PREVIEW: Ping i200 Irons
Take a first look at the new Ping i200 irons, including iron specifications and whether or not they were built to help your specific handicap level. Click here to read more.
What Ping Says
“The i200 iron is engineered for golfers who want an iron with a clean look that delivers exceptional feel, distance and forgiveness while providing the trajectory control they need to play with precision,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “Bringing all these benefits into one iron required our teams to re-think how the face and cavity structure can work together to improve overall performance. The feel is amazing and the gains in forgiveness are significant for an iron this size. It’s a shot-maker’s iron by design, but it will fit a lot of golfers because it’s so easy to play. This iron will exceed their expectations in every way, especially the feel.”
First Impression
Based purely on what Ping has told me, there is certainly a target demographic of golfers for these new irons: better players. Most Tour players on Ping's roster play an i-Series iron of some sort, and as MyGolfSpy.com suggests, those remaining will transition to the Ping i200 irons sooner or later.
I was a fan of the s-Series irons Ping offered a couple years ago, as well as the Ping i25 irons I gamed for about a year. Both featured the matte-finish and rounded profiles that fans of the brand love, and the i200 irons appear to stick with that look.
The problem for me? I don't love the look of Ping irons. I prefer chrome finishes and sharper lines at address, which is a stark contrast from what Ping offers.
Performance-wise, however, Ping is a name you can trust. Iron technology hasn't changed drastically over the last decade, but if any company is going to keep their loyalists happy in terms of tech, it's going to be Ping.
What This Means for You
I'm going to guess that the Ping i200 irons aren't substantially better than last year's model, despite what the PR language suggests. Consumers who purchased any i-Series club over within the last two years can probably look the other way for now and not miss much.
Of course, there are a small group of golfers who always need the newest stuff in their bags no matter what. Let those kids have their fun; the rest of us should be more stringent on how we spend our dollars.
As always, try these clubs out and formulate your own opinion. Go in looking for how the Ping i200 irons can improve a specific aspect of your game. I will be sure to do the same when testing these irons in the next few weeks.
The Ping i200 irons are available for pre-order now.
New Apple Watch golf app released by Ping
Earlier this week Ping announced they are releasing a new golf and workout app for Apple Watch owners. As wearable devices become more popular -- I literally received my own smartwatch in the mail the day of this writing -- it was only a matter of time before a major golf OEM released an app compatible with smartwatches. According to Golf Digest, rumors of Ping's breakthrough release began swirling at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference this summer. The cat is out of the bag now.
Using technology similar to that of the company's iPing putter fitting app, the new smartwatch app will make the most of the Apple Watch's accelerometer and other tech innards to analyze your swing tempo, GPS tracking and a multitude of other options. I'm sure you'll also be able to use the app to keep score and other golf-related options.
You'll also reportedly be able to track your steps, heart rate and calories burned while playing your next round of golf.
“Our goal was to develop an app that was not intrusive so golfers could still enjoy the tranquility of a typical round without having to constantly be focused on the watch,” said David Solheim, vice president of Ping, told Golf Digest.
The DUFFIES: Best Golf Equipment and Apparel of 2014
Every year we at ChicagoDuffer.com have the privilege of testing the season's newest golf equipment and fashion from companies all over the world. While it is true that we have a soft spot for independent golf companies, it would be foolish to not appreciate the amazing products the "big brands" release every year. In an attempt to highlight which products were our favorite from this season, I am proud to unveil the inaugural DUFFIES -- a completely made-up trophy that will be awarded to the best of the best.
So without further adieu, here are our votes for the best golf equipment and products from 2014:
Best Driver -- Callaway Big Bertha Alpha
We tested more than two dozen drivers this season, but we kept coming back to this magnificent boomstick time and time again. While it was not the longest driver we tested, the Callaway Big Bertha Alpha was far and away the most consistent and well-rounded of the bunch. It is still my driver of choice every time I step on the golf course, and it is going to take a small miracle for another club to replace it in my bag.
Best Irons -- PING i25
Nobody produced a better mid-handicap set of irons than the folks at PING. Their incredible PING i25 iron set not only catered to those of us who aren't cool enough to play blades but still wanted shot-shaping ability, but they also look and feel amazing. They might be a step away from the "traditional" PING iron look, but we could not find a set of sticks that fit our game better.
Best Wedges -- Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0
Don't let the annoying numbers in their name fool you: hitting the Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 wedges are easy as pie and require little to no math. Unless, of course, you need help adding up all the money you'll take from your friends with these in your bag. Their look, feel, and performance stood above the rest in the wedge market, and that is no small task.
Best Putter -- Nike Golf Method MOD 90
Ok, this putter was released toward the end of 2013, but we have to include it here. Nike Golf is making some incredible golf clubs as of late, and that is exemplified in their impressive Method MOD 90 putter. I'm usually a fan of mallet putters, but this ultra-thin blade design felt too good and performed too well to not keep it in my bag.
Best Golf Ball -- 3UP Golf 2S14
Everyone loves the Titleist Pro V golf balls, but you can keep them for all I care. No matter which category I can think of -- distance, feel, spin, durability -- the 3Up Golf 2S14 golf ball rose handedly above the rest. Don't let the fact that 3UP is an indie golf brand scare you; these guys make a damn fine product.
Best Overall Apparel Company -- Bunker Mentality and Dunning Golf (tie)
This was a difficult choice for me since I love both companies so much. So, instead of choosing one over the other, let's all play nice and share! The UK-based Bunker Mentality specializes in providing highly-personable golf apparel that scream individuality. Conversely, the US-based Dunning Golf exudes traditional charm and high performance. While these two juggernauts may reside on opposite ends of the fashion spectrum, they both make up most of my golf wardrobe.
DUFF TEST: PING G30 Driver
When the new PING G30 driver was unveiled via a YouTube video in July, golf fans everywhere got a first-hand look at how this club can launch a golf ball. I had the chance to test out the PING G30 driver recently, and there is no doubt that video was legit.
Boring Specification Stuff
The PING G30 looks and feels like most other PING drivers, but with one glaring exception: the new turbulators on the driver's crown. These little nubs -- which look more like shark fins than anything -- are said to reduce drag as your swing the PING G30 through the air. This increases clubhead speed, which translates to greater distances off the tee.
The PING G30 is also fully adjustable, offering five individual loft settings in 0.6-degree increments. PING obviously did a bunch of fancy tests to settle on such an odd degree increment, but trust me when I say there's a lot of science behind that number.
Look and Feel
Aside from the ugly turbulators on the club's crown -- sorry, those things are hideous -- the PING G30 driver is an attractive club overall. The matte-black finish is highly appealing and adds to the "softness" of the club, and the bright blue accent coloring is tasteful and non-distracting.
For me, the biggest surprise with the club's feel at impact. PING drivers are known to be a bit on the "loud" side. Hell, with a name like "PING," this is expected. This driver not only felt soft -- it also sounded softer than I expected. That's a huge plus in my book.
Performance
This club can pound the ball. There's no other way to say it. I was able to hit the PING G30 driver at least 10 yards further than my current name-brand driver (another 2014 release). While my accuracy struggled a bit at first, the back-focused center-of-gravity on the club -- which stabilizes the clubface into impact -- got me back on track after a few swings.
Why you should buy this club
If you are looking for a serious boost in distance, there's no way you can go wrong with the PING G30 driver. You will hit the ball further, no questions asked.
Why you shouldn't buy this club
Traditionalists might not appreciate the turbulators or blue coloring on the clubhead. The PING G30 also has less adjustability options compared to other drivers released this season, so tinkerers might look elsewhere.
Announcing the New PING G30 Club Series
PING Golf has just announced their newest club series -- the G30 -- which spans across drivers, fairway woods and irons. With a few technological tweaks here and there, the PING G30 clubs promise to make a huge impact on the mid-to-high handicap player demographic.
PING G30 Driver
The new fully-adjustable PING G30 driver looks and feels a lot like the G25 or i25 driver series, but a new clubhead design promote faster swing speeds due to lower air drag. How does PING pull this off? It's all about aerodynamics, dude.
The PING G30 driver features these weird little bumps things on the clubhead crown called "turbulators." As the name suggests, these promise to cut down on clubhead turbulence as it cuts through the air during your golf swing. This promotes a 1- to 2-mph increase in clubhead speed (on average), which could mean as much as 10-15 extra yards off the tee.
Here's a video describing all those golf nerd stuff in more detail.
PING G30 Fairway Woods
The G30 adjustable fairway woods also feature the new turbulator bumps, suggesting these clubs are also built to give you more distance. Each clubhead features a super-thin face and perimeter weighting to help you launch the ball higher and longer than previous models. Each fairway wood can be adjusted in 1-degree increments thanks to PING's Trajectory Tuning technology.
PING G30 Irons
Finally, the new G30 irons feature game improvement technology that is meant for mid-to-high handicappers but versatile enough to be used by better players as well. Progressive lengths and lofts and a thin face that maximizes ball speed help launch the ball farther and higher with control.
This versatile sole design is engineered to perform well with any angle of attack. Progressive offset generates higher ball flights in the longer irons and penetrating, controlled trajectories with the scoring clubs. Slightly longer blade lengths increase forgiveness, most noticeably in the 4 through 7 iron.
DUFF TEST: Ping i25 Irons
When Ping Golf introduced their new i25 iron series back in January, mid-handicappers everywhere immediately smiled from ear to ear. Finally, there was an iron that filled the gap between game-improvement and better player irons.
I had the chance to play a round of golf with the Ping i25 irons recently. Admittedly a fan of Ping clubs going into the test, I was incredibly impressed with how well these irons performed.
Boring Specification Stuff
The Ping i25 irons are made for a wide range of players, but fit specifically in between the company's G- and S-series iron sets. The i25's have standard to slightly-stronger loft settings, depending on you individual club fitting results (which, if you've never gotten fit for clubs, use Ping's online fitting system before you purchase anything from them).
The Ping i25 irons are progressive with their technology, ranging from a more forgiving long iron tech all the way to more bladelike lower clubs and wedges.
Appearance and Feel
At address, the Ping i25 irons appear much more like a blade than an ultra-forgiving game improvement iron. They feature a nice thin topline that better players will prefer, while the longer clubs feature a slight offset that gives you a boost of confidence. In true Ping form, the i25's look extraordinary with a modern spin on a classic design.
At impact, these clubs are as smooth as a hot knife through butter. They cut through the turf effortlessly and offer a soft feel, which I love. Mishits are slightly punitive -- as they should be -- but nothing too harsh. These are some of the best feeling clubs I've hit this year.
Performance
The Ping i25 irons performed so well in my test that they are now my go-to iron set for the season. There is very little to critique about these clubs, which flew slightly further than my normal iron distances but nothing too unpredictable. Approach shots held the green quite well, and the wedges were quite versatile from 100 yards and in.
Why you should buy these clubs
If you are a mid-handicapper looking for a little help in distance without sacrificing forgiveness, you need to check out the Ping i25 irons. If you want all of that technology in iron clubheads that don't look too chunky, these should be on your short list.
Why you should not buy these clubs
High-handicap players may prefer clubheads with a larger sweetspot and a bit more forgiveness. Otherwise, the Ping i25 irons will appeal to golfers in a wide handicap range.
PING Acquires Apparel Company
PING®, a leading designer and manufacturer of golf equipment since 1959, today announced the acquisition of PING Collection Europe (PCE) from Peter McGuigan, its former licensee responsible for designing and distributing PING-branded apparel, including outerwear, throughout Europe and other selected countries.
The acquisition was announced by Andy Solheim, PING’s Vice President of Business Development. Terms of the agreement were not released.
“Bringing PING Collection Europe under the PING corporate umbrella gives us even more opportunity to grow our position as a leader in the soft-goods categories worldwide,” said Solheim, who is responsible for managing PING’s business unit that also includes golf bags, headwear and accessories. “The McGuigan family has been a great steward for the PING brand. We move forward in a position of strength due to their success in building the PING apparel line into a market leader known for providing performance-driven golf apparel throughout Europe.”
The new company, PING Collection Limited, will remain in its current location in Cheadle, England. All employee contracts will transfer to the new company, which will be headed by Mike Forsey, GMM – Director of Strategic Planning, PING Soft Goods. The product creation center will continue to develop PING-branded apparel, which is distinguished by its high-performance fabrics marketed under the trademarks Sensor Cool™, Sensor Warm™ and Sensor Dry™.
“Our long-term strategy is to expand on PING’s reputation as a global golf brand that offers authenticity in every key golf product category,” Solheim added. “PING has significant opportunity for growth on the soft-goods side of the business. With our own apparel group, we can now leverage our success and efficiencies in Europe while continuing to provide golfers with apparel that delivers the quality and innovation that PING was founded on more than 50 years ago.”
S55 Irons by PING Introduced
PHOENIX (Oct. 1, 2013) – In engineering its new S55™ players iron, PING wasn’t out to overhaul the design innovations that made its predecessor, the S56®, an unquestioned success on tours worldwide. And yet, in consultation with PING tour pros, the modifications they made improved workability, control and forgiveness so much that many of the company’s star players switched immediately to the S55 iron.
The new iron will be available in golf shops in early November, and can be ordered beginning today.
“The S56 has contributed to more than 30 tour wins worldwide, including an Open Championship, and its record has generated a lot of anticipation for the follow-up model,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “But that kind of challenge excites us. We’re motivated by pushing innovation, and we were able to elevate performance with the S55 irons in key areas. Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Ángel Cabrera are some of the players who switched right away, and validation from the game’s best players tells us that we got it right.”
Solheim said pros are especially pleased how the S55 irons gives them more control over their pre-impact face alignment for improved workability while increasing forgiveness – two critical attributes that are difficult to improve simultaneously.
“They’re able to work the ball more easily and flight it up and down like never before,” he said. The 17-4 stainless steel head features tungsten toe weighting for increasing the MOI, and a vertical stabilizing bar for distance control.
The custom tuning port is larger and sits lower in the back cavity, which positions the CG lower and deeper to promote higher launch with greater energy transfer. Solheim said players are hitting the ball substantially higher and farther.
The machined face, grooves and back cavity, compact shape, thin top lines, and brushed satin-chrome finish speak to PING’s emphasis on quality and attention to detail. “Pros have really responded to the look of this iron,” Solheim said. “It’s a beautiful piece of engineering. It looks great and performs even better.”
Watson is one of many players who have responded to the S55 iron’s overall performance. His switch to the S55 irons was the first time he’s changed models since 2004.
For his part, Mahan appreciated the softer feel and trajectory control, but that’s not all. “After the first swing, I knew the S55 irons were going in my bag, no question,” he said. “I love the control, the trajectory and the forgiveness. It’s everything I want in a golf club.”
S55 Irons Features and Benefits
• 17-4 stainless steel body; tungsten toe weighting elevates forgiveness
• Vertical stabilizing bar offers distance control and feel
• Larger CTP sits deeper in the cavity to optimize launch conditions
• Thinner face helps increase ball speed for added distance
• Precision-machined face, grooves and back cavity ensure consistent performance
• Available 3-PW
• Stock steel shaft: PING® CFS® (Soft R, R, S and X flexes)
• Stock graphite shaft: PING® TFC® 189i (Soft R, R, and S flexes)
• Brushed satin-chrome finish
• U.S. MSRP: $138.75 per club w/steel shaft; $166.25 per club w/graphite shaft.
