Ping Anser 2i Putter Golf Club

I'm a middle-aged bogie golfer,lowest ever handicap: 12. I'd been using a Ping Cushin (and its twin in a second bag at my 2nd home in Mexico) for over 6 years. Simple, no graphics, no insert, just bronze.
The shaft pitted out so I took it apart to discover a hidden steel bearing deep in the hosel / putter shaft port and more to the repair than just epoxying in a new shaft with a new grip as I had thought.
So I bought a MINT Ping Anser 2i with headcover from Play It Again Sports for $32, 35" shaft, because I liked the balance and head shape and that it had a slightly heavier head than the Cushin, which had begun to leave the longer putts short lately. The insert face was nothing new-I'd hit some Odyssey 2 Balls, I also own a 35" mallet "Drambuie" presentation putter, I'd hit other "vintage" synthetic-faced putters over the years and liked the feel but missed the "ping" of my old Cushins. I was a little nervous about the steel lower edge below that insert "blading" the putt if the stroke was a little too high and discovered that there is immediate feedback when that happens, a good thing! I'm now used to the loss of the "ping" as it's been replaced quickly by the sound of a lot of short, medium and long putts dropping into the cup and folks, that's not fiction.

After years with the same putter, no matter what it is, a reasonably consistent golf player is going to drop lots of putts of every range into the cup and in increasing number. The tough part is getting used to the new line-up, the new feel and balance and swing weight of a NEW putter. In this case I had absolutely no problems - that Anser 2i went to work as if there were no tomorrow. It's that PING Thing, I'm telling you.
It's the same for the Cushin as the 2i as the Ping Craz-e, which I also like and have used 4 times in rounds (my wife owns it)at my usual local course here in the US (Colonie, NY).My opinion is that there is a common element in Ping putters that once you become familiar with or become a fan of Ping putters they will generally work for you, given the same style, as in BLADE or MALLET. The other issue is about practice, how often you play and how focused you are. Standing on the green over a putt is where there is the very least amount of room for casual swing thoughts and I think that the Ping 2i is a putter that rewards good mechanics and focus without having to think about the tool itself. This one I sole behind the ball, step into the shot, peep the hole and return to the ball, tap and shoot. That 2i lines itself up without any tweaking or twitching, I swear. There's a meaty little slap of a sound but no rubbery trampoline feel. It just goes off in a forthright, speedy and true fashion, no hops, darn little skid and end-over-end.
What's to Like:
You gotta like the $30 to $60 prices on the standard and belly config. Anser 2i on EBay and in the used club joints against what was retail back in The Day for a premium putter, still top-of-line quality. (Cushins go cheaper than $12 and <$60, too, so look hard before you buy and study the shafts- there were several diff. configs avail.)

What's Not So Hot:
Behind the see-through face insert is an ad for PING as large as the etched and black-filled one on the back. If you are not a fan of blatant marketing and can't handle that then go elsewhere, get a different model or get over it. The Anser 2i is worth being in the bag! My Drambuie putter is as gaudy as Turkish wedding barge but I got used to it.