Equipment

Ping Glide Wedges

Published

9 years ago

Jan 12, 2015

Different golfers need different wedges, but they’re all searching for the same thing.

“When you have a wedge that’s just right for you, it doesn’t dig and it doesn’t bounce,” says Marty Jertson, Ping’s director of product development. “It just glides through the turf.”

Ping has tweaked nearly every aspect of its new wedge line, aptly named “Glide.” Some changes, such as the improved grooves and sole grinds could be expected, while others take a more outside-the-box approach to help golfers improve their wedge games.

An example? Hydrophobicity, the physical property of repelling water. Hydrophobic surfaces make water bead – think of Teflon-coated pans or windshields treated with Rain-X. Hydrophilic objects, such as paper, absorb water.

Ping studies found that chrome-plated wedges are more hydrophobic than wedges without chrome finishes, which means that they move more water away from the wedge face at impact. That improves consistency, and is why the Glide wedges have satin, chrome-plated finishes. According to Ping, the finish is 220 percent more consistent in wet grass and 35 percent more consistent in dry grass than the “dark blast” finish Ping used on its previous wedge line, the Tour Gorge.

The Glide wedges are also cast from a 431 stainless steel that’s softer than the 17-4 stainless steel used on the Tour Gorge wedges. The softer metal, combined with Ping’s new elastomer Custom Tuning Port (CTP), creates a noticeably softer feel at impact.

The Glide wedges also have new grooves that are different in lower lofts than they are in higher lofts.

The lower-lofted wedges (47, 50 and 52) have deeper grooves with 16-degree sidewalls that offer more consistency on full shots. The soles of the wedges were also given more bounce and made slightly wider compared to the Tour Gorge wedges, a change that will make the clubs easier to hit for most golfers.

The higher lofted wedges (54, 56, 58 and 60) have shallower, wider grooves with 24-degree sidewalls. That gives them sharper edges to help golfers create more spin on open-face shots.

The Glide wedges come in three different sole grinds that are considerably different, but there are a few commonalities. Compared to the Tour Gorge wedges, the new models have more bounce and more rounded leading edges to help them better glide through the turf. For improved versatility, they also have more heel relief and a steeper trailing edge.

Choosing the Right Grind

Thin Sole (TS) wedges work best for golfers who have moderate-to-shallow angles of attack and/or those who play golf courses with firm conditions.

Lofts available: 58TS (20 degrees of bounce), 60TS (19 degrees of bounce)

Wide Sole (WS) wedges are better for golfers who have moderate-to-steep angles of attack, and/or those who play golf courses with soft conditions.

Lofts available: 54WS (14 degrees of bounce), 56WS (14 degrees of bounce), 58WS (13 degrees of bounce), 60WS (13 degrees of bounce)

Standard Sole (SS) wedges take the middle ground, and work for the widest range of golfers and course conditions.

Lofts available: 47SS (12 degrees of bounce), 50SS (12 degrees of bounce), 52SS (12 degrees of bounce), 54SS (13 degrees of bounce), 56SS (13 degrees of bounce), 58SS (12 degrees of bounce), 60SS (12 degrees of bounce)

See more comparison photos of the grinds in the gallery below.

Shaft and Grip

The Glide wedges have Ping’s new CFS wedge shafts, which use a single flex and 118-gram weight to deliver a low trajectory and stable feel.

They also have Ping’s new Dylawedge grip, which is 0.75 inches longer than the company’s standard grip to encourage golfers to grip down on the club for more control. There are markings on the bottom of the grip at 1.375-inch intervals to create three reference points if golfers wish to use shaft length to alter trajectory and distance.

At Address: Ping’s Gorge wedge (left) and new Glide wedge.

The grips have a larger outside diameter on their bottom half, which creates a more consistent feel regardless of where golfers position their hands on the grip.

“The great pitchers and chippers of the world grip down on the club around the green,” says Jertson. “It lightens the club up and gets the heel up in the air. When you give someone a longer grip, without telling them around the greens they’ll almost automatically do it.”

The shaft and grip changes further “lighten” the clubs. While the wedges have a slightly increased total weight of 13 grams, they have a lighter swing weight in the higher lofts. The Gorge wedges had a swing weight of D6 in the 58- and 60-degree models, while the Glide wedges have a stock swing weight that is a much more manageable D4.

Ping Glide Specs

Bubba Watson, who won the WGC-HSBC Champions in November with three Ping Glide wedges, uses a lob wedge with a swing weight of D1 to give him more control over delicate shots (click here to see all the clubs in Watson’s bag).

The Glide wedges ($140 steel, $160 graphite) are available for pre-order and will be in stores in mid February.

Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the Glide wedges in our forum.

Your Reaction?

LIKE133
LEGIT58
WOW28
LOL7
IDHT12
FLOP13
OB3
SHANK20

Related Topics:Ping wedges

Up Next

Review: Ping G30 LS Tec Driver

Don't Miss

Ping Cadence TR Putters

Zak Kozuchowski

31 Comments

shabby

Jun 3, 2015 at 12:58 am

The sound is terrible and so is the feel. Worst wedge I have ever played and the shaft options are a joke! All ping club heads may be ok but none of the shafts are worth a shot o p!

Reply Report comment
THONG

Mar 7, 2015 at 4:42 pm

I like them light but that’s me, I am thong!

Reply Report comment
jj

Mar 6, 2015 at 2:45 pm

Well, I’m starting to loose faith in Ping. Turning what was once real innovation to just sales gimmicks. This 60* TS glide looks ok but seriously lacks performance in spin and distance. What is worse is the stock shaft weight is so light it’s ridiculous as is with an upgraded shaft. I put a KBS TOUR in at 120 grams and it still feels like nothing. I will have to go back to DG S-300 to see what’s up but at this time I am ZERO impressed by this wedge. Stay tuned.

Reply Report comment
jj

Feb 24, 2015 at 1:38 am

I just bought a Ping 60 TS Glide wedge. First, my 60 is one of the most used in my bag and one of the most important in my scoring game. I have been through four 60* Gorge wedges and instead of a 5th I went for the Glide. I didn’t hit it in the practice bay, I can’t get a dam thing out of that with a wedge.

On the range I instantly found that the club was minimal on feel. I also found that on full shots, getting even 90 yards was impossible. I usually max out at around 107+ w/ my 60*.

For one, the club is WAY to light, at least for me. I never understand how Ping can offer only one shaft option and a 118 g at that. I guess high handicap’s may like it, but it’s just a dead feel with no feedback with the weak shaft.

I usually install a DG S-300 .25 over and 1* to 1.5* flat in my wedges and that extra weight is perfect. Iron shafts have gotten lighter and I went to a KBS Tour V in my irons from a previous S-300 because of left elbow problems, they feel very good with the cushion insert. They are still a little light at 110 grams, 115 with the cushion but very happy with the feel.

I returned the club at RD and ordered another direct from Ping with my preferred specs. I will know what’s really up when I get it back in a week or so.

Reply Report comment
Zedsded

Feb 17, 2015 at 11:59 am

How do you know what bounce you need? When every manufacturer makes a 10* bounce yet none of them are similar, how do you know what you really have (or need)? Seems like it’s pretty easy to figure out this system…

We look at bounce angles too much, cause bounce location has more to do with how a wedge feels/performs than the actual number. Numbers therefore are misleading. If you have a 10* bounce and the location is 3/4″ away from the lead edge vs. one that is 1/8″ away from the lead edge, those two wedges are going to play completely different, yet they are both 10* bounce? Archaic
Two things that don’t happen enough…fitting for wedges and putters.

Reply Report comment
B.Goodman

Jan 31, 2015 at 3:37 pm

How do they compare to the Ping Anser forged wedges?
B.

Reply Report comment
Jim

Jan 16, 2015 at 12:04 am

Any idea if Ping is going to offer customer stamping/engravings? Because that is a whole lot of blank surface on the back side of those wedges…

Reply Report comment
RocketShankz

Jan 14, 2015 at 11:00 pm

It may seem a petty complaint, but I just don’t understand why they insist on making the bottom groove a different color. Less is more.

Reply Report comment
- nick
  
  Jan 14, 2015 at 11:20 pm
  
  they do this for the lie and loft machine it reads the white bottom line. so i was told by ping
  
  Reply Report comment
JohnnyB

Jan 14, 2015 at 5:23 pm

Why is a D4 swingweight “more manageable” than D6? Why do most of the Ping staff pros carrying wedges with “less manageable” D6-D8 in the wedges?
Same thing with Ping’s irons. The I25 comes stock with a D0 swingweight while most other manufacturers comparable products come with D2.

Reply Report comment
Chip

Jan 13, 2015 at 10:30 pm

Some low bounce options would be nice….. PING seems to have never heard of them. Come on PING, I’ve been waiting for years!

Reply Report comment
Gary

Jan 13, 2015 at 11:12 am

Looks like a pretty good over all improvement over the Tour Gorge. The lighter swing weight sounds good. Nice looking Satin finish and I like the over all design better than the Tour Gorge. Hopefully the new groove design will increase the spin around the greens. I am pretty well settled into the Mack Daddy 2 wedges but this one would be worth looking at probably.

Reply Report comment
Shallowface

Jan 13, 2015 at 7:35 am

Karsten Solheim could have sold a lot more clubs in those early years if he had chrome plated them, but he didn’t believe it was necessary or beneficial. Of course, he was right.

But now, his “descendants” claim it adds playability.

Sheesh.

I am familiar with the term Hydrophobic. I’ve sat next to him on the bus.

Reply Report comment
Mike

Jan 12, 2015 at 4:27 pm

Does anyone on this site really believe they can tell the difference between 431 and 17-4 stainless steel when they hit a golf ball?
I believe this is pure B.S.

“The Glide wedges are also cast from a 431 stainless steel that’s softer than the 17-4 stainless steel used on the Tour Gorge wedges. The softer metal, combined with Ping’s new elastomer Custom Tuning Port (CTP), creates a noticeably softer feel at impact. “

Reply Report comment
- Zak Kozuchowski
  
  Jan 12, 2015 at 4:52 pm
  
  Yes, they’re less clicky.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Patrick
    
    Jan 12, 2015 at 11:01 pm
    
    Zak, Mike may have a point that you’re missing. I would be surprised to hear that Marty Jertsen said there would be a big sound difference due to the metal. What are you hearing these metals do? Is 431 being deformed more than 17-4 on a chip shot? Is it deforming the golf ball differently? I would be shocked if 431 vs. 17-4, cast vs. forged, 1020 vs. 1025 has a noticeable effect on sound. The design of the tuning port, club structure, cg location, point of impact, golf ball choice, your surroundings, and the amount of wax in your ears would probably have more impact on sound.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Patrick
      
      Jan 12, 2015 at 11:02 pm
      
      *Jertson. Sorry Marty.
      
      Reply Report comment
    - Shallowface
      
      Jan 13, 2015 at 7:38 am
      
      The ability to engage in “Suspension of Disbelief” is a major quality one needs in order to be able to enjoy golf equipment, especially today.
      
      It’s the same quality that allows one to enjoy a movie. Or believe that Santa Claus or Professional Wrestling is real.
      
      Reply Report comment
- Mikec
  
  Jan 12, 2015 at 5:46 pm
  
  YOU CAN WHEN YOU PUT IT IN A LOFT LIE MACHINE — That accounts for a lot
  
  Reply Report comment
Myron miller

Jan 12, 2015 at 4:26 pm

One major issue for me. I like my 60 degree to have very low bounce. I play a lot of tight lies from the fairway and like to use my 60 when I’m less than 75 yards. having the low bounce makes it very easy. With only 13 degree bounce that’s an issue (in fact that’s higher than my 56 SW at 12 degrees).

Reply Report comment
- M
  
  Jan 12, 2015 at 11:24 pm
  
  Myron – Just try the TS – it will play very similar to other low bounce options from the other manufacturers.
  
  Bounce numbers don’t tell the entire story as how the club will play.
  
  Reply Report comment
Mnmlist Golfr

Jan 12, 2015 at 2:12 pm

“Water on the clubface, bro…”

Reply Report comment
Garbage

Jan 12, 2015 at 2:07 pm

Did they copy the grooves from Mizuno?

Reply Report comment
- Gary
  
  Jan 13, 2015 at 11:03 am
  
  Seems like at least a couple companies (Callaway and Titleist for 2) liked the Mizuno idea of different groove designs for the higher lofts vs. the lower lofts to try to increase the spin on the higher lofts and not to have too much spin on the lower lofts.
  
  Reply Report comment
Jim

Jan 12, 2015 at 12:26 pm

Great looking wedges. Much improved over the Gorge wedges. Intriguing design with multiple bounces and groove patterns too. Not sure they’ll get me away from my Vokeys but if they’re as good as other Ping clubs they might be worth a try.

Reply Report comment
Tom Noel

Jan 12, 2015 at 12:15 pm

Funny how much they look like a Gene Sarazen R-20?

Reply Report comment
Tom Noel

Jan 12, 2015 at 12:13 pm

Funny how much they look like a Gene Sarazen R-20 Wedge?

Reply Report comment
chuck stone

Jan 12, 2015 at 11:46 am

These pro line club prices are crazy. Its because the manufactures pay the pros too much to play them, may also be why golf is retracting..

Reply Report comment
JEFF

Jan 12, 2015 at 11:25 am

GLIDE??? SERIOUSLY???? How bout monkey nuts? GEEEEESH!!!

Reply Report comment
- bradford
  
  Jan 12, 2015 at 12:33 pm
  
  Focus groups didn’t respond well to monkey nuts.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Jimmy s
  
  Jan 12, 2015 at 4:17 pm
  
  Well they could have painted them white put sldrs on them slots too oh dont forget lofting up and then called them SANDBURNER . No seriously ping never really uses hip names its always something different and understated it seems but the reason most people play thier stuff is that it just works function over form who cares what the name is as long as they go where you aim them right they look good cant wait to see what they feel like i own the tour gorges i like them about as much as i liked my cg15’s they replaced. Hopefully they are sandburner-ier or something like that lol
  
  Reply Report comment

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

4 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

Your Reaction?