Playing Ping clubs can truly boost your confidence out on the course. They remind you that you’re probably a pretty decent golfer using some of the market’s top gear — while typically feeling and performing like butter. And golfers generally get them customized for their game. If you don’t hit good shots with Pings, you can only blame your swing at that point. I know that when I began playing my first set of Ping irons, my double-digit index dropped to a single. And it was no coincidence. So it caught my eye when the brand debuted new irons and wedges earlier this fall.
The i59 Forged iron offers the look, feel and trajectory better players like — plus it’s forgiving. The custom-fit blade features an aerospace-grade aluminum insert called AlumiCore that redistributes 30 grams of weight to the perimeter for a higher MOI. The result is a crisp, solid feel at impact that delivers lower launch and trajectory control. At address, it’s sized nicely and sports a thin top line and slight offset. Its narrow sole moves smoothly through turf and impact. Meanwhile, the machined clubface sports “MicroMax” grooves for tighter spacing, resulting in four extra grooves to reduce short-iron fliers and preserve long-iron spin. The company bills it as spin performance required for consistency and predictability from all conditions.
“It’s a true forged blade on the outside, but inside it’s like nothing ever engineered in golf equipment,” says John K. Solheim, the company’s president. “Golfers will be pleasantly surprised by its versatility. It appeals to better golfers but the combination of forgiveness and clean appearance will attract golfers of all skill levels.” By the way, the clubhead has a carbon steel forged body, aluminum insert, and laser-cut stainless steel face. It undergoes a forging process that applies pressure to the three parts, creating a unibody part that’s then plasma-welded at the seams. And it has a satin-like Hydropearl 2.0 finish. The stock grip is a connected smart grip from Arccos. For what it’s worth, Tour pro Viktor Hovland has been playing the i59 and has apparently been gushing over his distance control and flight consistency.
And although Ping will likely unveil new wedges early in 2022, it also debuted the versatile Glide Forged Pro wedges this fall. They have a tour-inspired, high-spin design, and come in two grind profiles and multiple loft options. Says Solheim: “It has the versatility to attract and benefit a lot of different skill levels. It’s slightly smaller from heel-to-toe with a rounded profile — to allow players the ability to control the club.”
The company’s designers consulted with Ping’s Tour staff and brand ambassadors, to get just the right shape. The forged carbon steel clubhead features a textured clubface that improves friction between club and ball for more spin and a lower-launching trajectory control. And that’s on top of the precision-milled face and grooves. The 50- and 52-degree lofts feature wheel-cut grooves with a 20-degree sidewall, to optimize performance on full swings that you’ll tend to use these lofts for. The 54-to-62-degree options are milled with a 28-degree sidewall and tighter radius, yielding more spin and precision on finesse shots around the green and from the bunkers.
The “S” grind has a moderate bounce angle and a rounded lead edge, and will be ideal most golfers. It comes in seven loft/bounce configurations. The “T” Grind has a narrower sole with roughly 3 degrees less bounce than the “S” — making it more versatile and precise around the green. It’s available in three lofts, including a 62-degree option, which offers low bounce and high loft for the most greenside versatility. You can also order from eight custom grinds. The wedges are finished with Hydropearl 2.0 chrome, which adds to the higher spin and lower launch, especially from wet and rough conditions.
If you’re in the market for fresh irons or wedges, give these a close look. You’ll be happy you did.