Equipment

Ping i230, iCrossover irons: Everything you need to know

Published

2 years ago

Oct 25, 2022

What you need to know: Ping is throwing a ton of technology into a an offering for a wide swath of players clubs market with the successor to the popular i210 line, new i230 irons and long-iron alternative iCrossover.

Key technology

Ping i230

Multi-material construction: 431 stainless steel body; activated elastomer insert; 304 stainless steel/injection molded TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) cavity badge
Tungsten toe/shaft tip weights

Ping iCrossover

Multi-material construction: 17-4 stainless steel body; forged, maraging steel face
Tungsten toe/shaft tip weights
Trajectory Tuning 2.0 hosel

What Ping says

“The new i230 irons and iCrossovers are for avid players who want to get better,” said John K. Solheim, Ping CEO & President. “In the i230 iron, we’ve engineered a lot of performance into one design. It has the precise control and consistency of a players iron with an amazing feel while offering the forgiveness of a game improvement iron. It reminds me a lot of the iconic PING EYE2 iron in that it will appeal to so many player types, from the tour pros to everyday golfers. It’s really packed with performance.

“We’ve re-branded our Crossover category into the ‘i’ family to target golfers who most likely play one of our blade-style irons. The tour-inspired head size and sole design along with higher ball speeds help it to transition more seamlessly as a long-iron alternative. We’ve also added hosel adjustability, a highly beneficial innovation allowing golfers to dial in their trajectories for the first time in an iron-style design. We believe this re-design will greatly improve its appeal and find its way into a lot more bags on tour and other competitive settings.”

For more photos and discussion, head to the GolfWRX forums.

2022 Ping i230

The latest installment in Ping’s i-series continues the “players tech” theme. Ping touts the 21-gram weight savings from re-allocation of activated elastomer technology in the i230 and resulting ability to position the center of gravity low in the face. Increased face deflection, in turn, yields higher ball speeds and more consistent energy transfer.

In player testing, Ping saw an average of three yards of increased distance — presumably relative to the i210. With respect to the i230’s increased MOI, Ping cites the benefits of tungsten toe and tip weights, calling the clubs “the most forgiving “i” irons to date.”

Additional details

Re-engineered cavity badge (304 stainless steel cap with injection-molded thermoplastic) dampens sound and creates a more pleasing feel
Activated elastomer sits in a “toaster-style” pocket and supports the face behind the multi-material badge
Long irons (3-5) are slightly more compact than the i210; the rest of the set is designed with similar blade lengths
Similar sole design to i210 (a more rounded lead edge and ample bounce)
Precision-milled MicroMax grooves

2022 Ping iCrossover

Ping designed the iCrossover for high-swing-speed players looking for long-iron alternatives, which blend seamlessly into the rest of the set.

Thin, maraging steel face and lower CG position
Robotically welded face (with targeted EVA polymer on the rear) joined to a a 17-4 stainless steel body with a lower-hinged bend point for higher launch
Slightly shorter blade lengths with less offset than previous Crossovers
Trajectory Tuning 2.0: Adjustable hosel with eight settings for loft and lie — ±1.5 degrees loft and lie. Standard setting is the stated loft of the club at 1.5 degrees upright.

Specs, availability

i230 Specifications

Available: 3-9, PW, UW in 10 color codes (lie angle). Black color code is standard. Available November.
Loft options: Standard, Power Spec and Retro Spec
Stock shafts: Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300) & PING Alta CB Black (SR, R, S)
Optional stock shafts: PING AWT 2.0 (R, S, X), Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), KBS Tour (R, S, X), Nippon NS Pro Modus Tour 105 (R, S, X), Elevate MPH 95 (R, S), UST Recoil 760 ES SMAC (A), 780 (R, S)
Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline Black
MSRP: $205 per club with stock steel shaft; $220 per club with stock graphite shaft

iCrossover Specifications

Available: 2XR (18° loft) 40 1/8” std. length, 3XR (20°) 39.50”, 4XR (22.5°), 39.00″. Available November.
Stock shaft: Ping Tour 2.0 Chrome 85 (R, S, X)
Optional stock graphite shafts: Ping Alta CB Black (SR, R, S), Mitsubishi Kai’Li White 80 (S, X), Project X HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 70HY (5.5), 80HY (6.0, 6.5)
Stock grip: Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet (six sizes)
MSRP: $275 per club with graphite or steel shafts

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Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

5 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

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A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

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It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

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Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

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