Ping I3+ vs. Ping I3 O-Size

[tomg1969]

Can anyone tell me how much different these irons are? I'm looking at buying a gift for a higher handicap relative and he wants one of these sets. Is the O-Size much more forgiving?

[mkb3245]

The OS will be a little more forgiving as I believe they are little larger (longer heal to toe) and have a little more offset. Someone correct me if this is wrong.

[hogan234]

You are correct. I looked at both the blade and O-size and went with the O-size. Just looked more confidence-inspiring w/o too much offset (I'd been playing the Hogan Apex Plus for a couple of years). Right now, that's what I need.

[giogolf]

Lets make sure we are talking about the irons here:

I3 OS is the older version of I3+
I3 Blade is the older version of I3+ Blade

Ok, so if you wan to know the difference between the I3 OS, and I3+ here it is:
The I3+ has: (From Ping info)
* A 15% larger Custom Tuning Port (CTP) in the cavity that increased the perimeter weighting for added forgiveness
* A larger Notched Hosel for an easier transition through the grass
* Redesigned leading edge and bounce geometry which lowered the face surface for more consistent ball contact and improved playability from a wide range of lies and conditions

As for one being more forgiving than the other: They both are oversized, and have the same cavity size. If the redesigned sole and grind helps your friend, than maybe the I3+ would be better. Either way they are very close to equal.

[BogeyDope]

The I3 OS was replaced by the I3+. The I3+ blade replaced the I3. I believe the I3+ series has a 15% larger "tuning port" in the cavity vs the original I3. Can't speak to any changes in offset or size though. It comes down to personal preferences, but the PING folks I talked to say the I3+ is more forgiving than the earlier I3. If you haven't already, you should check out the PING website. They have all the stats for their classic clubs including the I3/+ series. I used it as a reference when I was purchasing my own I3+ blades last year.

[SheriffBooth]

[quote name='hogan234' post='865228' date='Jan 15 2008, 04:34 PM']You are correct. I looked at both the blade and O-size and went with the O-size. Just looked more confidence-inspiring w/o too much offset (I'd been playing the Hogan Apex Plus for a couple of years). Right now, that's what I need.[/quote]

I think he's asking about the two different runs, not the two models within the same run. I don't think the I3 O-Size with the yellow medal and I3+ with the black and white medal will play all that much different. The I3+ should be slightly more forgiving with the larger tuning port and the redesigned leading edge.

[4WedgeBag]

I have played the OS and currently play the I3+. I really can't tell any difference between the two. I had the same shaft in both sets and the ball flight was identical.

[heybrady]

Not to jack this thread, but how do these compare to more recent irons? I am interested in GC Mid and CCI cast and wonder if there is anything to be gained by irons designed in the past couple of years, or is there really no difference.

[giogolf]

[quote name='heybrady' post='865806' date='Jan 15 2008, 10:17 PM']Not to jack this thread, but how do these compare to more recent irons? I am interested in GC Mid and CCI cast and wonder if there is anything to be gained by irons designed in the past couple of years, or is there really no difference.[/quote]

If you are looking for irons that are made with a cast process then Ping is the best, and highest quality cast out there. When you buy Ping, you play what the pros play, no other OEM can say that. As for old technology vs new technology; there is nothing outdated about the I3 series irons, let alone any Ping iron. They are all different, a player needs to find the right Ping design for him or her. There really hasn't been any major changes to irons since the Ping Eye 2 to say that new is better than old, that is why Ping will still make most of there older models available via WRX custom order.

[Bee-Man]

Nothing against the i3 range - but your relative might find the i5 irons even more playable than.

If he has his heart set on the i3's - then do get the i3+ - not the blade version.

Agree with gioGolf here.....

[hd.softail]

I3 O-Size had the JZ Shaft in it. The JZ shaft is a much better option to the CS Lite in my opinion.

Outside of that, the differences are minimal at best...

[hogan234]

Oops. Thanks. Misread on my end.

[eli_yates]

ive played the ping i3 os. and in my opinion softest iron ive ever hit. there was a tremendous amount of offset i felt so i didnt get them. although in all honesty they felt really good. and i hit them far. good clubs. i just cant get by the fact that they have no ferrule i think they look ugly without them.

[cristphoto]

The Maltby Playability Factor ratings for the I3 series (listed most to least forgiving)

 

I3+ 630

I3+ Blade 578

I3 Blade 546

I3 O-Size 514

[Tand]

Hmm according to maltby rankings the ping isi 's is even higher ranker than these irons. Weird, you would think newer is better.

[eqman]

If you don`t know how to decipher Maltbys measurements you won`t be able to make sence of what he`s talking about. Many clubs that are more difficult to hit have high numbers.

Theres no doubt the i3 OS is more forgiving than the i3+`s, but that of coarse depends on what you need in forgiveness to improve your swing.

If you tend to hit the ball all over the face then some of the newer Pings will be more forgiving like G15`s. If you`re looking at the i3`s to save you money then the i3 OS would be a good choice. The JZ TT shafts are very good.

[cotterm]

[quote name='MERCBENZ' timestamp='1313871424' post='3505287']
If you don`t know how to decipher Maltbys measurements you won`t be able to make sence of what he`s talking about. Many clubs that are more difficult to hit have high numbers.

Theres no doubt the i3 OS is more forgiving than the i3+`s, but that of coarse depends on what you need in forgiveness to improve your swing.

If you tend to hit the ball all over the face then some of the newer Pings will be more forgiving like G15`s. If you`re looking at the i3`s to save you money then the i3 OS would be a good choice. The JZ TT shafts are very good.
[/quote]

I play the i3OS for 12 years or so. When i demo newer GI-SGI clubs I am shocked at how easy the 4-5-6 are compared to the i3- Osize. These are not oversize clubs by todays standards at all. The "O" stands for Optimum", not Oversize. I have been told personally by Mr. Maltby that the O-size is the worst iron for forgiveness that ping has ever made.

[HighDraw]

I've had the i3 osize for over 11 years and they're awesome. Long and reliable, the only clubs I have no desire to replace in my bag.

[NakMan]

i3+ for me since they came out. No desire to change.

4i had a nasty run in with some cart path today that extended under the grass. Didn't see it but it found me. Put a nice gouge on it.

No worried about lie being impact. PINGS are solid clubs.

[jeffrey r]

I wasn't playing golf back when the i3's were current, but I recently got a cheap set of i3 O-size with JZ steel R flex shafts, and it is really interesting how much thinner they are than the current GI offerings from Ping, like the G and Raptures.

Also interesting how many sites and people (including callaway preowned) think the O stands for "oversize". Seems to have been a marketing misstep from Ping, but that's old news I guess. If you go back and read some of the older reviews on the O-size irons, like on golfreview, they were very popular irons, so not sure how unforgiving they are as Maltby says.

[Nessism]

[quote name='jeffrey r' timestamp='1313928335' post='3506540']
I wasn't playing golf back when the i3's were current, but I recently got a cheap set of i3 O-size with JZ steel R flex shafts, and it is really interesting how much thinner they are than the current GI offerings from Ping, like the G and Raptures.

Also interesting how many sites and people (including callaway preowned) think the O stands for "oversize". Seems to have been a marketing misstep from Ping, but that's old news I guess. If you go back and read some of the older reviews on the O-size irons, like on golfreview, they were very popular irons, so not sure how unforgiving they are as Maltby says.
[/quote]

The O-size was definitely "larger" than the i3 Blade irons, so I don't seen anything wrong per say with saying are over size. That Maltby info is contrary to popular wisdom though.

[Ballhound]

I've had the I3+ since new and like the CS lite shaft, which are similar to the AWT. When solidly struck, a nice mid-high boring trajectory. The castings are very tough so you should be able to find some very playable sets.

[jeffrey r]

[quote name='Nessism' timestamp='1313933117' post='3506630']
The O-size was definitely "larger" than the i3 Blade irons, so I don't seen anything wrong per say with saying are over size. That Maltby info is contrary to popular wisdom though.
[/quote]


No big deal to me, and heck, I always assumed O-size stood for 'oversize' until I read otherwise. But strictly speaking, Ping intended for it to mean 'optimum size'. Bottom line though, they are markedly slimmer than a lot of today's GI irons.

[eqman]

[quote name='cotterm' timestamp='1313874025' post='3505368']
[quote name='MERCBENZ' timestamp='1313871424' post='3505287']
If you don`t know how to decipher Maltbys measurements you won`t be able to make sence of what he`s talking about. Many clubs that are more difficult to hit have high numbers.

Theres no doubt the i3 OS is more forgiving than the i3+`s, but that of coarse depends on what you need in forgiveness to improve your swing.

If you tend to hit the ball all over the face then some of the newer Pings will be more forgiving like G15`s. If you`re looking at the i3`s to save you money then the i3 OS would be a good choice. The JZ TT shafts are very good.
[/quote]

I play the i3OS for 12 years or so. When i demo newer GI-SGI clubs I am shocked at how easy the 4-5-6 are compared to the i3- Osize. These are not oversize clubs by today's standards at all. The "O" stands for Optimum", not Oversize. I have been told personally by Mr. Maltby that the O-size is the worst iron for forgiveness that ping has ever made.
[/quote]


While I applaud Maltby for trying to define playability through his calculations they just dont work.

I3 O size.... 514
I3 Blade.... 546
I3+.....630
S56....552
S57....612

As you can see Pings players irons are the same as the others I know people playing the clubs and these numbers simply don`t work. These are not the only examples there are many more where the company's player irons have higher numbers than the more forgiving irons of that company. There has been many threads describing Maltbys system and it`s shortfalls and it`s inability to define what playability and forgiveness is

[Dimplings]

[quote name='hd.softail' timestamp='1200511265' post='866564']
I3 O-Size had the JZ Shaft in it. The JZ shaft is a much better option to the CS Lite in my opinion.

Outside of that, the differences are minimal at best...
[/quote]

[Dimplings]

Yes. The shaft makes a huge difference. There is something harsh about the newer Ping shafts. Have the regular JZ Cushin shaft in my I3 OS. There is a stable but softer feeling to them. The CS Lite feels brittle by comparison.