The End of an Era on the Greens
Harris English is making a bold move right when he needs it most. After fifteen years of relying on the same trusty blade, the veteran golfer has finally packed away his “old faithful” putter. This isn’t a random gear change. He sits at number 51 in the FedExCup standings, just one spot outside the top-50 bubble that secures a spot in the next playoff event. That single spot matters more than almost anything else on the schedule. He needs a spark. He needs a change. So he traded the Ping Hohum he used for his 2025 Farmers Insurance Open win for a new Scottsdale Tec Ketsch H. It is a rare moment in modern golf where a player breaks up with a club that carried him to multiple victories. The switch signals a desperate but calculated attempt to find a new rhythm before the tour heads to the next stop.
Why the 1960s Blade Called Him Back
The story behind this equipment swap goes back to a vintage club from the 1960s. English first showed off a Ping Pal putter during practice sessions in Detroit earlier this month. This old-school model has a distinct look and feel compared to his previous mallet-style stick. According to GolfWRX, the decision came down to how the club head moves through the stroke. Tony Serrano, a Senior Design Engineer at Ping Golf, spoke to GolfWRX about the specific mechanics English was chasing. Serrano explained that the Anser-style hosel on the vintage-inspired blade creates a different balance point. It puts the toe down, which matches English’s natural arc stroke better than the face-balanced Hohum.
English had been struggling with the Hohum, a club he started using during his senior year at the University of Georgia. He told GolfWRX years ago that his assistant coach once grabbed the putter and joked that if he could make putts with it, anyone could. He praised the soft face and unique aiming line of that club. He called it “old faithful” and noted that he had his best putting weeks with it. But Serrano told GolfWRX that English felt he had to hold onto the face of the Hohum for a split second longer than he wanted at the end of the stroke. The new Pal-inspired Ketsch H allows him to release the putter more naturally down the line. It is a lighter, less forgiving tool, but one that fits his swing path perfectly.
This equipment change is a high-risk, high-reward play for English. He is sitting right on the edge of the top-50, which is the cutoff for the next FedExCup Playoffs event. Being number 51 means he is the first man out. If he does not move up in the standings soon, he could miss the cut for the next major tournament series. The switch to a lighter, toe-weighted putter suggests he is looking for a specific type of feedback on the greens. He wants to feel the release of the club head rather than fighting to keep the face square. For a player with his experience, trusting a new feel is scary. But sticking with a club that feels slightly wrong is worse. The Ping Hohum served him well for wins dating back to 2013 at the Mayakoba Golf Classic, but the game has changed. Sometimes, you have to break a long-standing habit to find a new rhythm.
The move also highlights how deep the equipment knowledge goes on the PGA Tour. It is not just about the latest marketing hype. It is about finding a tool that matches the specific physics of a player’s stroke. English knew exactly what was wrong with his old setup. He knew the Hohum required a millisecond of extra hold. He knew the vintage Pal style would let the toe drop naturally. This level of detail separates good players from great ones. He is banking on this change to get him back inside the top-50. The next few rounds will tell if the old 1960s design can do what the modern mallet could not.
Next Steps on the Tour
English will take the new Scottsdale Tec Ketsch H to the next stop in the FedExCup Playoffs. The goal is simple: move from number 51 into the top-50. He has already tested the new putter on the practice greens in Detroit.
