Older Ping Irons

[chrismikayla]

So my nephew just picked up the game about a year ago with a starter set and is breaking 100 regularly now( usually shoots low 90s). Since he has gotten serious I was thinking about getting him some older Ping irons since they are indestructible and he can play them as long as he wants. My local shop had a set of I3 oversize, I3+, and I5 irons. Which set would you consider for him if you were in my shoes? I know I5s had a cult following but I've heard good things about I3 also.

[igman]

All of those somewhat similar, so I might use the shaft as the determining factor. Which shaft fits him best? Also, having played i3 blades and i5's, I think both provide forgiveness which will not punish him and allow him to have fun, while not being super game improvement that might mask poor swing fundamentals.

[rb83993]

i5 would be a good choice, or G5, G10 or G15.

[Nessism]

I'd measuring his wrist height and then go through the online Ping fitting program to check to see what he needs in terms of shaft length and lie angle. If the decision comes back to those clubs you mention then I'd let your nephew choose which he likes best.

[cgasucks]

Yout can't go wrong with either of them..but the I3+ and the I5s are tour proven. I know one current PGA tour player still uses I5s to this day (with legal grooves and less offset).

[Nessism]

Yout can't go wrong with either of them..but the I3+ and the I5s are tour proven. I know one current PGA tour player still uses I5s to this day (with legal grooves and less offset).

 

I love me some i5's. That said, what a PGA pro uses has no bearing on what a guy that shoots 95 should use. In fact, I'd argue that a 95 shooter has no business using the same clubs as a pro.

[chrismikayla]

Yout can't go wrong with either of them..but the I3+ and the I5s are tour proven. I know one current PGA tour player still uses I5s to this day (with legal grooves and less offset).

 

I love me some i5's. That said, what a PGA pro uses has no bearing on what a guy that shoots 95 should use. In fact, I'd argue that a 95 shooter has no business using the same clubs as a pro.

The MPF lists the I5 s as SGI which is interesting I don't necessarily agree with the thought these are ultra forgiving

[Lancj1]

I3 were the set I got when I started back - years old second hand. Part of me wishes I had kept them as the were no less effective or playable than the set of XRs I bought new and fitted.

[chrismikayla]

I3 were the set I got when I started back - years old second hand. Part of me wishes I had kept them as the were no less effective or playable than the set of XRs I bought new and fitted.

Which I3 version did you have?

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

My local shop had a set of I3 oversize, I3+, and I5 irons. Which set would you consider for him if you were in my shoes?

C, there's a few details you have to establish. Some about him, some about those sets of PING irons.

 

If he plays right handed take the wrist crease to floor measurement from his left arm. As Nessism correctly stated this will give you a ballpark on shaft length and color code appropriate for him in PING. Then you have to decide what shaft he needs. I'd say if he is hitting 7 iron under 150-155 stay with regular at the moment, if he has already gone by that choose a stiff.

 

Now you have to identify what those pre-owned irons are. And my biggest concern with those is always length. So have the someone at that shop measure a 5 iron for you. If it comes in at 37.75" you have yourself a standard set of men's irons. If they measure something wildly different than that (let's say +/- 3/4") factor that into your decision. And dude, IMO any of those three sets are completely gtg for him to take out and start working on his game, don't worry about it.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

 

Here's the chart. Combo his height with his wrist to floor number on the left and you got PING.

[cgasucks]

Yout can't go wrong with either of them..but the I3+ and the I5s are tour proven. I know one current PGA tour player still uses I5s to this day (with legal grooves and less offset).

 

I love me some i5's. That said, what a PGA pro uses has no bearing on what a guy that shoots 95 should use. In fact, I'd argue that a 95 shooter has no business using the same clubs as a pro.

 

You do make sense in what you say but my main point is that if those clubs are good enough for the best players in the world, its good enough for a 90s shooter (cause he/she will grow into them). My 845s are such an example. Forgiving enough for a hacker, yet will satisfy the demands of an accomplished player.

[Lancj1]

I3 were the set I got when I started back - years old second hand. Part of me wishes I had kept them as the were no less effective or playable than the set of XRs I bought new and fitted.

Which I3 version did you have?

 

O size

[super20dan]

Yout can't go wrong with either of them..but the I3+ and the I5s are tour proven. I know one current PGA tour player still uses I5s to this day (with legal grooves and less offset).

 

I love me some i5's. That said, what a PGA pro uses has no bearing on what a guy that shoots 95 should use. In fact, I'd argue that a 95 shooter has no business using the same clubs as a pro.

this would apply to at least half the wrx,s here -lol

[Cwebb]

Yout can't go wrong with either of them..but the I3+ and the I5s are tour proven. I know one current PGA tour player still uses I5s to this day (with legal grooves and less offset).

 

I love me some i5's. That said, what a PGA pro uses has no bearing on what a guy that shoots 95 should use. In fact, I'd argue that a 95 shooter has no business using the same clubs as a pro.

The MPF lists the I5 s as SGI which is interesting I don't necessarily agree with the thought these are ultra forgiving

 

They have a little lower Actual Vertical COG, which makes them easier to hit in the "vertical aspect" of contact, for a lot of players. Ping Eye2's have a .805" AVCOG,... the i5's are .733"

[Golf64]

I've had pretty much all models of Pings. Never seemed to get along with i3 series?! If you can find some G25s, those are quite playable for most cappers. ;)

[Nessism]

I've had pretty much all models of Pings. Never seemed to get along with i3 series?! If you can find some G25s, those are quite playable for most cappers. ;)

 

Agree. G-series are what I'd recommend. I5's are too small and punishing. G10 are a great value. G25s are prettier though.

[pingbling23]

I played the I5's when they came out but I still like the G25's better. Same performance and more forgiving imo.

[aaronpoling]

I am in agreement that G series are the way to go and nothing beats the G25 (currently gaming them).

But i3 oversize is decent and i5 is a good club too.

See if your local shop would let nephew hit them. Have him hit some balls to see what he can control with an get those.

If you are trying to make it a surprise, I get it, but nothing beats actually getting to hit them

[Colonel_Steelhead]

Yout can't go wrong with either of them..but the I3+ and the I5s are tour proven. I know one current PGA tour player still uses I5s to this day (with legal grooves and less offset).

 

I love me some i5's. That said, what a PGA pro uses has no bearing on what a guy that shoots 95 should use. In fact, I'd argue that a 95 shooter has no business using the same clubs as a pro.

this would apply to at least half the wrx,s here -lol

 

Half???! I'm still patiently waiting for Ness to tell the OP to use the search feature :)

 

Anyway, back to topic, you cant go wrong with anything Ping has ever produced save for a couple outliers from the early days. Hell my golf league is like a Ping museum. Oldest guy uses Karsten I, alot of guys my age use Eye 2s or 2+, even our youngest has G30s and 90% of us game the woods. Of course the champ uses Nike TW blades but I digress. OP measure the height and wrist to floor and that will give you a great start as for color code.

[Jackal]

If shaft bands are gone or unreadable, you can call Ping and they will tell you what the stock shafts were.

Then you have to determine if the stock shafts are in them.

The serial numbers are located on the hosel.

[lil'mike]

If shaft bands are gone or unreadable, you can call Ping and they will tell you what the stock shafts were.

Then you have to determine if the stock shafts are in them.

The serial numbers are located on the hosel.

 

^^^^ Ping can also tell you what the color code was when they left the factory as well as swingweight, length, etc.

[Jackal]

If shaft bands are gone or unreadable, you can call Ping and they will tell you what the stock shafts were.

Then you have to determine if the stock shafts are in them.

The serial numbers are located on the hosel.

 

^^^^ Ping can also tell you what the color code was when they left the factory as well as swingweight, length, etc.

Yes!! That is correct!! I forgot to mention it.

Ping has always been helpful.

[Ket39]

I'm betting JZ in the I3's and CS lite in the I5's. Probably stiff and he probably needs regular. That's how things work for me anyway.

[walter2312]

I play i20's and have for 3 years now and they are easy to hit, look good at address, and are able to work the ball. My 2 cents.

[bstring]

As happy as I am with my AP1 714's, I still take my i3+ (DG SL shafts) irons out now and again. Almost as forgiving as the AP1's, and pretty to look at. I'd be happy to play them if I needed too.

[Nessism]

The MPF lists the I5 s as SGI which is interesting I don't necessarily agree with the thought these are ultra forgiving

 

They have a little lower Actual Vertical COG, which makes them easier to hit in the "vertical aspect" of contact, for a lot of players. Ping Eye2's have a .805" AVCOG,... the i5's are .733"

 

Some of the older Maltby numbers are jacked up. I don't believe the .733 business for the i5. Worst though is the RCOG numbers. Maltby must have had monkeys gathering that data back then because the numbers are huge compared to more modern clubs, and if anything modern GI clubs have a deeper CG than they did 10 years ago.

 

Back to i5's, again, they are excellent clubs. But they are nowhere near the same level of forgiveness as something like the G10. When I bought my first set of G's I had been playing i5's at that time, and the first time on the range with both sets was an eye opening experience; I was blown away with how easy the G10's were to hit in comparison.

 

Oh, and YES, YES, YES, YES on using the search function. All these clubs being discussed have at least a bazillion different threads on them so this thread is pretty much redundant. Sometimes people around here like to hear themselves talk out loud though. Me included it seems...

[bluedot]

So my nephew just picked up the game about a year ago with a starter set and is breaking 100 regularly now( usually shoots low 90s). Since he has gotten serious I was thinking about getting him some older Ping irons since they are indestructible and he can play them as long as he wants. My local shop had a set of I3 oversize, I3+, and I5 irons. Which set would you consider for him if you were in my shoes? I know I5s had a cult following but I've heard good things about I3 also.

 

Based on what you say he is currently shooting, I'd lean to one of the following:

 

1. G10's, which was a game improvement iron a quantum leap ahead of the G5's and other previous Ping irons. They moved weight to the toe of the club to make it less hook-prone, and they are excellent irons still today; likely undervalued in a used set if you can find the right color code and shaft.

 

2. I used the i3+ irons for a long, long time, and I loved them, but the i5's are significantly better; arguably one of the best iron sets ever made by any manufacturer. I only put mine down when I went to graphite shafts, and I still have them as a back up set; they're that good.

 

3. If you want to go a bit newer, and spend a few more dollars with an eye toward his continued improvement, then either the i20's or the G30's would be good picks. Of course, you'll pay a premium for the newer models, but those two sets are some of the best stuff Ping has made.

 

FWIW, I would NOT pay any more for the G15, G20, or G25 lines just because they are newer. (Disclaimer: the G25's are different animals than the previous G sets, but there were subtle but important changes in the G30's that make them a better iron for most players; some may disagree, of course.) I also wouldn't go back farther than the i5's, with all due respect to the i3's. I just think Ping got a LOT better at what they were doing with the i5's and G10's, depending on how much game improvement technology you want.

 

Also, I agree with earlier posts that, at a minimum, you should use Ping's online fitting tool and look for those specs if possible. There's no reason to go into this without that information. Also, if you can get the serial number from the clubs, you can call Ping, and they'll tell you what the clubs were when they left the Ping factory and/or if they've been worked on by Ping since then, so that you can know whether or not they've been changed by somebody other than Ping.

[North Butte]

When i was about where OP's nephew is in the game, I tried some of the older Ping irons and absolutely hated them. Back in the 90's and early 00's they tended to have really harsh, lightweight, very stiff shafts as the only non-custom option. Very off-putting for a not very fast swinger who doesn't often make solid contact.

 

By the time I finally came around to Pings they were using the current CFS/AWT types of shaft that in R-flex are just tons friendlier than the really old models.

 

So when did Ping switch from the old light-and-stiff-for-everyone theory and start offering more reasonable shafts? Probably about the time John took over from his dad I'd reckon.

 

I like G10's, that seems to me the beginning of the really modern Ping game-improvement designs. But for my money the best irons they've ever made (for us bogey golfers) were the G20.

[Jasonic]

 

Here's the chart. Combo his height with his wrist to floor number on the left and you got PING.

 

This chart doesn't work for Americans as it's in cm. Lol