Ping Pros Drivers

[JaxBeachNole]

Wanted to get as up to date head and shaft combos for ping drivers on tour

[TheMoneyShot]

Seems like the majority of the Ping staffers are playing the G20 driver. The I20 gets a lot of hype on this site so i wonder why the pros are not playing it?

[tbowles411]

[quote name='TheMoneyShot' timestamp='1335623992' post='4805450']
Seems like the majority of the Ping staffers are playing the G20 driver. The I20 gets a lot of hype on this site so i wonder why the pros are not playing it?
[/quote]
Simple bro: While forgiving, it's not AS forgiving as the G20. Smaller sweet spot and it doesn't let you get away with a bad shot as much as a G20.

[jaskanski]

[quote name='tbowles411' timestamp='1335625121' post='4805488']
[quote name='TheMoneyShot' timestamp='1335623992' post='4805450']
Seems like the majority of the Ping staffers are playing the G20 driver. The I20 gets a lot of hype on this site so i wonder why the pros are not playing it?
[/quote]
Simple bro: While forgiving, it's not AS forgiving as the G20. Smaller sweet spot and it doesn't let you get away with a bad shot as much as a G20.
[/quote]

Pretty much. The i15 met a similar fate in the hands of the pros, even though it too is probably targeted at the "better player". I wouldn't mind betting the Titleist 910 has more staffers using the larger D2 over the smaller "more workable" D3. Does this mean the days of moving the ball with the driver are nigh? Bomb and gouge can win at Augusta it would seem - why bother using a driver that requires finesse?

[tbowles411]

[quote name='jaskanski' timestamp='1335627690' post='4805602']
[quote name='tbowles411' timestamp='1335625121' post='4805488']
[quote name='TheMoneyShot' timestamp='1335623992' post='4805450']
Seems like the majority of the Ping staffers are playing the G20 driver. The I20 gets a lot of hype on this site so i wonder why the pros are not playing it?
[/quote]
Simple bro: While forgiving, it's not AS forgiving as the G20. Smaller sweet spot and it doesn't let you get away with a bad shot as much as a G20.
[/quote]

Pretty much. The i15 met a similar fate in the hands of the pros, even though it too is probably targeted at the "better player". I wouldn't mind betting the Titleist 910 has more staffers using the larger D2 over the smaller "more workable" D3. Does this mean the days of moving the ball with the driver are nigh? Bomb and gouge can win at Augusta it would seem - why bother using a driver that requires finesse?
[/quote]
I can remember the i15. It felt better than the G15, but if you were the slightest bit off, it made you pay.

[cgbm]

I think for pros, the name on the club doesnt matter. They are completely tailored to their swing anyway, smalled heads, hotmelt, lead, bent open or up. So to me its just ping pushing the more adverrised driver. I dont know if this is the case for sure but it seems like thays the way with everything.
These guys dont need forgiving though. There hitting dead center 9-10 times id say.

[ragin cajun]

It's seems as if Ping (and maybe Titleist) have a larger difference between their game-improvment drivers and players drivers than any other company. In terms of forgivness.

[TheMoneyShot]

So are more pros playing the G20 driver and then I20 in the fwys and hybrids? Majority speaking anyways?

[robbie91]

It should be noted that we are talking about a G20 in matte black that is clocked a few degrees open. I personally love the feel of the G20 but the grey paint fill and square/closed face drives me away from it. However, if I had the opportunity to buy a G20 with an open club face and a matte finish it would beat out the I20 all day. Why wouldn't you choose the more forgiving club??

[PINGWRXforeme]

The i20 is more forgiving than the G15. I don't call that a players club. If anything the G20 would be super game improvement.

[GooseHook]

[quote name='jaskanski' timestamp='1335627690' post='4805602']
[quote name='tbowles411' timestamp='1335625121' post='4805488']
[quote name='TheMoneyShot' timestamp='1335623992' post='4805450']
Seems like the majority of the Ping staffers are playing the G20 driver. The I20 gets a lot of hype on this site so i wonder why the pros are not playing it?
[/quote]
Simple bro: While forgiving, it's not AS forgiving as the G20. Smaller sweet spot and it doesn't let you get away with a bad shot as much as a G20.
[/quote]

Pretty much. The i15 met a similar fate in the hands of the pros, even though it too is probably targeted at the "better player". I wouldn't mind betting the Titleist 910 has more staffers using the larger D2 over the smaller "more workable" D3. Does this mean the days of moving the ball with the driver are nigh? Bomb and gouge can win at Augusta it would seem - why bother using a driver that requires finesse?
[/quote]
PING had told WRX that the touring pros really didn't like the amount of bulge and roll on the i15. A head like that will exacerbate your misses.

Plus, the G20 came out first and it's awesome. Some guys may have just wanted to stick with what was working when the i20 came out.

[reg1900]

I would think that is a factor, the g20 was out first, maybe players didn't have enough time in the off season to test and get comfortable with it.

As for workability of the g20, Bubba plays it and he moves the ball around

[Dizz]

[quote name='reg1900' timestamp='1335660915' post='4807634']
I would think that is a factor, the g20 was out first, maybe players didn't have enough time in the off season to test and get comfortable with it.

As for workability of the g20, Bubba plays it and he moves the ball around
[/quote]

Bubba doesn't spin it enough to play i20 and he's not coming out of his preferred shaft.

[Thinking_Man]

FYI... I notices Loius Oostason (I probably spelled this wrong) & Mark Wilson are playing the i20...

[doctor220]

[quote name='PINGWRXforeme' timestamp='1335642735' post='4806524']
The i20 is more forgiving than the G15. I don't call that a players club. If anything the G20 would be super game improvement.
[/quote]

I have to doubt this. Forgiveness cant be that improved from g15 tor g20, therefore I don't believe the i20 would be more forgiving than the g15. Anyone else with me?

[giogolf]

[quote name='dlopez' timestamp='1335670696' post='4808294']
FYI... I notices Loius Oostason (I probably spelled this wrong) & Mark Wilson are playing the i20...
[/quote]

Louis plays the Rapture V2, but I think your right about Mark and the I20

[The Gachet]

Louis has been using the i20 recently but switched back to the ol' faithful V2 for the Masters.

 

 

Mark Wilson

 

[MMB1500]

[quote name='robbie91' timestamp='1335639673' post='4806352']
It should be noted that we are talking about a G20 in matte black that is clocked a few degrees open.[b] I personally love the feel of the G20 but the grey paint fill and square/closed face drives me away from it.[/b] However, if I had the opportunity to buy a G20 with an open club face and a matte finish it would beat out the I20 all day. Why wouldn't you choose the more forgiving club??
[/quote]

Spot on. I really want to love the G20 but I do struggle with the looks at address in addition to the square face. Something a hair open would be ideal.

[JonT]

[quote name='doctor220' timestamp='1335671504' post='4808356']
[quote name='PINGWRXforeme' timestamp='1335642735' post='4806524']
The i20 is more forgiving than the G15. I don't call that a players club. If anything the G20 would be super game improvement.
[/quote]

I have to doubt this. Forgiveness cant be that improved from g15 tor g20, therefore I don't believe the i20 would be more forgiving than the g15. Anyone else with me?
[/quote]

Overheard this from a Ping rep at a demo day: "...not many differences between the G10 and G15...essentially alike...biggest technology improvements are with the G20 coming from the G15..."

The rep was making a statement to a potential buyer who had a G10 and was looking to upgrade. He wouldn't be trying to sway that guy to the more expensive G20 for profit, would he?;~)

I will offer my opinion here that after demoing the G20 with the Ping Tour shaft I can see why the pro's are sticking with this driver, it is excellent for any skill level, but in the hands of a pro almost fail safe.

[wfrogge1]

I think as the year goes on more and more pros will switch to the I20. The club released right when players were gearing up for the Masters and im sure many didnt want to tinker with equipment (exp when its not already broke with the G20). If I were a pro and could have the head and shaft tweaked to whatever I wanted there is no doubt I would stick with the G20. For the off the rack offerings I think the I20 is longer and a better driver IMHO......

[PINGWRXforeme]

[quote name='doctor220' timestamp='1335671504' post='4808356']
[quote name='PINGWRXforeme' timestamp='1335642735' post='4806524']
The i20 is more forgiving than the G15. I don't call that a players club. If anything the G20 would be super game improvement.
[/quote]

I have to doubt this. Forgiveness cant be that improved from g15 tor g20, therefore I don't believe the i20 would be more forgiving than the g15. Anyone else with me?
[/quote]


This is what I'm going by:
In designing the i20 driver, PING utilized many of the same advances incorporated into the G20 driver, making appropriate design tradeoffs to meet the needs of better players. They made the driver more aerodynamic--something that golfers with higher swingspeeds would be able to take advantage of. Although this change lowers inertia, PING added tungsten weights to bring the MOI back up to G15 levels. It's not as forgiving as the G20 driver--but the i20 driver is much more friendly than the i15, to the tune of being 16% more forgiving across the vertical (Y) axis and 12% more forgiving across the horizontal (X). So basically, even if the G20 driver never came out, the i20 would still have been an improvement over the G15 in terms of forgiveness.

[MB_Viking]

[quote name='PINGWRXforeme' timestamp='1335709435' post='4809638']
[quote name='doctor220' timestamp='1335671504' post='4808356']
[quote name='PINGWRXforeme' timestamp='1335642735' post='4806524']
The i20 is more forgiving than the G15. I don't call that a players club. If anything the G20 would be super game improvement.
[/quote]

I have to doubt this. Forgiveness cant be that improved from g15 tor g20, therefore I don't believe the i20 would be more forgiving than the g15. Anyone else with me?
[/quote]


This is what I'm going by:
In designing the i20 driver, PING utilized many of the same advances incorporated into the G20 driver, making appropriate design tradeoffs to meet the needs of better players. They made the driver more aerodynamic--something that golfers with higher swingspeeds would be able to take advantage of. Although this change lowers inertia, PING added tungsten weights to bring the MOI back up to G15 levels. It's not as forgiving as the G20 driver--but the i20 driver is much more friendly than the i15, to the tune of being 16% more forgiving across the vertical (Y) axis and 12% more forgiving across the horizontal (X). So basically, even if the G20 driver never came out, the i20 would still have been an improvement over the G15 in terms of forgiveness.
[/quote]

Oh boy! Here we go again. Please check out the PING website here:

[url="http://www.ping.com/clubs/drivers.aspx"]http://www.ping.com/clubs/drivers.aspx[/url]

and then explain to all of us the difference between "High" and "Extreme" forgiveness.

[jaskanski]

Lol. I'm guessing a similar likeness to high and extreme BS - especially the traditional and elongated kind too.

[GooseHook]

Whatever they define it as, I consider the G20 extreme! I have a tendency to miss low on the face and the G is the only head that doesn't burn worms when I do.

[ShadJC]

I think they're not using the i20 because it looks a lot better than it actually performs! The i20 is cool looking and I really wanted to like it, but I ultimately didn't like the sound or feel and the performance numbers weren't that great compared to several other top drivers I tested. The RBZ TP version (Standard and Tour head versions) ended up blowing all the others away. NOTE: I am a low single digit player that has played competitive golf my whole life. I used all tour grade upgraded shaft options and a high-end launch monitor for all testing.

[JaxBeachNole]

Really missing my mission for the thread. I wanted to compile a list of what head and shaft combos the pros are playing.

BTW I saw K Streels using a G20 with an Oban shaft, I'm not sure which one though

[Konklifer]

My educated guesses:

Mahan - G20, Motore Speeder TS 7.2
Bubba - G20, BiMatrix
Westwood - G10
Louie - Rapture V2/i20
Wilson - i20
Cabrera - G20
Jimenez - i20

[TheMoneyShot]

Are most tour players using the G20 in the fwys too?

[wolfpack]

[quote name='Konklifer' timestamp='1335795107' post='4814646']
My educated guesses:

Mahan - G20, Motore Speeder TS 7.2
Bubba - G20, BiMatrix
Westwood - G10
Louie - Rapture V2/i20
Wilson - i20
Cabrera - G20
Jimenez - i20
[/quote]

This is very close.. unless someone has recently switched. Westwood is playing the XNV6-X, Louis plays a PX Black 6B4, Wilson has a Graffaloy Tour X, Cabrera had a RIP last time i checked. Not sure about the tipping between the players shafts, but who cares.. it works for their swings. Louis and Bubba play at 44- 44.5, The rest all play at 45.25 if i remember correctly.

[pdaero]

Mahan - TS 6.2 X
Cabrera - RIP 80X Alpha?
Louie - Rapture V2 (bomber) w/ PX 6B7 I think

Louie playing the V2 at the Masters was a great choice - that thing is a bomber period (whether for him or anyone, I'm definitely included) and he's had some good history with it. Heck, he drove it incredibly accurately and went into the playoff.