In 2018, Ping launched its line of Sigma 2 putters that offer a way to change length with the turn of a dial. The feature allows for golfers to adjust length between 32 and 36 inches, helping golfers find the right length for their individual needs. The system is USGA legal, and according to Ping’s VP of Engineering Paul Wood, it helps solve a problem that plagues the majority of golfers. The extensive line of Sigma 2 putters, which includes 10 different head models, also have two-layered face inserts for a soft yet responsive feel, and they have TR (True Roll) face technology designed for a better roll. Click here for the full technology story of Ping’s Sigma 2 putters. Recently, we asked Dr. Paul Wood, Ping’s VP of Engineering, a number of questions about how the length-adjustability feature works, how golfers can benefit from it, how to find a putter head that’s right for a particular stroke, and how the TR Face insert helps the ball roll better. Enjoy the full Q&A below! PGATOUR.COM: How many golfers are currently using the wrong length putter for their stroke and body makeup? Dr. Paul Wood: We estimate that it could be as high as 80% from our testing. We know that the vast majority of people are not currently getting a putter fitting and in our testing, no more than one single length of putter was best for more than 20% of people. What it’s hard to know is how many people are buying shorter or longer putters off-the-shelf and finding the best length for them in that fashion. Was the length-adjustability feature on the Sigma2 putters a difficult mechanism to develop? How long did the process take before reaching a system that works? This feature was years in the making. This is our second adjustable length device. The first took around 2 years to research, test, design and bring to market and then we started work on making improvements for this second-generation feature; that took more like 3 years to get through research, testing, design and development. It’s a significant challenge because it hits all of our major engineering groups. We used our knowledge of high-strength plastics to design the plastic pieces to be light but also withstand the forces needed in the device. We used a lot of mechanical engineering time to research and design the mechanism because we needed it to be precise but also work with a range of grips and be as unobtrusive to the golfer as possible. We also had significant research and development to figure out the optimal way to build the putters. We build all of these shafts here in Phoenix and made some major investments in our assembly equipment to do so, including laser markings on the shaft. Is Ping the first company to ever put this system into the market? I believe so, although I can’t discount the possibility of a smaller golf brand having done something. Our system is unique as far as we know. How does length-adjustability benefit golfers? The two main benefits will be seen in improved distance control and perhaps altering (hopefully fixing) a miss tendency. How does a golfer know what putter length to use? Is there a way golfers can self-fit, or is it a comfort thing? We have touted the benefits of a golfer simply adjusting the putter to a comfortable length. This is the simplest way to use the feature and is very effective. In our testing, golfers experienced between 10 and 20% distance control improvements simply by adjusting to a length they were comfortable with. We are also aware that it gives golfers a chance to experiment – simply add an inch of length and see how the results change (or vice versa). We have some philosophies on helping a golfer adjust to a good length (such as getting the eyes somewhere in the region between over the ball to just inside the ball) that we work with our fitting accounts to promote. Does changing the length effect swing weight or feel of the club head, and if so, what adjustments should golfers make? Yes, keeping all things equal, adding length will increase swing weight and shortening will reduce it. This is actually how most putter builds are already in the market. The same head weight is often used for different lengths. Over a relatively small range of length adjustments the effects will be somewhat minor. Over the full range of our adjustability the effects will add up to a big change. If a golfer wants to change the head weight, we have that ability through our Vault 2.0 putters, or through special custom orders. What happens if a golfer needs to regrip the putter? They can go ahead and do that. The feature is compatible with most grips on the market. The Sigma 2 line features a wide array of head models, including the Fetch that helps to retrieve the golf ball from the hole. How can a golfer determine which head is right for them without testing each model? This is a very under-served area in the industry right now. Most putter fittings have tended to focus on loft and lie angle without paying much attention to the most important part which is the head model itself. We have two main philosophies. The first is our fit for stroke, whereby all the models are categorized as either face balanced (suiting a straight back straight through stroke or someone fighting a push miss), mid-hang (suiting a slight arc stroke, a good middle ground for many players) or toe down (suiting a strong arc stroke or someone fighting a pull miss). Each putter is marked according to stroke type and we have some of each in the line. The second is we encourage golfers to think about their primary aiming mechanism. Most players haven’t really thought about it. We see 4 main groups of golfers: those who use a very traditional clean top rail and maybe a small line or dot, those who use ball-width alignment lines to frame the ball, those who like to see long and plentiful alignment features, or those who look for an alignment aid (or line) that goes right up to the ball. Once most people think about that for a minute or two, it helps narrow down the choices considerably. How does the TR Face insert design work, and what does it do? This is one of our marquee performance technologies. Typically companies focus on increasing the Moment of Inertia of the putter. Our company was founded on this principle. The reason to do this is to minimize twisting, and therefore energy loss on off-center hits. However, there is always some energy loss on off-center hits, which is felt by a drop in ball speed, as well as some angular changes. The TR technology employs a patented variable depth groove that serves to minimize the differences in ball speed from heel, across the center of the face, to the toe. In our testing, heel, center and toe hits roll very close to the same distance. This leaves you the golfer to focus on making the roll you want, knowing that the club is doing everything it can do give you the deft touch on the green.
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