This Kushin putter bears a patent number in the cavity on the back of the head, along with the manufacturing address of Ping Golf Clubs in Scottsdale, AZ—the address for Karsten's garage operation and headquarters! The sight line on the top of the head is original to the club, as is Karsten's unique two-way shaft bend at the base of the grip, which, when compared to the central length of the shaft below the grip, bends both away from the target and towards the golfer.   The neck has a distinctly different two-way "gooseneck" bend. All these bends were made by hand by Karsten in Karsten's garage. Heat and ingenuity did the trick.

The 35" shaft, grip, and grip collar are original to this club.

The Kushin putter was first produced in 1964 and featured a "goosenecked shaft" (the double bend in the shaft near the clubhead) and "Ballnamic Balance" (created by the slight two-way bend where the shaft meets the grip).  In 1967, when the USGA initially ruled that shafts were not allowed to have bends, which rule the USGA eventually softened to allow bends within 5 inches of the head, Karsten's business lost a lot of momentum and even Jack Nicklaus had to stop using his PING Cushin putter with its two-way bend at the grip which he had used to win 4 professional events including the 1967 Crosby and the 1965 World Cub. (For the full story, see PWP p 97-103)

For more information about the Kushin putter and unique grip/shaft, see And The Putter Went Ping page 74.

This club is shown towards the top in the group image.