- Paul Graham-Fielding
PING SIGMA 2 PUTTERS - LENGTH AND FEEL
It’s fairly common for OEMs to claim that they’ve made a “breakthrough” with a new product. It’s pretty rare for me to say it, but it’s a word I’m happy to use with regard to the PING Sigma 2 putters. I believe that the ability to quickly and easily change the length of the putter will be a game-changer for many golfers.
The Sigma 2 putters continue PING’s tradition of offering a putter for everyone. There are eight different head shapes ranging from blades like the Anser and ZB2 to traditional mallets like the Arna to modern styles like the Valor and Wolverine. There are two different finishes in the Sigma 2 family – Platinum or Stealth. Only the Anser is available in both finishes.
Every Sigma 2 model features an alignment line. On some, like the Anser and Kushin C, it’s a simple straight line. The Fetch’s alignment lines surround the golf-ball-sized hole in the flange. The largest mallets, the Valor and Wolverine, have long alignment lines enhanced by long, rectangular flanges.
In the Sigma 2 putters, PING has used a dual-durometer PEBAX material made of a soft front layer and a firmer back layer. The result is the softest-feeling PING putter I can remember. Impact makes very little noise, just a quiet “thud” with a urethane-covered ball. The sound is so minimal that it’s hard to hear any difference between well-struck putts and mishits.
What makes the Sigma 2 unique is that it pairs this soft sound with a lively feel. The ball feels like it rebounds energetically off the face. There is good feedback on strike location through the hands, particularly with the blades. The mallet putters are very stable but still offer some sense of strike quality.
The most interesting feature of the new PING Sigma 2 putters is the adjustable length. Slide an adjustment tool into the grip, and you can customise the length from 32″ to 36″. Each turn of the tool changes the length 1/4″, so you can dial it in precisely. For those concerned with the rules, this feature is USGA-conforming.
I was intrigued by this feature when I first learned of it, and, after having it in hand, I’m extremely impressed. The mechanism is rock-solid – nothing wobbles, shakes, or vibrates. Also, PING has marked the back of each shaft so you can easily adjust the putter to your preferred length.
The biggest benefit of this feature, in my opinion, is the ability to experiment. Many players buy whatever is on the rack or whatever was gifted to them. This is why, according to PING, 8 out of 10 golfers are playing the wrong length putter. With an adjustable length Sigma 2, you can find the length that puts you in a comfortable position and allows you to see your line accurately.
What isn’t new, but is still very important, is the TR Technology in the face. This is slightly oversimplified, but the grooves are deeper in the middle and shallower on the edges to make putts hit pure travel the same distance as mishits. PING has used this across their last few putter series, and I think it’s one of the best technologies on the green.
The Sigma 2 putter line consists of nine models ranging from blades to traditional mallets to shape we haven’t seen before. Most notable among the new designs is the Fetch, which is designed to pluck the ball out of the cup. Across the models there is a fit for Straight, Slight Arc, and Strong Arc putters, with some models (Valor and Tyne) able to fit both Straight and Slight Arc strokes.
Finally, PING is also offering three grip options. The PP61, shown here, is a large pistol shape with additional weight. The PP60 is midsize and light with flat sections on the top and sides. The PP62, is larger, round in shape, but still light weight.
The PING Sigma 2 putters are everything that you would expect from PING – loads of fitting options, great performance – plus something that no one else has. The ability to adjust the length of the putter is going to allow many golfers to find their ideal address position for the first time. That’s a major head start on the road to making more putts.