Ping i5 irons?

[seveniron]

I haven't played much golf in the last 5 or 6 years, but I have the itch again. I'm currently playing Titleist zb forged irons, and while I hit them well enough, I'm ready for some "new-to-me" irons and wouldn't mine some extra forgiveness. I've always like the i5 irons. I have an i5 6 iron, and I love the way it sets up. Am I giving up too much tech to buy irons this old? Which other i-series irons should I investigate? Thanks in advance.

[bcflyguy1]

Sets of i25 irons can be had for a reasonable price on here. A very solid choice, but the i5 still is also.

[tocino]

I was using a combo set of AP1/AP2 irons for a long time prior to deciding I wanted something a little more forgiving so I ended up buying an old set of G10's for pretty cheap. The shorter irons are ok... I prefer the size and look of my AP2's more but the 4 and 5 irons are way easier to hit for me than the AP1's. They also fly longer and higher (stock AWT shafts in the pings, and S300's in the titleist clubs might have something to do with the height). I've had such a tough time with my 4 and 5 irons I've actually contemplated swapping out both for hybrids. I'll probably hold off on that for now. The pings impressed me so much that I'm actually looking for a set of i25's myself for at least for the short irons, I may still play the g10's for the longer ones.

[Nessism]

The i5's are perfectly viable assuming the shafts suit your needs. The stock shafts were CS Lites which some people don't like because they are high launching. There are sets in the market with Z-Z65's which were well respected so you may want to hold out and find a set with those if you can, assuming you play a stiff.

 

Pretty much all the various Ping i-series clubs from the i5 forward, expecting i10 because they are smaller, are good choices too. Again, finding a set with the right shafts is the trick.

[NPVWhiz]

The i5 was and still is a great iron that gives up very little to the current irons imho. The zz65 was a very good lighter steel shaft compared to jz or dg. I just ordered i200s with dg120 s3. Only iron in years that I’ve been willing to buy new.

[SwingMan]

i5 - good iron, played them. ZZ-65 is a good shaft if it fits.

[howellhandmade]

I reshafted a set of i5s with Accra graphite and love them. Played i5s with KBS Tour90s for years before that. It's a great head and just indestructible. Bag chatter? Hah!

 

I have a set of Mizuno MP18 MMCs in my cart bag and the i5s in the light carry bag that I leave at my club. The i5s don't give up much in feel and anything in distance to the new Mizunos; I built the i5s to match the SW of the Mizunos and can switch back and forth without issues. If you're green dot I have a set with Tour90s gathering dust.

 

I will say that switching back and forth I notice the difference between 5/6 irons, which are FliHi in the Mizunos. Definitely get more launch out of those, but for everything else it's a wash.

[Jaygolf37]

I sold almost everything (AP2’s, g10’s, CB1’s, BioCell+) BUT my i5’s. They are the ideal blend of forgiveness, consistency, workability, & durability. I play them, and I will never part with them.

 

[bluedot]

I played and loved i5's for a long time, and gave them up only when I needed to move to graphite shafts. I5's are on the short list of the best irons that any company has ever made, and if they fit you are still solid clubs today.

 

All of that said, technology does march on, and though it marches more slowly with irons than with drivers, etc., it does march. There are easier clubs to hit than the i5, even in the Ping i series; the i20 is another iconic Ping set that is, IMO, clearly superior to the i5.

[asumnerdawg]

OP, I have i15's in the bag and my i200s are collecting dust. The i200s are power spec'd so they're probably a club longer but only due to loft. i15's are more forgiving and I have infinitely more confidence in them. Plus they don't have ferrules so that's another plus at address. The older Ping offerings are still very much playable.

[cgasucks]

According to Ralphy Maltby's MPF guide, the I5 is still the most forgiving I Series iron as of today.

 

DA Points still uses them (albeit with less offset and conforming grooves) and won an event last year with them so that tells you something.

 

http://www.golfwrx.com/423828/d-a-points-witb-2017/

[tets]

I5's are some if the best performing irons Ping ever made. The manufacturers would like you to think you are missing out on a lot of tech, but in reality they will work great.

[bushwood]

i5 in my opinion is still the best i series irons. I still use them. Have tried many others and then always go back. I just bought p790s so we'll see what happens this weekend with that.

[Mtngolfer1]

You can see from all the raving reviews the i5 is a solid choice. I echo that with the qualification being as long as they fit. The shaft and the color code. Ping can adjust the lie (color code) up to 2deg plus or minus. The shaft is the secret they are magic with the proper fit shaft and not so much with a poorly fit shaft. My son attempted to play a older set of mine and didn't get along with them very well at all, without me knowing he traded them for set of Taylormade irons my i5s were never seen again. Then he came across a set with a KBS shaft and it was magic for him a entirely different experience from before. Great irons best of luck and enjoy.

[lil'mike]

Yes the i5's are great irons, just don't hit them with that CS Lite shaft in them. That was not a good quality shaft or at least the ones I got weren't.

[bushwood]

Mine have zz65 and I love those shafts

[MB_Viking]

Yes the i5's are great irons, just don't hit them with that CS Lite shaft in them. That was not a good quality shaft or at least the ones I got weren't.

 

I may be in the minority but I actually like the CS-Lite shafts, in the wedges at least.

 

I have three sets of i5 irons. The first set that I purchased online still have Rifle 6.0 shafts that I installed, my backup set has the CS-Lite and my gamers are zZ65. Don't count out any shafts until you try them.

[lil'mike]

Yes the i5's are great irons, just don't hit them with that CS Lite shaft in them. That was not a good quality shaft or at least the ones I got weren't.

 

I may be in the minority but I actually like the CS-Lite shafts, in the wedges at least.

 

I have three sets of i5 irons. The first set that I purchased online still have Rifle 6.0 shafts that I installed, my backup set has the CS-Lite and my gamers are zZ65. Don't count out any shafts until you try them.

 

I worked at a golf store when the i5's came out and was gonna game them. Got a set in and had them checked on a frequency machine (cant recall the machine name) and they were all over the place flex wise! I don't think the shaft itself is bad, just the set of them I happen to get in the store!

[Ping Player]

I still have my set with zz65. They play as good as anything out there imo. Very solid. Hope you find a set.

[norge5]

I was looking at some I5"s on ebay. When they say they come with a true temper shaft, do you know which shaft that refers to? Thanks

[jeffrey r]

Probably the stock True Temper CS Lite shaft. It was a pretty maligned shaft back in the day, but I don't find them so bad. I have a set of i5's in the basement with I believe CS Lite stiff shafts. Still a fun set of irons to take out now and again.

[norge5]

Thank you