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Ping i irons: What you need to know

Published

9 years ago

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Ping’s i irons ($135 per club with steel, $150 per club with graphite) irons have a satin-brushed finish, and are available in 3-9, PW, UW. Default color code is blue. Stock swing weight is D1-D2.

Ping’s Stock Shafts: CFS Distance Steel (Soft R, R, S, X), CFS Graphite (65 Soft R, 70 Regular, 80 Stiff)
No Upcharge Custom Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), True Temper Project X (5.0, 6.0), True Temper XP 95 (R, S), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 105 (S, X)

Related: Our full review of Ping’s i irons

What you need to know

  • Ping’s i irons replace the company’s i25 irons, which were cast from 17-4 stainless steel. The i25 irons made our Gear Trials: Best Players Irons list in both 2014 and 2015, earning best-of-the-pack marks in forgiveness. They were widely considered to be the most-forgiving irons in their class.
  • The i irons are cast from a softer material, 431 stainless steel, and for that reason most golfers will identify the i irons as having “better feel.” A 431 stainless steel construction was also used in Ping’s Glide wedges (click here to read our full review).
  • The most common criticism of Ping’s i25 irons (click here to read our review) was that they didn’t fly as far as other irons in their class, which was a product of their solid-face construction and average lofts (33-degree 7 iron). The i irons have 1-degree stronger standard lofts (32-degree 7 iron) in the 3-8 irons, so they’ll fly slightly farther.
  • Like the i25 irons, the i irons have a “progressive design,” which means that as the iron number decreases (i.e. PW, 9 iron, 8 iron) the clubs have gradually longer blade lengths, wider soles and more offset to help golfers hit the clubs higher and farther. The short irons in the set have relatively short blade lengths, narrow soles and minimal offset, which is said to make the easier-to-hit clubs more precise.
  • The shape of the i irons is slightly different than the i25 irons, with slightly thinner top lines, less offset and wider soles. The added trailing edge relief on the soles of the i irons, however, make the two irons play with the same effective sole width as the i25 irons.

Ping i iron specs

Ping_I_irons_specs

  • According to Ping, the 431 stainless steel frame of the i irons has an inherently higher strength-to-weight ratio, which allowed the company to make them even more forgiving than previous i-series irons that were made of 17-4 stainless steel (i25, i20, i15, etc.).
  • Ping’s Custom Tuning Port (CTP), a crevice behind the face of the iron that is filled with an elastomer weight, has been moved deeper in the cavity and lower behind the face of the iron. Unlike previous Ping irons, the CTP is now fully concealed in the iron head. The CTP’s slight movement downward and deeper in the iron head aligns it more directly behind the impact area for better energy transfer and a better feel.
  • Like previous i-series irons, a tungsten weight is used in the toe area of the 3-7 irons, improving the MOI (moment of inertia), a measure of forgiveness.
  • The stock length of the i irons is 0.25 inches longer in the 3-9 irons than the i25 irons. Longer clubs are generally swung faster by golfers, and the change can lead to more distance. Ping’s i 7 iron has a stock length of 37 inches.

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49 Comments

49 Comments

  1. Chris

    Aug 5, 2015 at 5:26 pm

    Why all the hate over a club that most have never had a chance to hit? I have played blades for years, MP 14, MP 33, Tits 695, and Tits 712 MB and have liked all of those mentioned. With that said I had a chance to hit these a couple days ago, got fitted, and am now waiting to put them into the bag. With the extra forgiveness, lower dispersion, and maintained ability to work the ball I would welcome a friendly round with any of the blade snobs posting BS comments above. Just saying, look at the tour and ask yourself why more and more are moving away from blades? Maybe because nobody wants to be penalized a couple strokes for loosing concentration for a nano second or being a little fatigued on the last hole and blowing a round due to sloppy form?

    Reply Report comment

  2. Joe

    Jul 31, 2015 at 9:52 pm

    The Ping clubs aren’t anymore jacked-up than the other manufacturers. You don’t have to play jacked-up clubs, just keep the clubs you currently play. What stronger and stronger clubs eventually get to is that the 3 iron and 4 iron get to be too hard to hit. What happens then, you have to replace them with hybrids, and of course more wedges. So in the long run you have really gained nothing, just helping support the golf industry.
    I don’t replace my irons very often, and certainly not every 1 or 2 new versions. New versions are more hype than reality.
    Do I like the new Pings, I haven’t tried them but I do like Pings. I have no immediate plans to replace my current Ping Karsten’s. If I did it might be with my original Eye 2 BeCu, with 50 degree wedge.

    Reply Report comment

  3. ScottC

    Jul 28, 2015 at 9:55 am

    I was able to hit these irons last week at a local course. I liked them enough to get fitted the next day…outdoor fitting, launch monitor, with a PGA teaching pro. I play to a 6, using Mizuno JPX irons. Yes, they are shovels…too much offset, too big a sole, but good distance when struck well. I am not a long hitter, 240 yard drives, hit 7 iron about 150 carry.

    What I found in the fitting was very interesting….I have been playing with irons that are too short for my swing…about 1/2 ito 3/4 nch too short. With the proper length club I was hitting ball in the middle of the club face….hit the PING 7 iron about 170 carry (on launch monitor) vs. 160 with the JPX. Dispersion was much tighter as well. Same loft on the Mizuno 7 iron vs. the PING 7 iron – 32 degrees.

    In the end, my spec’s were Blue lie angle, 1/2 longer. I hit about 100 balls with this setup after the fitting and was very happy with distance, direction, turf interaction, shaft, etc. I found it to be a very comfortable club for me.

    Give them a try and see if you like them. YMMV.

    Reply Report comment

  4. David

    Jul 25, 2015 at 11:47 pm

    Perhaps a step backward for Ping. The i25 was never meant to be a distance club and its accuracy beats any iron out there. Here is what went wrong for Ping. They wanted the iE1 to go farther so how did they do this? Simple. They made the stock shaft 1/2 inch longer. Yep. It works..but it sacrifices accuracy in the process. 7 extra offline yards. Go for it. I’ll stick with my i25’s.

    Reply Report comment

  5. Bobby Marshall

    Jul 18, 2015 at 12:08 am

    The lofts are perfect. This is the way all manufacturers should do it. So then you go 45, 50, 55, 60.

    The problem is the softer steel. They better not put that 431 crap in the next S-line.

    Reply Report comment

  6. KK

    Jul 17, 2015 at 8:20 am

    People complain about jacked lofts but every single iron comparison will mention distance and which is longest, which is middle of the pack and which is shortest. Your iron company does not want to end up last in that comparison.

    Reply Report comment

  7. rymail00

    Jul 17, 2015 at 1:37 am

    I’m not a club engineer but aren’t must “jacked up lofts” because of perimeter weighting and putting the CG lower? So if you have an older model 47* pw that hits a max height of say for the sake of arguement 100ft and carries 100 yards or a 45* pw that reaches the same peak height of 100 feet but goes 115 yards what’s the problem? Clubs now have more weight lower in the back than clubs from a decade ao. So having newer models hit the baller a lot higher you’ve got to lower the loft but still get close to the same peak height.

    Or maybe I’m just confused on what you guys are talking about. 🙂

    In 95% of the rounds or tourneys I play in the first question asked is what did you shoot? Not what iron I hit into the par3 8th hole. The number on the club plays very little role in the out come of score.

    Who knows maybe I just look at it differently.

    Reply Report comment

  8. Batman

    Jul 16, 2015 at 3:00 pm

    Looks like another solid set from Ping. This are attractive option to an aging/retired mini-tour hack like me.

    Reply Report comment

  9. Evan

    Jul 16, 2015 at 1:22 pm

    I like the look and adjustments made compared to the i25. Not quite as pure looking as the s55… Can’t have everything. Incredible no extra charge with the Modus 105 option! With the Modus 105 become a free option on the S55?

    Reply Report comment

  10. MartyMoose09

    Jul 16, 2015 at 8:54 am

    Since i25 and Karsten irons are now in the classic section, looks as though these are a combo of the i25 and G30 while the Gmax are a combo of the G30 & Karsten irons.

    Reply Report comment

  11. Car Ram Rod

    Jul 16, 2015 at 2:04 am

    I guess I’m in the minority here, but I think they are brilliant. I had a chance to see these in person and they have a great look to them, slightly improved to the already popular i25. Less offset, improved head shape, softer feel…..what am I missing here?!?!? Haha.

    As far as the freaking out over the stronger lofts, I don’t quite get it. Ping has the best engineers in the business, don’t you think they product tested and number crunched quite a few fitting sessions before bringing these to the market?

    Ping doesn’t have short product cycles, they’re stepping up to the plate with a couple new iron models they feel good about and they think will help you ‘play your best.’ I wouldn’t let the spec sheet put a bad taste in your mouth before you have them in your hands. Just my opinion.

    Reply Report comment

  12. Joke

    Jul 16, 2015 at 1:44 am

    Pfffffft! Stock lie is BLUE dot? huh? Wha? Sorry, but what happened to the true fitting system that Ping so believes is the best? What – because the lofts are stronger which made the face a little more open so you had to go a little upright to fool people into thinking they’re not going to slice it. What a joke.

    Reply Report comment

    • Frid

      Jul 19, 2015 at 7:28 pm

      Effective lie angle is a product of length. Standard color code is blue because the length is longer than i25. This has nothing to do with loft of the face or any perceived “open” face at setup (which was made up by you)…..Where’s the joke?
      Ping choose to make people aware of a small (3/4 of a degree) change that could slightly effect their game. Sounds like honesty from a company, when the alternative would be to ignore the difference and hurt people’s games over image. Kudos to ping.

      Reply Report comment

  13. other paul

    Jul 15, 2015 at 11:21 pm

    Can’t stand the look of them. Yuck. Looks like a curvy G30. I prefer the i25s. I hit my 47PW 200 yards anyways ????. So a little less distance wouldn’t hurt. Lol.

    Reply Report comment

    • glenn

      Jul 21, 2015 at 6:07 pm

      This might be the most golfwrx comment ever lol

      Reply Report comment

  14. Jim

    Jul 15, 2015 at 9:54 pm

    Any word on drivers and metalwoods for the i line

    Reply Report comment

  15. Dirk

    Jul 15, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    Not bad, but I’ll stick to my Titleist blades. I need the feel and precision to know that I can hit my signature 255 yard 3 iron baby draw, and these shovels just don’t do it for me.

    Reply Report comment

  16. Stephen

    Jul 15, 2015 at 7:24 pm

    Why would they offer only px 5 and 6? Isn’t the shaft that fits more golfers the stiff 5.5? I have I-20’s and they could deffinantly feel less pinglike. These look great just wish they would have stuck with the old lofts, but understand that distance makes more money. #TM

    Reply Report comment

  17. Oldplayer

    Jul 15, 2015 at 6:56 pm

    3 degrees between the 6 and 7 iron. I don’t get it. This is what happens when you want to make a 3 iron that is still playable at 20 degrees but want a pw at 45. I know they are all doing it but it is still crazy. Would be better off to have one less club and just have 4 degrees virtually all the way.
    Pings philosophy is obviously “if you can’t beat em, join em”.
    Come on Ping. You have always gone your own way and had a point of difference. Why change now?
    You’re saying players wanted to hit their i25’s longer. Tell em to grab an SGI set with pw at 43!
    Stay true to Karsten’s original vision. Durable irons that aren’t afraid to be different and you will prosper like you always have. Join the pack and you will get lost in the crowd.

    Reply Report comment

    • Max

      Jul 15, 2015 at 7:22 pm

      Here, here! To me, these are converging with products like RocketBladz From TMaG, and XR irons from Callaway…which is not a good thing.

      Reply Report comment

    • dr bloor

      Jul 15, 2015 at 9:30 pm

      If you pay enough attention to the game and the equipment to know about stronger lofts, you also know that Ping will be more than happy to accommodate your gap preferences throughout the set. If you want a 46 degree PW and a four degree progression from there, they can do it. Just don’t pay any attention to the numbers stamped on the bottoms of the clubs.

      Reply Report comment

  18. Plinko

    Jul 15, 2015 at 4:57 pm

    “The most common criticism of Ping’s i25 irons (click here to read our review) was that they didn’t fly as far as other irons in their class, which was a product of their solid-face construction and average lofts.”

    Hilarious. What a bunch of wussy players Pling players are

    Reply Report comment

    • Warren Schroer

      Apr 18, 2016 at 10:17 pm

      That’s funny- I bought a really nice set of used i25’s to resell and after I fixed them up, took them out to the range and was impressed with the feel. I was playing AP2’714’s and I was hitting these irons 6-8 yds further easy. I have a hard time understanding the need for more yardage- it’s about distance control and accuracy with irons- if you want more distance- hit one more club! I have looked at the new i’s and if I ever purchased them, i’d cut 1/4″ off he length and use the modus 105 shafts- better height and consistent distances from a “standard” length shaft. Making the shaft longer does you no good if you are way off line or don’t know what the club is going to do yardage wise- it feels good to launch an 8 iron over the green, but the chip back is tough. I’ll stick with the i25’s for now.

      Reply Report comment

  19. Shallowface

    Jul 15, 2015 at 4:45 pm

    Are these chrome plated like the Glide wedges?

    Reply Report comment

  20. TJS

    Jul 15, 2015 at 4:39 pm

    To all you posers complaining about loft increases, and loving blades so much more than cast clubs. We get it already you are all +4 handicaps and the three time defending champ at your club. We know you would go pro but you just can’t get the financial backing to get a start.

    Reply Report comment

    • Shaft

      Jul 16, 2015 at 8:25 am

      Yes, and hit your 47 PW 200 yards.

      Reply Report comment

    • Christosterone

      Jul 16, 2015 at 3:25 pm

      I think what a lot of people don’t like is that the lofts are getting stronger and the shafts are remaining the same. It’s basically hard-stepping entire sets….which is actually worse for the high handicapper.
      If anything, they should be staying more towards a 49 degree PW with a wedge length shaft as opposed to what equates to a 9 iron with a wedge length shaft….the same goes for every club in the bag….a 3 iron with a 4 etched on it and paired with a traditional 4 iron shaft….which is generally WORSE for high handicappers….they would be better able to get the ball up with more a soft stepped setup…
      Just my 2 cents…
      -Christosterone

      Reply Report comment

    • Joe Golfer

      Jul 17, 2015 at 1:57 am

      Amen, TJS. It gets tiring hearing of all the pro level players who complain about every single club that gets shown or reviewed by GolfWRX.
      One guy says he hits his PW 200 yards.
      Another says he loves his Titleist blades because he can control his baby draw and hit that 3 iron 255 yards every time.
      Or the complaints that a club isn’t a blade.
      Just take it for what it is instead of whining about the fact that it doesn’t suit a scratch player’s game.
      Even a lot of pros play clubs similar to these styles. Not everybody plays blades like Rory and Tiger.

      Reply Report comment

  21. Sven Olsen

    Jul 15, 2015 at 4:19 pm

    I never liked Pings – from their very first forestation tools to these new ones – it seems to me that Ping tried to copy an old Hogan trick with these clubs – not realizing, that they shall never succeed.
    Sorry – not for me personally – I prefer blades!

    Reply Report comment

    • JPF

      Oct 30, 2015 at 12:40 pm

      Never succeed? Are you brain dead? Think you may want to check out the current financial states of the major golf equipment manufacturers. Think you’ll find PING has succeeded and thrived by using conservative club cycles of about 18 months rather than release a new club every half hour. They must be doing something right.

      Reply Report comment

  22. Raymond Norris

    Jul 15, 2015 at 4:04 pm

    bought a set of 825’s last fall, have changed the shafts from the stock CTF’s to the Distance CTF’s and they are still crap. Another shaft change or just Ebay these not-nice i25’s for more traditional blades like Titleist. I’ve always played Ping’s, but sorry, I don’t care how many Better Player awards they have won (I’m in that category also), the i25’s are not “Pings”. just My take……..

    Reply Report comment

    • JPF

      Oct 30, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      I’m pretty sure your skill level probably exceeds the quality of PING. i25’s are actually played and have won on the PGA Tour but those hacks are nothing to your superior talent. Could it be that the equipment just doesn’t suit you? Everybody on this blog are so effing critical of ANYTHING that they don’t play and act as if their skill level somehow has exceeded the club manufacturers. While it’s annoying as hell, it sure provides much needed comic relief.

      Reply Report comment

  23. shabby

    Jul 15, 2015 at 2:04 pm

    Nothing special/Shaft choices are lame but better than just one crappy cfs

    Reply Report comment

  24. Ping man

    Jul 15, 2015 at 2:03 pm

    Please keep the s-line 17-4 steel. it’s enough of the softer metal. we want our clubs to last longer.

    Reply Report comment

  25. mo

    Jul 15, 2015 at 12:40 pm

    Wow 45* PW. Nice looking clubs but I’d order 5-U for my game.
    It appears to lean more towards players cb’s but gi in disguise?

    Reply Report comment

  26. Max

    Jul 15, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    Longer lengths and stronger lofts……gross

    Reply Report comment

  27. Gautama

    Jul 15, 2015 at 11:03 am

    Look great, but didn’t the i25s launch just last year? I’d always had the impression Ping was on more like a 2+ year product lifecycle. I wonder if the i25s just weren’t hitting their projected volume…

    Reply Report comment

    • Mat

      Jul 15, 2015 at 6:23 pm

      They launched almost two years ago. Started showing up in late 2013? However, a material change is a pretty darn big change. I’m quite happy with my i25s. It’s going to be very interesting to see how 431 holds up over time.

      Reply Report comment

  28. Tyler

    Jul 15, 2015 at 10:10 am

    Another 45 degree PW? When will the “lofting up” end?

    Reply Report comment

    • Nolanski

      Jul 15, 2015 at 11:01 am

      45 is not the highest I’ve seen. But I don’t classify clubs by the club number or letter. Loft degree is the only important thing which is why I liked how the new Hogan irons bought into that.

      Reply Report comment

    • Scooter McGavin

      Jul 15, 2015 at 11:04 am

      Never

      Reply Report comment

  29. Christosterone

    Jul 15, 2015 at 9:35 am

    Ping makes a great looking club….Like Michael said, I wonder why KBS Tour are not a standard…could be the op forgot to list them as they are offered for Karstens and s series for no up charge…
    Now If Ping ever makes an entire glide set I will buy it instantly.
    That being said, I am not blown away enough by the design of the new i club to dump my z945s.
    -Christosterone

    Reply Report comment

    • David

      Jul 25, 2015 at 11:50 pm

      Ping thinks their own shaft design is superior. Abundant comments in the forums will indicate the opposite. Never get a stock Ping shaft if you want to happy in the long run.

      Reply Report comment

  30. MartyMoose09

    Jul 15, 2015 at 9:34 am

    These look like the G30s to me which is what I play. Also ZZ65 is a great no upcharge shaft.

    Reply Report comment

    • Christosterone

      Jul 15, 2015 at 9:47 am

      It remains forever perplexing that Ping ended(for the most part) the AWT shafts.
      I had AWT X-Flex in a set of s56s and i15s.
      They were very stiff for such a light club…I probably couldn’t differentiate between the AWT X and an aerotech steel fiber shaft…they were awesome.
      Ping looks to have stopped development/marketing of the AWT….guess I was in the minority.
      -Christoaterone

      Reply Report comment

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Whats in the Bag

WITB Time Machine: Scottie Scheffler’s winning WITB, 2022 Masters

Published

5 hours ago

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Apr 11, 2024

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At the 2022 Masters, Scottie Scheffler delivered a steely Sunday performance to capture the green jacket in the 86th contesting of the tournament. Beginning the final round with a three-stroke lead, Scheffler was steady all day, tallying a final-round 1-under 71 to finish three strokes ahead of Rory McIlroy.

Here’s a look at what Scheffler had in the bag two years ago.

Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (8 degrees @7.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X

3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth Plus (16.5 degrees @15)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X

Utility: Srixon Z U85 (3)
Shaft: Nippon Pro Modus3 Hybrid Tour X

Irons: Srixon ZU85 (4), TaylorMade P7TW (5-PW)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM8 (50-12F, 56-14F, 60-06K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Scotty Cameron Special Select Timeless Tourtype GSS Prototype

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

More photos of Scottie Scheffler’s WITB in the forums.

 

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Equipment

Best irons in golf of 2024: Most technology packed

Published

9 hours ago

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Apr 11, 2024

By

In our effort to assemble the 2024 best irons, we have again compiled an expert panel of fitters to help you find out which of the 2024 irons is best for your game.

Ultimately the best way to find your personal best iron set is to work with a professional fitter using a launch monitor. The difficult part is a lot of people don’t have easy access to fitters, launch monitors, and club builders — so at GolfWRX, we have done a lot of the work for you.

We are in the era of not just maximizing distance but also minimizing the penalty of common misses for each player — this applies to irons just as much as it does with any other club in the bag. And of course, proper set makeup and gapping is essential. This is why, now more than ever, custom fitting is essential to help you see results on every swing you make.

We want to give you the tools and information to go out and find what works best for you by offering recommendations for your individual iron set wants and needs with insight and feedback from the people who work every single day to help golfers get peak performance out of their equipment.

Best irons of 2024: The process

The best fitters in the world see all the options available in the marketplace, analyze their performance traits, and pull from that internal database of knowledge and experience like a supercomputer when they are working with a golfer.

It’s essentially a huge decision tree derived from experience and boiled down to a starting point of options—and it has nothing to do with a handicap!

Modern iron sets are designed into player categories that overlap the outdated “what’s your handicap?” model, and at GolfWRX we believe it was important to go beyond handicap and ask specific questions about the most crucial performance elements fitters are looking at.

These are the best iron categories we have developed to help you determine which category is most important for your swing and game.

Best irons of 2024: The categories

2024 Best irons: Most technology packed

This is the “give me everything you got” list. These irons are the cream of the crop for offering technology to improve feel, distance, and ball speed. The great thing about the technology category is it’s not reserved for higher handicap golfers — it’s for anyone looking to get everything they can out of their game in an iron that also suits their eye.

Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke

Their story: At the core of Callaway’s new Ai Paradym Smoke irons is the Ai Smart Face. With the Ai Smart Face, these irons are designed to promote exceptional distance, tight dispersion into the green, and optimal launch in a modern construction. The new shape consists of longer blade lengths, thinner toplines, and optimized sole widths in a bid to create a forgiving, yet streamlined look at address. In addition, an all-new Dynamic Sole Design features a pre-worn leading edge with variable bounce that cuts through the turf with efficiency.

Fitter comments:

  • “That thing is an absolute rocket launcher. For the guy who flips at it, it’s perfect. It definitely launches lower spins less. it just goes forever compared to, you know, compared to a lot of them that we, that we tested.”
  • “I mean, it’s actually probably one of the cleaner-looking kind of game improvement irons. You know, some of them, they can get kind of beefy, but the look of that one that’s very appealing to the eye. The AI technology that Callaway has been using for a couple of years now, it’s generating a ton of ball speed for guys, but also at a point where they’re still getting a lot of peak heights on it. So it’s not like you feel like you’re just hitting bullets out there.”
  • “If a guy is looking to just hit it far, that’s probably the best thing out there. Callaway’s always had like crazy hot iron faces in that mid-size game improvement-type club. And this is just the next version of it. This thing is crazy fast. Shockingly, for how strong the lofts are, the ball still gets up in the air pretty good.”
  • “When it comes to pure technology the Paradym Ai Smoke iron has it all. Super computers helping engineers design the back of the face based on over 250,000 shots make it an amazing tech iron alone.”
  • “Classic Callaway story with face variability that is AI-driven along with material and design. Tons of tech. With Ai Smart Face and a hollow body design, they make it to the top as far as technology goes.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

TaylorMade P790

Their story: Engineers utilized the variables of tungsten weighting, SpeedFoam Air, and internal mass — with an assist from AI — to precisely give golfers what they need in each iron. For example, launch and forgiveness in the long irons. More specifically, TaylorMade is using what the company calls FLTD CG (flighted CG) to strategically position CG throughout the set (lower in the long irons, higher in the short irons). CG is positioned almost a millimeter lower in the long irons compared to previous generations. In the shorter irons, the higher CG positions allowed engineers to dial in spin and promote accuracy.

Fitter comments:

  • “Best combination of everything. The amalgamation of all irons on the market blended into one mathematically perfect design.”
  • “I think people recognize the name. It’s a very popular club. It stands up to every model in a category.”
  • “That’s the staple in the players distance category. It’s year-in, year-out. It’s tough to beat TaylorMade — they don’t go wrong with that iron, for sure. They make little refinements, but it’s almost like, yeah, just keep making little refinements. Don’t kind of mess that up just because the, I mean, it, it fits such a wide range of players and it’s just such a good iron that fits a wide, wide range of handicaps.”
  • “I think where TaylorMade kind of struggled over the past is getting that spin on the golf club, and I think each generation it just keeps getting better. I think they did an awesome job.”
  • “If it’s not our best-selling iron in the fitting center, it’s always like number two. It’s such a great, great performer across the board. And yeah, it just keeps getting better every year. It’s really awesome; crazy distance on that thing too.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Titleist T350

Their story: The new T350 irons are still built for maximum distance and forgiveness, but they were redesigned with a hollow-body construction that’s inspired by the T200. Like the T200, the T350 also uses Max Impact Technology behind the face to maximize speed and forgiveness, and dual-tungsten weights in the back cavity. The T350 irons are noticeably larger, and with thicker toplines, than the T200 irons for golfers who need the additional surface area and stability.

Fitter comments: 

  • “The T350 is super good. They definitely cleaned it up, cleaned up that topline a little bit and made it…a little bit more compact, a little bit smaller for sure.”
  • “You know, I think is one of those irons that maybe sometimes can get overlooked. I don’t know…some guys, they think ‘Titleist,’ they can’t hit it. If someone’s in this category, it’s always a club you’re gonna have.”
  • “So like this is the first one in that model that’s had like a forged face and, and, and, and I think that just improved the feel of it. Topline to me looks a little bit cleaner and, they do a nice job of hiding the offset doesn’t look quite obnoxious when you look down at it. I don’t know if it’s like the chrome that they put or whatever, but it looks a lot cleaner at address. The iron’s always been super easy to get up in here.”
  • “That type of customer, I know they all want to do is just hit it nice and far. But we’re seeing so many guys come in that just need help getting it airborne in that moderate kind of clubhead speed category. And this thing is probably, if not the easiest, one of the easiest irons in this category to launch. And I think that’s what makes it so great.”
  • “High launch is a key component to this iron. Clean look, with reduced offset and a better look for a players game improvement iron. Players are surprised that this is a game improvement iron based on the looks and package size.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Srixon ZX5 Mk II

Their story: MainFrame v2 was developed with an Automated Intelligence process, flex-maximizing variable thickness pattern of grooves, channels, and cavities carefully milled into the backside of ZX5 iron faces for high ball speeds. Not only does MainFrame boost COR, but it also repositions mass away from the face and into the toe and sole for a lower CG for easier launch, more consistency, and forgiveness.

Fitter comments: 

  • “I’m a big believer in the V-Sole. For high-speed guys who want a little forgiveness and are steep, it just doesn’t stick in the ground. Super soft and high launching. Not a ton of offset. It’s also been a good fit for moderate-to-high handicappers.”
  • “So I would say it, it kind of stands out in its category because it does launch higher than its competitors. It also sits in between some of the models, like, it doesn’t directly compete with a hollow cavity and it doesn’t compete with, like the Cobra King Tour. Like, it’s a degree stronger. For a forged iron, it performs great for us. The only problem is that it is a little bit light in a swing weight, so we have to be careful of who we fit.”
  • “It’s definitely one of our more popular irons for sure. You know, you get a guy who wants to play something small but still wants something more forgiving, and they don’t want kind of that full hollow body iron. I mean, that’s definitely one of our best sellers for sure. We’re seeing that a lot of combos — that’s a one iron that you can definitely combo with the ZX7 for sure.”
  • “I think a lot of guys like the concept of the V-Sole with them…If you’re talking an overall package, you know, for the guy that is looking for something clean. That’s a spectacular golf club. Good looks and good feel and great, you know, great performance, and it fits a lot of categories.”
  • “I think the one struggle a lot of companies have with that category is getting something to spin, so to try and give like guys so they don’t get those knuckleball shots or that fly out of the rough that goes 20 yards longer. I kind of think that that’s what I think makes that item so good is you get some spin on it, and I think it, it looks and feels good enough that like it, a guy that’s a mid-single digit can play it and be like, yeah, that’s good enough for me. But it’s also forgiving enough that a guy that’s in that kind of 12-to-15 kind of category if he wants to reach a little bit and play something that might look a little bit better. It just fits such a huge, huge range of players. I think it’s just awesome.”

For more photos/info, read our launch piece.

Ping G430

Their story: Billed as Ping’s “longest iron ever,” the G430 irons combine a lower CG with stronger, custom- engineered lofts and a thinner face that delivers up to two more mph of ball speed, per the company. At the heart of the new addition is the PurFlex cavity badge, an innovation that features seven flex zones that allow more free bending in design to increase ball speed across the face. In combination with a lower CG, the badge aims to contribute to a solid feel and pleasing impact sound.

Fitter comments:

  • “The best G.I. iron on the market. Easy to hit and launch while making great ball speed for distance.”
  • “The best iron in the game improvement category. High launch and packed with forgiveness on those off-center hits. It’s one of the easiest irons to hit. So easy to hit and look at for the average golfer.”
  • “Yeah, I mean, that’s definitely a go-to and in the matrix for sure. I mean, it’s just super easy to hit, super forgiving. They don’t mess that iron up.”
  • “Ping does a great job of building golf clubs. Their design is fantastic and it’s not for everybody, you know, it’s not the lowest-spinning club…but it sure is one of the most forgiving golf clubs and most consistent golf clubs. Ping G430 in that category of club, you can have something that a good player who needs a little help maybe can use because it’s consistent across the face, and you can’t do that with some of the other clubs because they’re not as consistent across the face for the ball speeds. It is a monster for us.”
  • “The best iron in the game improvement category. It’s one of the easiest irons to hit.”

Best irons of 2024: Meet the fitters

RELATED: Best driver 2024

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Equipment

Why Tony Finau is planning to play 2 drivers at the Masters

Published

9 hours ago

on

Apr 11, 2024

By

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt of a piece we originally filed this piece for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. You can read the full piece there. 

Now, for the 2024 Masters specifically, Finau is planning to put another Ping G430 LST driver into play, in order to help him on the right-to-left holes at Augusta. The second driver, which is set to replace his 3-wood, will measure about the length of his 3-wood, and it has 10.5 degrees of loft, according to Ping Tour rep Kenton Oates.

“Tony Finau, most likely, will be playing two G430 LST drivers this week; his gamer, and a new shorter 10.5 headed option,” Oates told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday. “In the ramp-up towards The Masters, Tony and his team discussed options to optimize his performance off the tee. In discussing the tee shots around Augusta and second shots, Tony realized he would never hit 3-wood off the ground, minus maybe 8 if it was soft and into the wind.

“With that in mind, we felt it would be worth exploring a driver built to more 3-wood specs – shorter, more loft, etc. We build the driver in Houston and Tony carried it to Augusta to test. Right away it was giving him the performance he was looking for, allowing him to hit a straighter shot off the tee, or even draw it easier than his gamer driver, along with the added forgiveness benefits of using a driver instead of a 3-wood. Tony potentially could use the little driver on 2-7-10-14-17-18, pending course and wind conditions.”

Since Finau’s stock driver swing is grooved for a cut shot, maybe it’s unrealistic that Finau will hit big sweeping draws with the new, second driver option. But, according to Finau, it’s still a useful option, especially since he won’t need the 3-wood much this week.

“The [second] driver really goes straight, so there’s just no fade on it,” Finau told GolfWRX.com. “The draw holes out here, you don’t really have to turn it over, you just can’t hit a fade. But yeah, I’m going with two drivers.”

Read the full piece on PGATour.com.

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