Lot # 108: Ping Scottsdale Kushin w/Orig Bent Grip

Starting Bid: $150.00

Bids: 0 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall 2022",
which ran from 11/3/2022 7:00 PM to
11/19/2022 8:00 PM



This Kushin putter bears 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 "gooseneck" bend in the shaft near the head. These bends were made by Karsten in Karsten's garage.

The 35” shaft and Golf Pride Pro Only grip are original to this club. The grip has a small thumb notch cut in by the owner low on the grip.  The shaft also has Karsten's bend in the shaft at the grip, tilting the grip well back away from the target, not in line with the body of the shaft.  This is an outstanding feature on this club.  The genesis of Karsten's bent, angled grip is covered in great detail in Chapter 3 "The Bent is Meant" in And The Putter Went Ping. His run-in with the USGA over the angled grips is included in Chapter 4.

The Kushin putter was first produced in 1964 and featured a "goosenecked shaft" with its double bend near the head.   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. Even Jack Nicklaus had to stop using his PING Cushin putter 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.

Views: 260