Could I just not like Ping Irons?

[blangst1]

I bought a set of new I525's to replace my 718 Ap2's. I just cannot get along with these new irons. I was fit and hit them decent off the mat but something isnt vibing. I can take my old ap2's out like i never miss a beat. Am I just crazy? 

[golfschnell]

New irons, particularly if you’re not a ho like most on this site🫣 and have played your last set exclusively for years , are often the most difficult clubs to integrate into your bag.  You need sone serious range time in to build feel and confidence with your new sticks. If the clubs are absolutely awful and beyond redemption to you, sell them and move on.

[Is Golf Fun or Work]

Personally, never really liked Ping irons.  I bought a set of Eye2s way back in their day, hit a few friends a few times, maybe I'm just a forged guy but never particularly impressed with Pings....each to their own

[Albatross Dreamer]

Nope. If you don't like Ping irons then you shouldn't be golfing. Jk we all have our preferences, there is no one brand to rule them all.

[WarEagleGolf]

Ha....

 

Very different irons.  When I went from S55 to I500 it was different.  

 

Felt lighter, even being same shaft, same SW.   Check the specifics, lie, SW, total weight.  Takes time to switch, but at least in my experience a round or two in...they work or they don't.  

[anser85029]

Just another reason to never get rid of your former gamers

[cgasucks]

To each their own.  Ping makes great stuff but that doesn't mean everybody likes them.

[Jeff58]

The key here -

 

2 hours ago, blangst1 said:

I was fit and hit them decent off the mat.

525’s are at D0 standard, have a bunch of bounce, a wide sole, and a significantly curved leading edge, and a highish CG. A mat, particularly a good quality model, will obscure those attributes. 

Edited August 12, 2022 by Jeff58

[Boognish]

My first adult set of irons were Ping Zing 2s, purchased in 1995 I think, after hitting them into a net in the store (must've felt great 😆).  Anyway, wound up trading them to a guy on the internet for a set of new Top Flite Tours, which I happily played for many many years. 

 

Never really gave Ping another chance after that, all my subsequent irons have been Japanese brands for some reason.  I did play a round with a rental set of Ping S55's last year.  They had that familiar Ping look, and I still couldn't hit them for sh*t.  I did test a set of Blueprints in the golf store a few years back and remember thinking they were actually quite beautiful, albeit a bit small for me to actually consider. 

 

I did recently fondle a set of PXG irons when I was in the store for a putter fitting. They have that Ping look, so maybe I'm now a bit tangentially Ping curious.

Edited August 12, 2022 by Boognish

[getitdaily]

The only people I've ever known who like ping irons were all really weird. What else explains people who like a huge chunk taken out of the hosel. Just a weird bunch, all of them. I suggest you trade them before they take you into the corn...

Edited August 19, 2022 by getitdaily

[doc52]

The 718 AP2's are just that great in my opinion. Wish I still had mine.

[blangst1]

1 hour ago, Jeff58 said:

The key here -

 

525’s are at D0 standard, have a bunch of bounce, a wide sole, and a significantly curved leading edge, and a highish CG. A mat, particularly a good quality model, will obscure those attributes. 

What does all that mean? A little novice on club specs 

[Jeff58]

Much of the difference between models is how they move through the turf and “help” to create the impact position. IMO Ping promotes a fairly unique environment that many find easier to produce. It also promotes players who are currently using Ping irons to continue to do so.

 

However, for those who have played at length with opposing setups, the difference in timing, feel, and turf interaction can be confusing/frustrating. In theory, if you continue to use the 525’s, you will naturally adapt. How long that might take, and how effectively the adaptation eventually is is somewhat player dependent.

[JDTex]

Turf interaction is everything. Every Ping iron I ever tried was generally too high bounce for me. If you are not liking them off the grass then move on from them ASAP. The right irons are out there, just go back to your old gamers until you find them. 

[Potch]

2 hours ago, Jeff58 said:

The key here -

 

525’s are at D0 standard, have a bunch of bounce, a wide sole, and a significantly curved leading edge, and a highish CG. A mat, particularly a good quality model, will obscure those attributes. 

I think generally speaking for any given category of irons Pings have wider soles and more bounce that the equivalent iron from most other manufacturers. 

[TerrorPanda]

Is it a tempo issue where the pings are feeling different than the titleists? 

[nicoy3k]

So you aren’t feeling one model so the entire brand is out? Lol lol 

[Cwebb]

5 hours ago, blangst1 said:

I bought a set of new I525's to replace my 718 Ap2's. I just cannot get along with these new irons. I was fit and hit them decent off the mat but something isnt vibing. I can take my old ap2's out like i never miss a beat. Am I just crazy? 

 

It simply sounds like your new irons don't fit you as well as your other irons.  It happens

[blangst1]

2 hours ago, nicoy3k said:

So you aren’t feeling one model so the entire brand is out? Lol lol 

Well…. I’ve tried others in the past, just wanted to try again. 

[blangst1]

3 hours ago, JDTex said:

Turf interaction is everything. Every Ping iron I ever tried was generally too high bounce for me. If you are not liking them off the grass then move on from them ASAP. The right irons are out there, just go back to your old gamers until you find them. 

I honestly think the bounce is it. 

[RogerinNewZealand]

Likely the Ping are far lower swing weight..so ask your pro to check both 8 irons and 5 irons. Ap2 likely D2 ish i had S58 years ago..like D zero. Once at D3 i loved them.Big difference eg over 6 grams lead tip weight. Hope this helps.

Also the S58 had a sweet spot closer to Heel than Centre. Took lots of Range Balls to get it sorted, then i added Weight.....

[nosedive32]

The only set of pings I ever owned I hit well were i10s with NV VS Proto 95S shafts.

[leegee38]

10 hours ago, blangst1 said:

 Am I just crazy? 

You are a golfer ... OF COURSE you're crazy.  We all are.

 

But I agree with what others have said.  If you are still unhappy after 2-3 rounds the odds of them getting better isn't very good.  Unless they have a very different shaft or something they shouldn't be that hard to get comfortable with.

[DixieD]

I'm with you, I have tried loads of Ping irons that make lots of sense in my head and I really want them to work, then find I just cant get on with them and dont feel i make solid contact. I3 blade and I5's were the only exception but the I5's spun like I have never seen before, I was ripping the ball back 20-30 feet in lush conditions so give up on them.

[NRJyzr]

I would think it could just be the CG that's not aligning with your game.  The i525 have a rather high CG, as the last several models of Ping irons have.  Except for the Blueprint.

 

There are a lot of golfers for whom a high CG is a no go.

 

[blangst1]

13 hours ago, NRJyzr said:

I would think it could just be the CG that's not aligning with your game.  The i525 have a rather high CG, as the last several models of Ping irons have.  Except for the Blueprint.

 

There are a lot of golfers for whom a high CG is a no go.

 

That’s good info, thanks!

[GHIN n Juice]

Ping irons look and feel cheap to me.  Always have.

[black bnr32]

Yeah see if you like them better off a tee.  It might be the high center of gravity 

[CDLgolf]

On 8/12/2022 at 2:39 PM, golfschnell said:

New irons, particularly if you’re not a ho like most on this site🫣 and have played your last set exclusively for years , are often the most difficult clubs to integrate into your bag.  You need sone serious range time in to build feel and confidence with your new sticks. If the clubs are absolutely awful and beyond redemption to you, sell them and move on.

 

I agree with this. I've been using Ping irons for 20 years. This year I've switched to Callaway and am having an awful time getting used to them. Distance and dispersion are terrible. I'm going to give it till the end of the season and reevaluate.

[Feelingofgreatness]

Nothing special about ping irons.  The bounce,  sole,  turf int will need to suit you.  You can't determine that from a mat. 

Best to hit irons on grass.  Irons are the one thing you probably shouldn't change once dialed it,  that's why so many guys still game APs.