Ping Blueprint iron performance and more importantly: how small are they really....

[justasgood]

So I was intrigued when Ping released the Blueprint irons. The promised technology in a compact blade from one of the premier club makers absolutely got me excited.

 

I have played blades from day 1 and my Macgregor Muirfield 20th’s, Hogan PC and Miura BB set the standard for compact size. The thought of a small compact blade with modern technology was exciting.

 

To be fair, I am and have always been a good ball striker. My handicap is that I very rarely play the same set of clubs week to week. My index has been as low as 2.7 and currently sits at around 4. So is forgiveness in an iron a big need for me......nope.

 

Looks and feel are my determining factors so that brings me to this post.

 

At first glance, the Blueprints look very nice. Compact head, narrow sole and the visible technology toe screw all scream hit me.

 

And I did. I hit them on the monitor and on the course. I played them alongside my Miura’s(16 irons in the bag) and against my 2014 TM Tour Preferred MB’s. The BB have Tour Issue X100, the TM have KBS 130X and the Blueprints have S300.

 

The lofts and lengths of the BB and BP are exactly the same playing off of a 37.75” 5 iron. The TM play 1/4” longer with same lofts.

 

Feel: surprisingly they all felt very similar. Solid powerful feeling (not buttery mizuno like at all). This was pleasing because to me, the Miura irons feel like a club should. Solid and powerful and all business. The BP had a very similar feel though I would say less dense feeling. The TM felt like the old Titleist blades. Not clicky but rather dull and lifeless.

 

Distance: my carry for 7 iron is 165 with cuts carrying 150 and a draw near 170. No discernible difference here as all shots withe the three clubs fell in my normal range.

 

Now to the important metric....looks: individually each iron has a very nice look and are aesthetically pleasing. Thin top lines and compact looking....but side by side the BP look like a GI iron. The BB by far is the smallest with the TM MB slightly larger. The BP was the biggest and when held together, they simply lost their appeal as a small blade. All 3 performed well and predictably but at the end of the day, The Pings didn’t scratch any itch. Nice irons, just not for me.

 

Reference pics for size comparison:

 

 

[Ivyguy]

Nice write up.

 

I was surprised by the release of these. Nice sticks fo sho.

[Kgglonghorn]

sounds weird, but I am surprised at how big they are. I too have always played blades. I heard they were "compact" but I guess that is compared to GI irons. FWIW, I have tried them all and I finally relinquished my Miura's after hitting the Callaway MB18's. It was love at first strike.

[tets]

My Blueprints arrived today. Look sweet ...hopefully the weather allows me to try then Sunday

[Kgglonghorn]

please post once you hit them. As much as I love my MB18's I too am very intrigued by the blueprints

[Mooseknuc76]

I have question I'm a 12 hccp. Just wondering if I could game these? I grew up playing 990 dci's 2 big things for me are...looks and feel. I want to start being able to cut and draw to tucked pins instead of playing for the middle of the green most of the time. I'm a huge ping fan my irons are i25 and love them. I appreciate anyone's input thanks

[gibsonsg4]

Not sure if its just me but the blueprints felt absolutely horrible when i hit them, i want to like them since they look so cool

 

Definitely the worst feeling blade i’ve ever hit particularly on slightly thin shots, hard as a rock

[wely324]

> @Mooseknuc76 said:

> I have question I'm a 12 hccp. Just wondering if I could game these? I grew up playing 990 dci's 2 big things for me are...looks and feel. I want to start being able to cut and draw to tucked pins instead of playing for the middle of the green most of the time. I'm a huge ping fan my irons are i25 and love them. I appreciate anyone's input thanks

 

Not sure what the strengths of your game are, but a 12 hdcp probably shouldn't be looking to play cut's and draws into tucked pins.

 

Aside from that, you could probably game these if you have the swing speed, a shallower entry angle into the ball, and can repeat solid strikes with them.

[Tree Levino]

Compared to other > @Mooseknuc76 said:

> I have question I'm a 12 hccp. Just wondering if I could game these? I grew up playing 990 dci's 2 big things for me are...looks and feel. I want to start being able to cut and draw to tucked pins instead of playing for the middle of the green most of the time. I'm a huge ping fan my irons are i25 and love them. I appreciate anyone's input thanks

 

To be honest, I just don’t see the point. The only gain you’ll have is them looking good in the bag. Even the best 12 HC ball striker in the world.. I just don’t see the point. Tons of Ping staffers using i210, iBlade, and s55. All of those clubs are very workable (I’ve played them all and shaped shots into greens easily. I’d go any of those options over the blueprint at a 12. If you want to play some of them, I’d go 8-PW BP and the rest iBlades if you’re really serious about it. But even then, the cost of them is astronomical. Pick up a cheap set of MP 68 or MP4 which are pretty compact and see if you’ve got the game for a blade first. Ping keeps clubs in the roster a long time. I’d experiment with a 200-300 set first before dropping the coin. FWIW I can hit a nice baby cut into a tucked pin with a Ping G - you don’t need a blade to shape the ball.

[dlygrisse]

I'd be wary, unless maybe you just game the short irons and fill out the set with a more forgiving iron. You really need to be hitting the sweetspot with these .

[QuigleyDU]

I love how the blueprints look. Great set of Irons.

[DFS PFD]

Unless you strike them solid more often than not, you won't enjoy blades. Only reason I play blades is the consistency with my distance, never had any sort of surprises. If you buy them and find your inconsistent with carry numbers, you're not striking them well. The idea of trying cheaper set of Mizuno's first is a good idea.

[bladehunter]

Have to say it. Still the best iron I’ve hit outside my beloved and worn out 681 proto set.

And they aren’t hard from the middle. ?

hard to say for anyone else. But I’d bet you could combo them around the 7-8 iron at least.

[SUPERG]

> @Mooseknuc76 said:

> I have question I'm a 12 hccp. Just wondering if I could game these? I grew up playing 990 dci's 2 big things for me are...looks and feel. I want to start being able to cut and draw to tucked pins instead of playing for the middle of the green most of the time. I'm a huge ping fan my irons are i25 and love them. I appreciate anyone's input thanks

 

You can shape I25 easy, grab I210 if you want fresh irons. Your game will thank you.

 

 

[Tree Levino]

I’ve used the analogy on here before but I’m not sure how many understand it. I’m a surfer. Tons of beg/int surfers want to hop on a potato chip shortboard. Can they get up on it? Yeah maybe, but they’re going to catch less waves and be erratic/kooky when they do. A shortboard is drastically more manoeuvrable than a mini mal or big fish, but you have to be good enough to take advantage of that sensitivity. Even a bad surfer can have great waves on a big board. High straight shots that hit the green are fun too. And you can still turn ;)

[Mooseknuc76]

Thanks for all the input it will help me make my mind up when it's time

[GolfMinimalist]

I put a set of Blueprints into play this year. Absolutely love them.

[Z1ggy16]

OP try the MP-20's. Maybe not the smallest thing out there but great feel as you probably already know.

[amaaramon]

 grew up playing 990 dci's 2 big things for me are...looks and feel. I want to start being able to cut and draw to tucked pins instead of playing for the middle of the green most of the time. 

[aenemated]

Ya, the Blueprints are real nice. I spent a Sunday afternoon at Roger Dunn hitting damn near everything from all the majors and aside from the Mizunos I wound up buying, the Blueprints were really the only other ones I liked.

[NJgolfer11]

I have to agree on the i210. I have them and could not be happier. I have never hit the Blueprint bu the i210 are workable and feel great.