Ping s56 versus s58 (and s59)

[ram01002]

My Review

I have had the Ping s56 irons in the bag for the last 2 months, and have spent enough time with them that I feel comfortable giving my review. My previous 2 sets were s59s (500 rounds) and s58s (300 rounds); and the s56 irons have the exact same shafts, lie, grips, swingweight, etc.

The s59s were really good irons, had good turf interaction in the fairway (not great in the rough), but were a little hooky for me. The s58s were less hooky, but turf interaction was always a little funky for me. I spent some time with the s57s, but they were noticeably spinnier and turf interaction was no better.

I had been happy with the s58s, but had credit to burn and ordered the s56 irons, which came in perfectly on spec. First impressions were a hair less offset, and a hair thinner profile overall. My first impressions regarding ball flight was very similar to the s58 irons.

The driving range told part of the story; it would be an easy transition from the s58 irons to the s56 irons. After 20 rounds though, these s56 irons are special . . . the best irons I have ever hit. Ball flight is dead neutral, no draw bias, and easily workable. Distance is maybe 5 yards longer than the s58s because shots launch a little higher with a little less spin. Forgiveness is slightly better on the toe, but overall, my miss patterns are tighter because of the neutral ball flight and a better distance control across the face.

Where these irons truly shine is in turf interaction; very crisp off the fairway with no digging (maybe a hair more bounce than the s58s), but interaction out of the rough is fantastic. They almost seem to hit themselves out of tough lies (the long irons are noticeably better than the s58s in this regard). My only quibble with the iron is the brushed chrome finish; I like the utilitarian guyson finish of the s58 and s59 irons better, and I think these new irons might not age as well as the old models (still much better than most manufacturers).

In short, I wasn't expecting a large improvement over my old Pings, but that's what I got. These irons are awesome, and Ping has really blown me away.

[jimhaire]

Good review. I have the s57's and looking at the 56's and ansers but think 56 are better and half the money. Can you tell me how the 56's compared with the 57's in your opinion?

[ram01002]

[quote name='jimhaire' timestamp='1291139720' post='2816183']
Good review. I have the s57's and looking at the 56's and ansers but think 56 are better and half the money. Can you tell me how the 56's compared with the 57's in your opinion?
[/quote]

imo, s56s have less draw bias, better turf interaction, and are at least 10 yards longer (higher launch, less spin).

[JVill]

Just switched to the S58's from the S59's with all else the same (X100, LL, etc.) and the S58's hit the ball higher due to a lower CG but not by much and they do "feel" stronger.All in all, the S58's are as good any iron I have hit.

[cardoustie]

i went from 58's to 57's to 56's

58's to 57's to me was quite a big improvement ... much more forgiving .. especially on shots off the toe .. plus I hated the PW in the 58's


57's to 56's

56's are better from the rough
Better for knock downs
Better thru the turf with divots on shorter irons
Less "overcooking a draw biased" if that makes sense
Hit it a little higher
Hit a little longer
Better appearance with new toe of iron
I find the 5 iron now as easy to hit as my 7i

Came perfect on spec .. which did not happen with the two previous sets
(I get my irons D5 for 5-9 and D6 for PW) at plus 1/4"

Had mine come with red paintfill and they are VERY sweet

[ProjectX_Mizuno]

[quote name='CARDY' timestamp='1291153589' post='2816654']
i went from 58's to 57's to 56's

58's to 57's to me was quite a big improvement ... much more forgiving .. especially on shots off the toe .. plus I hated the PW in the 58's


57's to 56's

56's are better from the rough
Better for knock downs
Better thru the turf with divots on shorter irons
Less "overcooking a draw biased" if that makes sense
Hit it a little higher
Hit a little longer
Better appearance with new toe of iron
I find the 5 iron now as easy to hit as my 7i

Came perfect on spec .. which did not happen with the two previous sets
(I get my irons D5 for 5-9 and D6 for PW) at plus 1/4"

Had mine come with red paintfill and they are VERY sweet
[/quote]

You can request paintfill color from PING?

[jimhaire]

[quote name='ProjectX_Mizuno' timestamp='1291156551' post='2816724']
[quote name='CARDY' timestamp='1291153589' post='2816654']
i went from 58's to 57's to 56's

58's to 57's to me was quite a big improvement ... much more forgiving .. especially on shots off the toe .. plus I hated the PW in the 58's


57's to 56's

56's are better from the rough
Better for knock downs
Better thru the turf with divots on shorter irons
Less "overcooking a draw biased" if that makes sense
Hit it a little higher
Hit a little longer
Better appearance with new toe of iron
I find the 5 iron now as easy to hit as my 7i

Came perfect on spec .. which did not happen with the two previous sets
(I get my irons D5 for 5-9 and D6 for PW) at plus 1/4"

Had mine come with red paintfill and they are VERY sweet
[/quote]

You can request paintfill color from PING?
[/quote]
ANY PICS of the paint fill??

[Conrad1953]

Ram, thx for the review. I love my S58's. The Maltby playabilty rating for the S57's
was so much lower I never bothered to hit them for comparison to the S58's.
The word apparently was that the S58's were somewhat of a happy mistake in
terms of being a more forgiving and higher launching iron than Ping had in mind
in an S Series iron. More forgiving than the I10's by most accounts I heard.

Now, you say the S56's are a little higher launching and a little more forgiving
than the S58's. This is great news! I had not heard this yet. I had been thinking
about getting another set of S58's as a back up. Certainly I will demo an S56
iron soon and see for myself.

I don't think I have been alone in thinking the S58's were unique for a
"players iron" and headed for classic status. The reviews on the S57 were,
generally, that it was more accurate but shorter and less forgiving than the
S58 and many S58 players stayed put and didn't go into the S57, except for
tour staff.

Well, I never knew quite what to believe about the S57's and happily stayed
with my S58's. I was very happy to read your review. Thanks for taking the
time to share your thoughts with the rest of us. Now, to go hit one!

[CyberBob]

[quote name='ram01002' timestamp='1291137366' post='2816118']
I have had the Ping s56 irons in the bag for the last 2 months, and have spent enough time with them that I feel comfortable giving my review. My previous 2 sets were s59s (500 rounds) and s58s (300 rounds); and the s56 irons have the exact same shafts, lie, grips, swingweight, etc.

The s59s were really good irons, had good turf interaction in the fairway (not great in the rough), but were a little hooky for me. The s58s were less hooky, but turf interaction was always a little funky for me. I spent some time with the s57s, but they were noticeably spinnier and turf interaction was no better.

I had been happy with the s58s, but had credit to burn and ordered the s56 irons, which came in perfectly on spec. First impressions were a hair less offset, and a hair thinner profile overall. My first impressions regarding ball flight was very similar to the s58 irons.

The driving range told part of the story; it would be an easy transition from the s58 irons to the s56 irons. After 20 rounds though, these s56 irons are special . . . the best irons I have ever hit. Ball flight is dead neutral, no draw bias, and easily workable. Distance is maybe 5 yards longer than the s58s because shots launch a little higher with a little less spin. Forgiveness is slightly better on the toe, but overall, my miss patterns are tighter because of the neutral ball flight and a better distance control across the face.

Where these irons truly shine is in turf interaction; very crisp off the fairway with no digging (maybe a hair more bounce than the s58s), but interaction out of the rough is fantastic. They almost seem to hit themselves out of tough lies (the long irons are noticeably better than the s58s in this regard). My only quibble with the iron is the brushed chrome finish; I like the utilitarian guyson finish of the s58 and s59 irons better, and I think these new irons might not age as well as the old models (still much better than most manufacturers).

In short, I wasn't expecting a large improvement over my old Pings, but that's what I got. These irons are awesome, and Ping has really blown me away.
[/quote]



What shafts are you playing, and what swingweight? I had a chance to hit the S56's at a local golf store, and was impressed. Looking for a new set of irons, and hadn't even thought of Ping, since I haven't played their irons after the eye 2's. But these 56's just look so good at address. I wish they had a heavier swingweight off the shelf.

[ram01002]

[quote name='CyberBob' timestamp='1291175623' post='2817364']
[quote name='ram01002' timestamp='1291137366' post='2816118']
I have had the Ping s56 irons in the bag for the last 2 months, and have spent enough time with them that I feel comfortable giving my review. My previous 2 sets were s59s (500 rounds) and s58s (300 rounds); and the s56 irons have the exact same shafts, lie, grips, swingweight, etc.

The s59s were really good irons, had good turf interaction in the fairway (not great in the rough), but were a little hooky for me. The s58s were less hooky, but turf interaction was always a little funky for me. I spent some time with the s57s, but they were noticeably spinnier and turf interaction was no better.

I had been happy with the s58s, but had credit to burn and ordered the s56 irons, which came in perfectly on spec. First impressions were a hair less offset, and a hair thinner profile overall. My first impressions regarding ball flight was very similar to the s58 irons.

The driving range told part of the story; it would be an easy transition from the s58 irons to the s56 irons. After 20 rounds though, these s56 irons are special . . . the best irons I have ever hit. Ball flight is dead neutral, no draw bias, and easily workable. Distance is maybe 5 yards longer than the s58s because shots launch a little higher with a little less spin. Forgiveness is slightly better on the toe, but overall, my miss patterns are tighter because of the neutral ball flight and a better distance control across the face.

Where these irons truly shine is in turf interaction; very crisp off the fairway with no digging (maybe a hair more bounce than the s58s), but interaction out of the rough is fantastic. They almost seem to hit themselves out of tough lies (the long irons are noticeably better than the s58s in this regard). My only quibble with the iron is the brushed chrome finish; I like the utilitarian guyson finish of the s58 and s59 irons better, and I think these new irons might not age as well as the old models (still much better than most manufacturers).

In short, I wasn't expecting a large improvement over my old Pings, but that's what I got. These irons are awesome, and Ping has really blown me away.
[/quote]



What shafts are you playing, and what swingweight? I had a chance to hit the S56's at a local golf store, and was impressed. Looking for a new set of irons, and hadn't even thought of Ping, since I haven't played their irons after the eye 2's. But these 56's just look so good at address. I wish they had a heavier swingweight off the shelf.
[/quote]

Dynamic Gold s400, d4 swingweight.

[Redwood_75]

Does anybody know what the S56's come out at, swingweight wise, with the KBS tour stiff?

[bogey222]

[quote name='Redwood_75' timestamp='1291220866' post='2817910']
Does anybody know what the S56's come out at, swingweight wise, with the KBS tour stiff?
[/quote]
At standard length the set is targeted at D1 and the PW is D2-3, even with KBS which usually swingweights 2 points less than most shafts. You can request pretty much anything within reason and Ping will do it by changing out the CTP.

[swanry30]

honestly, with all the positive reviews of the s56's it is going to be difficult not taking a serious look at them - and i am perfectly content with my irons... thanks for the review and i envy the amount of golf you have under your belt. wow!