Ping S56 Review

Great review man! I have not owners a set of Pings since the isi irons of yester year. I may have to seriously look into
these irons!

10 wins as of yesterday and counting worldwide since introduced. Nobody else is close.

[quote name='Bob57' timestamp='1289963184' post='2794310']
10 wins as of yesterday and counting worldwide since introduced. Nobody else is close.
[/quote]
Yep! These irons have put Ping right back on the map and created a huge buzz. I have not seen any bad reviews as of yet so maybe I should hold off on ordering my Nike VR Pro blades???

[quote name='Bob57' timestamp='1289963184' post='2794310']
10 wins as of yesterday and counting worldwide since introduced. Nobody else is close.
[/quote]

And since May if I'm not mistaken... almost two wins a month.

[quote name='Bob57' timestamp='1289963184' post='2794310']
10 wins as of yesterday and counting worldwide since introduced. Nobody else is close.
[/quote]

I'm not a PING fan but I can't help but see the same thing. These irons just keep popping up as winners. If I were in the market for new irons these would be top of my list to try out.

Good review..... There hasn't been any negative talk about these anywhere--all raves

Nice review. I'm definetly ordering my set for 2011.

So much buzzz with these. Here are a bunch of Pics. 3,6 and pw...


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Man... I have to go back to my earlier post and say that the shape of these irons is HOT. Love the look from address. Thanks a lot for the temptation, easyyy

Anyone with S58 experience, how do the S56 compare?

Great review, like you I replaced my AP2's recently and these were very very close to being my new iron, in the end I went for the MP68's though. Only a matter of time thou till I pick up a set of these

[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1289175940' post='2779337']...[b]Ping S56[/b]'s and have since fallen in love with them. Prior to this set of irons I had gamed [b]Titleist AP2[/b]'s for two seasons...[/quote]

Ahh, dude ... you've [i][b]got[/b][/i] to give us some detailed comparison between these two sets.

Both good but quite different from designed/engineered perspective.

[quote name='Asleep' timestamp='1289974327' post='2794530']
[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1289175940' post='2779337']...[b]Ping S56[/b]'s and have since fallen in love with them. Prior to this set of irons I had gamed [b]Titleist AP2[/b]'s for two seasons...[/quote]

Ahh, dude ... you've [i][b]got[/b][/i] to give us some detailed comparison between these two sets.

Both good but quite different from designed/engineered perspective.
[/quote]

They are indeed two different breeds of clubs.

I guess if I had to do a 1 on 1 comparison, it would be a little difficult because there are so many differences. I felt like the AP2's were more of a cross between a player's cavity and a game enhancement set. The S56's are much more "raw", and seem stripped of some of the tech of the AP2's. I'm by no means a designer or engineer, but from a playing perspective, maybe it isn't the fairest of comparisons. When I hit the AP2's it was more of a muted feeling whereas the S56's are solid and more muscleback-blade like. I have yet to get on a launch monitor to check out numbers, but I feel like I am launching the S56's lower with slightly less spin than the AP2's. The more I think of it, I think when I hit the AP2's the ball stayed on the face a little bit longer compared to a faster transfer of energy with the Ping's, if that makes sense. The S56's have a thinner sole, thinner topline, less offset, smaller cavity, and shorter blade from heel to toe compared to the AP2's. I think if I had been playing the 710 CB's it would be a much more reasonable comparison. Everything I want to say about the S56's compared to the AP2's makes me sound in my head like apples and oranges.

Great review. I played with a set and they are the best player iron on the market.

[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1289980644' post='2794585']
[quote name='Asleep' timestamp='1289974327' post='2794530']
[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1289175940' post='2779337']...[b]Ping S56[/b]'s and have since fallen in love with them. Prior to this set of irons I had gamed [b]Titleist AP2[/b]'s for two seasons...[/quote]

Ahh, dude ... you've [i][b]got[/b][/i] to give us some detailed comparison between these two sets.

Both good but quite different from designed/engineered perspective.
[/quote]

They are indeed two different breeds of clubs.

I guess if I had to do a 1 on 1 comparison, it would be a little difficult because there are so many differences. I felt like the AP2's were more of a cross between a player's cavity and a game enhancement set. The S56's are much more "raw", and seem stripped of some of the tech of the AP2's. I'm by no means a designer or engineer, but from a playing perspective, maybe it isn't the fairest of comparisons. When I hit the AP2's it was more of a muted feeling whereas the S56's are solid and more muscleback-blade like. I have yet to get on a launch monitor to check out numbers, but I feel like I am launching the S56's lower with slightly less spin than the AP2's. The more I think of it, I think when I hit the AP2's the ball stayed on the face a little bit longer compared to a faster transfer of energy with the Ping's, if that makes sense. The S56's have a thinner sole, thinner topline, less offset, smaller cavity, and shorter blade from heel to toe compared to the AP2's. I think if I had been playing the 710 CB's it would be a much more reasonable comparison. Everything I want to say about the S56's compared to the AP2's makes me sound in my head like apples and oranges.
[/quote]

I think you are right on the money with your assessment/comparison. I played the AP2s for nearly a year after they came out. They were fantastic clubs, but are a true "tweener" club, which is to say that they are a forgiving iron with the characteristics of a player's club. They have a smallish profile, but, in comparison to the true players clubs, they have a bit larger profile, sole, and topline, they are easier to elevate, they have more bounce, and a bit more difficult to work. In short, they are a very long and forgiving club designed in a package that won't offend most players. I know some have said they didn't like the feel of the AP2s, but I found them to be a very good feeling club. Different than a solid forging, and more muted, but very pleasing to hit. I loved the mid and long irons. However, I had real problems finding the precision I wanted out of the shorter clubs due to the higher trajectory. IMO, the AP2s are similar in performance to the old Cally X-Tours. If and when my playing time is limited, and I decide to look for some more forgiveness, the AP2s and I15s would be at the top of my list.

By comparison, the S56s are more of a true player's iron with some forgiveness engineered into it. It has a beautiful, small profile with very clean lines at address. I have found the trajectory to be mid to even low with the short irons and elevating through the set - almost a flighted design, though I am not sure if that is intended/marketed. The feel is very muted, but pleasant when struck well. They are easier to work than the AP2s, but are not as easy to elevate and do not offer the extreme distance I got with the Ap2s. Bottom line is that it is almost an apples to oranges comparison. IMO, the AP2 alignbs more closely with the I15, whereas the S56s is a closer competitor with the 710 CB. IMO, the S56 is all about precision - it will give you what you put into it, but has some unexpected directional forgiveness that will benefit even a "player" but won't hinder him or her.

Hi there I am interested in the S56's but would like to know the specific differences in comparing the S57's to the S56's(blade length, weight, thikness of the sole, top line etc... I am wondering if I should be getting the 56's or if I should just get the S57's as they have dropped in price since the S56's have come out???

any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Cheers turbs

[quote name='Turbs' timestamp='1290008015' post='2794866']
Hi there I am interested in the S56's but would like to know the specific differences in comparing the S57's to the S56's(blade length, weight, thikness of the sole, top line etc... I am wondering if I should be getting the 56's or if I should just get the S57's as they have dropped in price since the S56's have come out???

any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Cheers turbs
[/quote]

I have no experience with the S57's outside of demo-ing them, so I can't be of much help in terms of playing characteristics. Here are links to the specs for both of them so you can compare what Ping has to say about them. [url="http://www.ping.com/clubs/ironsdetail.aspx?id=8154"]S56[/url] [url="http://www.ping.com/classics/ironsdetail.aspx?id=438"]S57[/url]. Sorry I can't be of more help.

Hi bjackson,

thank you for the reply, I was on the Ping site earlier and had checked through all of the info listed, was really looking to get feedback on top line and blade length comparisons as its not listed in the web site information. But thank you for your help.
cheers!


Don.

Very nice review! I'm not a fan of Ping, BUT these are really nice looking.

AND THEY EVEN COME WITH FERRULES!!!!!

I'm still giving them a try, but so far, not winning the bag for 2011. It's too bad because I really wanted to like them. I may have to get "re-fit" because it is either the wrong spec I have or the Tungsten toe weight is just a bad idea. I never hit fades by accident with my X Forged, but with these goofy s56, I have a constant fade and lose yards. I think I'll attribute the yard loss issue to the fact the so called black dot standard is 1/4" under. I just find the Ping fitting approach disappointing. I have played AP2s off the shelf with PX 6.0 and fired lasers, but Ping black dots are far from "standard". Oh well, still yet to find a classic players CB as well designed as the X Forged '08.

What shafts did you test these with?

KBS Tour

[quote name='redraider1685' timestamp='1290035669' post='2795608']
What shafts did you test these with?
[/quote]

Not sure if this was directed at me, but DG X100.

The jury is still out with me...love my S58's and had considered buying S57's last year...but I read that they were shorter than the S58. Now I read that the S56 design has corrected the distance issue of the S57.

The price has definetely dropped on the S57 sets since the relese of Pings new S56....see NIB sets going for under $400.

Have to agree I have NEVER played or even liked Ping Irons but i was in the local golf shop today and checked them out and they are amazing looking irons. I hit some balls in the bay with them and I loved the way they frame the ball. Now I see why these irons have so many wins, they command respect at address and shoot your confidence through the roof. I still can't believe I just typed that about ping irons

I want a set of these so bad. Even if it means selling my nearly new set of i10's and MP-67's.

[quote name='bigbore56' timestamp='1290044968' post='2795941']
The jury is still out with me...love my S58's and had considered buying S57's last year...but I read that they were shorter than the S58. Now I read that the S56 design has corrected the distance issue of the S57.

The price has definetely dropped on the S57 sets since the relese of Pings new S56....see NIB sets going for under $400.
[/quote]
Just curious ... where have you seen them for under $400 NIB? Thanks!

Oh man those look nice. Very little offset which suits my game.