From Ping i230 to........?

[jtj74]

I have been playing i230 this year and like them a lot for the most part. The ONLY thing I would like is better turf interaction. I feel like they bounce a bit too much. I have played Cobra MIM prior and before those I played ZX7s and Wilson Staff V6. I'm getting old and felt like I needed a little more help with a bit of forgiveness, hence the i230s. 

 

What have those of you that loved the performance of i230s but didn't care for the turf interaction moved on to? 

[Tmintx]

Looks like the T150 based on a lot of feedback here

[J_Tizzle]

I had the i525, went to the i230, a month later I went back to the i525.

 

The i525 is a seriously underrated iron, notably more forgiving for my misses (slightly thin and/or slightly towards the heel).  The i230s just fell out of the air with that miss and I would lose 15-20 yards and that was just unplayable for me given kid and work and my practice being minimal at the absolute most.  Gave up the idea of hitting working shots and instead just hit my 5 yard draw with the i525 and give up trying to flight cuts into things, lol.  

[golfheaven69]

Rarely have I attended a fitting and bought the club I was most interested in going in to the fitting. You have to hit four or five different models to see what fits best. 

[Pnwpingi210]

P770, p790, mizuno 223, forged tec all have slimmer soles for the amount to help you get.  Zx5 if you like the v sole

[jtj74]

6 minutes ago, golfheaven69 said:

Rarely have I attended a fitting and bought the club I was most interested in going in to the fitting. You have to hit four or five different models to see what fits best. 

Thats how I ended up in the Ping. I went in with my mind set on Mizuno Pro 223. I hit a quite a few and the fitter had it down to the 223 or i230. We settled in i230 based on very minute gains in dispersion but it was off mats. Once I had them out on the course I found I really liked them but on firm turf the tend to bounce off the ground a bit too much. 

[jtj74]

9 minutes ago, Pnwpingi210 said:

P770, p790, mizuno 223, forged tec all have slimmer soles for the amount to help you get.  Zx5 if you like the v sole

I was not a fan of the P series. Just couldnt get along with them for some reason. Really wanted to love the 770s. 

[toastinato]

Pxg CB. If you like ping irons, the only logical step would be to PXG. I just can't recommend anything else once someone says they like their pings. To me, ping irons are completely different than any other irons. Satin finish, white bottom line, more Squarish, more bounce, high vcog, not super soft but GREAT feeling. On paper, I'm sure there are other irons to try. But pxg uses similar engineering to Ping and all the things I love about ping, pxg does in their own way. I personally LOVE the white bottom line on the grooves and squarish looks. Moving to the CB was one of the best things I did this year. 

[MattM97]

1 hour ago, golfheaven69 said:

Rarely have I attended a fitting and bought the club I was most interested in going in to the fitting. You have to hit four or five different models to see what fits best. 

 

Same went into a fitting, expecting x,y or z for my irons and walked out with a set of PXG's. They worked best for me. 

 

OP really suggest you do a fitting just to try out everything or maybe wait for the Blueprint S irons to be released? 

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

2 hours ago, jtj74 said:

I have been playing i230 this year and like them a lot for the most part. The ONLY thing I would like is better turf interaction. I feel like they bounce a bit too much. I have played Cobra MIM prior and before those I played ZX7s and Wilson Staff V6. I'm getting old and felt like I needed a little more help with a bit of forgiveness, hence the i230s. 

 

What have those of you that loved the performance of i230s but didn't care for the turf interaction moved on to? 

check your ball position with your irons. it might be too far forward across the board.

[jblough99]

2 hours ago, toastinato said:

Pxg CB. If you like ping irons, the only logical step would be to PXG. I just can't recommend anything else once someone says they like their pings. To me, ping irons are completely different than any other irons. Satin finish, white bottom line, more Squarish, more bounce, high vcog, not super soft but GREAT feeling. On paper, I'm sure there are other irons to try. But pxg uses similar engineering to Ping and all the things I love about ping, pxg does in their own way. I personally LOVE the white bottom line on the grooves and squarish looks. Moving to the CB was one of the best things I did this year. 

 

I moved from the I230 into the 0317CB and couldn't be happier.  Literally nothing I miss about the I230 since making the switch.  

[dalillama47]

Underrated for sure, but one to try is the Cobra King Tours.  Good forgiveness, great through the turf, a little wider sole, but doesn't bounce like the Ping's

[deh]

Went from i230 to T100.

[toastinato]

15 minutes ago, jblough99 said:

 

I moved from the I230 into the 0317CB and couldn't be happier.  Literally nothing I miss about the I230 since making the switch.  

Yup. I mean there are so many great irons. But I can't see how you could love a ping iron and NOT go to pxg CB if you're looking for smaller. 

[tlehmann]

7 minutes ago, deh said:

Went from i230 to T100.

I went from T100 to i230 

[sniper]

Try the new Apex Pro. 

[slalomdude]

0317T’s may be the ticket 

[MChamberlain]

Went from i230s (first hole in one) to T150s... i230s spun way too much for my liking. T150s have checked every box for me.

[Johan93]

any set will be a downgrade, i think i230 is arguably the best iron set ever made

[Johan93]

im very surprised more tour pros havent switched into i230, i understand Hovland has been on a hot streak so he doesnt feel any need to switch right now

[^m9]

1 hour ago, Johan93 said:

im very surprised more tour pros havent switched into i230, i understand Hovland has been on a hot streak so he doesnt feel any need to switch right now

 

I think Hovland casts an inaccurate shadow on the i230s in terms of their popularity on the tours. He's been in the spotlight because of his incredible play but he's really sticking to what he's comfortable with. No one ever talks about how he hasn't moved into the G430 range for his driver. Some tour players switch to new stuff quickly, and others take their time (e.g., Hovland, Morikawa, Wyndham Clark).

 

Here are some rough counts:

 

PGA

Tano Goya full set
Tyrell 3-6, previously full set
Nate Lashley full set
David Lingmerth full set
Alex Smalley 4-5, previously full set    
Trevor Werbylo full set

 

DP World - 8 or so with some mixed i230s sets

Couple sets on Champions
 

We should also keep in mind that the S55/OG Blueprint players on Ping staff aren't going to magically jump to a progressive player's cavity like the i2xx-series.

 

The i230s are crazy good. They go so high and straight it's unreal, and they're one of the softest Ping irons I've tried. I've hit several towering draws into uphill 190 yd+ par 3s at my course that just stopped dead near the pitch mark. I don't think I could get that kind of height and control in the 5 and 6 irons with my ZX7s.

 

To the OP, I would work on getting a touch more down into the ball with the i230s before jumping ship. Another option would be to wait until the Blueprint S arrives and test those. They seem to be picking up a lot of steam on the various tours.

Edited October 27, 2023 by ^m9
clarity

[Morry]

Cobra King Tours.....Perfection...

[Pnwpingi210]

42 minutes ago, ^m9 said:

 

I think Hovland casts an inaccurate shadow on the i230s in terms of their popularity on the tours. He's been in the spotlight because of his incredible play but he's really sticking to what he's comfortable with. No one ever talks about how he hasn't moved into the G430 range for his driver. Some tour players switch to new stuff quickly, and others take their time (e.g., Hovland, Morikawa, Wyndham Clark).

 

Here are some rough counts:

 

PGA

Tano Goya full set
Tyrell 3-6, previously full set
Nate Lashley full set
David Lingmerth full set
Alex Smalley 4-5, previously full set    
Trevor Werbylo full set

 

DP World - 8 or so with some mixed i230s sets

Couple sets on Champions
 

We should also keep in mind that the S55/OG Blueprint players on Ping staff aren't going to magically jump to a progressive player's cavity like the i-series.

 

The i230s are crazy good. They go so high and straight it's unreal, and they're one of the softest Ping irons I've tried. I've hit several towering draws into uphill 190 yd+ par 3s at my course that just stopped dead near the pitch mark. I don't think I could get that kind of height and control in the 5 and 6 irons with my ZX7s.

 

To the OP, I would work on getting a touch more down into the ball with the i230s before jumping ship. Another option would be to wait until the Blueprint S arrives and test those. They seem to be picking up a lot of steam on the various tours.

A ping engineer just commented on hovland and the i210s.  The i210 launches high and spins more than the i230.  Hovland needs the extra height and spin.  

[^m9]

22 minutes ago, Pnwpingi210 said:

A ping engineer just commented on hovland and the i210s.  The i210 launches high and spins more than the i230.  Hovland needs the extra height and spin.  

There you go. Iirc, many on this site said the 230s are spinny and short. Every player is different in their AoA, speed, and other dynamics.

[Avidswampthing66]

I wouldn't sleep on the new Apex Cb's strictly bc the pre-worn leading edge could be a great fit.  The CB thread is full of people loving the turf interaction and you could combo the Pros in the longer irons. T100s-T150 have great soles. The new Blueprint S soles look great, but we are talking a feb release... I know these are all players irons, but you may find good success and distance from better contact.  

The new P790's have slimmed down if you are looking for more pop and a pretty sleek design.

Edited October 28, 2023 by Avidswampthing66

[hammergolf]

10 hours ago, jtj74 said:

I have been playing i230 this year and like them a lot for the most part. The ONLY thing I would like is better turf interaction. I feel like they bounce a bit too much. I have played Cobra MIM prior and before those I played ZX7s and Wilson Staff V6. I'm getting old and felt like I needed a little more help with a bit of forgiveness, hence the i230s. 

 

What have those of you that loved the performance of i230s but didn't care for the turf interaction moved on to? 

You can always ask the WRX dept to grind the soles for you. Not sure if they would, but wouldn’t hurt to ask.

[Oneshort99]

I was in the PGASS the other day and one of the fitters mentioned that a new Ping i530 along with the Blueprint 
S is coming out first of the year and Wilson is launching two irons, so there may be stuff to hold out for and test prior to deciding.  

[20footputt]

Can try power spec to kill some bounce it also tames the high flight and excessive spin. 
 

I just bought some gen 5 0311 pxg to try and kick my i230 out but after 2 rounds I don’t think they will dethrone the pings. I was even fit for the PXGs. 

[benz5521]

Probably like Mizuno 923 forged. I230s have a ton of bounce. The Mizunos have very little. 

[ParadiseGolf]

16 hours ago, Pnwpingi210 said:

A ping engineer just commented on hovland and the i210s.  The i210 launches high and spins more than the i230.  Hovland needs the extra height and spin.  

Link please? Thank you!