Ping iron experts- G5 vs later models up thru G25

[Milfordlefty]

Played Ping Eye 2 and G2. Then moved to Adams A3OS( hybrids as long irons) and then A4 Forged (they look so pretty). I need offset. Still have the Eye 2, so those are back in the bag, the weak loft adjustment is playing mind games while on the course.

So, I am thinking I'll find some used, older G series irons.

I've read past postings about the progression to more weight in the toe after the G5 series. My mishits are mostly towards the heal, so I am not sure if I would see any large benefit to gravitating towards the G15,20,25 series.

I am a bogey to bogey and a half player, but that is more due to driver and wedge challenges.

Are the G5 w/ AWT steel shafts that inferior to the later models?

I am looking at a G5 set at a nice price, but would keep the Eye 2s in the bag and keep looking if you guys give me good enough reasons. Please avoid recs for the newest offerings, just not in the budget.

[ShortSticks]

All the G irons are good. Pick the one you like and enjoy.

[Golf64]

All G series are good. But sounds like maybe your Eye 2s might too long if you are hitting them on the heel?! Might want to take them in to get 'fitted' to your specs?

[Ket39]

Ping G series irons are great for bogey golfers. G5 irons got great reviews when they came out.

[pkshooter]

I've owned g5s, g15s, and g30s. I really like the G5s. The G5s aren't quite as forgiving as the G15s due to the lack of weighing in the toe, but they are still plenty forgiving. A nice benefit of the G5s is that they are slimmer than the G15s. I think there is very little difference between the G5 and G10. The G25s have the toe weighting and more forgiveness like the G15, but in a slimmer package. I don't think there is much difference between the G25s and G30s except the G30 standard length is longer and lofts are stronger.

 

[Awesomeguy887]

I wouldn't say the G5 are inferior. The sole width of the G series did seem to get a little bit larger after the G5 (peaking at around the G20). So depending on your swing type you may find the later G irons more forgiving than the G5. I know golfers who swear the G5 and G10 were the best iron sets ping ever released. It all depends on your swing and your preferences.

[jeffrey r]

One could play any of the G5 through G25 and likely score well as long as they got along with the shaft. I've owned G5, G15, G20, G25 and G30. Interestingly, while I had spurts of greatness with the G25 and G30, I've gotten rid of both sets. I simply never got along with them 100%. The G5's time came for me some years ago when I didn't really like the CS Lite reg flex they had in them. I got rid of the G20's because they were virtually identical in size, performance and shaft to the G15's.

 

Which leads to the G15's with CFS stiff shafts, which are the only G irons that I still have around. These were an end-of-the-run set of G15's that came with the updated CFS shaft rather than the standard AWT shaft. Being that I prefer the CFS shaft, this was a great set for me. I have moved on from them, but I still like having them around.

 

Bottom line though, you can't really go wrong with any of these, but with the different head/shaft combinations out there in the different lines, there are some definite differences among them. Unfortunately, the only way to really know with the older lines is to buy them and try them. Good luck.

[Milfordlefty]

Thanks for all the comments. Budget may be the decision maker, but it sounds like it won't result in a big drop off in performance.

[pkshooter]

Thanks for all the comments. Budget may be the decision maker, but it sounds like it won't result in a big drop off in performance.

 

I agree with your assessment 100%

[Res Ipsa]

Played Ping Eye 2 and G2. Then moved to Adams A3OS( hybrids as long irons) and then A4 Forged (they look so pretty). I need offset. Still have the Eye 2, so those are back in the bag, the weak loft adjustment is playing mind games while on the course.

So, I am thinking I'll find some used, older G series irons.

I've read past postings about the progression to more weight in the toe after the G5 series. My mishits are mostly towards the heal, so I am not sure if I would see any large benefit to gravitating towards the G15,20,25 series.

I am a bogey to bogey and a half player, but that is more due to driver and wedge challenges.

Are the G5 w/ AWT steel shafts that inferior to the later models?

I am looking at a G5 set at a nice price, but would keep the Eye 2s in the bag and keep looking if you guys give me good enough reasons. Please avoid recs for the newest offerings, just not in the budget.

 

Do you mean the fact that your clubs are essentially 1 club weaker or more than modern sets? How does that cause problems? Just add 1 to what ever club you pull and you will be fine.

 

I also like telling the people I am playing with yah I hit a 7i full for that 155 yard shot. I use to go into a loft explanation but no one listened. Only thing you put on score cards is number of strokes. No spot for listing how far your 5i goes. If you hit your eye2's well, stick with them especially if money is an issue.

[pullfade]

When Nessism responds you can lock this thread! :)

[Cwing]

When Nessism responds you can lock this thread! :)

 

this

[Milfordlefty]

Do you mean the fact that your clubs are essentially 1 club weaker or more than modern sets? How does that cause problems? Just add 1 to what ever club you pull and you will be fine.

 

I also like telling the people I am playing with yah I hit a 7i full for that 155 yard shot. I use to go into a loft explanation but no one listened. Only thing you put on score cards is number of strokes. No spot for listing how far your 5i goes. If you hit your eye2's well, stick with them especially if money is an issue.

 

Every set I have had but the Eye2, I've hit the 6 iron a certain distance, 7i a certain distance, 8i...etc. And when you don't hit within the range, after the shot, you think, fat, thin, below feet, above feet. etc. With the Eye2 I wonder if I picked the right club, did I mess up in the conversion. So I think it will be more comfortable back with a set with the modern loft/club number progression. Just a mental thing. It is not a question of I want clubs out of my budget, it is more a question will I get the bang the buck going to the top of the budget number. It appears I don't have to. Thanks for your comments though.

 

When Nessism responds you can lock this thread! :)

 

LOL

[Nessism]

Ouch, my ears are burning... :swoon:

 

I keep telling the brethren here that all the G's are good, and that the evolution from model to model is relatively minor.

 

From G5 to G10 we got (arguably) a better shaft, from CS Lite to AWT, less offset in the short irons, and a higher MOI because of the added toe weight.

 

From G10 to G15 and we got a cavity badge and stronger lofts

 

G15 to G20 and the sole got fatter and CFS shafts, which aren't exactly an upgrade but have been well received

 

G25's are sort of a watershed model. A little more sleek looking, particularly the sole compared to the 20.

 

The 30's have a more forgiving leading edge, funny 5/8" length spacing in the long irons, and stronger lofts.

 

Now with the G's they made the profile a little more sleek once again and added some spring face action, while subtile, does add a little pop in the long irons.

 

I'd call all these clubs pretty much interchangeable, learning new lofts possibly excluded. A smart man (or woman as the case may be) would look for the best conditioned set with the shafts of their choosing. You can't go wrong any which way. :superman:

[mantan]

Ouch, my ears are burning... :swoon:

 

I keep telling the brethren here that all the G's are good, and that the evolution from model to model is relatively minor.

 

From G5 to G10 we got (arguably) a better shaft, from CS Lite to AWT, less offset in the short irons, and a higher MOI because of the added toe weight.

 

From G10 to G15 and we got a cavity badge and stronger lofts

 

G15 to G20 and the sole got fatter and CFS shafts, which aren't exactly an upgrade but have been well received

 

G25's are sort of a watershed model. A little more sleek looking, particularly the sole compared to the 20.

 

The 30's have a more forgiving leading edge, funny 5/8" length spacing in the long irons, and stronger lofts.

 

Now with the G's they made the profile a little more sleek once again and added some spring face action, while subtile, does add a little pop in the long irons.

 

I'd call all these clubs pretty much interchangeable, learning new lofts possibly excluded. A smart man (or woman as the case may be) would look for the best conditioned set with the shafts of their choosing. You can't go wrong any which way. :superman:

 

Rock solid advice right there.

 

I'm biased - but after playing them all I'd recommend the G25s. The are a sleeker package and just as forgiving. And the CFS shaft is better than the CS Lite, AWT or AWT 2.0 (IMHO). And since they are a couple of generations old, you can get a good deal on them.

 

I would put them with the i5s in my Mount Rushmore of PING irons.... (along with the Eye2s). The fourth spot is up for heavy debate...

[Tommy56]

Played almost each series except the G20 (just too chunky) and thought the 10s and 15s were among the best, personally. If conforming grooves are a consideration, go with G15 or newer (or the G10 "XG"). You may want to compare shafts to see which you like best ... as others have stated, some people definitely have a preference, and that could be a deciding factor in your ultimate selection.

[pullfade]

Ouch, my ears are burning... :swoon:

 

I keep telling the brethren here that all the G's are good, and that the evolution from model to model is relatively minor.

 

From G5 to G10 we got (arguably) a better shaft, from CS Lite to AWT, less offset in the short irons, and a higher MOI because of the added toe weight.

 

From G10 to G15 and we got a cavity badge and stronger lofts

 

G15 to G20 and the sole got fatter and CFS shafts, which aren't exactly an upgrade but have been well received

 

G25's are sort of a watershed model. A little more sleek looking, particularly the sole compared to the 20.

 

The 30's have a more forgiving leading edge, funny 5/8" length spacing in the long irons, and stronger lofts.

 

Now with the G's they made the profile a little more sleek once again and added some spring face action, while subtile, does add a little pop in the long irons.

 

I'd call all these clubs pretty much interchangeable, learning new lofts possibly excluded. A smart man (or woman as the case may be) would look for the best conditioned set with the shafts of their choosing. You can't go wrong any which way. :superman:

LOCK IT UP!!!

[Nessism]

Regarding shafts, CFS is based off the well regarded Z-Z65 and shares the same stepping pattern. If you look at the distance from the first step to the tip, which is indicative of stiffness, the Z-Z65 falls exactly halfway between CFS S and X. In my opinion Z-Z65 plays TRUE to flex and an honest stiff, and CFS S a soft stiff and X sort of an S+.

 

CFS is descending weight; the shafts get lighter as they get shorter.

AWT is ascending weight; the shafts get heavier as they get shorter.

The CFS long irons weigh about the same as an AWT short iron, and visa versa.

 

A CFS wedge shaft weighs under 100 grams when cut to length. An AWT is about 10 grams heavier in the same length.

 

I don't have much info about the CS Lite, other than they are mid weight by modern standards. I never had any issues playing them but some people blast them for being overly flexi and high launching. The original AWT's launch high in the long irons, and medium in the shorter clubs. I never had any issues with these either. The new AWT 2.0's seem to have a bigger range of stiffness from long to short, and some people that liked CFS found the ATW 2.0 short irons a little harsh. My biggest notice regarding the new version is how light the long irons felt. To each their own on the shaft thing but I don't think there are any bad shafts here, but I'd put Z-Z65 at the top of the heap.

[ckguy914]

Visually there are more weight in the toe but it doesn't mean the CG of the club head is also shifted more toe-ward. The whole club head is designed to complement the added toe weight to increase MOI/forgiveness and still keeping the CG neutral.

[MattMo]

OP, if you can score a set of G5's w/ AWTs, that would be a nice find. The AWT was a better performing shaft than the stock CS Lite, IMO. As others said, they're almost all interchangeable, so if it was me, I'd take a long look at which ones appeal looks wise. If you don't mind the fat bottom girls, I would suggest the G15's. If you don't want too much junk in the trunk, I'd street you towards the G5's or G25's. Those 3 have been my favorite of the G line. Be sure you find a set that properly fits your specs. Ping Webfit is a great starting point. Good luck..

[Milfordlefty]

Had a fitting yesterday. Independent golf store had demo day, fitter was not a store employee. Long story short, Ping web fit had me G series, red dot, AWT 2.0 R, -0.25. Hitting the best with Gmax, blue dot, CFS Graphite R flex, -0.25. Never thought I would go upright. Unfortunately Gmax's are not in the budget.

Looking at Ping Website. G&Gmax lie specs match with prior G series models, butloft and length differ, G&Gmax lofts are stronger 8i to 4i and longer by +0.25" or more across all clubs.

Based on my thoughts, blue dot lie angle matches from Gmax back down thru at least G15. But my rec's of -0.25" for length in Gmax will match std length for G25 and older. Anyone disagree on my length observation?