Equipment
Ping G425 irons: Smaller and faster for 2021
If you looked up “forgiving irons” in the golf dictionary (not a real thing, but it should be), you would be greeted with pictures of Ping G Series irons. Since the initial launch of the G2 in 2003, Ping has continually innovated and improved its most popular and best-selling iron family, and the company is doing it again with the all-new Ping G425.
The new 2021 G425 iron builds off the success of the G410 by packing more forgiveness into a smaller package designed to not just shout from the rooftops about distance but give golfers the ability to reduce dispersions and land the ball softer into greens. An iron that goes longer isn’t very helpful if the golfer using them cant hold a green with anything over an 8-iron, and the engineers at Ping have added some very interesting technology to the G425 irons to accomplish just that.
2021 Ping G425 irons: Technologies
The most important new element of the G425 irons is the new metal wood style VFT (variable face thickness), used to increase ball speed, consistency, and launch. The new VFT is possible thanks to the Hyper 17-4 stainless steel material, which allows engineers to go thinner while still maintaining structural integrity and feel.
The most interesting aspect which separates the new VFT from the previous generation Cor-Eye technology is it is not symmetrical and is instead a more sideways egg-shaped oval. The reason for this new geometry is based on optimizing and equalizing speeds around the face to deliver better results from club to club. This allows the G425 iron to have more face deflection than Ping has ever been able to create with a cast design. When you add in the new face with an improved hinge (notice the small notch on the toe to also increase deflection) you get a diving board-like effect to send the ball higher to stop sooner.
G425 forgiveness and feel
Like the G410 from the G400, the G425 irons have gotten smaller yet more forgiving, thanks to smart engineering from the team at Ping. The weight saved from around the body has been positioned to the far heel and toe thanks to the visible tugsten weight screw in the toe and in the hosel using a tip weight.
Let me explain: Every iron on the market utilizes a tip weight, either inserted into the shaft or into a port in the bottom of the hosel. (We’re about to go deep into the weeds from a design standpoint, but stick with me). There is 100 percent nothing wrong with OEMs using tip weights to achieve desired swing weight, but when you use them you move the CG closer to the hosel/heel side of the club—not on a humanly noticeable level but certainly from a definite engineering perspective.
This is why Ping has always placed the CTP (Custom Tuning Port) in the middle of the clubhead, behind the CG. But the custom tuning ports have been replaced with better-performing, thinner badges to increase MOI while still producing a soft feeling iron. Less weight in the middle of the head allows more mass to be positioned around the perimeter, and boom—an iron with a three percent higher MOI in a smaller package.
Going from distance to precision, Ping utilizes the same machining and groove geometry of the Glide 3.0 wedge in the G425 wedges from pitching wedge to lob wedge to offer “G” golfers the same short game control and accuracy in their matching wedges.
This is not new, but it’s a unique option to be found in the game improvement category, where matching wedges are usually a bit of an afterthought in the design process.
Specs, pricing, and availability
The Ping G425 irons will be available for pre-sale starting today and will be available at retail starting February 4, priced at $137.50 each in a stock steel configuration and $150 in graphite.
G425 Specs
Shafts
The stock shaft options for the Ping G425 irons are the proprietary steel AWT 2.0, and ALTA CB slate in graphite. There are also a number of other no charge, and upcharge option available including Nippon 105 and True Temper Dynamic Gold 120.
Like the rest of the Ping G425 line, the irons will come stock with PING X Arccos GP lite Caddie Smart Grip, which features an embedded sensor to record and analyze every shot taken during a round when paired with the Arccos Caddie app. With the purchase of a G425 club, golfers will get a 90-day free trial of the app, and then the option of a $99.99 annual subscription.
Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet/Arccos Caddie Smart Grip is available in Aqua (-1/64″) undersized, White -standard, and Gold (+1/32″) oversized.
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
From the seller: (@lasallen): “For sale is a BRNR mini 11.5 deg head only in brand new condition. $325 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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Kevin Ricciardelli
Jan 12, 2021 at 4:25 pm
Notice the 3 lofts for each iron – New Standard, Power Spec (jacked) and Retro Spec (old school).
Risky Plan
Jan 11, 2021 at 5:21 pm
PING has held it’s minimum 7 iron loft at 30 degrees, better than PXG at 28 degrees, but still absurd.
It’s like in Spinal Tap when Nigel Tufnel claims their amps are 1 louder because they go to “11.”
Steve C
Jan 11, 2021 at 10:27 am
Long story short…Ping has once again achieved the ultimate, newest, must have clubs for anyone truly wanting to improve their game. Of course, if I wait only a few months, I’m sure sure they will be offering a newer, more ultimate, must have club that I cant live without!
steve C
Jan 11, 2021 at 10:52 am
Also…Just last week there was an article right on this same site saying newer irons weren’t necessarily better than older irons.