{"id":699,"date":"2015-03-30T19:31:52","date_gmt":"2015-03-30T19:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.golfballs.com\/?p=699"},"modified":"2022-07-22T14:35:15","modified_gmt":"2022-07-22T19:35:15","slug":"3d-putters-from-ping-could-be-a-game-changer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/blog\/3d-putters-from-ping-could-be-a-game-changer\/","title":{"rendered":"3D Putters from PING Could Be a Game Changer"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"PING<\/a>

PING 3D Putters<\/p><\/div>\n

For a select group of customers, getting their hands on the latest PING putter is as easy as waiting for the printer to warm up.<\/p>\n

PING<\/a> has recently created a new putter using the revolutionary 3D printing technology dubbed, \u201cPing My 3D.\u201d The ability to give a 3D metal printer electronic instructions to combine metal layers with lasers, producing a putter with structural integrity that actually outperforms cast putters, sounds more like science fiction than science fact. After all, who cares about beaming up Scotty when you can teleport your favorite golf clubs directly to your printer instead?<\/p>\n

No one is more excited about this new technology than PING\u2019s Director of Engineering Paul Wood, who discussed PING\u2019s latest project<\/a> at the 2015 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando. Wood revealed that one of PING\u2019s new researchers is a 3D printing junkie with in-depth knowledge into the world of this rising technology. Realizing an opportunity to plant roots in this burgeoning market, they decided to take action by building the first PING clubs using 3D printing.<\/p>\n

Always striving to remain at the forefront of any technological advances that could benefit golfers and improve their game, PING admits they\u2019re way ahead of the curve in the 3D printing marketplace, considering many golfers couldn’t afford 3D printed clubs at this point in time (think about the first plasma televisions that hit the market in the late 90\u2019s for a staggering $15,000).<\/p>\n

This latest technology is just the first step toward changing the consumer purchasing experience forever. So how can we expect 3D printing to revolutionize the way we shop for golf equipment in the future?<\/p>\n

How to 3D Print a Golf Club<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before we can appreciate how groundbreaking 3D printing golf equipment really is, we first have to understand the process. Traditional golf equipment manufacturing means that club heads are either forged or cast in processes where metal is manually shaped or poured into a mold, respectively, to produce club heads for irons<\/a> and putters (club heads for drivers<\/a> and woods are made a little differently).<\/p>\n

With 3D printing, a layer of metal is laid down on the printing surface of the metal printer before lasers come in to do their work. Guided by electronic instructions that can literally be sent across the globe, these lasers begin cutting out the pieces necessary for a club head before welding them together with flawless accuracy.<\/p>\n

Oftentimes new technology doesn’t perform as well as established manufacturing techniques, at least until all of the kinks are worked out of the system. But in the case of 3D printed putters and irons, they\u2019re actually stronger than their traditionally made counterparts.<\/p>\n

Check out this introductory video that gives you a little more insight to the process:<\/p>\n