Ping is a household name in the golfing community. Started out in 1959, it was founded by Karsten Solheim. The company is based in Phoenix, Arizona and is one of the top golfing brands in the world today. What began for Solheim after leaving GE as an engineer in making putters has since flourished to become one of the top name sin this sport.
You’d never played golf until you hit a Ping!
Ping has often been linked with the sound produced when the metal club hit the ball. The idea of the company came from the frustration of Solheim in putting the putters during his time. Hence, he invented the ‘Ping 1A’ in his garage to sort this problem out which would then change the game forever.
Technology
The invention of the 1A went on to precede more putters which would then change the way how the game was played. It would then be known as one of the world-changing innovations of that era. Even after leaving GE and moving Ping from Redwood City to Phoenix, he continued to make putters in his garage.
Then, the 69 series of irons were made. He continued to improve the effects of good heel-toe weighting where for better forgiveness, added cavity into the back of the irons.
Reputation
Today, Ping is among the most widely used golf brand in the world. This came about back in 1962 when John Barnum won the Cajun Classic Open Invitational via a Ping club. That was the catalyst that brought the attention of the world. In 1965, Ping putters were used in the Golf World Cup in Japan and that only reinforced the branding of the company.
It was in 1966 when a new putter idea came to frustration which was when Anser was born. It would become the most talked-about putter then which would rack up more than 500 professional wins due to its cavity back and low centre of gravity.
What started out as a small idea has grown to become a multi-million dollar brand and Ping is now one of the most used golfing brands around. Being the first band to make high quality cast clubs, it was able to offer customized clubheads to suit the game of the golfer based on their style of game and techniques.
Who uses Ping?
Among those in the PGA Tour who uses Ping are Mark Calcavecchia from the US, Swedish golfer Daniel Chopra, US’ Jason Gore, Hunter Mahan and Australia’s Nick O’Hern. Apart from that, Ping sponsors tournaments where its golf balls and other equipment are used extensively.
Ping Equipment
As a major player in this market, Ping manufactures a broad range of clothing line that includes tops, bottoms and shoes for both men and women. Besides that, it has a range of trendy caps and bags as well.
Ping produces the G series and Anser Drivers. Hybrids like the G Cross-Over are quite popular while Ping’s i25 and G irons are used by a lot of players across the circuit. Other notable models include the Tour Gorge and Eye2 XG wedges as well as the infamous putters.
Ping G Irons – A great option for direct hits
Ping golf clubs come with a reputation that goes back to years. Having been used by some of the top golfers in the world, you would expect nothing short of the best like the Ping G Irons.
What you get when you first hold it
Feel: Swing it, you will feel the balance in this club. Weird though that you will experience the same feeling you get if you miss.
Look: There is a very robust and sturdy look to the Ping G. The manufacturer has not done many changes to the G series overall.
No nonsense irons that gives great height
Price: The steel version is about RM3,200 while the graphite one is around RM3,600.
Key Technologies: The one thing that stood out in these irons is the sole which is designed wider. That should give you better contact in your hits.
Playability: This club is good for straight-line hits. However, that does not mean you can get curves out of it. It might take some practice there but once you get it, you will like it. Makes your game simpler in many ways.
Forgiveness: Among the many players in this scale, the Ping G is the easiest in terms of forgiveness. It has been claimed that you only need to aim and hit it, the club will do the rest. It has one of the best precisions around.
Distance Control: Quite predictable when it comes to this. When you use the Ping G, it gets the job done quite effortlessly. Once you get the stroke right, there should be no problem getting the distance you need.
Cons: Because of the weight distribution, the G could hit the ball high. At times, it can be too high.
Summary: If you are looking for no-nonsense irons to give your game that added punch, the new Ping G is perfect. However, it might not be as sturdy as the later model like the Ping G25s and hence might not be the best club for seasoned players.
Ping G25 Irons
The Ping G25 Irons is priced around RM1,400 and that is around the medium level of clubs in 2019. What it brings to your game, however, is a different story because, for this price, you will definitely appreciate its quality.
Why the Ping G25?
Behind the Ping G25 are support bars. This is done in order to push out more impact and relief when you hit the ball. On top of that, you get slightly thinner topline and sole too. This will then give you better turf interaction and in return provide you with better playability.
In terms of performance, the people in Ping has done so much with this, it is almost unbelievable. For starters, you will get straighter ball flight which means you will enjoy its forgiveness which is superior compared to many others in this market. The Ping G25 is typically a workhorse and it gives you some really great distance.
Any cons?
There really isn’t much downside to the Ping G25 and at this price point, it would possibly be one of the most exciting clubs around for 2019. It comes with the D0 Swing weight and a Cavity Back design while they fitted the Ping 360 ID8 grip too. Giving you superior interaction with the turf, you will appreciate the light custom grips very much. The club gives you a very smooth swing and you get to control your spin better too.
The look and feel of this club are extremely impressive but take note that it might not be the club for everyone as it needs a little getting used to. As such, it would be ideal for the more experienced golfers who know what they are after and what they are in for while the new players might find this a bit too difficult to handle.
Ping G25 Driver – An excellent all-rounder
The Ping G25 Driver is actually quite a simple Driver. It has a classic look to it as compared to other Drivers of its class which are more contemporary or modern. If you are looking for a Driver that gives you a feel of the 70s or perhaps 80s, then you should seriously consider the G25 because it has just the right look and feels to it, and then some.
Always quality from Ping
The thing is, when you see the name ‘Ping’ you will get the impression of a more traditional and old-fashioned brand but looks can be deceiving. Beneath the wooden layers and all that, lies the innovation that Ping is so renowned for which can be seen in their other models too. In fact, Ping can be regarded as one of the most innovative golf brands and products which have been ground-breaking in many ways. The G25 is one of the latest adjustable Drivers to have come out from Ping although this might not be the company’s invention. Ping only launched its version of the adjustable Driver a few years after its close-competitor TaylorMade did which did not do too well but in G25, it seems that Ping has found the answer.
How does the G25 fare?
The Pros of G25 Driver
The Ping G25 has a good look to it and gives you a good feel and grip. It has a good combination of form and function and if you are looking for a Driver that gives your swing a good height to the ball, then this is the one. Straights are well-hit and you get some very consistent performance with this one. At impact, the solid shots give you a lot of confidence and stability and it is very well launched through most wind types.
The Cons of G25 Driver
Response to the G25 has been pretty good although many testers did voice their concerns that the clubhead is a bit too large while there have been some reservations about the impact feel.
G25 Driver, Conclusion:
The Ping G25 is one of the highest-rated models in this class and it can be played in most winds. If you control it well, you can make the curve shots quite easily as well. Its pear-shaped clubhead and the classic matte finish are just aesthetically pleasing.
Ping G400 Irons
For 2019, Ping’s G400 would stand with the best in any list. Released in 2018, the market was too crowded then but it would surely be better late than never especially with a classic like this one.
Up there with the best irons this year
The Ping brand has often been associated with game improvement and the Ping G400 would be no different. If you are a serious golfer and you are constantly looking to improve your game in one way or another, the G400 should be your first tool to turn to.
The Technology of G400
What you get inside the Ping G400 is the company’s revolutionary COR-Eye Technology. This is the one that gives you an increased face flex and would surely give the ball a lot more distance than you can imagine. Within the outlook, you will get the hydro pearl finish which is designed to minimize friction which is quite impressive as the reduction is at about 40%.
You will like the fact that your shots are higher and at the same time very long. If forgiveness is what you are looking for, then you are looking at the perfect iron here. Some of the very kind words that the Ping G400 has garnered so far is a joy. The game has become a lot more enjoyable by those who have experienced it.
Pros and Cons of the Ping G400
This is one club which is almost effortless when it comes to hitting the ball. It is very consistent and comes with great sound. The aesthetics are unbelievable and you get better spin control too. For those with good control, you will appreciate its accuracy which makes this one of the best clubs to play in this year. The only downside to the G400 is that it is slightly more expensive than the others in this segment.
Ping i20 Iron – Simple-looking club but functions excellently
Anyone who has seen the Ping i20 will agree that it has a good look to it. In fact, on a scale from 1 to 5 with 5 being the best, the Ping i20 will surely come around 4 to 5. So it is a no-brainer that Ping does design good-looking clubs, but how then about the performance?
Performing as good as it looks?
According to Ping, they used tungsten weight in the toe of the head which was supposed to improve the balancing of the head during the swings. Hence, it might not perform that well if you are looking to manoeuvre the shot to the sides. In fact, it would be most suitable for ‘point and shoot’ situations to gain speed because you get the feeling that the Ping i20 is designed for this purpose. On top of that, you do get a good trajectory which is not too excessive as well.
Works well for any golfer
The i20 Iron from Ping is both classy and functional. As anyone would come to expect from Ping products, they spend a lot of effort on the looks because it matters to the player. But this might be an iron that has too much aesthetics and not enough playability which could be a big drawback and perhaps disappointment to many.
The Pros of Ping i20 Iron:
It looks good and has a very easy to hit sweet-spot. Great design and shots with long irons can be quite easy to hit.
The Cons of Ping i20 Iron:
If you are one who likes to work side shots (to left or right), then it might not be the best iron for you. The i20 looks good but does not quite stand out among others in the class in terms of performance. You might need to work out a full swing to get more from this.
Our conclusion for Ping i20 Iron:
Ultimately, the Ping i20 might be best used for normal gameplay and might not be the most appropriate if you adopt more sophisticated techniques.
