ping experts- your opinion please

rob · April 12, 2006

Of all the ping irons, to me the best looking iron that combines forgiveness with a cleaner look is the i3 plus blade and the i3 blade. What is the difference between these two irons and in your opinion which is the better iron? Why? I know a lot of people like the i5 but to me there is just too much offset and I know that the specs show a little less offset in the blades. Would appreciate your opinion.

CRutherford · April 12, 2006

Before I switched to Titleist, I played Ping. I played the i3+, which now would have too much offset for my taste. Now the blade model would be much better suited for my eye. IMO the i3+/i3+ blade is the best looking iron Ping has ever designed. The S59 is a close 2nd. I know many people like them, but I'm not a big fan of the I5's. To be honest, I don't know much about the differences between the i3 blade and i3+ blade, but I do know that nearly ALL of Ping's staff played the i3+ or i3+ blade for the last 4 years, until the I5's came out.

LysleE · April 13, 2006

I have owned several sets of Pings: I3+ oversize, I3 blades and the S-59s. I thought that the I3 blades were the best of the bunch. I found the I3's to be just as forgiving as the I3+ blades (which I demoed extensively, but did not buy) and the S-59s despite the decreased offset and I liked the fact that they did not dig...I guess they have a different grind than the I3+. I got rid of the JZ shafts and reshafted with Nippons 1050s and they became even better sticks...much smoother with a higher trajectory.

I think that all Pings perform better at higher swingweights too. I think the stock swingweight is around D0. I had the I3 blades increased to D2 and the S59s at D3 and they felt so much better...but that's just a personal observation.

I don't think you can go wrong with either club, but for me the I3 blades are solid sticks...newer doesn't necessarily mean better.

Lysle

bfar27 · April 13, 2006

LysleE, just curious why you have gone from the 1050's to the 1150's? I have 1050's in 2 of my sets and I am trying to pick up a set of i3's now.

LysleE · April 13, 2006

LysleE, just curious why you have gone from the 1050's to the 1150's? I have 1050's in 2 of my sets and I am trying to pick up a set of i3's now.

bfar,

Actually, it was purely by accident...my wife took my TS 202s to be reshafted for a birthday gift and meant to purchase the 1050s, but she got confused and had 1150s installed instead...they are a skosh heavier with a slightly lower ballflight, but nonetheless are solid shafts and retain the same smoothness you find in the 1050s. I really like these now and had my new Zodia's made with the Nippon 1150s (soft-stepped 1x). Like everyone else says the 1150s play true-to-flex, unlike most of the other Nippons.

I don't think you can wrong with either one. Nippon shafts in Ping heads are awesome sticks. I'd still have them if I wasn't an aspiring club ho.

LysleE