There are putters you want to show off to your mates, and then there’s the Ping Ketsch G — a flatstick that looks like it crash-landed on Earth sometime between a NASA prototype and a garden rake. However, to quote a line I was fond of using in nightclubs back in the day, “come on, looks aren’t everything.”
The Ketsch G forms part of the brand’s six new additions to the “New Ping Putters” line up, which was initially launched in 2023 with 12 models. In March 2024 Ping added six more to the line up including the Anser D, which I have also reviewed and absolutely loved.
I’m a big Ping guy and have a decent sized collection of classic models, including several mallets somewhat similar in shape to the Ketsch, although nothing exactly like it, so I was eager to see how this large footprint putter would compare to some of the old classics.
The thing to point out about this putter right from the get go though is that it can pick your golf ball up for you without you having to bend down. There is a golf ball shaped hole on the sole so when you are practicing it can save you an awful lot of bending, making this an ideal putter for seniors or those who have back issues.
Let’s address the obvious. The Ketsch G is not winning any beauty pageants. It’s chunky. It’s got wings. It looks like something a retired Formula 1 engineer whipped up on his gap year. But – and it’s a big but – it sets up dead square. You could land a helicopter between the alignment lines, and that’s no bad thing for the likes of us who tremble over three-footers.
The larger footprint inspires confidence for those who need it and I’d say this is a great choice for the avid high handicapper who doesn’t mind spending a few quid on gear even though they aren’t very good at the game. While the look on the sole of the putter isn’t great either due to the big golf ball shaped hole, the benefits to that far outweigh any drawbacks in the aesthetics.
Ping reckons their milled aluminium face insert “enhances feel and feedback.” What it actually does is make a soft thud that feels more like striking a squash ball than a golf ball, particularly if you play with a lower compression ball with a softer feel. But here’s the kicker – the roll is pure. You can miss the centre a bit and the ball still tracks on line like it’s got somewhere important to be. It’s like having stabilisers on your putting stroke and this is one of the most forgiving putters you’ll use. It’s ideal for those who struggle on the greens.
I prefer the straight back and through, extra forgiveness you get with a larger head so this certainly suits my eye and stroke. It is not too dissimilar to the Ping Oslo putter I have in the bag but it is bulkier. It probably has more forgiveness than the Oslo but there’s less feedback on the stroke. I did enjoy using this putter and it is very easy to consistently keep finding the middle of the face. Or perhaps it is just so forgiving that you can’t always tell when you have slightly missed the centre? I practised with it at home on my artificial turf putting green fo a couple of days before I eventually took it out onto the course, so I already had a good feel for it. It performed well on the course, with the distance control being the thing that jumped out at me most.
This thing forgives more than your nan after you forgot her birthday. Toe strike? Still ends up near the hole. Heel strike? Still ends up near the hole. Middle? You start to believe you’re Luke Donald in 2011. It’s confidence-inspiring without making you feel like a cheat. But for all its high-tech forgiveness, it still can’t stop you bottling it under pressure.
If you’re after a minimalist blade that looks like it was carved from a samurai’s sword, walk on. But if you want a forgiving mallet that genuinely helps you hole more putts (until you inevitably revert to your bang average ways), the Ketsch G is quietly brilliant — even if it looks like it should come with a user manual and WiFi.
