
Ping Cushin - The Tale Begins Here!
Review created: 08/09/06(updated 09/21/06)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
The first Ping Cushin I bought came with a bag full of old forged MacGregor tomato stakes from a CA neighbors garage sale, $100 back in 1985. It was my "starter" set that created the Golf Monster (currently 14 hcp.) I am today. That putter is now in play in a bag I keep at the condo in Mexico.
I bought a second Cushin, same 34" double bend shaft on E Bay 2 years ago so that I could have a back-up for the original: The old shaft had run its useful life, so I now have 2 with the later one in my upstate NY bag. Long ago it became impractical to carry the same bag back and forth by plane so I just this year duplicated my bag irons (Callaway x-12 96 Firm), including putter(s)(Cushin and 2i). Different driver and fairway woods, though. Read some of my OTHER REVIEWS.
The CUSHIN is a classic design. It's simple, understated, very well balanced and a little on the homely side as soft bronze tends to get nicked up. They have that old-age patina some Ping sellers like to bankroll on...but enough about the make-up job. These heads drop some serious putts long and short and they turn some heads on the putting green even though they are still among the cheaper vintage Pings to find that are any good to use.
The sight line is almost non-existent, just a narrow scribe struck on the top edge that I've improved with bright green enamel to help with line-up. Something I've noticed about both is that the scribe line isn't the exact dead-on sweet spot. That is found just barely inside that line and the feel is very different as in more solid and seems to hold the putt's line better. You'll just have to putt one for yourself.
The Cushin is a super mid-to-long putt maker as the head is weighted well both heel and toe. It's slotted and rings like the namesake when struck sweet, which is what gets the attention on the green. This is no light-weight like the original Anser, a basically worthless (outside of 12')light-headed, anemic putter. Bought one, tried it and I'm going to peddle it on EBAY!
Inside of 12' the Cushin is deadly straight and true, it's primary attribute.
I have one gripped with the PRO ONLY by Golf Pride, a slender, slick-feeling and dandy little handful that I've always liked with this head, I'm on # 3 replacement now, and the other with a WINN bright lime-green AVS Ping model because I love that TACKY FEEL and the tacky, in -your-face color, too! Keeping the original grips on the older Pings is a lot of humbug unless you just like to show 'em, not play 'em, and what was ever SHOWY about cracked, rock-hard and gone-grey grips?
Other Putters in Play: PING Anser 2i, 35" heel shafted. Read my review.
PING Craz-e, 35" heel shafted. The Queen has that one. What a sweet stick that is, but my bag's pretty crowded with 1-3-4-7-9 all headcovered and 4-SW, no room for that huge head!
Teardrop TD19 roll-faced on 35", a cheapie mallet I found leaning against a dumpster which I leave in the back of the Jeep to putt the odd road-side public track green spotted when out Mom-and-Pop cruising, typically on the way to the grandson's Little League away games and the "just going out for the paper, dear" 9 hole/1 ball speedputt on the green in front of my local muni GC down the street! Sweet little putter and a heavy hitter but too ugly to put in the bag.(:->)
Review ID: 10000000001568080

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