest problem is consistency between 3-10 foot putts. Mostly coming up short. I’m presently looking at the Ping Anser Sigma 2 (soft face) and the Ping Heppler Anser 2 Putter. Any suggestions of which would be better for me.
Thank you
Arnie
Arnie,
My best advice would be to get a putter fitting. The head shape and toe hang may have a much bigger impact on your putting than the face material.
Best,
Matt