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Ping releases Rapture driving iron

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Talk about good timing for a club release.

Ping’s new prototype “Rapture” driving iron will be available to golfers this week at the British Open and the PGA Tour’s Sanderson Farms Championship.

The move makes sense, as many British Open contestants decide to swap out their 5 woods and hybrids for clubs that offer lower trajectories such as driving irons.

According to a Ping press release, the Rapture driving irons have faces that are made from 455 Carpenter Steel: a strong metal that is used to make the faces of many of today’s high-COR fairway woods.

“455 Carpenter Stainless Steels’ high strength allowed designers to thin the face to create faster ball speeds,” the press release said. “Thinning the face increased discretionary mass, which was then re-positioned low and back on the club head.”

The Rapture is also designed with high-density tungsten weights in the rear portion of the sole. According to Ping, the weights account for a sizable 20 percent of the entire club head’s mass, and their low, rearward position boosts the Rapture’s moment of inertia (MOI) and perimeter weighting, adding forgiveness on mishits.

The sole of the club also includes what Ping calls a “Tungsten Polymer Blend Sole Weight,” a screw-in weight that adds even more mass into the club’s sole. It helps decrease spin and can be used to fine tune swing weight.

Technical specifications:

  • 17-4 stainless steel body, 455 stainless steel face
  • Tungsten heel and toe weights
  • 39.75-inch length, 18-degree head
  • Foggy-chrome finish
  • Stock graphite shaft: TFC 949 with chrome PVD finish (R, S, X flexes)
  • U.S. MSRP: $220.00

Click here to see more photos of the Rapture D.I. and to read more discussion in the forums.

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36 Comments

36 Comments

  1. Ivan

    Aug 7, 2014 at 9:16 pm

    Why not just go ahead and make the 1 iron again?

  2. Mike from NR

    May 24, 2014 at 5:28 pm

    Last season I was frustrated with my inconsistency with using rescue clubs in the fairway on my second or third shot. Since I was constant with my irons I figured I would give the Ping 2 Iron a chance and it paid off HUGE. It took at least 5 strokes off my game. I look forward to hitting my second shot on all par 4 and 5 when I am around 200 yards out. The slower and smoother I swing the straighter and longer I hit this club. Trust me, put your rescue clubs up for sale and buy this 2 iron. You won’t regret it. I actually went out last week and ordered a second one to put it away so in 4 or 5 years from now I will have a new one to replace my current one. I don’t want to take the risk Ping changes or stops making this iron someday. Thank you Ping for solving my inconstant play.

  3. TJ

    Dec 5, 2013 at 1:55 pm

    Good afternoon all,

    I have to say that I am excited to test this out though I am partial to the Answer 2 Hybrid (stupid long), but if this performs better (launch angle)I will be putting in my order.

    The real reason for my post is that the word on the street is that there will be a Rapture 3 wood at 14.5deg which is slightly oversized. has anyone else heard about this and if so do you happen to know any specs on it. I could be wrong but I was told its going to be a smaller version of the answer driver which would be great off the tee for my game anyways.

    Any information on this would be welcome.

  4. naflack

    Dec 4, 2013 at 3:24 am

    this club has wannabe scratch golfer written all over it…how long until 2nd swing has a whole rack of them? lol

  5. Brian

    Nov 29, 2013 at 5:16 pm

    This looks awesome. Hopefully the 2 is a success and we see a 3 and 4 in another few months.

    • PatrickR

      Nov 29, 2013 at 10:09 pm

      Hope it compares to the titleist utilities by coming out with a 3 & 4. Honestly can’t wait to demo this when availble. Any one know if it will be available in any shaft besidea the tfc?

  6. Patrick

    Nov 26, 2013 at 4:18 pm

    Looking forward to trying this out and potentially replacing the Adams Idea Pro currently in the bag.

  7. Spengler

    Nov 26, 2013 at 1:52 pm

    anyone compare this vs. the callaway Utility?

  8. Pingback: Desde el tee: semana 47/2013 | Golf76.com

  9. JLeclair10

    Nov 22, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    Yous guys need to try this club…I can cruuush it 270 in the air!

  10. Tyler

    Nov 22, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    Looks like they are available at 2nd Swing already…

    http://www.2ndswing.com/p-238690-new-ping-rapture-driving-iron-graphite.aspx

  11. Jezz

    Sep 21, 2013 at 10:54 pm

    Well,
    Ping may even release this Iron in a set 18* & 21* Driving Iron with combo (if so desired). 4 Iron to PW in the new I25 player Irons. Haven for equipment junkies like myself. Also it would help a brother out, alot if less than a grand.
    Cheers Jezz

  12. Andy B

    Aug 4, 2013 at 9:30 am

    I play the i20’s but I put the callaway 24* x utility in the bag at the first of the season and just added the 18*. Looks like I will be sending those to the BST or the ebay. Can’t wait. I actually have a close friend who is a ping staffer (web.com) and he said they are more forgiving than his s56 irons. To bad he doesn’t live near me for me to try and he wont risk losing his contract by having one magically appear at my front door (I totally understand why he cant). It doesn’t hurt to dream. I will keep dreaming until january when they will be retail.

  13. JEFF SMITH

    Jul 22, 2013 at 5:33 pm

    Ill be getting that I think. I cant hit a hybrid that well but pretty good w/ long irons…… well see!

  14. Jeff Borders

    Jul 22, 2013 at 12:45 pm

    I wonder if the next Ping blade will look like a slimmer, narrowing version of this? I love the back of it.

  15. tyler

    Jul 20, 2013 at 11:07 am

    Not a big fan of these utility irons.

    IMO they look ugly at address.

  16. Deaus666

    Jul 18, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    Very very nice, Ill put one in my bag if they release a 19-22* version, This actually reminds me more of the Yonex Zero driving iron with a Callaway style weight in the bottom. The only thing i wonder is how is it going to feel with that HARD face on slight miss-hits. I have a 20* old school Nike Pro combo utility in the bag right now.

  17. golfing badger

    Jul 17, 2013 at 1:42 pm

    ping copying callaway…that’s a new one!

  18. thefullsp

    Jul 17, 2013 at 1:54 am

    I have the cally x utility in 18 with GDesign shaft. It’s pretty fantastic off the tee. If I were playing Muirfield this week and were a Ping Staffer, this would be solidly in the centre of the bag!!!! Go G-Mac!

  19. cg

    Jul 16, 2013 at 1:27 pm

    golf club makers exec meeting”
    okay, here is the plan, first we tell golfers to buy fairway woods to replace hard to hit irons…then we tell them that hybrids are the way to go..easier to hit than fairway woods…then we wait a bit…then tell them we now have driving irons that they have to have because hybrids go too high….

    • Blanco

      Jul 16, 2013 at 8:41 pm

      Thats not what any manufacturer is saying about driving irons… They have all maintained, rightly so, that these are a specialty item for the better player/high ball hitter.

      I’ll take a 24* Mr. Solheim… Yellow dot.

  20. Steve

    Jul 15, 2013 at 10:35 pm

    @billyho_golf

  21. Peter

    Jul 15, 2013 at 6:46 pm

    Looks very similar to the Titleist 712U…could be a great addition to my i20s in the future

  22. Paul

    Jul 15, 2013 at 2:37 pm

    Looks like an AP2 and the X Utility got together in Phoenix.

  23. Steve

    Jul 15, 2013 at 1:30 pm

    From a sole and address perspective, that looks a lot like the X utilities from Callaway.

    • t120

      Jul 15, 2013 at 10:02 pm

      +1 looks identical from top view to the Cally…which I didn’t really hit well, so it’s almost instant “pass on it”

  24. Boo

    Jul 15, 2013 at 12:00 pm

    Good looking, but will not dethrone my Mizzy H4 2 iron (IMHO)!

  25. Big_5_Hole

    Jul 15, 2013 at 11:03 am

    Need.

    • Blanco

      Jul 15, 2013 at 9:11 pm

      you need?

      ME need

      • bandrz

        Jul 16, 2013 at 12:27 pm

        left handed, PLEASE

        • Blanco

          Jul 16, 2013 at 8:38 pm

          I love the guys who beg PING to release lefty versions… When was the last time ANY Ping club in ANY loft/style was not made for us southpaws?? I dont know of ANY in my lifetime.

          • bandrz

            Jul 16, 2013 at 9:52 pm

            Sorry i didn’t research their entire company history prior to my post. I will do better next time.

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Equipment

Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.

However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.

“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”

Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.

Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.

Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.

One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play one degree upright to help dial in his desired launch.

We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!

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Whats in the Bag

Zac Blair WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Red 6 X

3-wood: TaylorMade M5 Rocket 3 (14 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Speeder 757 Evolution V1 X

Utility: Titleist U510 (3)
Shaft: Aldila Tour Blue 85 X

Irons: Ping i210 (4-6), Miura MB-001 (7-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46-10F, 58-08M @57, 60 @61), Vokey Design WedgeWorks (52-M)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 X

Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

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Whats in the Bag

Martin Trainer WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Wilson Staff Staff Model (6.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Kai’li Blue 70 TX

3-wood: Wilson Staff WLabs Prototype (13 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 80 TX

Irons: Wilson Staff Staff Model (2, 4-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Wedges: Wilson Staff Staff Model (52, 56, 60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100

Putter: Bobby Grace Greg Chalmers Prototype

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

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