Where to find BeCu ISI irons?

[Coppertop1880]

The obvious places come to mind, Ebay, 2nd Swing Golf, but are there any other places to pick up a set of Ping Becu ISI irons? I'm looking for a second set of green dot irons and that may be what's making the quest harder. I know I could get a set bent to be 2 up, but really don't want to mess with that. 

 

I already have a set in the bag and I don't mean to be selfish but I want a back-up set. 

 

Also have a BeNi set and a set of BeCu Eye2 but the ISI Becu perform the best for me. Thought about getting a steel set of ISI irons, but worry that I won't like them. There's something about the BeCu that feels so good. Like the club face is a mini-trampoline. I like them so much I haven't looked at a modern iron since swinging the BeCu's over a year ago.

 

 

[golfunderpar18]

Post a wanted ad in the wrx classifieds.  I’d say eBay is your best bet though.  Prices of golf stuff on eBay typically peaks in March & April .  Becu ISI’s are great irons

[Binson]

For a backup set, don't discount the SS. They actually feel really good as well. 

[jplroper]

  Around my home facebook market place seems to have more clubs for sale than craigslist.

[Coppertop1880]

Haven't used Facebook Marketplace. Will take a look.

[st1800e]

Just be wary of the color dots.  Sometimes  changed. Some are suspect given new paint in the dot, may or may not be the original color.   I’ve seen ones with a poor repaint to a different color , could see both colors in the dot.
 

Best to get the serial number and check with Ping.  
 

 And who knows if they’ve been previously bent? 

 

Here’s some with fresh paint. 
 

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/186200406097?itmmeta=01HQR3KEZGKRYMVGGY6R18H0TA&hash=item2b5a68b851:g:EMMAAOSw04FlcuAu&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0LOPkzh%2BOcbcVVKLdio4H8QliiY%2FTKpeti5OLhRQ9D5uUcmkrgoH7vb1djkNNOMlRJ40T7MzNf5vS%2BneIasZtQbEwyaVkuzXjzZLZ7tgEm6Ec5EmhpZcDSe6t%2FHTZ0Khr0OQVeP8imS6AT%2Fjp2ryw%2Bv%2BjNeKRfEprAK6nL57nnuJX83yBdoVsTIaN%2FoWanqbJvur7Xg5g6WBT2yyvIMpzVpuVuxyJPeVu8ktowihwTlT7HCLZpC4jp7mLFOUO9Bq3YeuVDGH0Q%2BvbgsOuwuwXgU%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5LwzYO-Yw

 

And a set with what “looks” like original paint in the dot.  
 

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/186182574468?itmmeta=01HQR3KEZGPXZPN1ZECN5YD706&hash=item2b5958a184:g:DFsAAOSw2OplalLY&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8J8TMhMepBwebqp1V5zXacBBt1BbnLHbFYVtDJaAlIg7cbIqMNt2LXqJUIYihQN0qksKVt91ODcMEmYTpvp%2BnI0%2FNqq8iigo0chA%2FshKsoO7JcmmBGasdmJAfHBgsoNMk78spbMpvun3njoKMJiFWiZvcwf7f2BeTLT6kN%2BivWydk8xPlp1A%2Fvfwz7cAv2mOeILkK9se6IvnsEoKps%2FhWosqz1pdCc07dyu5XCW7l1ajD5uI8GDH435NdkMC7%2BmmWl%2FCbb5vmEjJviy0y0IPYl5n7ZFt9U9NwdrbpQNjLEPaO63oZovR8OqjaZZYx8eLuQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5LwzYO-Yw

 

 

All said, you’ll just need to keep searching regularly.  

 

[Coppertop1880]

Thanks.

I've been fitted for green dot irons but can't help but think blue dots would work too.

 

Downside to all this is that where ever I find a set, I'm looking at an extra $200 to reshaft. For some reason, regular flex shafts are almost as hard to find as green dot.

[st1800e]

Ping has changed their color codes over the years.

 

here’s the current one.  
 

 

I believe this is the one from the ISI Era.

 

 

So if you were fitted in the current era then there’s a difference, sometimes small, in the lie angles.  Note that they don’t use the yellow in the current chart, but an ISI yellow would be closer to the current green than the ISI Blue.  

[st1800e]

And the older chart was an “effective” lie angle that actually depended on the length of the club when it was built.  
 

 

[Coppertop1880]

Wait.

The colors changed what lie they represent.

Ugh. Been hitting ISI green for the past year thinking they were 2 up. 

Can't say that it's been an issue but now they hunt for yellow begins....

Which may be harder than the hunt for green dot has been.

Edited February 29 by Coppertop1880

[NRJyzr]

3 hours ago, st1800e said:

Ping has changed their color codes over the years.

 

here’s the current one.  
 

 

I believe this is the one from the ISI Era.

 

 

So if you were fitted in the current era then there’s a difference, sometimes small, in the lie angles.  Note that they don’t use the yellow in the current chart, but an ISI yellow would be closer to the current green than the ISI Blue.  

 

There was no such thing as yellow dot (nor purple dot) in the ISI days.  Ping irons had 1* between color codes in those days.

 

[st1800e]

38 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

There was no such thing as yellow dot (nor purple dot) in the ISI days.  Ping irons had 1* between color codes in those days.

 

Got a chart from those days? Or any ping document? Either would be helpful, as I can’t find anything like that online.  And what years they changed the system, which I recall was multiple times.  
 

thanks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 29 by st1800e

[Fellaheen51]

9 hours ago, st1800e said:

Got a chart from those days? Or any ping document? Either would be helpful, as I can’t find anything like that online.  And what years they changed the system, which I recall was multiple times.  
 

thanks. 
 

 

This was the color chart used in the E2 era (confirmed with advertising literature).   Not 100% certain, but believe it was the same one used for ISI's.  Note the use of finger tip to floor correlating to club length vs. WTF.  Never seen yellow dot (or purple) ISI's.

 

 

And to the OP.  Unless you're sensitive to +/- 1* lie differences, wouldn't be unduly concerned with blue v. green.  In my case, the delivery of the club head at ball strike will have a variance greater than that with any given swing.  Absolute preciseness not required.  

 

Edit note:  Lie angle adjustments are relative to a specific starting point.  For instance:  A G430 7 iron black is 62*.  My build notes have a ISI 7 iron black at 63.5*.  So 2* up will result in different end points depending where one starts.   

 

Whatever color chart in use, the value is as a guide to get an individual golfer into the neighborhood of appropriateness (static fit).  Not as an absolute.  As it does not incorporate how one swings the club (dynamic fit).  At a given point in time.  By example, using either of the two charts above, I'm a Maroon +.5"  (6'2", 38.5" WTF).  Realize improved ball striking at +1" and 2* up (green). This dynamic fit "spec" has been consistent regardless of the irons utilized.  I've changed my swing over time to mitigate an OTT tendency, resulting in relatively flatter lie preference.  Observing ball flight tendencies has mostly confirmed this.  As much as there can be consistency in tendencies with my recreational golfer swing.   

 

Just because Ping decided to eliminate the correlation between club length and dynamic lie angle doesn't eliminate the right angle trigonometry math involved.  The ratio:  .5" △ length = 1^o △ dynamic lie.  All other factors other than length remaining constant.  And a marginally interesting FWIW, the math seems to indicate why Ping used .75* increments to begin with (KS being the precise engineer).

 

Another point with ISI's, they are 1* up by design compared to other classic Pings to account for shaft droop inherent with the heavier toe weighting.  Somewhere along the way, I discovered the standard black lie angles and have them in my spec spreadsheet.  

 

Wouldn't let a bender touch a set of Ping Be irons unless I was 110% certain that they knew what they were doing.  The risk of snapping an irreplaceable matching numbers head is real.  Which leads me to another point.  Really have to perform one's due diligence with these irons.  Ideally, verifiable matching numbers for the set (3 - W minimally).  Don't pay matching numbers prices when they are not.  Carefully examine dot colors.  Ones with absent or clearly repainted colors should be viewed as suspect.  Not infrequent do I note funny business with dot colors (Green dots are a specific color for example).  Are the installed shafts consistent throughout the set.  

 

Regarding OE steel shaft flex in ISI's.  Believe JZ shafts were the only ones available in regular flex.  

 

For the record, I've had a set of BeNi ISI's, green dot, reshafted with TT Dynalite Gold XP R300.  The OE Z-Z65 stiffs were no bueno.  A side note:  When I pulled the shafts, several had bent tips.  Honestly can't tell much difference in the "feels" compared with a thrifted partial set of SS ISI's that began the curiosity.  Never hit a BeCu. 

 

My .02 and not wanting to over complicate things.  Play Your Best.  

 

 

Edited February 29 by Fellaheen51

[NRJyzr]

8 hours ago, st1800e said:

Got a chart from those days? Or any ping document? Either would be helpful, as I can’t find anything like that online.  And what years they changed the system, which I recall was multiple times.  
 

thanks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Found this through Google.  The first post in the thread mentions this was mentioned in the Dec, 2007 issue of Golf Digest.

 

Most of the rest of the thread is folks complaining.  🙂

 

 

 

 

[Fellaheen51]

12 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

Found this through Google.  The first post in the thread mentions this was mentioned in the Dec, 2007 issue of Golf Digest.

 

Most of the rest of the thread is folks complaining.  🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Ha.  A .25* difference is "huge".  Only in WRX'ville.  

[NRJyzr]

8 hours ago, st1800e said:

And what years they changed the system, which I recall was multiple times.  

 

The first change was apparently for 2008.  The second change was 2017 or 2018, which moved back to the 1* between color codes that was originally used, eliminating purple and yellow.

 

And, they removed the effective lie aspect, where length changes in a fitting had them adjusting the actual lie.  Probably because so many didn't understand what they were doing, which added confusion.

 

[st1800e]

13 hours ago, Coppertop1880 said:

Can't say that it's been an issue but now they hunt for yellow begins....

 

14 hours ago, st1800e said:

I believe this is the one from the ISI Era

 We’ve been properly informed now. So no yellow in ISI.  
Lots of info provided by @NRJyzr and @Fellaheen51,

thanks guys.  

[st1800e]

3 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

Wouldn't let a bender touch a set of Ping Be irons unless I was 110% certain that they knew what they were doing.

Hi, any experience bending the BeNi irons?
Same, easier, harder than BeCu? 

[Fellaheen51]

36 minutes ago, st1800e said:

Hi, any experience bending the BeNi irons?
Same, easier, harder than BeCu? 

 

No experience with bending irons at all.  Know a bender for lie adjustments on non-Pings when needed.  

 

Have noted a fair amount of conflicting information about the bendability of Be Cu/Ni irons.  From yes, they can be adjusted by those experienced.  To no, they become "brittle" with age and become prone to a breakage risk.  A big IDK to all of it.  At one time, Ping would adjust +/- 2* (IIRC).  But that ended a long time ago.  Likely do to Be occupational safety concerns more than anything.  NTM, the availability of replacements if a hosel were to snap.  

 

Guess my original premise holds with irons of this type.  One is paying a healthy premium for OSP Be irons.  Acquire what's appropriate (or close) from the start.  And not take chances.  

 

 

 

 

 

[Coppertop1880]

6 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

And to the OP.  Unless you're sensitive to +/- 1* lie differences, wouldn't be unduly concerned with blue v. green.  In my case, the delivery of the club head at ball strike will have a variance greater than that with any given swing.  Absolute preciseness not required.  

 

 

 

One degree isn't a deal breaker.

And I agree, that unless you get a set custom bent, the color dots get you into the neighborhood. Been tempted to get a bender but just too much room to screw up a set of irons. I can re-grip, re-shaft but knowing my luck if I tried crack a hosel.

[NRJyzr]

2 hours ago, Fellaheen51 said:

At one time, Ping would adjust +/- 2* (IIRC).  But that ended a long time ago.  Likely do to Be occupational safety concerns more than anything.  NTM, the availability of replacements if a hosel were to snap.  

 

Quick note on this part of your post...

 

There's no safety concerns with just bending BeNi or BeCu clubheads.  It's only the dust that causes a problem.  Ping declining to adjust them is almost certainly due to the lack of replacement clubheads, once they ceased producing them.

 

[Coppertop1880]

Found a good deal on a set of blue dot ISI Becus on FBook Marketplace and picked them up. 

While Marketplace was a pain in the a** to navigate, though.

And now that I picked these up, a host of Becus will pop up over at Next Round or eBay.

[Coppertop1880]

Side bar...

 

Does anyone else find it frustrating to find that set of irons you're looking for on eBay or any other online source, only to read at the end of the description it's a left handed set? I think I've found four sets of BeCu ISI green dot sets, at a decent price, only to see they are left handers. Shame you can't convert left handed clubs to right or that being ambidextrous was easier.

[elwhippy]

I used to play scratch league games against a lad who used left handed BeNi ISI. Such a solid sound off the face. 

[Binson]

On 3/1/2024 at 8:10 PM, Coppertop1880 said:

Side bar...

 

Does anyone else find it frustrating to find that set of irons you're looking for on eBay or any other online source, only to read at the end of the description it's a left handed set? I think I've found four sets of BeCu ISI green dot sets, at a decent price, only to see they are left handers. Shame you can't convert left handed clubs to right or that being ambidextrous was easier.

They don't look "right" to me immediately in the photos so I never get that far lol.