PING

Founded 1959 · Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Clubs & Balls

#20

Global Rank

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PING stands as one of golf's most important equipment innovators, founded in 1959 when Karsten Solheim began designing putters in his Redwood City garage. Frustrated with his own putting, Solheim engineered the 1A putter with a distinctive "ping" sound at impact, a name that stuck and launched a company built on engineering rigor rather than marketing hype. The brand's introduction of perimeter-weighted irons in the 1960s fundamentally changed club design, redistributing weight to the club's edges for greater forgiveness on off-center hits. This innovation, combined with PING's pioneering custom fitting system using color-coded dots to indicate lie angle adjustments, established the company as an engineering-first manufacturer. Still family-owned through Karsten Manufacturing and headquartered in Phoenix, PING remains independent in an industry dominated by consolidation. The company produces a full range of equipment, drivers, irons, putters, and bags, all characterized by function-over-form design philosophy. While PING clubs might lack the aesthetic polish of competitors, they're trusted by players who prioritize performance data over appearance. The brand maintains a strong tour presence, with staffers including Viktor Hovland and Brooke Henderson, but its reputation rests primarily on its commitment to custom fitting and incremental technological improvements. PING's G430 driver line and Blueprint irons represent the company's dual approach: maximizing forgiveness for recreational players while offering workability for better golfers. The brand's ColorCode fitting system, which matches clubs to individual swing characteristics, remains an industry standard. In an era of flashy marketing and celebrity endorsements, PING's continued success proves that reputation built on engineering credibility and consistent performance still resonates with serious golfers.