Equipment
Ping releases Rapture driving iron
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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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Ivan
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:16 pm
Why not just go ahead and make the 1 iron again?
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.
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.
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
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?
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.
Spengler
Nov 26, 2013 at 1:52 pm
anyone compare this vs. the callaway Utility?
Pingback: Desde el tee: semana 47/2013 | Golf76.com
JLeclair10
Nov 22, 2013 at 5:21 pm
Yous guys need to try this club…I can cruuush it 270 in the air!
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
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
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.
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!
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.
tyler
Jul 20, 2013 at 11:07 am
Not a big fan of these utility irons.
IMO they look ugly at address.
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.
golfing badger
Jul 17, 2013 at 1:42 pm
ping copying callaway…that’s a new one!
McCleery Crow
Nov 22, 2013 at 5:04 pm
My buddy had a Mizuno driving iron in 97. Who’s copying who?
http://silysavg.com/images/ebay/sporting/mizunodrivingiron_bottom.jpg
David Smith
Mar 7, 2014 at 10:28 am
I hope you’re just kidding around lol. If not, you’ve been under a rock for a very long time or are new to golf. I suspect the latter.
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!
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.
Steve
Jul 15, 2013 at 10:35 pm
@billyho_golf
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
Paul
Jul 15, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Looks like an AP2 and the X Utility got together in Phoenix.
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”
Boo
Jul 15, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Good looking, but will not dethrone my Mizzy H4 2 iron (IMHO)!
Stephen
Oct 8, 2013 at 5:36 am
Fact. 270 yards of straightness. No need to hit driver 320 anymore.
Brian Wilson
Nov 22, 2013 at 6:19 pm
Nice!
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.