Ping JAS Anser putter

Club:Ping JAS Anser W Ti Putter 35 inches
Shaft:Ping Steel
Grip:Ping JAS PP58

Looks:This club is pure luxury to the eye!Finished in a beautiful non-glare satin,it is unique in that it composed mainly of titanium.The only putter that springs to mind as being composed of titanium previous to this was a blade manufactured some years ago by Yonex.This putter is based on the design of the classic Anser model and differs really only in the fact that the heel and toe weighting is composed of heavy Tungsten.The idea of using multi-metal heads is not new for irons and woods (eg.TaylorMade Firesole) and indeed Putters from Carbite (a company no longer in operation) used the same concept as in this Ping beauty.The idea is that the bulk of the clubs weight sits on the perimeter of the club,aiding forgiveness.The lines on this putter are so clean and pure that no fault can be found.The Tungsten weights are brazed (specially welded) on and blend in beautifully with the rest of the club.The proprietary grip is fabulous (soft and classy) and a single black sightline in the back cavity is all that is given for alignment purposes.The milled face (similar to Bettinardi,Scotty Cameron) is perfectly smooth and finished to perfection.The head feels quite heavy but not overly so.The putter sits remarkable square behind the ball and the putter head seems to melt into the ground.Superb!
Marks:(out of 10) 10

Performance:You would think that titanium head would give a tinny and overly metallic sound at impact,which although reassuring for some in woods would seem cheap and tacky in a putter of this class.This is not the case here however.Sound at impact is solid and typical Ping.The feel is remarkably soft and the feedback is class.It seems as if you can feel the stroke all the way through the fingers and to the shoulder blades.Long putts roll beautifully off the face and lag perfectly to the hole side while from the "throw up zone"(6 foot and less) the putter is easily aligned and a tremendous amount of confidence is instilled as putt after putt seems to find the bottom of the cup.Mishits on both heel and toe are barely noticed due to the extreme perimeter weighting.Very nice indeed!
Marks:10

Value:This is staggeringly expensive even by Ping standards!Ping have never been known to produce cheap stuff and this is a first class putter,but is any putter worth this money?If you consider that a premium driver is used only 14 times a round and that a putter is used between 30 and 40 and the price differential in this case is very small,then price seems justified.It is hard to see many people parting with the cash here,even if Ping trade-in and resale value is always good.
Marks:6

Verdict:This is a class piece of gear at a price.Ping fans and equipment junkies with much gold will be happy to fork out here,but Ping fans would be better to seek out the new G2 or Specify series.
If you really want to get noticed (and have a healthy bank balance or a partner who REALLY loves you) a Bettinardi BB series will get your fourball partners envious!
Marks:8