Have you ever wondered what recreational golfers talk about on the course? The answer might be more surprising – and simple – than you think. Undoubtedly, the golf course is an excellent safe space to complain about work, talk about personal lives or politics, or any serious topic to ramble on about between holes. However, golf is an escape from such things. Although most golfers go through the kabuki theater talking about normal stuff, these conversations usually begin and end before the first tee.
Once leisure golfers are done prostrating and unpacking their psyches on the lush green grass, they finally indulge in real conversations related to golf, such as the weather, course conditions, recent events, and even swing critiques. However, most golfers’ most recurring topics are their golf equipment and preferred brands.
You’d be amazed how topics related to golf brands can turn into long-lasting heated discussions with golfers bragging about their woods, irons, wedges, and putters. From Callaway to Nike and Taylormade, every golfer has their favorite manufacturer. Some say Taylormade makes the best woods, while others claim nobody can touch Wilson, Nike, and Callaway when it comes to drivers and wedges.
However, most golfers agree that when it comes to irons and putters, Pingcertainly holds some bragging rights. After all, Ping was the first brand to introduce irons with adjustable lofts. When Karsten Solheimdeveloped the first heel-toe weighted iron in the late ‘60s, he probably wasn’t aware of the impact he would leave in the world of golf.
Today, Ping ironsare among the best in the market. However, every iron is different, so choosing the best Ping irons for your game takes some thought. So, if you’re in the market for a new club set, keep reading as we’ll share out top iron picks from ping and who they’re suitable for.
Best Ping Irons
The following are our top 8 picks of the best Ping Irons in the market. However, you must remember that every product on our list won’t be ideal for your level or style, which is why we’ll be sharing both the reasons to buy and reasons to avoid each one:
1. Ping Blueprint Irons
The Ping Blueprint Ironis a stunning blade-style iron fully forged using 8620 carbon steel. Aesthetically speaking, it might be the best club the brand has to offer. However, it’s not made for beginners or amateurs. With shorter blade length, narrower sole widths, and less offset than any other option, this blade has been specifically designed for the best ball strikers. Tungsten toe screw-enhanced swing weight tuning and an exceptional feel allow you to manipulate ball flight and shape the ball according to your requirement. However, it is nowhere close to the most forgiving options in the market, so unless you’re a pro, you should avoid it.
2. Ping G425 Irons
If you’re looking for a highly-forgiving iron with a premium feel and finish, the Ping G425 deliversall these aspects and more. Featuring a metal-wood-style shaft with variable thickness across the face, this blade uses its internal geometry to increase ball speed with expanded perimeter weighting thanks to a smaller head design. Therefore, once a golfer strikes the ball, it makes a crisp sound that’ll please even the most experienced pros. Moreover, the G425 emphasizes control and forgiveness, making it a brilliant option for golfers across both ends of the spectrum, from newbies to pros.
3. Ping G710 Irons
If you’re looking for the longest and strongest iron in the Ping product range, look no further than the Ping G710, which is designed to be thin and hollow with fast faces, allowing for stronger lofts and extra ball speed an additional launch degree. This innovative club comes with a black PVD coating that makes it stand out from the rest. Its high-density tungsten toe and heel weights improve the moment of inertia and momentum upon ball impact, making it a great option for golfers to improve their game and looking to add more distance and consistency. It boasts a higher forgiveness rating than the G435 but is not the most workable option in the Ping range.
4. Ping I210 Irons
The Ping I210 Ironis perfect for mid to low handicap golfers looking for an incredibly soft feel and sound from their blades. Due to this reason, pros like Brook Henderson always have it in their bag and use it to get the best of both worlds in terms of distance and accuracy. This good-looking crossover iron is designed to deliver the best of both worlds in terms of distance and accuracy, thanks to a compact head with a larger and softer elastomer insert that enhances feel, strike, and distance. Overall, this iron is perfect for players looking to hit controlled, mid-air shots with extra forgiveness compared to older models.
5. Ping I500 Irons
Thanks to so many new players taking on golf, the Ping I500 ironhas gone through several changes in the last few years. Its stronger lofts, thing fast face tech, and hollow metal-wood-like construction not only offer incredible distance, speed, and trajectory but also maximize forgiveness. This iron is much more progressing than G425 and has a sexier appearance with a small, sleek body shape. It’s ideal for pros and good players looking to add a few more yards to their shots without breaking a sweat.
6. Ping G Le 2 Irons
Next, we have the Ping G Le 2 Ironwhich is designed specifically for women golfers. It also caters to male golfers with a slower than average swing speed. This stylish-looking club features a host of technologies that improve accuracy and distance. For instance, its patented COR-Eye technology initiates a springboard effect upon shot impact thanks to enhanced flexibility in the face, thus, allowing the player to generate more momentum. Moreover, the positioning of the weight lowers the center of gravity, which helps elevate the launch angle to gain more loft and distance.
7. Ping I59 Irons
The Ping I59 ironhas been designed for transitioning golfers looking to upgrade their club set. Compared to other models made from traditional cast heads and microcavity backs, this gem of an iron comes with 17/4 stainless steel dace with aerospace-grade aluminum inserts. This innovative design delivers precise, reliable distance with a crisp, consistent impact. Moreover, it also promises a flighted trajectory with added forgiveness thanks to the hollow 1025 carbon steel body. However, this club is suitable for good players with a mid to low handicap range. Players starting out on the golf course are recommended to start with irons offering more forgiveness and later switch to this highly workable iron to further enhance their game in the future.
About Ping
Ping is an American sports equipment manufacturing founded by Karsten Solheim, an engineer at the General Electric company, in 1959. Karsten had difficulty putting the ball using the equipment of that era as a leisure golfer, so he resigned and developed the Ping company from his garage in Phoenix, Arizona, and soon introduced a revolutionary putter with the shaft attached its center instead of the heel. This game-changing innovation became an instant hit among casual golfers in a market where most golf manufacturers made equipment for professionals and fought to maintain the status quo.
After his initial success, Karsten slowly expanded his products by experimenting on heel-toe weighted irons, which sent ripples through the golf world and forever changed the game. As the years passed by, Pings became one of the best golf equipment brands in the country and further expanded its equipment line by introducing its own fitting system, bag innovations, and drivers. Since its inception, Ping has stuck with the same philosophy for making golf for everyone. So, whether you’re swinging an iron, driving into the wind, or lining up a putt, the brand offers a club for every game level from beginners to pro.
Choosing the Best Ping Ironsfor Your Game
Choosing thebest Ping ironsfor your game can be a challenging endeavor as the brand offers a versatile product range catering to every type of golfer. Iron play is crucial to good scoring, and the right Ping Irons could make a significant difference to your game. Whether you’re looking for a classic blade with a forged feel or prefer an iron that helps you get more distance on your shot, you need to choose carefully as different models offer different blends of distance, accuracy, feel, and loft. Finding the perfect combination for your game will result in more pars and birdies. Here’s how to choose the best irons for your game:
1. Get professionally Fitted
While you can simply buy Ping irons off-the-rack or an online store, the company offers a smart alternative for golfers genuinely interested in improving their game. Using its online fitting tool, you can choose a custom blade fitting profile according to your swing characteristics, physical characteristics, and style. This way, you can get the right combination of lie/shaft/loft into your hands and optimize your game.
2. Pick Your Forgiveness Level
Ping offers comparison charts for different irons and clubs, with one line indicating the club’s forgiveness level. You should choose irons with a “Maximum” or “Extreme” forgiveness rating if you’re a beginner. These irons have bigger heads and are perfect for golfers prone to mishits and flubbed shots. Choose irons with higher lofts to get more height and distance on your shots.
3. Choose a Shaft Flex
Your iron’s shaft stiffness or softness will determine how powerful your swing speed and momentum are. More importantly, it will impact your shot accuracy and trajectory. Therefore, choosing the wrong shaft flex can lead to awry shots. Ping offers four flex categories for golfers:
- Extra Stiff (X)– This shaft flex is typically used by experienced professional golfers and is not recommended for beginners or leisure golfers.
- Stiff (S) – This is suitable for golfers with great upper body strength or professional-level swing speed who can hit the ball 250 yards or further.
- Seniors (A) – This is suitable for middle-aged golfers and seniors who can hit the ball 200 yards consistently.
- Ladies (L) – This shaft flex is for golfers who typically hit the ball less than 200 yards.
Please note that this is only a guide. For instance, a woman with above-average swing speed or power would be more suited to buying irons with an A or S shaft. Likewise, a big, strong man may not have the swing speed to hit the ball 200 yards.
Our Final Thoughts
And there you have it – Our top picks of the best Ping Ironsin the market. With this information, not only do you know which Ping products you can find in the market, but you can now choose one according to your game level, style, and preference. Like most major golf equipment brands, Ping offers an extensive irons range which highlights their philosophy of making golf a sport anyone can enjoy irrespective of their abilities.
However, they cost hundreds of dollars, so make sure you do your homework and pick the right one. So, whether you’re a pro like Corey Conners looking for a high-quality blade or a newbie looking to take weekend golf more seriously, head to the official Ping website, pick your desired product, and find a retailer near you.
