With adjustable drivers becoming an even more common trend in the golf market, Ping has joined TaylorMade, Titleist, Cobra, and others with their first adjustable driver, the Ping Anser. A combination of design technology and custom fitting options allows the Anser to be tuned to each individual player’s swing for maximum distance and optimized launch conditions. Ping’s unique Trajectory Tuning Technology, lightweight hosel sleeve, better club head aerodynamics, and custom shaft offerings make this the most versatile driver in their lineup.
The most notable feature of the new Ping Anser driver is its Trajectory Tuning Technology. This technology allows for effective loft adjustment ± 0.5 degrees from standard while limiting the effect of closing or opening the face angle. On most other adjustable drivers in the past, these two aspects went hand-in-hand and ultimately the player had to sacrifice either a higher or lower trajectory versus a left or right dispersion. Now, with the Anser driver, players can make trajectory adjustments that won’t dramatically change the shot shape one is used to seeing.
The lightweight hosel sleeve along with the overall aerodynamics of the Anser driver makes it look and feel as good as any driver on the market. The design of the hosel sleeve is meant to make the club look as close to a traditional fixed hosel as possible while still providing for the adjustment aspect. Ping was able to save weight by reducing the thickness of the sleeve and shortening the hosel height. This, combined with a more aerodynamic shape, add swing speed for increased distance. The Anser uses the same matte black finish that is currently available on the i20 driver which reduces glare without being distracting.
Lastly, the Anser driver has been designed from top to bottom to fit golfers of all abilities, and that includes the available shafts. Players can choose from one of four different shaft options without an upcharge: the Aldila RIP Phenom 50, Fujikura Blur Red 005, Ping’s TFC 800D, and the Mitsubishi Ahina 70. Each shaft has a different weight, bend point, and feel to help players get exactly the ball flight and feel best suited for them. The RIP Phenom 50 offers the lightest weight and the highest launch condition of the four shafts and is a great option for players looking to increase launch angle or maximize carry distance. The Blur Red 005 offers a lower ball flight and firmer feel for those looking for a high performance lightweight shaft. The TFC 800D has a unique design meant to work exclusively for the Anser driver and offers different weights and bend points depending on the stiffness. Finally, the Ahina 70 is a very stout, low launch and low spin shaft for players who are looking to lower their trajectory or looking for a heavier shaft option.
Miles of Golf conducted a product comparison of the new Ping Anser driver against the Ping G20 using players of various swing speeds. Each player hit the same loft driver using a G20 and an Anser and ball flight variables were gathered using TrackMan, a Doppler-based ball flight monitor. The data collected shows that the largest change in performance was in spin rate. Some players saw a slight change in initial launch condition and ball speed, but the greatly reduced spin rate helped nearly every player gain more total distance with the Anser compared to the G20. The table below shows the change each player saw in the four major categories compared to the G20.
Ball Speed (mph) | Launch Angle (degrees) | Spin Rate (rpm) | Total Distance (yds) | |
Player 1 | +0.7 mph | -0.8 degrees | -529 rpm | +4.2 yards |
Player 2 | +2.1 mph | -0.9 degrees | -488 rpm | +9.8 yards |
Player 3 | +2.2 mph | -1.5 degrees | -545 rpm | +3.2 yards |
Player 4 | +0.5 mph | +0.2 degrees | -862 rpm | +1.6 yards |
The Ping Anser is available in four different lofts: 8.5 degrees, 9.5, 10.5, and 12 in both right and left-handed. Miles of Golf has a qualified staff and various fitting components to help fit you for the best combination. The Ping Anser is available now so stop in a give it a try!
Were players 1,2,3 and 4 all using the same shaft on the Ping Anser driver.
If they were using different shafts, could you let us know which player was using which shaft?
Thank You,
David
All players were using the TFC 800D shaft. This stock shaft option was designed by Ping to work exclusively with the Anser driver so it proved to be our best option when comparing it to the G20 since it too used a proprietary Ping shaft (TFC 169D). The only variable that changed from player to player was the shaft flex which was selected based on swing speed. Player 1 used a regular flex, Player 2 a stiff flex, and Players 3 and 4 used x-stiff flex.