Everyone still playing S55's

[MDG5161]

Is it just me, or have nearly no PING staffers other than Louie switched to the iBlades?

 

Seems like everyone went with the new wedges and still game the old S55's. I know, tour players don't easily switch, but these have been out for a while now.

[cardoustie]

I have tried the iblades and am back to 55's

[A.Princey]

My thoughts too, must be good, but sadly, never have hit them myself. Love that they have supposedly mimicked the softness of a blade forging into a cast head.

[Bubb]

I just started playing with them but they're great. Way better than the i25s I was using. Very straight.

[uglande]

Actually most of the Ping staffers have switched to iBlades, with a few doing iBlade/i200 combo sets. There are a few (e.g., Cabrera, Watson) still gaming the S55s, but most are using iBlades. They are both great sets, IMO. It would be hard to knock either one.

 

http://ping.com/tour/prostaff.aspx

[nicoy3k]

That's what happens when you perfect a product but are forced to come up with something new for the sake of sales. It's the reason the "iblade" is entirely different from a branding standpoint- it was the only way to make the irons feel justified.

[altess27]

I tried the iBlades but can't afford them. Thus I'm still playing the s55's.

[Bballg1910]

Actually most of the Ping staffers have switched to iBlades, with a few doing iBlade/i200 combo sets. There are a few (e.g., Cabrera, Watson) still gaming the S55s, but most are using iBlades. They are both great sets, IMO. It would be hard to knock either one.

 

http://ping.com/tour/prostaff.aspx

 

Great info thanks! I picked up the iblades this year and have liked them. Didn't know so many guys switched over.

 

 

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

Is it just me, or have nearly no PING staffers other than Louie switched to the iBlades?

 

Seems like everyone went with the new wedges and still game the old S55's. I know, tour players don't easily switch, but these have been out for a while now.

please add Baddeley, English, and Summerhays to the list. heck even Tony Finau has the iBlade in the bag. and you gotta remember, i200 soaks up a lot of slots in PING staffer bags that might otherwise be iBlade.

 

but fwiw, yes, the S55 will definitely rank as one of the most venerable staff irons PING has ever made.

[PowderedToastMan]

Until PING sends me a set of iBlades, the S55's are staying in the bag. Those things are perfect.

[MDG5161]

Great information and debate, thanks for the responses everyone... I picked up a set of iBlades this year and it seemed like I didn't see them on tour as much as expected. Now seeing that information it makes a lot of sense. It still surprises me how many guys play the i200's considering how easy the 4,5 iron are to hit in the iBlade.

 

They are a sweet iron, I just miss the ball flight of having Ctapers in them, as I went x100. The cost of putting a Ctaper custom in a PING was just too much...

[Roadking_6]

I am late to the s55 party just picking them up over the winter.

 

But I was fit last March for new irons, was down to Ie1 and s55. I preferred the s55, but my fitter said if all things are equal, go for the forgiveness. I was considering reshafting my irons this winter and found a set of s55 at my specs with the shafts I wanted on ebay. I reached out and he was on WRX so we worked out a deal for less than it would have cost me to reshaft my Ie1.

 

Needless to say, the s55 are so fantastic, I should have gone this route last year. I have more confidence playing a more compact iron with a thinner topline being as I gamed Mizuno since high school.

 

And when I demo'ed the Iblades, I thought the s55 were a much better iron. I just thought they lacked the feel the s55 have.

[Drudersh]

From what I say it's about 70/30 iBlades to S55 at this point. A few guys have switched and gone back i.e. Bubba, Angel Cabrera, Andy Sullivan etc. but for the most part guys are into the iblades at this point. Quite a few combo sets as well which is interesting. The i200's are pretty easy to hit, and unlike a poster above I did NOT find the iBlade long irons easy to hit at all.

 

Interesting to see how many Euro Tour guys are still playing the i E1's. I actually preffered the i E1 long irons to any Ping long iron to date and still have them in the bag with my S55's.

 

I am in the category of those who prefer the S55's to the iBlade. I found the iBlade short irons to spin too much and the long irons to launch too low, and also prefer the feedback you get from S55 vs. the more muted feel of the iBlade. This probably benefits Ams more than it does Pros as I like to know where my misses are, and they are more or less centering the ball 95% of the time.

 

Keep in mind these guys on tour are also having them bent to whatever specs they may need so they can be doctored to their preferences.

[Ajohns10]

I've got c-Taper 125's in my s55's. I just can't imagine hitting anything better than this combo.

 

Believe me, I've wanted to switch (don't we all?). But they are so straight and forgiving that i haven't found anything that outperforms them.

[mason82]

I tested the s55s a ton,and they are superb. But I think the iblades are just flat out better in all categories. They are just hard to beat, I still love mine.

[DJ412]

I'm on my 3rd set of S55's. I always think that there is something better or I need more forgiveness. Then I stray for a month of 2. Now I'm back to playing them.

[Kale_m]

S55 are great irons! And they feel like forged irons to me!!!!

[Schmeegz]

I just got the dg x100 in my iblades, and I "bleeping" love them. Well worth the money. Never played the s55 but much prefer the look of the iblade too

[rainkingjr]

I just put my first set of s55's in play and absolutely love them. I always ended in up in the i series when trying them in the past. They are undoubtedly the best of the s series. I believe Bubba hung onto the s59 over the s58, s57 and s56. The s55 is what finally made him switch.

 

One thing I do like about the iBlade is that they weakened the lofts on the 7, 8 and 9 irons by 1 degree on the standard loft set up.

[Jon H]

If the shafts were right in my old set, I'd still be playing them. No question.

[Jwoz09]

I'm more than happy with the s56's

[Jwoz09]

Got fit for the 55's and gained 2 yards but dispersion was still better with 56's

[md1m]

Is it just me, or have nearly no PING staffers other than Louie switched to the iBlades?

 

Seems like everyone went with the new wedges and still game the old S55's. I know, tour players don't easily switch, but these have been out for a while now.

 

It's just you. Didn't look at everyone, but not many are still playing the S55's. Some are, but looks like there are many more playing the iblades or i200's.

[Makuakane_Bear]

I am currently still playing my S55s but I am not getting out as much as I used to. After a driver fitting, I did a comparison between my S55s and the i200s and ended up trading in my S55s for the i200s. Sad to say my S55 days are numbered...