Let the speculation begin on Ping

joey357 · July 9, 2006

The G5 hybrid has not been selling well at all while TM, Cobra and Nickent are doing very well. The G5 hybrid is forgiving but hasn't "wowed" a lot of players. Better players hook them and average players are opting for the Cobra at a lower price point. Part of the G5's lack of success is the fact that just about every hybrid out there plays a club or so stronger than the iron they're supposed to replace while the G5 is pretty dead on - people aren't used to this and think it's too short.

With the FT3, I had to go through about 6 reshafts before I finally found the right combo. The only reason why I was so determined to find a combo was because of all the talk of how long it is (that and the fact that a buddy of mine sent me about a dozen tour ferrules so I could essentially "shim" it open). I tried the Xtour and liked it but couldn't stand how loud it was. People on the range kept on staring at me. What shaft is working for you in the Xtour (just plain old stock)? I tried all the stock offerings and none really worked well for me.

NikeTaylormade891 · July 9, 2006

Why doesn't the new driver use the SQ/Hibore idea WITH carbon!!!!!! Should move the CG farther back and lower. Could be a really cool club. It'll have to be pretty darn good to beat the G5 though.

Extreme Firepower · July 10, 2006

The only $2000 set of ping irons was what you could get for one of the original forged sets a few years ago---those are now many times that now. But since ping started casting irons there has been nothing remotely in that range cost wise---even when you custom ordered the very expensive loomis graphite shafts in their irons. BeCu and BeNi weren't even in that ball park for a 1-L with graphite shafts.

The Eye 2 BeCu irons with CFP257 Novus shafts were over WELL over $200 an iron... I remember well because I had the maple headed

Zing2 driver with the Carbon Fiber Products shaft which cost 250 pounds+ (back in the day when TMs top graphite offering was 175 pounds in a driver) and I priced the steel 1 iron with the Novus which was 150 UK pounds... the Loomis wasn't Pings top end shaft. the CFP257 was, at least the offical Ping price list I seen reflected this.

sandy · July 10, 2006

The only $2000 set of ping irons was what you could get for one of the original forged sets a few years ago---those are now many times that now. But since ping started casting irons there has been nothing remotely in that range cost wise---even when you custom ordered the very expensive loomis graphite shafts in their irons. BeCu and BeNi weren't even in that ball park for a 1-L with graphite shafts.

The Eye 2 BeCu irons with CFP257 Novus shafts were over WELL over $200 an iron... I remember well because I had the maple headed
Zing2 driver with the Carbon Fiber Products shaft which cost 250 pounds+ (back in the day when TMs top graphite offering was 175 pounds in a driver) and I priced the steel 1 iron with the Novus which was 150 UK pounds... the Loomis wasn't Pings top end shaft. the CFP257 was, at least the offical Ping price list I seen reflected this.

Yeah I looked back and the BeCu with the Loomis Shaft were even more expensive than that. Very possibly they might come close with the new ti irons.

sandy · July 10, 2006

I think these are the S-60's... sorry

Thank you that makes more sense. As I said in addition to in some parts of the world going backwards would get an odd stare (did we regress or just miss something). Sadly it does look like ping has abandoned any attempt at a players club. With good reason however since the S59s did not sell. Several big retailers I dealt with over the years (way over $18 mill a year in sales) said they barely got into the double digits of sales of all of the models of S59s going back to the day they were introduced.

DrSchteeve · July 21, 2006

1} Although it's an old debate, the direction of players vs. forgiving irons seems to be moving in the direction of forgiving, perhaps even for Tour pros (perception, no stats); for the golf business, forgiveness is definitely the direction in terms of what sells (and why not - very few golfer play enough to benefit from players clubs)

2) Is the jury still out on composites? The numbers - ball speed (distance) & dispersion would seem to ultimately rule (and I think the FT-3 is still in the mix for a lot of good golfers). As for the "Rapture" (hate the name) - a simple session with the launch monitor should determine whether it's better than the G5 (or other non-Ping competitors).

sandy · July 21, 2006

Since it has now been established that one of the first posters was right they are indeed S-58s. Also the reason for the number was related to a score not a year the company got in the golf business. Anser 69s (forgings) because Karsten thought 69 was a good golf score then. S-59 because everybody talks about shooting a 59 and now the S58s to go one stroke better. With that approach an S60 wouldn't make any sense. But more and more pictures I see of the S-58s (mid and long irons) they just look like a redone S-59 with a new cavity--same general shape probably with same amount of offset in the 2 and 3. The first pictures that looked bigger were now obviously the 8, 9, or P.

MatrixcMan · July 21, 2006

Since it has now been established that one of the first posters was right they are indeed S-58s. Also the reason for the number was related to a score not a year the company got in the golf business. Anser 69s (forgings) because Karsten thought 69 was a good golf score then. S-59 because everybody talks about shooting a 59 and now the S58s to go one stroke better. With that approach an S60 wouldn't make any sense. But more and more pictures I see of the S-58s (mid and long irons) they just look like a redone S-59 with a new cavity--same general shape probably with same amount of offset in the 2 and 3. The first pictures that looked bigger were now obviously the 8, 9, or P.

I keep hearing that Ping will build a line of clubs around the S58s. That would be a wise move on Ping's part.

Not sure about the Rapture line up. This is suppose to be the new line for seniors, but the name and color will meet resistance from this group.

I give Ping credit for expanding it's market share. Look's like son knew more about the business than Dad would ever give him credit for.