Equipment
2012 PING Anser Irons: All you need to know
For the complete write up on GolfWRX’s trip to PING HQ, click here.
by BJackson
Having arranged plans to travel to Phoenix, I was fully expecting to see the successors to PING’s S56 irons. It seemed a natural fit as October marks 2 years since the S56 release and with rumors surrounding an ‘S55’, well…turns out I was dead wrong. While at PING headquarters, Wyatt (SheriffBooth), Greg (pga43), and myself were able to get a preview of the forthcoming Anser line. Boy were we surprised!
Initial impressions are simple – S56 meets i20, but forged. It’s a slimmed down version of the previous Anser iron. Personally I have gamed S56s, i20s, and currently have 712 AP2s. These new Anser irons remind me exactly what I’ve been looking for – they remind me exactly of Titleist’s AP2s. I know that many complaints surrounding the previous Anser irons involved them being too large, too much offset, etc. Well trust me when I say that PING addressed those complaints. They have soft lines, low offset (just barely more than S56, less than i20), and a crisp feeling at impact and going through the turf. Forged from 8620 steel, with some tungsten in the sole, the feeling at impact made me think of a cross between i20 and a typical forged blade. Very solid. It comes in a brushed satin finish, come stock with your choice of PING CFS or Project X shafts – but get this – can be ordered with ANY shaft offered through PING WRX at no upcharge, save Project X PXi. That’s right, ANY SHAFT upgrade, as offered by PING WRX (they have a rather large selection), except PXi, free of charge. Pretty cool, eh?
As for performance, I had limited time with them. Just a little warm up in the morning before hitting drivers and the game of ‘WRX’ Wyatt and I played against Marty Jertson. I did enjoy my time with them at PING’s range, but would really benefit from more time with them to give a fair review. Let me say I find them very intriguing, very similar to my AP2s, and a set I really, really want to try out. I think this is a set of clubs that will get plenty of positive feedback from those that use them. An overall balanced, stylish, performance based set of irons that provide the best of everything possible from a technological and aesthetic perspective. Multi-material, high MOI, stabilization bars that help flight the irons so long irons fly higher and short irons fly lower. These clubs are really the complete package and I only wish I had more time to test them out side by side with something I’m more familiar with to get a baseline comparison.
That all said, here is what you boys want, pictures! Included at the bottom are comparison shots with the previous generation Ansers.
VIEW WHAT OUR MEMBERS OUR SAYING ABOUT THE PING ANSER IRONS IN THE FORUMS.
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- Launch the ball higher with the long irons and lower with the short irons for precise, consistent shot making
- 8620 steel body combines with a dense tungsten weight and hollow sole to optimize the CG and elevate MOI
- Predictable ball flights are achieved through progressive stabilizing bar technology
- Bars angle out wider and are thinner, lowering the CG to launch the ball high in the long irons
- Bars get vertical and thicker through the shorter irons to bring the ball in lower and more penetrating with high spin
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- Jimmy Walker what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees @8)
Shaft: AutoFlex SF505 XX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym (15 degrees @14)
Shaft: AutoFlex SF505 XX
5-wood: Callaway Paradym (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (3, 4), Titleist 620 MB (5-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 54-08M), WedgeWorks (60-L)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: Scotty Cameron GSS prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Jimmy Walker’s clubs in the forums.
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- Thorbjorn Olesen what’s in the bag accurate as of the Texas Children’s Houston Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 LS (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 65 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 High Launch (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 85 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P790 (3), TaylorMade P7MC (4-6), TaylorMade P7MB (7-9)
Shafts: Project X 125 6.5
Wedges: TaylorMade Hi-Toe (56-10, 60-10)
Shafts: Project X 125 6.5
Putter: TaylorMade TP Reserve B11
Grips: Lamkin
Check out more in-hand photos of Olesen’s clubs in the forums.
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In our forums, our members have been discussing TaylorMade’s new Qi10 fairway woods. WRXer ‘ace036’ plans on testing them in the next few weeks, saying: “from how they look from address and frame the ball is much more appealing to my eye versus my current Paradym fairway woods.” And our members have been sharing their positive feedback in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Edwardsr: “I got fit into the Qi10 core model with Ventus TR Black 8X and it’s absolutely amazing for me.During the fitting with my 12-15 swings with it, it was the most efficient combo I’ve ever tested, tons of 1.48 smash and 3 or 4 1.49 smash (which I don’t think I’ve ever gotten on 3 wood on a launch monitor).”
- MiloMalt: “No complaints and so far only high praise for my Qi10 Tour 3 and 5 wood. I’m getting great numbers and a nice penetrating ball flight with great height whereas with my old TSi2 4 wood it was spinny and ballooning and short because of that.”
- courcy75: “The Qi10 Tour 3 wood I just put in play has been outstanding for me. Finally found something I like as much as the 07 burner tp.”
Entire Thread: “From the Forums: How are you liking TaylorMade’s Qi10 fairway woods?”
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Eric
Dec 26, 2012 at 3:44 am
Ive hit em inside off a mat. They seemed to me more solid than anything else I hit.1400.00 is bit steep though, and not sure how Ping justifies the price. If I could get a set tossed my way for free, they would most likely be the ones in my bag.
seb
Sep 16, 2012 at 7:31 pm
hdc 8
Played those for the last 6 round, got them with px6.0. So far they seem more forgiving than ap2 but the feeling is as good, I loved the weight of the clubs.
Jake
Sep 4, 2012 at 11:49 pm
The reason the Pings are $1400 is because they say “Ping” and or “Anser” on them. If they were stamped “Wilson Staff” they would be $700 bucks. If they were stamped “Wishon” you could get them custom spec’d with KBS C Taper, Nippon Modus, or Dynamic Gold Tour Issue for $700. Just the way it is.
Good lookin’ sticks, for sure.
Ping fan nc
Sep 3, 2012 at 11:51 pm
I just hit them side by side vs. Ping anser 2011 version and 712 ap2. Anser both had project x 6.0 and ap2 had Greg xp r300. In a work, answers superior in every way. Now difference between answers, very close call. I like the color scheme of 2011 but like then look at address of the new anser.
strongbear0
Aug 18, 2012 at 2:20 am
I was all exited to order my new anser irons today expecting no shaft upcharge after reading this, but to my surprise there is an upcharge for everything including Dynamic Golds and even a grip upcharge for GP tour velvets. KBS C Tapers cost me an extra 21.00 a club. Big retailers ars charging 30-35.00 per club for the C taper upcharge, I ordered mine through a local pro shop. They felt amazing though, but at at almost 1,800 after shaft upcharge, grip upcharge and tax I’m starting to second guess my decision. Hopefully I’ll forget all that once they are in my bag.
Scott
Aug 9, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Releasing next week at my local shop. Ping rep is there. I cannot wait to see these. Could be pulling the trigger!
Billy
Aug 7, 2012 at 10:41 am
Well I have 2 sets of Anser irons 1 for show and 1 for play and just by looking at the new anser irons I know I must have a set because I do love my pressent set of anser irons
Scott
Aug 6, 2012 at 8:46 am
Very curious to read some feedback on whoever gets a hold of these first.
rj
Aug 2, 2012 at 6:14 pm
they remind me of the adams cb2 moreso than the a4. i love the feel, playability and forgiveness of my cb2s. so much so, that i truly believe they are the next “classic” iron. i wonder how they compare to these ansers.
Scott
Jul 27, 2012 at 3:50 pm
I’m also curious. The author mentioned that these clubs “remind me of the AP2’s.” Then why not save $500 and just go with the AP2’s? What puts these clubs ahead of the AP2?
Jordan Spangler
Jul 25, 2012 at 11:11 pm
So are they going to be less forgiving than the prior anser irons? I actually enjoyed a forged forgiving iron. I hope they are as good as last years.
Scott
Jul 25, 2012 at 10:13 pm
Why are they so expensive? $1400????!!!!! What makes them $1400? The author says “they remind me of my AP2’s.” Why would someone buy these over the AP2’s and save around $500? Not disputing the writeup just trying to understand what these clubs are all about.
Scott
Jul 25, 2012 at 9:18 pm
One question…..when.
Mike Keck
Jul 25, 2012 at 7:28 pm
I can’t believe this, I wanted ping, I wanted forged, but the current Anser irons were a little big for my taste so I went with the S56. As I do LOVE them, i miss that unique forged feel and now even though I just dropped a wad of $$$ for my S56 not even 2 months ago, Im going to have to figure out how to get my hands on these. I need to stop visiting GolfWRX.
georgia golfer
Jul 25, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Reminds me of Adams A4 tech with the stabilizing bars. Still, I am in the market for new clubs and I like ’em!
Troy Vayanos
Jul 25, 2012 at 3:21 pm
I bought the S56 irons late last year and have enjoyed playing them. If PIng have made any improvement in them this can only be a good thing.
An impressive looking iron!
2putttom
Jul 25, 2012 at 3:01 pm
Wow They are smaller then the previous ANSER and I love the report of no up charge for shafts excpt PXi which I can’t swing anyway. P.S I love my ANSER stix.
Landon Waters
Jul 25, 2012 at 2:01 pm
So what’s the word on the release of an S55 iron?
johncoll62
Jan 28, 2013 at 2:06 am
I was told by my local pro that Ping are consolidating their range of irons. The new G25 has features that are a blend of the G and I series. The next I series will be a blended design with fetures of the I and S series. The next Anser will then become the new tour blade design pitched at the low to no handicapper market. The K series will be discontinued. Bottom line they will be reducing their options from 5 models to 3. That seems to be trend in the industry. Even TM & Callaway have limited their 2013 releases to 2 models