The last couple years in golf equipment have been dominated by two words. Zero Torque. In reality, this category is actually really, really low torque, but there’s a chance that we all missed something important about the trend. But Ping Golf, with the release of their new PLD Ally Blue Onset putter, claims to see what we’ve missed: Onset’s ability to help us aim the putter better.
First things first, the new Ping PLD Ally Blue Onset is NOT a zero torque, toe up, super-low torque, or CG-Shafted putter. The new Onset, which by the way has been played on Tour by Corey Conners for about the last year, is designed with a 304 stainless steel sole plate and a 6061 Aluminum Top Plate to help create a high MOI design that doesn’t get incredibly heavy. Coming in at 360 grams, the putter feels very “familiar” to golfers rather than a large, heavy, mallet design like other onset options on the market. It’s also balanced in weight from toe to heel, since they aren’t worried about forcing a toe-up design.
Ping has purposely designed the new offering with 15˚ of toe hang to enable players to maintain a small amount of arc in their putting stroke. This is a crucial feature of the putter because it makes the club more natural to use for golfers who have been playing their entire lives with something that’s meant to introduce arc in the putting stroke. One of the most common reasons for players to return Zero Torque options is that they constantly miss to their pull side, i.e. a left miss for a right-handed golfer. But it’s no secret that the Zero Torque market has taken over. Or, did it?
Ping releases PLD Milled SE DS72 Hovland Edition putter | First Look
By:
Jonathan Wall
It’s previously been stated to me by Ping Golf employees that Ping is really an engineering company that happens to make golf clubs. They don’t rush into new product, and they don’t release new product unless they feel like they’ve done something to improve the space, and they certainly do not care to chase trends. So they went to the drawing board and tried to interpret the space in their own way. What they ended up finding out is that there was potentially more benefit in the onset hosel, than in the super low torque properties of the trend.
“We brought the Onset putters out for the first time in our backyard at the [WM Phoenix Open],” the company said in a release. “Right away they drew a lot of interest, we probably shipped three or four putters home to players that week; with Corey Conners putting it in play almost immediately with great success.”
Corey Conners has been rolling the Ally Blue Onset putter for most of this season.
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When you move the shaft back away from the face, this allows players to see an uninterrupted topline and face. By unlocking that uninterrupted topline, lots of players have stated that they can aim the putter square to the target line more consistently. The human brain loves straight lines. We use lines to help us aim things across our everyday lives.
Another benefit to the uninterrupted top line that onset creates is the ability to be more comfortable with ball position. Lots of amateur players putt with the ball far too back in their stance. But with a putter that has onset, it’s easier to move the ball further up in the stance because it keeps the shaft in the same “visual” that they may have seen with their previous putter but as it pushes the face forward of that visual, it also helps to improve ball position. This improved ball position can then lead to a much better impact efficiency which creates a domino effect into better roll and speed off the putter.
“The players liked the simple alignment with a view of the full face and an uninterrupted sight line,” said Ping Tour rep Kenton Oates. “They’ve said it swings like a blade with the forgiveness of a mallet.”
If you’ve gone down the route of trying one of the several new toe up offerings on the market and felt like you just can’t stop missing your putts to the pull side, but you like the visual that an onset hosel or shaft gives you, the new Ping Golf PLD SE Ally Blue Onset putter may be the perfect option for you. They are available in very limited quantities, so make sure to jump on your chance to pick one up while you can. You can pre-order it now from Fairway Jockey.
PING 2025 PLD Milled SE Ally Blue Onset Custom Putter
TECHNOLOGY
Machined 6061 aluminum top with 304 stainless steel sole plate
15° toe down to achieve a slight arc
Deep milled for slightly softer feel
Single alignment line
Black anodized finish
Onset shaft to help alignment
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ALSO AVAILABLE AT: PGA Tour Superstore, Dicks Sporting Goods
Want to find the best putter for your bag in 2025? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
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