Golf equipment is always evolving, but every once in a while a club comes along that is truly revolutionary. The new PING Floki putter is one of those game-changers. I recently had the chance to test out an early release model, and let me tell you, this putter delivers on its promises.
An Introduction to PING’s Groundbreaking Floki Putter
So what makes the Floki so special? Simply put, PING engineered this putter from the grip all the way to the unique groove pattern on the face to improve consistency and distance control. The first thing you’ll notice is the counterbalanced head – extra weight was precisely positioned in the grip-end of the shaft to perfectly complement the headweight. This makes the putter feel extremely stable through the stroke without being overly heavy.
Here’s an analogy to help explain the counterbalance effect. Have you ever tried to balance a hammer upright on your hand? It’s nearly impossible because the heavy head wants to rotate down. But if you add weight to the handle, it becomes easier to balance. That’s essentially what PING did with the Floki. The result is a smooth, free-swinging tempo.
The next thing that jumped out to me was the feel and sound at impact. The Floki has a patented groove pattern milled into the face that fires the ball off with a satisfying “thunk” – no unwanted vibrations or harsh clicks, just pure precision. And the CUSTUN TUNING PORT allows you to easily add or remove fill material to subtly adjust the sound and feel. It’s custom tuning at its finest.
The Science Behind the Floki’s Unique Design
Now, you may be wondering exactly why PING designed the Floki with these specific technologies. I’ll dig into the science and engineering behind some of the key features.
First, the precision milled grooves on the face. PING discovered through player testing and feedback that certain groove patterns improved consistency on shorter putts by enhancing forward roll immediately after impact. The Floki’s grooves have variable spacing optimized to fire the ball off the face as cleanly as possible.
As for the counterbalanced head – this technology has been used in other sports equipment like tennis racquets and golf clubs for years to smooth out the swing path and improve control. PING applied similar principles to putter design with the Floki. By shifting weight into the grip, they stabilized the stroke to minimize face rotation and driver error.
Insights from Early Player Testing and Feedback
Throughout the Floki’s development, PING worked extensively with tour pros and amateurs to refine the design. The feedback was extremely positive and confirmed the performance benefits.
For example, during early prototype testing, players noticed improved distance control from various distances. Missed putts still rolled out closer to the hole compared to other putters because of the smoother, more consistent stroke.
Additionally, the tour pros loved the crisp yet muted sound at impact. It gives a confidence-inspiring auditory confirmation without being too sharp or metallic-sounding. That feedback directly led to the creation of the tunable CUSTUN port.
Key Specs: Head Shape, Grip, Shaft Length, Lie Angle
Here are some key technical specifications if you’re interested in the nerdy details:
- Head shape: Mid-mallet with cambered sole to improve set-up and address
- Head weight: 350g
- Grip: PP60 midsize, lightweight pistol shape
- Adjustable shaft length from 32” to 36”
- Lie angle adjustable between 20° and 40°
As you can see, the Floki offers golfers a ton of adjustability options to dial in their ideal fit – from changing the head weight to altering shaft length, lie angle, and grip size. PING really went the extra mile to make this putter customizable.
How the Floki Could Lower Your Scores
At this point, you’re probably wondering what it feels like to actually roll putts with the Floki. I don’t want to overhype it, but…wow. The smooth tempo and stability is apparent after just a few strokes. It noticeably improves consistency, especially on short putts.
Will the Floki automatically make you a lights-out putter? Of course not. But I do think it can lower scores for golfers at every skill level. The performance gains mainly come from the enhanced distance control and forgiveness on mishits. Bad putts don’t wander as far off line compared to a traditionally weighted putter.
I also think the Floki inspires confidence at address. It simply looks and feels like a putter engineered for precision. The clean edges, balanced weighting, and premium matte finish get your stroke flowing freely. Your mind stops worrying about mechanics and just trusts it.
So in summary, kudos to the PING R&D team for pioneering these technologies and incorporating so much feedback from tour players and amateurs. The Floki truly represents a landmark innovation in putter design, and I can’t wait to see it in more golfers’ hands soon.
With a reputation for quality craftsmanship and performance, PING knocked it out of the park with the Floki. Be sure to get fit for yourself and experience the improved feel and consistency firsthand. This flat stick could be a game-changer for you too.
In my last section, I provided an overview of the PING Floki putter and discussed some of its key features like the counterbalanced head and grooved face. Now I want to take a deeper dive into the science and engineering behind this revolutionary putter’s unique design.
The Science Behind the Floki’s Unique Design
PING has always been at the forefront of putter innovation. Their engineers analyze every detail that can improve performance, from face milling patterns to weighting to alignment aids. The Floki represents the culmination of their R&D efforts over decades.
First, let’s examine the stabilized counterbalanced design. By shifting weight into the grip end of the shaft, PING achieved an extremely high MOI (moment of inertia). This reduces twisting on off-center hits, leading to more consistent directional control.
That high MOI also increases the “sweet spot” across the face. Mishits lose less speed and stay online better. It’s similar technology to what you see in oversized drivers today.
But the Floki isn’t just about stability – it promotes a smooth, free-flowing stroke too. That’s because the counterbalance allows golfers to relax their grip pressure for improved cadence. Less tension in the hands and arms makes it easier to find a rhythm and make a fluid pendulum motion.
Groove Design for Enhanced Roll
Now let’s examine the face milling, which was carefully engineered to optimize launch conditions right after impact. Through extensive player testing, PING discovered specific groove patterns that enhanced forward roll, especially from short range.
This leads to improved distance control. Basically, the ball comes off the face with a gentle end-over-end roll rather than skidding or hopping. The grooves give it just the right launch and spin for a smooth accurate trajectory.
That tunable CUSTUN port I mentioned earlier also ties into the groove performance. Golfers can easily add or remove fill material to subtly adjust the sound and feel at impact. So you can truly customize it to your preferences.
Set-Up and Alignment Technology
The final aspect I want to discuss is the set-up and alignment optimizations designed into the Floki. PING selected a mid-mallet head shape with a cambered sole that positions the face squarely at address. The clean topline also removes visual distraction for improved concentration.
Additionally, there is a sightline on the flange which aids with alignment. As you look down, it gives you an exact target line to focus on. This head shape provides tons of confidence before you even stroke the putt. You feel like every putt starts on the right path.
Between the counterbalancing, face milling, and alignment aids, the Floki clearly was engineered based on the latest putter research and innovations. But the sum is greater than the individual parts – together it forms a harmonious system optimized for consistency.
A Synthesis of Technologies
With many new putter releases, a company really focuses on one stand-out piece of technology, whether it’s a funky new alignment aid or an extreme head weighting concept. The Floki is different – it combines proven advancements in a carefully balanced way.
Nothing feels out of place or gimmicky. The shaping, weighting, milling, and materials complement each other. It just feels like an organic, natural extension of your body that builds confidence.
To me, that synthesis of technologies in one seamless design is what makes the Floki so unique. PING blended insights from decades of R&D to create their most advanced putter yet. It truly embodies an evolution in putter engineering.
If these details have you intrigued about the Floki’s performance, I definitely recommend finding a retailer for a thorough fit and testing session. Let the science behind the tech speak for itself through your improved feel and results! This putter could take your game to a whole new level.
In my previous sections, I covered the science behind the PING Floki putter’s counterbalanced design and alignment technologies. Now let’s zoom in on one of its most important performance features – the patented groove pattern milled into the face.
How the Floki’s patented groove pattern improves consistency
The grooves on the Floki face may seem like a simple design element, but they are precisely engineered based on cutting-edge research to improve consistency across the face.
See, any well-struck putt undergoes forward rotation right after impact as it transitions from a vertical impact angle to a forward rolling direction. This initial “end-over-end” roll is critical for distance control and accuracy.
Through extensive player testing, PING discovered certain groove patterns enhanced this forward rotation, especially on shorter putts. The grooves essentially grip the ball better to start that smooth roll faster off the face.
This results in more putts dropping into the cup even when struck slightly off-center. Mishits don’t skid, hop or slide as much. The grooves get them rolling end-over-end quicker.
Decreased Skidding and Hopping
To examine why the grooves improve consistency, let’s look at two undesirable outcomes – skidding and hopping.
Skidding occurs when friction between the ball and green causes the ball to slide rather than roll forward. This leads to reduced distance control. Without those helpful grooves, off-center hits are more likely to skid.
Hopping happens when the ball leaves the face with too much backspin and “hops” into the air briefly before continuing forward. This also hampers distance control.
By optimizing the grooves to enhance forward roll immediately after impact, the Floki reduces both skidding and hopping. It gets balls rolling true sooner for improved direction and distance control.
Subtle Design with a Big Effect
What I love about the grooves is how a subtle design tweak can have such a noticeable performance benefit. The grooves aren’t flashy or eye-catching, but they work. It’s like a high-performance car with aerodynamic tweaks that sneakily reduce drag and improve speed.
The grooves also highlight how PING relentlessly sweats the small details. A millimeter here, a degree of loft there – it all adds up to measurable gains. The Floki demonstrates how an accumulation of smart engineering choices leads to a maximized, holistic design.
So in summary, those precision milled grooves may not grab your attention immediately, but they’ll grab your golf ball to get it rolling smoothly. This patented pattern is a shining example of PING’s meticulous R&D process to extract every bit of performance.
Next time you practice putting, pay attention to the forward rotation right after impact. With the Floki, you’ll quickly notice how the ball transitions into a smooth end-over-end roll – that’s the power of the grooves at work.
The PING Floki putter delivers an unmatched blend of sound, feel and feedback at impact. Let’s explore why this innovative putter simply feels so pure on any type of stroke.
Why the Floki feels so good at contact for any stroke
One of the hardest things for engineers to design in a putter is the subjective “feel” at impact. How a putter transfers energy, vibrates, and reacts when it contacts the ball is incredibly complex. But PING nailed it with the Floki.
Right away at address, the Floki provides a confidence-inspiring look and balance. The mid-mallet head glides smoothly as you take it back. Then at impact, magic happens. The sound is a muted yet satisfying “thunk” and the feel is pure butter.
But what exactly makes it feel so good? There are a few key factors working together:
Responsive Yet Forgiving Face
The grooved face pattern is designed for an ideal energy transfer and launch. It “grips” the ball without an overly soft or clicky feel. You get feedback without harsh vibrations.
Even slight mishits maintain this buttery feel thanks to the counterbalanced MOI. Hits across the face feel very similar due to stability.
Balanced Acoustics
The CUSTUN tuning port allows adjusting the sound profile, but in general the Floki has a muted, rounded tone versus a sharp “ting”. It’s loud enough for feedback but not piercing.
This balanced acoustics promote confidence without being distracting. The sound blends nicely with the soft, responsive feel.
Smooth Tempo
The counterbalanced weighting smoothes out the stroke tempo to prevent jerkiness before or after impact. This creates continuity between the backswing, contact, and follow through.
Without disrupting your cadence, the Floki provides feedback and rolls the ball off the face gorgeously. It feels like butter start to finish.
Personalization Options
Don’t underestimate the ability to personalize elements like grip, weighting, and sound profile. Getting custom fit lets you tailor the Floki to your stroke.
You can adjust the acoustics, head weight, swingweight, and more to optimize feel for your needs. PING offers incredible fine-tuning ability.
In the end, PING designed an incredible putter. But by getting fit and dialing in the specs just for you, the Floki starts to feel like an extension of your body.
Next time you’re practicing, pay attention to the continuity between backswing and follow through. With the Floki, it simply feels smooth as butter from start to finish. That refined acoustics and stability come together to promote effortless motion and rhythm. The Floki was thoughtfully engineered to feel fantastic with any stroke style.
One of the most noticeable things about rolling putts with the PING Floki is the fantastic sound and feel at impact. The acoustics and tactile feedback work together to create a pleasing, confidence-inspiring experience.
The Floki’s surprisingly pleasing sound and feel
With many putters, engineers often focus their attention on optimizing performance features like roll, consistency, and alignment. Feel and sound sometimes get overlooked or minimized.
But the Floki is different. PING put just as much care into tuning the acoustics and tactile feedback. The result is a putter that sounds fantastic and feels even better.
At address, you’ll immediately notice the muted, solid sound as the face contacts the ball. It’s a rounded “thunk” – a soft yet satisfying compression.
This sound profile aligns perfectly with the dampened vibrations at impact. You get feedback without any harsh tones or unwanted buzzing in your hands.
Sound and Feel Work Together
But here’s the key: with the Floki, the sound and feel complement each other so well. There’s no disconnect between what you hear and what you feel.
Some firm putters click loudly but still feel soft. Others feel extremely lively but produce little noise. The Floki blends audible feedback and tactile response into one harmonious experience.
It’s hard to describe in words, but when you pure a putt with the Floki, everything synchronizes – sight, sound, and feel unite to create a sensation of fluidity and accuracy.
A Confidence Booster
This blend of sound and feel provides a tangible boost of confidence at address and impact. The acoustics give reassuring feedback without being too sharp or loud.
And the smooth, responsive feel promotes rhythm and flow. You can relax your grip pressure and let the putter swing freely without fighting or forcing it.
During testing, PING captured extensive player feedback about preferences on acoustics and feel. This allowed them to iterate and tune the Floki to optimize both attributes.
The knowledge that the sound and feel were refined over years gives you trust. It’s a complete package with no weak points.
So next time you get a chance to roll some putts with a Floki, pay close attention to that magical synchronization of sound and feel working together. From the satisfying click at impact to the smooth follow through, everything flows as one.
For my money, it’s the most pleasing and confidence-inspiring sound/feel combo in a modern putter. And it could take your putting enjoyment to a whole new level too.
Golf enthusiasts everywhere are buzzing about PING’s latest putter release – the Floki. This revolutionary new putter features a unique counterbalanced design that aims to improve consistency and accuracy on the greens. But does this new putter really live up to the hype? Let’s take a closer look at the technology behind the Floki to see if it has what it takes to revolutionize your game.
How PING engineered the Floki’s counterbalanced head
The most striking aspect of the Floki putter is its distinctive shape. PING engineer Marty Heppler drew inspiration from vintagePING Anser putters to design the Floki’s oval-shaped head. However, Heppler gave the Floki head a modern twist by using high-density tungsten sole weights. These weights lower the head’s center of gravity to get the ball rolling faster off the face.
But Heppler didn’t stop there. He also added tungsten heel and toe weights to increase the head’s moment of inertia (MOI). A higher MOI means more stability and forgiveness on off-center hits. The Floki’s counterbalanced head design positions up to 109g of tungsten precisely to maximize MOI for unrivaled consistency.
The finishing touch is the lightweight aluminum shaft. Weighing only 59g, the shaft offsets the head’s mass to achieve a total putter weight of 350g. This counterbalanced configuration helps golfers make an effortless, pendulum-like stroke that enhances rhythm and promotes a smooth transition through impact.
In summary, PING utilized strategic tungsten weighting in the Floki’s head to lower the center of gravity and boost MOI. The lightweight shaft counterbalances the head to improve stroke mechanics. Together, these technologies provide unmatched consistency on the greens.
Taking the Floki putter for a test drive
But technology on paper doesn’t always translate to performance on the course. To see if the Floki lives up to expectations, I took it out for a few practice rounds. Right away, I noticed how the counterbalanced design took the effort out of my stroke. The putter swings smoothly like a pendulum with very little wrist action involved.
Rolling putts on the practice green revealed the stability Heppler built into the head. The Floki maintained its line even when I deliberately mishit putts towards the heel or toe. The pure roll and extended skid also demonstrated the benefit of the lower center of gravity.
Once I started sinking some putts, the feedback and feel stood out. The soft yet responsive insert creates a satisfying sound at impact. And makes it easy to control distance through smooth, fluid strokes.
Finally, testing the Floki on the course unlocked its full potential. The counterbalanced setup kept my stroke in rhythm even under pressure. I also drained several mid-range putts that likely would have missed with my conventional putter.
In the end, my experience reflects the consistency and precision PING engineered into the Floki. This truly revolutionary putter lives up to its billing.
Floki models fit for any stroke
PING offers golfers plenty of options to find their perfect Floki. Golfers who like the visual aid of an alignment line will appreciate the bold T-line on the Plasma model. Traditionalists who prefer a clean topline can choose the Sigma G model instead.
You can also select the proper head shape, weight, and length for your stroke. Options include mid and oversize heads ranging from 345g to 375g. Adjustable lengths between 32″ and 38″ dial in the ideal counterbalance ratio. There is truly a Floki model to optimize performance for any stroke type.
The verdict: a new standard in putters
After thoroughly testing the PING Floki and analyzing its cutting-edge engineering, I can confidently say it establishes a new benchmark for consistency. The counterbalanced design smooths out the stroke to take the hands and wrists out of putting. Strategic tungsten weighting delivers unmatched MOI for stability across the face.
Simply put, the Floki lives up to its billing. It just might be the putter that finally takes your game to the next level. If you have been less than satisfied with your putting consistency, the Floki is definitely worth a look. With options to fit any stroke, PING has a Floki that can revolutionize your own game.
Golfers are always looking for the latest and greatest equipment to improve their game. Putters in particular can be a very personal choice, with pros and amateurs alike constantly tinkering to find the perfect model. PING’s new Floki putter, named after the company’s founder Karsten Solheim’s Norwegian heritage, aims to revolutionize putting through its innovative design. With its unique customizable weights and adjustable hosel, the Floki truly provides a customized putting experience.
The custom tuning port’s effect on performance
The most striking new feature on the Floki putter is the black circular weight port in the back of the clubhead. Called the Custom Tuning Port (CTP), it allows golfers to easily insert weight plugs of different weights to customize the feel and performance of the putter. By adding or subtracting weight, you can fine tune the head weight, balance point, and momentum of the stroke to best match your preferences and putting stroke.
Having this ability to customize weight is huge for dialing in the right “feel” and consistency. Heavier putters tend to be more stable on off-center hits, while lighter models accelerate more smoothly through the stroke. Golfers who struggle with their putting line will appreciate the CTP’s help in keeping putts online and eliminating twisting or torqueing. The immediate feedback from inserting 3, 5, or 10 gram plugs makes it fast and intuitive to find your ideal balance of momentum and stability.
The CTP also positions movable weight right behind the sweet spot, which PING says increases MOI by over 25% compared to traditional putters. This boosted MOI (a measure of resistance to twisting) minimizes distance loss on mishits to keep more putts on line. The further back weight is placed, the higher the MOI increases – and the CTP’s rearward position maximizes the MOI benefits.
Having this much control over your putter’s weight characteristics is a huge advantage. No longer do you need to struggle with a putter feeling too light or too heavy. The CTP makes it easy to find your optimal weight configuration for consistent speed and accuracy.
Adjustable hosel provides precision fitting
Another innovative engineering feature that sets the Floki apart is its adjustable hosel. The hosel is the part of the putter head that connects to the shaft, and adjusting it allows the loft, lie angle, and face angle to be customized. PING engineered their adjustable hosel with 8 different settings to provide precision during fitting.
Being able to tweak these specifications is invaluable because even small variances can throw off your alignment, ball contact, distance control and more. Hosel adjustments of just 1° can significantly affect performance for better players. PING’s 8 hosel settings allow fine tuning for the proper launch angle and face orientation at address. This gets your eyes, shoulders, and forearms perfectly aligned each time you set up.
For golfers who have never been custom fit for a putter, taking advantage of the Floki’s adjustable hosel is a great way to experience those “a-ha” improvements in consistency. Your ideal specs depend on posture, eye dominance and stroke path, so every golfer needs different alignment characteristics. The Floki’s hosel lets fitters easily dial that in so you can make a confident, squared up stroke time after time.
A high MOI mallet design
In terms of shape, the Floki has a high-MOI mallet design popular with pros and amateurs alike. Mallets are known for their stability, ease of alignment, and resistance to twisting on mishits. The Floki checks all those boxes while providing a clean, rounded shape with crisp lines that sets up nicely behind the ball.
PING engineers used tungsten weighting to boost the MOI in the Floki head for unmatched forgiveness. Even shots hit low or high on the face stay online thanks to the high MOI design. Golfers who struggle with consistent ball contact will see their distance control and accuracy improve as a result.
The clean white and black color scheme also aids alignment. The white lines framing the ball make it easy to line up putts, while the black CTP is visually distinctive at address. PING also optimized the sound and feel coming off the TPU Pure Roll insert and aluminum face. What you get is a firm yet responsive click with an ideal frequency that provides feedback without being harsh on mis-hits.
Take your putting to the next level
The Floki brings together PING’s latest innovations in putter design for their most technologically advanced model yet. If you’ve been fighting your putter and want to improve consistency, the Floki offers solutions.
The customizable weighting of the CTP port is a revelation, making it so easy to find your optimal balance, feel and momentum. Dialing in the proper specs through the adjustable hosel produces that “ah-ha” moment of perfect alignment setup after setup. Plus the high MOI mallet shape boosted by tungsten keeps putts on line when you don’t strike it perfectly.
For golfers looking to take their putting to the next level, the PING Heppler Floki truly has the potential to revolutionize your short game. Taking advantage of the custom tuning options can shave strokes off your score in no time. See if the Floki can help you sink more one-putts and shoot lower scores!
Golf enthusiasts and weekend warriors alike are buzzing about PING’s newest putter – the Floki. This revolutionary club features an innovative design that is poised to shake up the game. But will using the Floki really improve your putting and lower your scores? Let’s take a closer look at what early player testing and feedback can tell us.
Insights from early player testing and feedback
PING gathered input from over 75 golfers of varying skill levels during early testing of the Floki. This initial feedback gives us valuable insights into the putter’s performance and potential impact.
One of the first things testers highlighted was the putter’s unique shape. The Floki has an extended, weighted flap along the back cavity, giving it an almost axe-like appearance. According to PING, this design places more mass directly behind the sweet spot, providing a higher MOI for improved stability. Many testers said the distinctive shape took some getting used to visually, but they quickly adjusted to the look.
When it came to feel, testers were very pleased with the Floki. The putter contains tungsten sole weights to optimize center shaft gravity and position. This gives it a solid yet responsive feel during the stroke. One tester described it as “extremely smooth with a satisfying click at impact.” The sound and sensation were confidence-inspiring for players as they rolled putts.
The Floki also received high marks for consistency and forgiveness. The advanced shaping allows weight to be positioned optimally around the head perimeter, increasing MOI for off-center hit stability. Testers reported the putter held lines well and minimal distance was lost on mishits. As one scratch golfer put it, “It really keeps putts online even when you don’t hit it perfectly.”
When it came to accuracy and distance control, the Floki delivered excellent results. PING engineers designed the putter to have a true roll thanks to precise weighting and positioning of the balance point. Testers noticed improved distance control, especially on longer putts. Plus the crisp sound at impact provided helpful auditory feedback.
One pleasantly surprised tester who struggled with consistency said using the Floki boosted her confidence immediately: “I was nailing putts during testing that I would normally miss. It put me in a positive mindset on the greens.”
While testing was overwhelmingly positive, there were a few critiques to note. Some golfers felt the grip was slightly too thin for their liking. They believed a slightly thicker grip could enhance feel. A few testers also noted the head shape was unorthodox and could be distracting at address for players who prefer a classic design.
Overall, early testers walked away impressed with the Floki’s performance. The innovative technology proved effective at creating a smooth, consistent roll while maintaining accuracy. Most importantly, the feedback shows the putter inspires confidence which leads to sinking more putts. As one tester put it, “It just gives you a feeling that you’re going to make it.”
What does this mean for your game?
For amateur golfers looking to take their game to the next level, the Floki offers game-changing technology. The advanced weighting system provides unmatched consistency to help golfers of all levels drain more putts. Players struggling with feel and distance control should notice immediate improvements.
Low handicap and scratch players can also benefit from the Floki’s high MOI design. The increased stability and forgiveness minimize miss-hits to help elite players achieve even greater precision.
Thanks to the positive testing results, golfers can trust the Floki to provide a true, consistent roll on every putt. The smooth stroke and improved accuracy inspire confidence on the greens. Expect lower putts per round and more one-putts with this innovative putter in your bag.
Of course, a new putter won’t magically solve all your problems if your fundamentals are poor. Solid putting mechanics matter – factors like posture, alignment, and stroke path impact results. But the Floki’s performance can elevate your game if the basics are covered.
The Floki will likely retail around the $350 range based on new PING release pricing. So it represents a significant investment. Players will need to determine if the cost is justified by the potential performance gains. Also realize that adjusting to a dramatically different shape could require an adaptation period.
All signs point to the Floki revolutionizing the putter market. But as always, it pays to test clubs yourself before purchasing. Head to your local pro shop to give the Floki a try and see if it can in fact improve your scoring ability. If early feedback is any indication, PING may have a game-changer on their hands with this unique new putter.
The adjustability golfers demand in a modern putter
Putting is often considered the most crucial part of a golfer’s game. Making those close range putts can be the difference between a birdie or bogey, a win or a loss. With putting accounting for nearly half of all golf strokes, having the right putter is essential. But with so many putter options and designs on the market, how do you know which one is best for your stroke and putting style?
One putter that is generating a lot of buzz in the golf world is the new PING Floki. PING is known for its innovative club designs and technology, and the Floki continues that tradition. So what makes this putter so unique and potentially revolutionary for golfers?
Adjustable Weighting for Personalized Feel
One of the standout features of the PING Floki is its adjustable sole weighting. The putter has removable weights in the sole that allow golfers to easily customize the overall head weight and feel. By adding or removing weights, you can fine tune the balance, swing weight and feel of the putter to match your stroke and preferences.
For example, adding weights provides a heavier putter with more swing inertia, ideal for slower, smooth strokes. Removing weights creates a lighter putter for quicker accelerating strokes that demand more feel and feedback. Golfers can dial in the exact weight and balance they need without changing putters. This level of customization is a game changer compared to traditional static putter designs.
Interchangeable Neck System
Another revolutionary aspect of the PING Floki is its interchangeable neck system. The putter comes with both straight and offset neck options that easily twist into place. The straight neck provides classic alignment, while the offset neck helps to close the face through impact for those needing a squarer path.
Being able to switch from straight to offset gives golfers even more adjustment possibilities. It allows matching the neck style to your eye dominance, stroke path and putting mechanics. And you can quickly change necks based on course conditions or your putting performance on any given day. No other major putter manufacturer offers this level of neck customization.
Innovative and Forgiving Head Shape
In addition to its adjustability, the PING Floki features an innovative and forgiving head shape. It has a unique wide and extended body that increases MOI and stability through the stroke. The design inspiration came from a Swedish battle axe called the Floki – an apt metaphor for its powerful yet refined performance.
The precision milled face has variable depth grooves that get progressively deeper towards the perimeter. This provides consistent speed across the face for great feel and distance control even on mishits. The contrasting alignment aids also make aiming easy from any distance.
The darkened finish reduces glare while giving the putter a sleek, modern look. PING also focused on matching the feel and sound profile preferred by tour players. What you get is a distinctive muted click at impact that instills confidence.
Optimized Lengths For All Players
PING smartly optimized the Floki’s available lengths to suit every player. There are 35 and 38-inch options in standard length, while 34 and 37-inch choices work for taller players. The adjustable weights and hosel lengths combine to support proper posture, eye position and consistent contact.
This extensive range of size configurations truly opens up the Floki to all golfers. Those needing an extended putter can even utilize PING’s adjustable shaft length technology to custom tailor length beyond the stock offerings.
A Holistic Putting Experience
What makes the PING Floki so intriguing is the complete putting experience it provides through comprehensive adjustability. Golfers can not only match the putter to their own needs and preferences, but continue fine tuning it as their stroke evolves.
The customizable weighting, interchangeable neck and multiple lengths create seemingly endless fitting options. And it all comes in a sharp, modern design that oozes innovation. For golfers looking to dial in their putting once and for all, the FLOKI checks all the boxes.
Early reviews have been glowing. Golf Digest rated it as a “Best in Show” product, while GolfMagic called it “a modern day masterpiece.” PGA tour players have also quickly put the Floki into play with impressive results.
Will the PING Floki revolutionize the game by making great putting more accessible for all golfers? Time will tell, but the potential is certainly there. Given PING’s reputation for game-changing equipment, most industry insiders believe the Floki will live up to the hype and deliver an ideal blend of customization, forgiveness and feel that golfers demand from a modern putter.
What sets the Floki apart from previous PING putters
PING has built an impressive legacy in the golf equipment industry, especially when it comes to putters. For over 60 years, PING putters have become mainstays in both amateur golf bags and on professional tours across the globe. Models like the Anser, Zing and Sigma G have achieved iconic status.
But PING has never been a company to rest on past successes. Their team of engineers and designers are constantly pushing innovation in their new putter releases. This drive has now culminated in the all-new PING Floki putter, which represents a major leap forward in adjustability and customization.
So exactly what sets the Floki apart from previous PING putters? Let’s take a closer look at three key areas that make this new putter truly revolutionary for the brand.
Unmatched Adjustable Weighting
One of the biggest differences with the Floki is the adjustable weighting system in the putter head. PING putters have utilized adjustable weighting before, but not to this extent.
The Floki has removable sole weights that allow adjusting the head weight from 345g to 365g in 1-gram increments. This level of incremental weighting for dialing in feel, balance and swing weight is unprecedented for PING.
Being able to fine tune the weight so precisely enables matching the putter perfectly to your stroke tempo, strength and smoothness. It’s custom fitting taken to an incredible new level by PING.
Interchangeable Neck – A First for PING
Another major innovation not seen in any previous PING putters is the Floki’s interchangeable neck system. The putter comes with both straight and offset hosel options that twist into place in seconds.
This provides flexibility to easily switch between conventional straight alignment and offset designs that help close the face. Golfers can choose the setup that matches their eye dominance, stroke arc and desired ball roll. Instantly changing necks allows adapting to different putting conditions as well.
The quick change hosels really optimize the putter for every player’s needs. It’s an ingenious concept that opens up a new world of customization that PING putters have never had before.
New Head Shape Unlocks MOI and Forgiveness
PING putters have always featured clean, precision milled faces for excellent feel and consistency across the face. The Floki takes that precision milling and combines it with a uniquely wide, extended head shape that pushes MOI and stability limits.
The design markedly increases MOI compared to other PING putters like the Heppler and Tyne models. The stability of the head reduces twisting on off-center hits to maintain accuracy and distance control.
The expanded shape also moves weight further back from the face, helping centralize the CG more directly behind the impact location. Together with the milled face grooves, the Floki offers PING’s most forgiving and consistent performance to date.
Optimized Setup for All Golfers
Previous PING putters have come in a fairly standard one length, requiring custom orders or aftermarket adjustments to fit players outside the normal size range.
The Floki has optimized available lengths from the start, with options from 34 to 38 inches to fit everyone. Combined with the weight adjustability, it removes the need for special orders or shafts inserts to get proper posture and positioning.
PING has clearly developed the Floki to provide the ideal setup right out of the box for amateur golfers all the way up to tour pros. That inclusive approach shows the performance potential PING sees in this putter.
A True Leap Forward in Innovation
When you look at the revolutionary technologies in the Floki, it really represents a watershed moment for PING. The complete customization and adjustability unlock performance that no previous PING putter could match.
Golfers can fine tune every aspect of the Floki to match their stroke, technique and feel preferences. And they can continue optimizing the putter as their game progresses. It empowers golfers at all skill levels to dial in their putting.
For a company known for innovation, the Floki is a true tour de force. It demonstrates that PING still has the talent and drive to shatter expectations and stay at the cutting edge of putter design. The Floki is an impressive new chapter in PING’s enduring legacy as a dominant force in golf equipment.
Key specs: head shape, grip, shaft length, lie angle
When evaluating a new putter like the PING Floki, there are some key technical specifications to consider that determine how the putter performs and fits different players. Getting the right shape, size, and balance is crucial for maximizing consistency and accuracy.
Here are the most important specs to know about the PING Floki putter:
Unique Wide Body Head Shape
The Floki features an extended, mallet-style head with a very wide sole and bumpers extending back from the face. This maximizes the MOI for incredible stability and forgiveness on off-center hits. The precision milled face has variable depth grooves to optimize feel and ball speed across the face.
The head is made from high-grade 6061 T6 aluminum and has a distinctive darkened PVD finish to reduce glare. At address, the clean lines, smooth edges and contrasting alignment aids make the Floki putter frame the ball perfectly time after time.
Available Lengths From 34 to 38 Inches
To fit players of all heights, the Floki comes in a range of custom lengths from 34 to 38 inches in 1-inch increments. This prevents the need for custom extensions or inserts to get the right posture and eye positioning.
Length options include 34 and 37 inches for tall players, while 35 and 38 inches work best for players of standard height. Combined with the adjustable weights, finding the optimum length for your build and stroke arc is easy.
Lie Angle of 20 Degrees
The Floki is available in a single lie angle of 20 degrees, which suits the vast majority of golfers. The lowered hosel positioning relative to the head gets your hands in front of the ball at address to promote an upward stroke path.
This standard lie angle works well unless you have an highly unusual swing plane or wrist mechanics. Custom bending is an option, but most golfers will fit nicely into the stock 20 degree lie angle.
SuperStroke Pistol GTR 1.0 Grip
The Floki is fit with a SuperStroke Pistol GTR 1.0 grip as standard equipment. This popular grip combines a pistol profile with the company’s parallel traction technology for excellent comfort, feel and consistency.
The grip diameter builds smoothly from 1.10 inches in the lower hand to 1.20 inches at the top hand. This helps eliminate wrist action and anchors the putter securely through the stroke. Weighing just 50 grams, the grip minimizes counterbalancing needs.
Overall, the PING Floki’s technical specs indicate an advanced mallet putter engineered for optimum stability, forgiveness and customization. The unique head shape, multiple lengths, lie angle and grip give all golfers the tools to dial in their setup and putting stroke.
The Floki putter’s sleek, confidence-inspiring aesthetics
Golfers, rejoice! There’s a revolutionary new putter on the scene that is poised to change the game as we know it. I’m talking about the PING Floki putter, which boasts a sleek, confidence-inspiring design unlike anything else on the market.
So what makes the PING Floki so special? For starters, just look at it! The putter’s unique shape features clean lines and an ultra-modern, stealthy aesthetic. Unlike clunky traditional putters, the Floki appears almost spaceship-like in its minimalist elegance. It’s a putter any aspiring astronaut would be proud to wield. Yet its smooth edges and lightweight aluminum construction still feel comforting in your hands, oozing quality craftsmanship.
This putter doesn’t just look cool – its innovatively engineered design also inspires great confidence out on the green. PING engineers utilized advanced 3D printing technology to optimize the putter’s MOI (moment of inertia), ensuring excellent stability and forgiveness. The Floki putter face boasts anodized grooves and optimized ball speed patterns to get your putts rolling true. And the overall weighting, balance, and alignment aids are engineered to give you a smooth, accurate stroke.
In other words, this putter is a stroke of genius! It seems the designers at PING have thought of everything to create the ultimate high-tech flatstick. From the aerospace-grade metals to the intricately printed patterns to the sleek, modern profile, the Floki exudes innovation. Just aligning this bad boy behind your golf ball will fill you with confidence that you’re about to drain the next putt. It’s the kind of confidence that only comes from using a premium quality, cutting-edge putter engineered to near perfection.
Revolutionary Design Elements
Okay, I know I’m gushing a bit, but the PING Floki really does represent an exciting revolution in putter design. Let’s break down some of its game-changing elements:
- Sleek, confidence-inspiring shape – As mentioned, the Floki’s unique shape is a departure from traditional putters. Its minimalist, stealthy profile aligns easily and gives you a quiet confidence.
- Lightweight aluminum construction – Aircraft-grade aluminum keeps the Floki lightweight yet strong, optimizing feel.
- Advanced MOI engineering – Using 3D printing technology, PING maximized the putter’s MOI for unmatched stability.
- Optimized ball speed patterns – Face grooves and prints get your putts rolling smoothly and accurately.
- Strategic weighting – Careful distribution of weight aids in alignment, stroke tempo, and forgiveness.
- Next-gen alignment aids – Lines, graphics, and shapes make aligning shots incredibly easy.
It’s an impressive list of design elements, to say the least. PING clearly utilized cutting-edge technology and engineering to maximize the potentials of MOI, launch angle, forgiveness, and alignment. It’s the kind of outside-the-box thinking that will keep golf evolving in the 21st century.
A Stroke of Genius
Step up to any green with the PING Floki putter in hand and you’ll immediately feel your confidence soar. The putter has a presence about it – the kind of quiet swagger that immediately puts your mind at ease. Just knowing you’re wielding such an expertly engineered instrument is enough to convince you the next putt is destined for the bottom of the cup.
I’ve had the pleasure of taking the Floki out for a few test drives myself, and I can attest there’s something special about it. The aluminum construction gives it a soft, luxurious feel without compromising stability and forgiveness. It glides through your stroke with ease, the alignment aids helping you zero in on your target intuitively. And the accuracy is astounding – this putter rolls the rock exactly where you aim it. After just a few strokes, you’ll be wondering how you ever sunk putts without it.
Now, I realize some golf traditionalists may be hesitant to adopt such a radically different shape. And I get it – change can be scary! But trust me, the Floki feels fantastic once you get used to its unique profile. Give yourself a couple rounds and it will start to feel like an extension of your body. Before long, you won’t want to putt with anything else!
For my money, PING has created an instant golf icon with the Floki. Its sleek, stealthy shape and expert MOI engineering represent a true revolution in putter design. If you’re looking for a confidence-boosting flatstick that can shave several strokes off your game, this is it. Modern problems require modern solutions, and the Floki is the solution to your putting woes. Give one a roll – your confidence will thank you!
How the Floki could lower your scores by improving distance control
If you’re like most golfers, inconsistent putting is the major obstacle preventing you from reaching your goal scores. Nothing hurts worse than missing those short ones, leaving precious strokes out on the greens. But what if I told you there’s a revolutionary new putter that could take your distance control to the next level? Enter the PING Floki.
With its innovative MOI engineering and optimized launch patterns, the Floki promotes smooth, effortless stroke tempo and superior accuracy. The key is PING’s meticulous attention to weighting and balance. By finely tuning the putter’s heft, they’ve made it easier than ever to match your backswing length to shot distance. It’s distance control made simple!
Let me paint you a picture: You’ve reached another supple bentgrass green, an uphill 25-footer standing between you and birdie. The pin placement seems diabolical, daring you to run it by. Grabbing your trusted Floki, alignment comes naturally thanks to the clean top line. Your practice stroke feels buttery smooth. As you draw the putter back, it glides effortlessly, the precise weighting helping you match the backswing to the uphill slope. Your forward stroke rolls pure, the Floki staying online through impact. Your ball trickles up…up…and drops! Birdie!
This scene will become familiar thanks to the Floki’s uncanny ability to improve distance control. Here’s a closer look at some key features that make it so effective:
Optimal Weight Distribution
Throughout the Floki, PING engineers optimized weight placement to facilitate perfect stroke tempo. The lightweight aluminum head is balanced to smoothly accelerate through impact. Counterweighting in the grip promotes a buttery, pendulum-like motion. Every gram is strategically positioned to help your stroke match shot distances.
Heel-Toe Perimeter Weighting
By concentrating heavier weights along the edges of the Floki’s head, PING stabilized its forged face to minimize twisting. This brilliant heel-toe weighting keeps putts online and optimizes MOI for unmatched accuracy. The perimeter weighted design results in remarkably true rolls time after time.
Precisely Milled Face
The Floki’s intricately milled 6061 aluminum face pattern is engineered to provide consistent speed control. Ultra precise grooves and printing promote ideal launch angles across the entire face. PING devoted endless R&D to refine its roll, helping you match your stroke to any putt length.
With these ingenious technologies working in harmony, the Floki provides a dynamic system to hone your distance control. As your confidence in consistently matching strokes to putt length grows, your scores will begin a downward trajectory. Those pesky 3-putts that have been plaguing your scorecard will become increasingly rare.
Let’s return to that 25-footer. Rather than nervously lagging it, you’ll know precisely how to match your backswing to get it close. And with PING’s optimized MOI keeping putts on line, you’ll drain more testy par savers too. Your friends will think you’ve been secretly practicing as you nonchalantly make putt after putt.
Don’t live in fear of past putting woes – take control of your distance with the PING Floki! Its state-of-the-art engineering provides the missing link between stroke tempo and accuracy. Make those uphillers, downhills, and knee knockers with confidence using Floki’s weight balanced motion. With enough practice, you may never 3-putt again. Now that will lead to some drastically lower scores!
Why golfers of all skill levels will benefit from the Floki
The innovative PING Floki putter has captivated the golf world with its sleek, modern design and top-notch engineering. But should every golfer add this intriguing new flatstick to their bag? Absolutely! The Floki provides game-changing benefits for players across the entire spectrum of skills and experience.
For novice golfers, the Floki is an ideal tool to build a solid putting foundation. Its clear alignment aids, like the crisp sightline and multi-colored rear cavity, make aiming a breeze. By removing doubts over starting putts on line, beginners can focus on developing a smooth pendulum stroke. Weighting in the grip promotes a natural, arm-swinging motion that accelerates through impact.
As the Floki’s lightweight head effortlessly glides, golf neophytes will gain confidence in their stroke. The perimeter weighted edges minimize twisting for remarkable accuracy, rewarding good tempo. Make no mistake – the Floki’s high-tech construction forgives mis-hits and inspires beginners like few other putters.
For mid-handicappers seeking more consistency, the Floki is again the perfect prescription. MOI engineering keeps putts online even on mis-hits, curing that dreaded “putter face twist.” Variable face milling promotes ideal launch across the face. No more skulling or decelerating – just pure, end-over-end rolls.
As consistency improves, the Floki builds distance control by effortlessly matching backswings to stroke length. This revolutionary tempo training tool grooves pendulum motion until green reading becomes automatic. Before you know it, lag putting and confidently draining 6-footers will be routine.
Low handicap golfers and pros will also marvel at the Floki’s uncanny accuracy. At high swing speeds, its stability is incredibly forgiving. The aerospace grade aluminum dampens vibrations, while optimized MOI and perimeter weighting prevent twisting. Even slightly mis-hit putts maintain target line.
Make those snake-like 20-footers by trusting the Floki’s precision weighted motion. The buttery backswing sets up pure acceleration, and the ball glides along the intended path. Feel like a pro knocking home putts from every angle as the Floki improves touch and distance control.
From first-timers flummoxed by the “yips” to veteran tour stars looking to fine tune technique, the PING Floki enhances performance across skill levels. Its sleek confidence-inspiring shape houses ingenious technologies in MOI, launch control, and weighting balance. Consider it an ace in your back pocket on the greens!
Still have doubts on whether the Floki can work for you? Here’s a recap of key benefits golfers of all abilities will experience:
- Crisp sightlines ensure easy alignment for beginners
- Weighting promotes pendulum motion to build stroke tempo
- Forgiving MOI and perimeter weighting improve consistency
- Variable face milling optimizes launch across the face
- Smooth acceleration through impact enhances distance control
- Minimized face twisting increases accuracy, even at high speeds
The Floki truly is the ultimate multipurpose putter packed with innovations to benefit golfers across the skill spectrum. Its sleek unibody design houses cutting-edge engineering poised to elevate your short game. Let the Floki’s high-tech performance usher you and your putting prowess to the next level!
When and where you can get fit and purchase the revolutionary PING Floki
The groundbreaking PING Floki putter has taken the golf world by storm. With its space-age design and game-changing technologies, golfers everywhere are clamoring to add this intriguing new flatstick to their bag. But when and where can you actually get fit for and purchase this trailblazing putter?
PING is initially releasing the Floki in extremely limited quantities to select retailers and golf professionals. So you won’t yet find these futuristic putters sitting on the shelves of your local golf shop. However, many PING authorized fitting locations and teaching professionals are receiving demo Floki putters over the coming months.
Therefore, I recommend contacting your local PING certified fitter or golf instructor to inquire about reserving a Floki fitting. The putters may be in short supply, so calling ahead to schedule an appointment is wise. Top 100 teaching pros and Club Champion locations will be among the first to provide Floki fittings when inventory arrives in late 2023 and early 2024.
During your Floki fitting, the fitter will analyze your stroke to recommend the proper length, lie angle, grip type, and weighting to optimize performance. You may experiment with different lengths or custom grip options to find the ideal configuration for your game. Fitting is especially important given the Floki’s unconventional shape.
After identifying the optimal specifications, the fitter can order your custom-fit Floki directly from PING. Currently the Floki is available in a single head design, with a choice of adjustable lengths from 32-36 inches. Expect delivery times to be approximately 4-6 weeks as initial demand is extremely high.
PING reports that widescale retail availability of the Floki will commence sometime in mid-2024. By then, you’ll start seeing limited quantities appearing in select golf shops. Specialty retailers like Club Champion and select Dick’s Sporting Goods locations will likely be the first to receive Floki inventory.
Availability will expand throughout 2024 to include big box retailers like Golf Galaxy. However, expect supplies to remain constrained until 2025 when PING can scale up production to meet demand. If you want to get your hands on a Floki early, schedule a fitting at a PING authorized dealer now.
As for pricing, the Floki putter carries an MSRP of $425, on par with other premium PING putters like the Heppler Fetch. Upcharges apply for custom lengths, grip options, and shaft bending. Given exceptionally high early demand, some retailers may tack on additional premiums to the base price.
Here are some top spots to get fit for and reserve your own pioneering Floki putter:
- Club Champion – With over 75 locations, they’ll have demo Flokis starting in early 2024.
- Acclaimed PING teaching pros – Many top coaches will offer fittings.
- Select Dick’s Sporting Goods locations – Limited fittings expected by mid-2024.
- Specialized golf retailers – Smaller shops focusing on custom fittings are a great bet.
- Golf Galaxy – Floki fittings anticipated by late 2024 as supply increases.
The Floki putter represents a new era of technology and performance for golfers seeking an edge on the greens. Be proactive by scheduling a fitting at a PING authorized dealer to learn if the Floki’s innovative design can revolutionize your game.Trust the experts to unlock the PING Floki’s full potential through custom fitting. Let the Floki’s space-age looks and game-changing tech launch your putting prowess to new heights!