Ping Blueprint forged irons- New photos added page 27

[bladehunter]

If these clubs are truly hollow like some here suggest you won't have to worry about very many pro's playing them. Pro's want dead solid feel, not tinny like a hollow bodied i500 or similar. PXG fills their irons with foam to kill the click and improve feel, but Ping hasn't gone that route yet (unless Blueprint is the first).

 

If you order swingweight heavy enough they are fillled with hotmelt. Or some flexible goo. My i500 are nearly full. And they do not feel like any other set of i500 I’ve hit.

 

You’re not wrong. I’m just saying that the feel , distance control etc of the i500 in retro lofts is top notch to me and you know how picky I am in an iron. I believe that tour guys could get a similar iron dialed in just like the pxg guys with hotmelt and proper sole grinds.

 

The i500 / blueprint aren’t hot faced junk like the 790. 790 is useless past a 4 iron if you want any semblance of distance control.

[braincramp52]

They don't even have enough. Staffers are asking for them and currently can't get them

 

Heard through the grapevine that same thing myself. Started to post it. But then you get the " how do you know that " crap. But since you said it I'll second it.

 

Source ? :)

 

Lol. Always one ....

 

This time it wasn't from my resident tour sauce source.

 

But from a pro I know who worked this summer for a guy who just built a new golf school in New England. He had their ping rep by the ear for a few days straight. Got a i500 3 iron out of it and got to hold a single blueprint 7 iron. They talked at length. And he said " Every staffer I know wants to hit these and we can't get them. Tour guys can't even get them ".

 

 

Then I hear the same thing from another friend who has hit a set that belong to one of the advisory staff members who is testing them in the field. Same story. Those two stories happened 1500 miles apart.

 

You KNOW I was messin' with you blade. :)

[denvergolf]

They don’t even have enough. Staffers are asking for them and currently can’t get them

 

Heard through the grapevine that same thing myself. Started to post it. But then you get the “ how do you know that “ crap. But since you said it I’ll second it.

How is that possible? Not a doubt, but they aren’t handcrafting iron by iron.

[kcsf]

They don't even have enough. Staffers are asking for them and currently can't get them

 

Heard through the grapevine that same thing myself. Started to post it. But then you get the " how do you know that " crap. But since you said it I'll second it.

How is that possible? Not a doubt, but they aren't handcrafting iron by iron.

 

I would imagine a small batch 1st production for testing purposes only. Limited sets+greater than anticipated demand=shortage. Unless these are built in Phx, all production is now in China. It's my understanding replacement single irons are being made in Phx, but all else overseas due to reduced environmental concerns. All that takes time.

[bladehunter]

They don't even have enough. Staffers are asking for them and currently can't get them

 

Heard through the grapevine that same thing myself. Started to post it. But then you get the " how do you know that " crap. But since you said it I'll second it.

How is that possible? Not a doubt, but they aren't handcrafting iron by iron.

 

I would imagine a small batch 1st production for testing purposes only. Limited sets+greater than anticipated demand=shortage. Unless these are built in Phx, all production is now in China. It's my understanding replacement single irons are being made in Phx, but all else overseas due to reduced environmental concerns. All that takes time.

 

Yep. That was my take. The initial batch was small. And more tour guys wanted a set than they thought. I’d bet the next batch hits soon and you see more playing them.

[denvergolf]

It would seem if these are a “blueprint” iron the initial sets would come out of phoenix. But I’m also speaking out my derrière

[ginrin]

First win for the Blueprint in South Africa by Louie O.

[Nessism]

Ping doesn't manufacture iron heads themselves. They use overseas contractors for that because of cost, not environmental concerns (although environmental concerns can drive cost). What they could be doing though is buying rough forged blanks and then CNC machining them to final shape and configuration. No clue if that's the case or not. If, and big if, these heads are made in the way some here are speculating and the face is welded, then there is zero chance that the heads are made in the USA.

[iteachgolf]

Ping doesn't manufacture iron heads themselves. They use overseas contractors for that because of cost, not environmental concerns (although environmental concerns can drive cost). What they could be doing though is buying rough forged blanks and then CNC machining them to final shape and configuration. No clue if that's the case or not. If, and big if, these heads are made in the way some here are speculating and the face is welded, then there is zero chance that the heads are made in the USA.

 

They do manufacture iron heads in house. Just not for large scale production. They aren’t forged blanks.

[kcsf]

Nessism, you and I are on the same page. The cost to manufacture using titanium, magnesium, hope-sium, and whatever other materials while following the EPA's environmental quality standards became too high to produce in the states. Ping could either raise prices or move most hazardous manufacturing overseas.

 

I read that a couple years ago, but I can't seem to find the article.

[Nessism]

Ping doesn't manufacture iron heads themselves. They use overseas contractors for that because of cost, not environmental concerns (although environmental concerns can drive cost). What they could be doing though is buying rough forged blanks and then CNC machining them to final shape and configuration. No clue if that's the case or not. If, and big if, these heads are made in the way some here are speculating and the face is welded, then there is zero chance that the heads are made in the USA.

 

They do manufacture iron heads in house. Just not for large scale production. They aren't forged blanks.

 

Ping does not forge clubs in the US. What's your point? We all know Ping does CNC machine putter heads and they have iron head casting facilities available but that isn't the topic at hand.

 

Nessism, you and I are on the same page. The cost to manufacture using titanium, magnesium, hope-sium, and whatever other materials while following the EPA's environmental quality standards became too high to produce in the states. Ping could either raise prices or move most hazardous manufacturing overseas.

 

I read that a couple years ago, but I can't seem to find the article.

 

It's not just about the EPA. It's energy, labor, machinery, and no doubt other things as well. For example, several very expensive forging machines would be needed, and since Ping isn't a forged club company, those machines wouldn't get utilized enough to justify the cost.

[bladehunter]

Ping doesn't manufacture iron heads themselves. They use overseas contractors for that because of cost, not environmental concerns (although environmental concerns can drive cost). What they could be doing though is buying rough forged blanks and then CNC machining them to final shape and configuration. No clue if that's the case or not. If, and big if, these heads are made in the way some here are speculating and the face is welded, then there is zero chance that the heads are made in the USA.

 

They do manufacture iron heads in house. Just not for large scale production. They aren't forged blanks.

 

Ping does not forge clubs in the US. What's your point? We all know Ping does CNC machine putter heads and they have iron head casting facilities available but that isn't the topic at hand.

 

Nessism, you and I are on the same page. The cost to manufacture using titanium, magnesium, hope-sium, and whatever other materials while following the EPA's environmental quality standards became too high to produce in the states. Ping could either raise prices or move most hazardous manufacturing overseas.

 

I read that a couple years ago, but I can't seem to find the article.

 

It's not just about the EPA. It's energy, labor, machinery, and no doubt other things as well. For example, several very expensive forging machines would be needed, and since Ping isn't a forged club company, those machines wouldn't get utilized enough to justify the cost.

 

It is very valid if this is a cast body forged face.

 

I’m betting they have the ability to weld the two together and finish them out in their development portion of the plant.

[matchavez]

If these clubs are truly hollow like some here suggest you won't have to worry about very many pro's playing them. Pro's want dead solid feel, not tinny like a hollow bodied i500 or similar. PXG fills their irons with foam to kill the click and improve feel, but Ping hasn't gone that route yet (unless Blueprint is the first).

 

If you order swingweight heavy enough they are fillled with hotmelt. Or some flexible goo. My i500 are nearly full. And they do not feel like any other set of i500 I've hit.

 

 

And what does this feel like??

[dcfas]

Wherever and however, I’ll be looking at these. Never been a Ping guy, but lately they’ve caught my attention. May try to blend a set, including the Glides. Was thinking i500 for 4 and 5 irons, then i210s through PW. Now I’ve a got a four month wait. Living in the great Northeast ice bucket.

[Hedgehog]

blueprint is more forgiving than iblade.

What would you base this on?

Nothing about a blade that makes it inherently less forgiving. .all the tour iblade users are going to it.

 

iBlade has CG lower and more back + distributed more towards the outer rims -> more forgiving then solid 1 peace Blueprint irons will ever be :D IMO

 

Let's take a look at ALL the tour players on the 2 major men's tours that have gone to Blueprint.

 

Blueprint:

Louis Oosthuizen

Bubba Watson

 

 

iBlade:

...pretty much everyone on staff...

You're comparing players playing irons that have been out for years, to irons not yet released. Guess what, there are more 2015 Honda Civics on the road than 2020 Civics.

 

Yeah, that's why I was wondering about this guy saying that all the Tour iBlade users going for it :D And then saying Champ and Finau are the only Ping Touring pros that matters :D

 

Finau and Champ where gaming the iBlades last weekend still so as long as they keep doing that, Bluepeint is "not in the bag"

[Boricua Golf]

I love my iBlades, just saying!!!!...lol

[Google]

I believe these could well be 1 piece forgings with a weight screw. The clue is the fact the wedge isn't cut in the hosel/heel that allows cast clubs to be bent. The i500 still have the wedge even though they have a welded forged face. So I doubt these will be the same type of construction.

[bladehunter]

Hedgehog.

 

Tony is using blueprints. Two events now.

 

 

http://www.bunkered.co.uk/golf-news/two-more-tour-pros-switch-into-ping-blueprint-irons

[dunn]

Why in the world would they do another hollow dodie club....that wud make 3 different sets

 

[golfing_penguin]

Why in the world would they do another hollow dodie club....that wud make 3 different sets

 

From the rep: No release date set, but it ain't hollow and matches i500 for forgiveness

[bladehunter]

Why in the world would they do another hollow dodie club....that wud make 3 different sets

 

From the rep: No release date set, but it ain't hollow

 

At all ? As in just enough room for the screw ?

[TheMoneyShot]

Why in the world would they do another hollow dodie club....that wud make 3 different sets

 

From the rep: No release date set, but it ain't hollow

 

That stinks. Probably will not see these until fall next year.

[golfing_penguin]

Why in the world would they do another hollow dodie club....that wud make 3 different sets

 

From the rep: No release date set, but it ain't hollow

 

At all ? As in just enough room for the screw ?

 

It's for swingweighting purposes he said!

[golfing_penguin]

Why in the world would they do another hollow dodie club....that wud make 3 different sets

 

From the rep: No release date set, but it ain't hollow

 

That stinks. Probably will not see these until fall next year.

 

He was (off the record), expectant for before July. The internet buzz, though, has been noticed. So maybe March if we're loud enough!

[PowderedToastMan]

Why in the world would they do another hollow dodie club....that wud make 3 different sets

 

From the rep: No release date set, but it ain't hollow and matches i500 for forgiveness

Matches i500 forgiveness? If they could match i500 forgiveness in a blade, why didn't they make i500 more forgiving? It was released months ago, not years. Confusing.

[doublehans]

Why in the world would they do another hollow dodie club....that wud make 3 different sets

 

From the rep: No release date set, but it ain't hollow and matches i500 for forgiveness

Matches i500 forgiveness? If they could match i500 forgiveness in a blade, why didn't they make i500 more forgiving? It was released months ago, not years. Confusing.

 

i think the implication there is i500 is a distance iron, the blade would not match launch/ballspeed etc, but moi is close to i500. Sounds odd, but iblade moi was pretty similar to i200 so if this is the new iteration then maybe they’ve made similar improvements to the moi of the iblade successor as they did w i210 etc. seems likely its still less than i500, such a big jump, but maybe not crazy far off.

[golfing_penguin]

Why in the world would they do another hollow dodie club....that wud make 3 different sets

 

From the rep: No release date set, but it ain't hollow and matches i500 for forgiveness

Matches i500 forgiveness? If they could match i500 forgiveness in a blade, why didn't they make i500 more forgiving? It was released months ago, not years. Confusing.

 

No answer for you, just parroting what the rep said!

[PowderedToastMan]

Why in the world would they do another hollow dodie club....that wud make 3 different sets

 

From the rep: No release date set, but it ain't hollow and matches i500 for forgiveness

Matches i500 forgiveness? If they could match i500 forgiveness in a blade, why didn't they make i500 more forgiving? It was released months ago, not years. Confusing.

 

No answer for you, just parroting what the rep said!

Which I appreciate! Just adding some commentary, not doubting you at all. I can see this being 100% accurate, just seems like a weird thing.

[matchavez]

Why in the world would they do another hollow dodie club....that wud make 3 different sets

 

From the rep: No release date set, but it ain't hollow and matches i500 for forgiveness

Matches i500 forgiveness? If they could match i500 forgiveness in a blade, why didn't they make i500 more forgiving? It was released months ago, not years. Confusing.

 

No answer for you, just parroting what the rep said!

 

And if we've learned anything thus far, the reps just tell you what they've been told, and that's not the full story. No disrespect; they've got a job to do.

[bladehunter]

I’m interested in the iron either way. But honestly. If that new staff iron hits my hands as pictured. I maybe a goner. Lol