Ping Vault Ketsch 2.0 Putter Review Main Image

Ping Vault Ketsch 2.0 Putter: In-depth Review

I can barely remember which putter I was using before switching to the Ping Vault Ketsch 2.0.

I tried it out at a Ping demo day, after falling in love with the G410 driver (which I obviously ordered).

As soon as I placed the Ketsch 2.0 behind the ball, it was immediately clear that I had been aiming well right of the target (like half a foot right). I knew quickly quickly that this particular putter might be a good fit for me. Within less than 2 minutes of using it, the super powerful alignment aids had helped me identify a major flaw in my setup.

I’m happy to report that my decision to bag the Ping G410 and the Ping Vault Ketsch 2.0 was an inspired decision. My confidence with the driver has never been better, and my confidence over short putts has also increased dramatically.

A few things to note

When I first picked up the putter, I was using the Tommy Fleetwood style claw grip. This is worth mentioning, because I think Tommy’s grip can encourage hooked and pulled putts, mainly because of shoulder alignment.

To put it simply, the claw style grip that Tommy uses can put your shoulders into an extremely closed position. This will obviously encourage misses to the left. I’m pretty sure I was aiming well right of the target, in order to compensate for the closed position of my shoulders, which would send the ball left of where I was aiming.

I’ve since changed to the Justin Rose style claw grip, which makes it much easier to put your shoulders into a neutral/square position at address (and throughout the stroke). If it weren’t for Ping Vault Ketsch 2.0, I may never have made the switch.

Best Feature of the Ketsch 2.0

“It’s all about those 3 alignment lines. Not only do they frame the ball nicely, the extended middle line makes it super simple to identify exactly where you’re aiming”

The two shorter lines have a dual purpose (in my opinion):

  1. They frame the ball really nicely
  2. They help reinforce the alignment of the middle line (like parallel guidance lines)

It’s the super long middle line that makes all the difference

  • Most putters have pretty short alignment lines
  • The middle line of the Ketsch 2.0 is literally as long as it gets
  • It runs from the face of the putter, all the way through to the back of the mallet
  • It’s very easy to visualize an imaginary line from the putter head to the target

How does the putter feel?

Reasonably firm: Even though it’s a mallet style putter, the Ping Vault Ketsch 2.0 is reasonably firm. I actually think this is a good thing, especially if you play on quick greens. Instead of shooting off the putter face, it’s quite easy to control speed and distance.

The loft is 3 degrees: This is pretty standard. You don’t really see much of the face when you set the putter behind the ball.

Also, lower lofted putters are great for fast greens. They help to get the ball rolling as soon as possible after you make contact with the ball (higher lofted putters can cause the ball to get airborne after impact).

It sets up very square to the target: You only need to take another look at the product image higher up in the post to see just how square the Ketsch 2.0 looks at address. Together with the overpowered alignment aids, it’s easy to get the ball started on the right line (provided your putting stroke is reasonably consistent).

It’s quite forgiving: Even when you hit this putter badly, it should still roll out to a decent distance. As long as you accelerate through impact, this putter should serve you well.

Is it a face balanced or toe hang putter?

The Ping Vault Ketsch 2.0 is a face balanced putter. This means it’s better suited to players with a slight arc, rather than an exaggerated arc.

Ultimately, if your considering a mallet style putter, there’s a good chance that you have a slight arc, and the Ketsch 2.0 will be well suited to your needs.

Do any pros use it?

Lee Westwood was using the Vault Ketsch 2.0 for a short period of time, but he has since changed to the Ping Sigma 2 Fetch. There are also some LPGA tour players that have the Ketsch in the bag, Lizette Salas being one example.

Final Thoughts

The Ping Vault Ketsch 2.0 is a good looking mallet putter from one of the best brands in the business. The triple alignment feature is definitely its best feature.

It’s a great option for people who struggle with poor alignment (and might not even know how poor their alignment is). It’s also quite a forgiving putter, and it’s easy to control distance with the Ketsch 2.0 in your hands.

Ultimately, I would definitely recommend this badboy to anyone who enjoys mallet style putters, and needs something fresh in the bag to regain confidence on the greens.

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