GOAT ping irons in your opinion?

[nicky_01]

Hey everyone, 

I’ve been curious recently about ping irons as I never really gave them a chance. I see guys live and die by S55 and iBlade. Then there’s plenty of guys playing Blueprints and i230s. Not seeing any love for the i59s though. What are some of the best models in your opinion and why?

[YAMS49]

There's only one GOAT Ping iron imo - It's the I210. Although for old sets the Eye 2 are rightfully legendary. 

 

I210's are everything you could want in a players type iron. Very high spin, incredibly consistent to yardage, crazy soft for a cast iron, look great down by the ball, progressive through the set, beautiful Hydropearl 2.0 finish, very forgiving, Power/Retro spec loft options...

 

They're just an extremely good iron that are very hard to beat.  

 

Only criticisms would be the offset that kicks in from 5i is a little too pronounced and being Ping they do have some proper bounce going on in the toe area. They need 'trapping' on contact to get the most out of them. That can take some getting used to if you're coming from a narrower sole.  

[mat562]

A set of beryllium copper Eye 2s. 

 

One of the best selling models of iron of all time, and played by every man and his dog, at every level of the game from weekend 20-handicapper to the pro tours. They were virtually indestructible and last forever. The grooves gave you a tangible advantage against the field in semi rough and from wet lies, and the long irons and wedges were pretty much in every bag you looked at at one time; both being among the very best performing clubs in those slots whether you were playing a monthly medal or in the Open.

 

In the beryllium model, you also got that very satisfying and rare thing: a club that actually looks better with use, as it takes on a beautiful patina.

 

I have a X100-shafted 1-SW set, as well as a few spare wedges, which I'll never part with.

 

 

Edited November 21, 2023 by mat562

[Remon]

This thread will be filled with praise for the Eye2s. I think I read somewhere that they are the best selling iron model of all time? I'm to young to have played them during their launch, but I have a set at home 🙂

But my personal favorite are the S56s. Played those from the release until 2020. Tried the iBlades, tried the iE1s always found my way back to the S56s. The slightly less chrome look and the way it framed the ball for me just made me full of confidence. Switched to the Blueprints in 2020 and as I play less and less I switched to the i230s last autumn for that extra forgiveness. But the S-line was awesome, you will most likely get a response for each model that was released

[300_yard_drives]

For me it’s easily the Blieprint S. Best feeling and performance. 

[bluedot]

Put the Eye2 in a separate category.  There’s never been anything else like that in the history of golf equipment.  

 

Beyond that, in Ping’s long history two that really stood out in their day from anything else on the market were the i5 and the i20.  Lots of other Ping sets were and are great, but those two were truly special at the time.

[Bike_Voucher]

i210

S55

iBlade

Eye 2

 

Excited to try the new blueprints. 

[Tree Levino]

Truly legendary in their own category 

Eye2 

S55

I210

Blueprint

Edited November 21, 2023 by Tree Levino

[pmang]

I210.

[mantan]

OP is in more the playa side of PING than I am. My personal favorites are down at my skill level.

 

1st iSI-N

2nd - G400

3rd - i5

 

 

The ISI's were a funky looking line, but fun to hit. The now rare to find nickel versions felt very soft...different than other PING irons.

 

The G400 was the best of the G-line. They managed to be SGI clubs in GI profile. The lofts were traditional (these days) and they weren't as busy as other models.

 

The i5s were in my backup bag for years and years. Nothing fancy or flashy, but a forgiving club in a very sexy (for Ping) package.

 

[uglande]

Old School: Eye 2

New Era: iBlade

Looks Only: Isi Nickel

Performance Only: S55 or i210

Edited November 21, 2023 by uglande

[RHenderson]

I'll throw in my 2 cents,

All time the eye 2 line, and yes I've owned a couple sets of Beryllium Coppers, absolutely awesome. But modern irons I would have to say my current set which is a blended set of i210's & i Blades which are both considered iconic sets and with the blended set I feel I get the best of both worlds, forgiving and accurate long irons, and great short scoring irons. 

I'm another Ping guy who thinks it would be great if Ping re-released the i210's they are just fantastic irons, Just ask Viktor Hovland 

[cpadave]

i210 for me - still playing them currently

[rsballer10]

It's objectively the Eye2. It's subjectively whatever iron was your favorite. The GOAT has to be the iron that brought perimeter weighting to the masses.  

[golfinbrad]

Still wish I still had my S57s.  Only sold them because of the groove rules change. 

[Jayjay_theweim_guy]

4 hours ago, YAMS49 said:

There's only one GOAT Ping iron imo - It's the I210. Although for old sets the Eye 2 are rightfully legendary. 

 

I210's are everything you could want in a players type iron. Very high spin, incredibly consistent to yardage, crazy soft for a cast iron, look great down by the ball, progressive through the set, beautiful Hydropearl 2.0 finish, very forgiving, Power/Retro spec loft options...

 

They're just an extremely good iron that are very hard to beat.  

 

Only criticisms would be the offset that kicks in from 5i is a little too pronounced and being Ping they do have some proper bounce going on in the toe area. They need 'trapping' on contact to get the most out of them. That can take some getting used to if you're coming from a narrower sole.  

Every piece of this review is correct, from the high points to the quirks and flaws.  I'll add they launch surprisingly high throughout the set, despite the very high VCOG.  Long irons are ridiculously easy to elevate.

 

GOAT is still the Eye2, for the reasons @bluedotsaid.  But the i210 is a very special set.

[MakersMarsh3]

Any answer other than the Eye 2 is just wrong

 

But the modern PING goat is another conversation

I personally think it’s the S55. Iron kinda can do it all

[BombinJim]

My personal favorite is the ping ansers from 2012. This was my first iron set outside of hand-me-downs or full set starter bag from a sporting goods store. Got them used for $400 and they were excellent. Felt super solid on strike and had some forgiveness.

[animalgolfs]

isi - career low rd x2 using these, have no idea why.

i3+ blade - probably my favorite non ferrule Ping iron. 

 

 

Obviously BeCu Eye 2/+ but I'm going with wedges only Eye 2+ SW & Eye 2 SW.....my favorite clubs of all time - Magical in so many ways greenside.

 

s55 iBlade i210 new gen....take your swing and find one. 

[bryanwmilburn]

Personal favorite is S55. My favorite iron ever. Had them a while ago and sold them for cash one Christmas. Always wanted another set but prices were just crazy. Came across a MINTY set a few weeks ago for cheap and snatched them up. They will be my 2024 irons! Still as awesome as ever!

[AngryGilmore]

GOAT as far as technology and changing things entirely:   Eye 2.  This was revolutionary at the time and they are STILL solid clubs and hold up pretty well loft for loft.  You won't lose as much distance on mishits with newer clubs and the offset can be an issue for some people.

 

Current:  i210.  Solid, ridiculously consistent, good spin numbers and they feel great.

[Boricua Golf]

iBlades, not as soft as a forged blade, but it is a solid performer...

[Dan Drake]

I get the question, but this might be the one manufacturer where it just doesn't quite "work out" the way the OP probably intended.  Maybe "GOAT modern PING iron" might even work as an OP.  And you can certainly do this exercise with almost any other manufacturer and get a decent debate.  

 

But not this one.  

 

The EYE 2 set of irons are not only in the GOAT conversation for best set of irons, the long irons are in the GOAT conversation for GOAT long irons/hybrids and the wedges (set wedges at that, ZOMG!!!!) are in the conversation for GOAT wedges.  Heck, the 1 & 2 irons specifically are in the conversation for GOAT driving irons of all time and the OG SW & LW specifically are in the conversation for GOAT bunker clubs.  AND if you stretch it to the EYE 2+ as well, you can have that SW & LW specifically in the mix for GOAT pitching clubs!!!!!!!!!!

 

There's just never been another set like it (them?) and there never will be again.  And while my OG 1-LW BeCu set doesn't have matching serial numbers all the way through, I love them dearly (they were my dad's for a time) and they'll never leave my possession until they go to one of my sons, and that won't even happen until I'm on my death bed (or the day I can't ever play golf again, so yeah, same thing basically).  

 

I maintain that 99% of the golfers on this planet could get fit for driver and putter and then grab the other 12 clubs from a mixture of EYE 2/+ clubs and never see a smidge of difference in their index.  Heck, it might even improve a bit.  And I promise that on the very day that I realize my competitive golf is done, this is exactly what I'll be doing until said death bed is my resting place.  

 

Sorry not sorry for rant, I love these things!

Edited November 21, 2023 by Dan Drake

[dmeeksDC]

Eye2 is obviously king as a market changer. But I always liked the earlier Karsten II irons and played them for years. Still have them. Never really went for the Eye2. All my cousins switched to it but I felt like the Karsten II did all I wanted. I think I could play these now and be fine. 

To each his own. I prefer the i200 more than the i210 or i230 and I think the i59 is a beautiful iron, love the solid feel and playability of it and like the squat shape more than the iBlade. Same MOI as the i210 with a more compact look. 

[pbr2121]

G25s deserve an honorable mention. The i210s are great but the i230s are just as good or better in most objective categories except for unofficial love on tour and tour poser categories. 

[Carolina Golfer 2]

I still say the best golf I have ever played is when I had the I5's in my bag around 2005 or 2006.   So therefore I say I5's!  

[nicky_01]

2 hours ago, mantan said:

OP is in more the playa side of PING than I am. My personal favorites are down at my skill level.

 

1st iSI-N

2nd - G400

3rd - i5

 

 

The ISI's were a funky looking line, but fun to hit. The now rare to find nickel versions felt very soft...different than other PING irons.

 

The G400 was the best of the G-line. They managed to be SGI clubs in GI profile. The lofts were traditional (these days) and they weren't as busy as other models.

 

The i5s were in my backup bag for years and years. Nothing fancy or flashy, but a forgiving club in a very sexy (for Ping) package.

 

I was thinking about the player side of things but I tried my buddies g425 irons for fun and holy crap I felt like I could hit it anywhere and it’d still go the same distance. In general I always see the G line as a strong game improvement club for people that even low handicappers could play. Gotta say I loved the blueprints when I tested them, and I need to go hit the i210s. Funny story about the eye2’s is that my friends dad still has them. When he asked my friend what kind of iron set he bought the first thing he asked was “do the irons have perimeter weighting?” I had to explain to him that the eye2’s he has sitting around became the standard for todays iron design (aside from blades).

[Kale_m]

S55, thread over , lock it up 

[Binson]

In order for it to be the singular "GOAT" iron, I think it has to be able to serve a broad range of golfers.

 

For me, it's the Ping Zing 2 Irons.  Super forgiving, unicorn sole design, really good feeling, good feedback, and indestructible materials.  There's a reason Lee Westwood stuck with them on tour for over a decade.  You can be a trunk slammer and be confident with them in hand even as an average golfer.  I've hit all sorts of crazy, memorable shots with them and they are always the irons I go back to when my swing gets out of whack and need a reset.  That said, I get that the looks can be divisive. 

 

In modern irons, it's the i210 as many above have mentioned.  It performs for such a large audience.  I wish they didn't make it more players' oriented in the longer irons in the i230.   That's what the i59 (and now the Blueprint T) was supposed to be for...

 

S55 also often get brought up and they are a fantastic players iron. But, it's too small a profile for the majority of golfers to qualify for GOAT iron in my opinion. 

[glm]

Eye 2

nobody including Ping has ever built a club that will out sell, out perform or out last it.