Ping Irons MPF Ratings

[eerogolf]

Hi,

 

Looking for the MPF rating from all Ping irons before 2008. Does anybody have these numbers for me ?

Thanks for your time and help

[pcourtney]

1975 Ping I = 826
1977 Ping II = 783
1977 Ping III = 878
1980 Ping IV = 862
1981 Ping Eye = 821
1982 Ping Eye 2 = 724
1992 Ping Zing = 799
1994 Ping Zing 2 = 785
1996 Ping ISI = 805
1996 Ping ISI K = 740
2001 Ping i3 Blade = 546
2001 Ping i3 O-size = 514
2003 Ping i3+ = 630
2004 Ping i3 + Blade = 578
2004 Ping G2 HL = 817
2004 Ping G2 = 777
2004 Ping S59 = 660
2006 Ping G5 = 806
2006 Ping S58 = 778
2006 Ping i5 = 707
2006 Ping Rapture = 914
2006 Ping G5L = 909


I don't think he tested every model !

[Chris5573]

The s58's are a 778? Wow, that is surprising. Are these irons really as easy to hit as the i5's? I know you can't totally go be the MPF rating, but there must be something to that.

[pcourtney]

what Rogers raves about is how good the 2006 Ping Rapture irons are, probably about the highest MPF that Ping are ever gonna achieve ( nearly up there with Callaway irons)

I quote

What is interesting is the new Ping Rapture which is the highest playability (MPF) ever for Ping iron at 914 points and in the Ultra Game Improvement category. Ping accomplished this high playability design with a good looking blade profile in the playing position. They made the #6 iron loft 30º which means no one will have any trouble getting it airborne and it will feel solid on off-center hits. This would also make an excellent ladies set of irons with the correct shaft. Customers purchasing this set of irons should have very favorable comments about its playability. I think it is the best Ping iron ever.

The new Ping S58 pleasantly surprised me with a 778 point rating landing it in the Super Game improvement category. I say surprised because it looks like a more traditional blade style. The #6 iron only has 28º loft but the .675” actual vertical center of gravity should really help to keep it solid on most hits even for the sweeper style swingers who do not hit down and through the ball.


the full list is here

http://www.franklygolf.com/2009MPFRatingsChart.pdf

[Chris5573]

Do the s58 irons have conforming grooves? I am guessing "no"...

[pcourtney]

I take it back, the MPF 2011 ratings are in, and the Ping K15 Ti FAce have an MPF of 894

http://www.ralphmaltby.com/system/assets/378/2011_additions.pdf


anything that close to a 1000 on the MPF scale is going to be pretty easy to hit for beginners to the game, according
to Tom Wishon, 3 million golfers in te USA start and quit the game every year, stupid industry if you ask me we
figures like that !

[eerogolf]

Thank you so much pcourtney, I appreciate all your help. Did you sell those 69 irons yet ?

[MattMo]

Can someone please explain how / why some of the earliest PING irons have some of the highest MPF ratings? Doesn't seem to make much sense. That, or I do not fully understand the purpose of the MPF.

[Anser3]

[quote name='MattMo' timestamp='1299468795' post='3032100']
Can someone please explain how / why some of the earliest PING irons have some of the highest MPF ratings? Doesn't seem to make much sense. That, or I do not fully understand the purpose of the MPF.
[/quote]

Not sure but the Zing's came out in 1992, NOT 1982. The eye 2's came out in 82.

[eerogolf]

So what are the scores per category ?

[carrera]

The fact that Maltby grades the early Karsten irons above the Zing and Zing 2 tells you all you need to know about the merits of the MPF rating....garbage in, garbage out.

[Doublebuck]

[quote name='carrera' timestamp='1299474271' post='3032376']
The fact that Maltby grades the early Karsten irons above the Zing and Zing 2 tells you all you need to know about the merits of the MPF rating....garbage in, garbage out.
[/quote]

Not sure why you say garbage in garbage out, what are you referring to? Just because it is a new design does not make it better. An R9 TP to me is not as good a club, or as playable as the R7 TP was IMHO. Mind you I don't know what the Maltby tests would say.

[Doublebuck]

[quote name='pcourtney' timestamp='1299447246' post='3031013']
1975 Ping I = 826
1977 Ping II = 783
1977 Ping III = 878
1980 Ping IV = 862
1981 Ping Eye = 821
1982 Ping Zing = 799
1983 Ping Eye 2 = 724
1994 Ping Zing 2 = 785
1996 Ping ISI = 805
1996 Ping ISI K = 740
2001 Ping i3 Blade = 546
2001 Ping i3 O-size = 514
2003 Ping i3+ = 630
2004 Ping i3 + Blade = 578
2004 Ping G2 HL = 817
2004 Ping G2 = 777
2004 Ping S59 = 660
2006 Ping G5 = 806
2006 Ping S58 = 778
2006 Ping i5 = 707
2006 Ping Rapture = 914
2006 Ping G5L = 909


I don't think he tested every model !
[/quote]

Now, if the Hogan's in your Avatar were to come out this year as a new Callaway offering they would be instant winners and would find themselves in more bags than Callaway can imagine. The MPF might not be that good, but the clubs played so good. One of the sets I wished I still had.

[newportbeach]

Interesting that the I5s are listed as harder to hit than the S58s

2006 Ping S58 = 778
2006 Ping i5 = 707

[longbal30]

Yeah, pretty hard to brlieve

[The Big Pinch]

[quote name='newportbeach' timestamp='1299475662' post='3032426']
Interesting that the I5s are listed as harder to hit than the S58s

2006 Ping S58 = 778
2006 Ping i5 = 707
[/quote]

I own both and the I5's are more forgiving than the S58's.

[sshadow2]

[quote name='The Big Pinch' timestamp='1299504182' post='3032738']
[quote name='newportbeach' timestamp='1299475662' post='3032426']
Interesting that the I5s are listed as harder to hit than the S58s

2006 Ping S58 = 778
2006 Ping i5 = 707
[/quote]

I own both and the I5's are more forgiving than the S58's.
[/quote]

Though the numbers may be different, the same forgiveness is about the same. According to Maltby, you need a 200 point difference to feel it.

More than the total number though, check out the "c" dim and the ACOG number. Heads over 1.3 in the former, and less than .78 in the latter are quite forgiving. Basically you can hit more towards the toe and you don't have compress the ball as much to get it into the air respectively. Most irons are one or the other but getting both is what someone looking for forgiveness is really after.

Callaway's GI X-series/Diablo are consistently rated high because they usually have 1.5+ "C" Dim and a very low ACOG.

[max power]

Fun to read-but the numbers mean very little in the real world.

[DNice26]

S56's got a 552.......wow......... much higher than my MP68s.

Might have to try those puppies!

[Ripken08]

[quote name='DNice26' timestamp='1299523695' post='3033503']
S56's got a 552.......wow......... much higher than my MP68s.

Might have to try those puppies!
[/quote]


Yeah I just put the S56s in the bag in place of the 68s.

[pcourtney]

[quote name='Anser3' timestamp='1299469469' post='3032130']
[quote name='MattMo' timestamp='1299468795' post='3032100']
Can someone please explain how / why some of the earliest PING irons have some of the highest MPF ratings? Doesn't seem to make much sense. That, or I do not fully understand the purpose of the MPF.
[/quote]

Not sure but the Zing's came out in 1992, NOT 1982. The eye 2's came out in 82.
[/quote]

now edited, thanks for spotting those two errors :-)

[pcourtney]

[quote name='max power' timestamp='1299521845' post='3033426']
Fun to read-but the numbers mean very little in the real world.
[/quote]

it's really aimed at beginners with slow swingspeeds, and ladies and seniors who
need all the help they can get eg getting the ball airborne on a nice high traj !

I used the MPF ratings to get my wife a set of 2008 Callaway iBrids - the MPF is 1160

and my 11 year old daughter, some 2005 Lynx Tigress irons - MPF score 1012

all I can say is that anyone who swings in the 50 to 70mph area with their 5 iron, might want
to hit some of the higher "Ultra Game Improvement" irons in Mr Maltby's list, it costs you
nothing to do this, but can make a difference IMHO ( in my humble opinion )

NB before my wife and daughter had these irons they were struggling big time, and getting
more and more cheesed off with the game, now they love it, they stand a good chance of
hitting some good shots over 18 holes, and that's what the magic of golf is all about :-)

[pcourtney]

[quote name='Doublebuck' timestamp='1299475406' post='3032419']
Now, if the Hogan's in your Avatar were to come out this year as a new Callaway offering they would be instant winners and would find themselves in more bags than Callaway can imagine. The MPF might not be that good, but the clubs played so good. One of the sets I wished I still had.
[/quote]

the MPF was 471 for the AEP's ( Apex Edge Pro's) , what Maltby describes as Conventional ( MPF scores from 401 to 550)

the Hogan Blades also make interesting MPF scores

1968 Ben Hogan Bounce Sole Plus 1 MPF of -6
2000 Apex Plus 163
1966 Hogan Bounce Sole 185
1976 Hogan Apex Starburst 246
1978 Hogan Medallion 262
1999 Apex (Skeets Design) 327
1958 Hogan Saber 334
2004 Apex F.T.X 432
1974 Hogan Director 438
2003 Apex 50th 453
1973 Apex 459
2002 Apex Edge Pro (AEP's) 471
1996 EDGE GCD Tour 496
2001 Apex Edge 501
2006 Apex 560
2004 Edge C.F.T. 577
1991 Magnum Plus BeCu 594
2004 BH-5 848


If I was a good amateur player back in 1968, how I would love to have a bet with someone using some
nice new shiny 1968 Bounce Sole Plus irons, and I would be playing some beat up 10 year old 1958 Hogan
Saber's :-)

NB the 73 Apex irons come out pretty well for a classic forged blade 459, nearly the same as my AEP's 471 - just can't figure that
out now that I am looking at both 5 irons side by side !

[newportbeach]

[quote name='sshadow2' timestamp='1299521379' post='3033414']
[quote name='The Big Pinch' timestamp='1299504182' post='3032738']
[quote name='newportbeach' timestamp='1299475662' post='3032426']
Interesting that the I5s are listed as harder to hit than the S58s

2006 Ping S58 = 778
2006 Ping i5 = 707
[/quote]

I own both and the I5's are more forgiving than the S58's.
[/quote]

Though the numbers may be different, the same forgiveness is about the same. According to Maltby, you need a 200 point difference to feel it.

More than the total number though, check out the "c" dim and the ACOG number. Heads over 1.3 in the former, and less than .78 in the latter are quite forgiving. Basically you can hit more towards the toe and you don't have compress the ball as much to get it into the air respectively. Most irons are one or the other but getting both is what someone looking for forgiveness is really after.

Callaway's GI X-series/Diablo are consistently rated high because they usually have 1.5+ "C" Dim and a very low ACOG.
[/quote]


Thanks! I don't see any Callaway listings for the most recent release of numbers, perhaps I'm missing them?

[Conrad1953]

Thanks for the info. I play the S58's and I have to say they are easier to hit than they
look like they would be. You can't hack your way around the course with them like you
could with a Rapture set but they are very forgiving for a small head. They do not
like to be hit thin, though.

[lostboy]

[quote name='linkslad' timestamp='1299538840' post='3034265']
Thanks for the info. I play the S58's and I have to say they are easier to hit than they
look like they would be. You can't hack your way around the course with them like you
could with a Rapture set but they are very forgiving for a small head. They do not
like to be hit thin, though.
[/quote]

I agree. Have the S58s, and they keep winning their way back into my bag. S57s came and went, S56s, I5s, G10s, I10s, Mizunos... I just wish I could get a new set with better fit shafts for me than the ZZ65s. BTW, I don't really feel much of a forgiveness difference between the I5s and the S58s. Toe hits on the I5s seem to fly better, but I miss towards the heel mostly. Also, the thin toplines of 58s look better at address to me, and, statistically, I hit more GIRs and score better with the 58s <shrug>

I think the MPF is very useful, tho I can see where people see a higher score and think "better" rather than "more forgiving". I tend to track the 700-800 range of scores, as those clubs tend to fit my game and ego better. I don't think of the lower MPFs of the Mizuno MP irons mean they are worse. On a good day, there is nothing sweeter than a MP-32 5 iron...

[bombngouge]

If I was a good amateur player back in 1968, how I would love to have a bet with someone using some
nice new shiny 1968 Bounce Sole Plus irons, and I would be playing some beat up 10 year old 1958 Hogan
Saber's :-)

[/quote]


I feel like this all the time playing my 1977 Ping karsten III irons MPF = 878. love these irons!

[seena_beena]

Never trust anyone with a moustache.......