Equipment
Spotted: Ping i200 irons
PGA Tour winner Ted Purdy hasn’t finished in the top-10 of a PGA Tour event since 2009, but he’s a favorite with golf equipment fans tonight.
Now these are sweet! The NEW @PingTour i200 pic.twitter.com/ysoRXVwVyL
— Ted Purdy (@TedPurdy) January 5, 2017
The 43-year-old posted a photo on social media of a set of Ping irons marked “i200” that the company is yet to announce. “Now these are sweet,” he said. “The NEW @PingTour i200.”
What’s new about the i200 irons? What makes them “sweet?” It appears that Ping may be spilling the beans sooner rather than later.
See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the irons in our forum.
- LIKE528
- LEGIT49
- WOW50
- LOL13
- IDHT8
- FLOP10
- OB4
- SHANK49
- 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.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
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.
- LIKE1
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
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.
View this post on Instagram
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
- LIKE32
- LEGIT3
- WOW1
- LOL2
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK3
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Neal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
What we know about Bryson DeChambeau’s 3D-printed Avoda irons
Kevin Tway WITB 2024 (May)
Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Matthieu Pavon WITB 2024 (May)
Pavon’s WITB accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Ping G430 Max (9...
WITB Time Machine: Rory McIlroy’s winning WITB, 2015 Wells Fargo Championship
Then-No. 1 player in the world Rory McIlroy began the week at the Wells Fargo Championship at 3-1 odds, if...
Akshay Bhatia WITB 2024 (May)
Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos...
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoLET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
-
19th Hole3 days agoReport: LIV star turns down PGA Championship invite due to ‘personal commitments’
-
19th Hole1 week agoGary Player claims this is what ‘completely ruined’ Tiger Woods’ career
-
Whats in the Bag2 weeks agoTeam McIlowry (Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry) winning WITBs: 2024 Zurich Classic
-
Equipment3 days agoDetails on Justin Thomas’ driver switch at the Wells Fargo Championship
-
Equipment1 week agoGolf fans left surprised by LIV’s choice of course for its 2024 individual championship event
Michael
Jan 12, 2017 at 8:14 am
Also see link: http://clubping.jp/product/. From there you can get to i200 specs, new putter line the Sigma G and Ping Glide 2.0 specs
Michael
Jan 12, 2017 at 8:17 am
and also the new G Le ladies club line
DevilDog18
Jan 8, 2017 at 10:08 pm
Mizuno T-Zoids! Yet cast….
Big lefty
Jan 8, 2017 at 5:14 am
Most likely these are miura / shaped by / or custom shaped for x player by ping clubmaker then stamped with “ping” for the tour pro. The masses will get something that looks similar and plays very different. Wake up folks the stuff the big boys are playing is not at all the same so don’t let the marketing fool you. Get fit for something that suits your game and stick with it. I played on small tours and saw this first hand when moving up to the big tour for Monday’s believe me this was over fifteen years ago and this is the way it was and it has never changed.
Chunkiebuck
Jan 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm
Sure looks familiar, didn’t TM do the ribbed look back in 2001?
Dave R
Jan 6, 2017 at 8:59 pm
Ping has not made a good iron since the eye2. I have hit them all when they came out. Will stick to my mizuno …… thanks.
The Stallion
Jan 7, 2017 at 11:32 am
No …… thank you for that incredible comment! Enjoy your mizuno!
Guia
Jan 6, 2017 at 8:32 pm
Basically, just another deep cavity iron, low back weighting, etc. I am sure it will work because all the others work also. Nothing to get excited about.
I have a number of sets of pings, Eye2 BeCu, ISI Nickel, ISI BeCu, G30, G30 Max, and any number of drivers and putters. They all work well, but dependent on the lofts they all play the same.
Tom
Jan 7, 2017 at 11:19 am
or the person playing them. I played with a member who had the same set I have, His results are vastly different than mine
Brian
Jan 6, 2017 at 6:50 pm
Finally, Ping has made a club I may actually put in my bag since the 1990s. Last Ping I played were Eye2s.
GolfBum
Jan 5, 2017 at 5:44 pm
Hope they offer decent shafts on this model. I am looking at this release to see if they might go that direction. If other manufacturers like Mizuno can offer decent shafts at no upcharge for irons, why can it not be done by PING?
No upcharge shafts by some manufacturers is classified as upcharge by PING, where I am from it is a very expensive to go outside the normal offerings, especially if you play regular shafts.
Currently play PING clubs but might venture elsewhere if the shaft selections does not improve.
bob
Jan 6, 2017 at 1:54 pm
look at the base price of mizuno irons and you can understand why there is no upcharge.
The Stallion
Jan 7, 2017 at 11:35 am
There are 6 no charge steel shafts available. Most golfers can be well-fit into one of those. The I200 will retail for $125/club. Most Mizuno irons retail for $150/clubs. Would you rather Ping up the price across the board like that? I wouldn’t.
Mat
Jan 5, 2017 at 4:18 pm
At an equipment website, you see a leaked photo, and you’re meowing about not seeing it top-down? What, are you going to be “that guy” that yells FINALLY when it is officially released? Ugh.
Brian
Jan 5, 2017 at 1:37 pm
Agreed…I’d really like to see the topline and the sole.
bogeypro
Jan 5, 2017 at 11:27 am
They look like TaylorMade RAC LT2 irons from 2005ish. I like them!
RAT
Jan 5, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Amen,
Exactly a TM do-over.
dave
Jan 6, 2017 at 9:57 am
my 1st thought exactly
Jack Nash
Jan 6, 2017 at 2:47 pm
Or, T-Zoids.
knoofah
Jan 7, 2017 at 12:38 pm
“T-Zoids” was the first word that came to my mind too. Everything old is new again.
TexasSnowman
Jan 5, 2017 at 10:56 am
Look VERY GOOD. Note to OEMs; lose the large logos, bright colored badges, etc and give us more options like this.
This goes for everything in my opinion; for example, as a recreational golfer why does my golf bag need a giant manufacturer logo painted on the it?
Brian
Jan 5, 2017 at 10:12 am
Decent looking Ping irons, for a change. I would consider those if they were forged and the production models looked like that. Knowing Ping, they’ll slap a colored badge on and Ugly them up.
JR
Jan 5, 2017 at 9:26 am
Look like some 20 year old Taylor Made clubs!!
Excited
Jan 5, 2017 at 8:32 am
I saw these in person and at address they look similar to the iblade iron (AWESOME). I was also told from someone I consider a highly reliable source that the MOI on this iron is BETTER than the wide soled G15 from a few years back. With the great looks, if it is truly that forgiving…. THEY WILL HAVE A WINNER!
CARSON
Jan 5, 2017 at 8:30 am
these Irons are awesome on of my tour players were telling me about them and he said that there the best iron they have some out with in 10 years. the top line is super thin and the PW to the 4 iron look great the offset is perfect and the performance is great yall are going to love these most of the tour players will switch other then the guys playing the Iblades
Excited
Jan 5, 2017 at 8:33 am
They look flat awesome! I was unable to hit one though 🙁
Jim
Jan 5, 2017 at 7:59 am
Look like a TM iron with a Ping CTP weight. After the elegance of the Ping I series this is a major disappointment at visually. And what’s with the name, shouldn’t it be Ping I-e2 to keep with the simpler names they were loud about with the recent releases, saying that the name would remain the same for each new release? They might still be a very good iron but they’re off to a poor start in my opinion.
Prut
Jan 5, 2017 at 7:05 am
Ping RACs?
Johnnylongballz
Jan 5, 2017 at 3:07 am
Sweet! Looks like the I25 and S55 made a beautiful baby.
Jack
Jan 5, 2017 at 4:08 am
Agree! Whoever designed these clubs, S55, iBlade should definitely get a raise. These are beautiful clubs.
Excited
Jan 5, 2017 at 8:34 am
TOTALLY AGREE!
Nu
Jan 5, 2017 at 2:44 am
Wow. Talk about a straight up TM rip. With just the Ping CTP.
Neil Cameron
Jan 5, 2017 at 1:15 am
look like miura cb57
rymail00
Jan 5, 2017 at 12:31 am
Wow, they look great from the pics.
Johnny Wells
Jan 4, 2017 at 10:24 pm
this looks reminds me of TM’s 360 irons a little bit
NolanMBA
Jan 4, 2017 at 10:05 pm
Love the simplicity.
coolhandbirdman
Jan 4, 2017 at 9:59 pm
Hope they stay this way, I don’t like badges on the iE1’s.
Andrew
Jan 4, 2017 at 9:06 pm
Sexy. Looks like the i25 with a cleaner cavity.