PING Anser Irons – Story, Video, and Pictures Inside!

[gopherguts]

[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1343366869' post='5362702']
[quote name='gopherguts' timestamp='1343362450' post='5362420']
Yes, definitely the Ping Ansers. I distinctly remember laughing my a** off at the $1400 price tag,,,,,,,,
[/quote]

Must be thinking of the last generation Ansers.
[/quote]

Is that possible ? "Last generation" from what year ?

I am in golf shops at least 5 days a week. These were forged, just out and $1400.

Has Ping made these clubs before 2012 ? If so, I never saw them.

And could they have made an "Anser II" ALREADY ???

[pga43]

[quote name='gopherguts' timestamp='1343402572' post='5364370']
[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1343366869' post='5362702']
[quote name='gopherguts' timestamp='1343362450' post='5362420']
Yes, definitely the Ping Ansers. I distinctly remember laughing my a** off at the $1400 price tag,,,,,,,,
[/quote]

[b]Must be thinking of the last generation Ansers.[/b]
[/quote]

[b]Is that possible ?[/b] "Last generation" from what year ?

I am in golf shops at least 5 days a week. These were forged, just out and $1400.

Has Ping made these clubs before 2012 ? If so, I never saw them.

And could they have made an "Anser II" ALREADY ???
[/quote]

Yes, it's possible as the clubs shown in this thread are the newest model and yet to be released for sale.


Greg

[gopherguts]

[quote name='pga43' timestamp='1343402787' post='5364398']
[quote name='gopherguts' timestamp='1343402572' post='5364370']
[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1343366869' post='5362702']


[b]Must be thinking of the last generation Ansers.[/b]
[/quote]

[b]Is that possible ?[/b] "Last generation" from what year ?

I am in golf shops at least 5 days a week. These were forged, just out and $1400.

Has Ping made these clubs before 2012 ? If so, I never saw them.

And could they have made an "Anser II" ALREADY ???
[/quote]

Yes, it's possible as the clubs shown in this thread are the newest model and yet to be released for sale.


Greg
[/quote]

OK, fine. But "last generation" from what year ?

TIA

[pga43]

[quote name='gopherguts' timestamp='1343403581' post='5364478']

OK, fine. But "last generation" from what year ?

TIA
[/quote]

The Anser forged irons have been out since about 2010

http://www.golf.com/equipment/ping-forged-anser-irons


[color=#000000][size=3][left][b]From Golf Magazine[/b] (August, 2010)
In 1967, Ping received a patent for its breakthrough Anser putter. It's also the last time that the company sold forged irons (100 Anser sets). The new Anser, a forged multi-material iron, is designed to raise Ping's profile among avid single-digit handicappers in Japan, Korea and other Asian markets. (Ping iron sales in Asia are relatively weak by Ping's U.S. standards). Of course, Ping expects its share of converts in the States, too. The U.S. version, for the record, has an identical head design as the Asian model, the same shaft length, a 1-degree weaker loft per club, and the Project X shaft.[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]As expected, the clubhead materials and overall design package contribute to a softer, quieter impact sensation. The forged "8620 carbon steel" clubface is thick behind the hitting area, similar to a muscleback blade, while a "support bar" (just below the oval "custom tuning port") connects the face to the back flange. A heavy tungsten-nickel sole (22 percent of clubhead mass) serves many functions, too: It dampens vibration more so than less-dense metals (aka steel), shifts the club's center of gravity more rearward (to increase ball trajectory), and boosts overall forgiveness. The forgiveness bit ties into a hollow cavity (behind the lower portion of the face) that redistributes 30 grams away from the face. The Anser has forgiveness qualities that are similar to the i15's, but the Anser looks cleaner, feels noticeably smoother, produces more spin on short irons and flies slightly lower in the long irons.[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left][b]From The Shop blog[/b] (March, 2010)
MIAMI — Two weeks ago in Phoenix, before the start of the PGA Tour's Waste Management Open at TPC Scottsdale, several Ping staff players had a chance to see, hit and learn about the new Anser irons.[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]Matt Rollins, a Ping tour representative, said Monday, "The clubs are as forgiving as our [url="http://www.golf.com/golf/equipment/article/0,28136,1934222,00.html"]i15 irons[/url], but they are a little sleeker looking and they've got the word 'Forged' on the back, which we've never had."[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]For gearheads and Ping fans, that single word, forged, will raise eyebrows.[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]Ping has always made cast irons, a process that involves creating extremely-detailed molds and then filling them with liquid metal to create the clubheads. ([url="http://www.golf.com/golf/video/article/0,28136,1909745,00.html"]Click here to see a video showing how Ping casts clubs[/url].)[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]To make forged irons, a piece of metal is heated and then hammered or pressed into shape.[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]"We've been talking about making a forged iron for while," Rollins said. "But for our guys, it's kind of funny. Once we put chrome on a cast club, people thought it was forged.[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]"They are only available in Japan right now," Rollins said. "They might release it in the United States later, but I don't know." He explained that in the Japanese market, irons need to be forged in order to be perceived as high quality. Irons that are not forged simply don't sell well.[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]While not a super game-improvement iron, the Anser irons feature plenty of perimeter weighting and tungsten in the sole to help players get the ball into the air more easily. The PING badge on the back of the club is a weight that can be changed as part of the fitting process.[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]As more information about the Ping Anser irons becomes available, we'll pass it on.[/left][/size][/color]
[color=#000000][size=3][left]$1,440, steel, [url="http://www.ping.com/clubs/irons.aspx"]ping.com[/url][/left][/size][/color]


[color=#000000][size=3][left]Read more: [url="http://www.golf.com/equipment/ping-forged-anser-irons#ixzz21q5OgIHX"]http://www.golf.com/equipment/ping-forged-anser-irons#ixzz21q5OgIHX[/url][/left][/size][/color]

[gopherguts]

[quote name='pga43' timestamp='1343404751' post='5364614']
[quote name='gopherguts' timestamp='1343403581' post='5364478']
OK, fine. But "last generation" from what year ?

TIA
[/quote]

The Anser forged irons have been out since about 2010

[url="http://www.golf.com/equipment/ping-forged-anser-irons"]http://www.golf.com/...ged-anser-irons[/url]

[/quote]

Ahhhhhhh. That's them. Thanks.

[gticlay]

Too much offset and when will Ping stop putting a "W" on the P club? Why don't they just put a W on all clubs with 46* of loft or more since they are all wedges? I can't bag another set of Pings till they stop it with the W.

[TheMoneyShot]

[quote name='gticlay' timestamp='1343409373' post='5365092']
Too much offset and when will Ping stop putting a "W" on the P club? Why don't they just put a W on all clubs with 46* of loft or more since they are all wedges? I can't bag another set of Pings till they stop it with the W.
[/quote]

Are you joking about this? I think it's tradition for ping to stamp W on their wedges. I don't think they will ever change that.

[SheriffBooth]

[quote name='gticlay' timestamp='1343409373' post='5365092']
Too much offset and when will Ping stop putting a "W" on the P club? Why don't they just put a W on all clubs with 46* of loft or more since they are all wedges? I can't bag another set of Pings till they stop it with the W.
[/quote]

I guess some folks want irons with onset since the minimal offset in these irons is too much.

[Doublebuck]

[quote name='Dscvrr St Louis' timestamp='1343235967' post='5351384']
Wowsers!! I like the look, they have the tech, they are forged..but man...Ping needs to get the pricing in tune with reality...don't get me wrong, I am hoping they are better than the Anser's last incarnation, and it looks like they are to my eye's tastes...but the price is insane. Compared to all the good forged irons out there right now, namely the Adams CMB's, New Mizzy coming out, etc... I just can't see the justification in $180 per club!! They better feel amazing, because at the price you are bringing Scratch, Miura, etc into the mix.

just sayin...
[/quote]

That's what we all said about Ping in the 80's. It didn't stop Ping then, and it won't stop them now.

[Doublebuck]

[quote name='TheMoneyShot' timestamp='1343412555' post='5365446']
[quote name='gticlay' timestamp='1343409373' post='5365092']
Too much offset and when will Ping stop putting a "W" on the P club? Why don't they just put a W on all clubs with 46* of loft or more since they are all wedges? I can't bag another set of Pings till they stop it with the W.
[/quote]

Are you joking about this? I think it's tradition for ping to stamp W on their wedges. I don't think they will ever change that.
[/quote]

Time to copy the old Hogans and put an E on them? Would that be a more favorable letter?

[topr]

[quote name='Doublebuck' timestamp='1343538217' post='5371898']
[quote name='Dscvrr St Louis' timestamp='1343235967' post='5351384']
Wowsers!! I like the look, they have the tech, they are forged..but man...Ping needs to get the pricing in tune with reality...don't get me wrong, I am hoping they are better than the Anser's last incarnation, and it looks like they are to my eye's tastes...but the price is insane. Compared to all the good forged irons out there right now, namely the Adams CMB's, New Mizzy coming out, etc... I just can't see the justification in $180 per club!! They better feel amazing, because at the price you are bringing Scratch, Miura, etc into the mix.

just sayin...
[/quote]

That's what we all said about Ping in the 80's. It didn't stop Ping then, and it won't stop them now.
[/quote]

Back in the 80's you couldn't set in your living room and window shop the entire planet. It will not effect Ping to much on the whole but the Anser irons will be a niche product at that price point just like every other 1500.00 set of irons.

[TheMoneyShot]

Has anyone preordered these irons as of yet?

[JSouth]

[quote name='TheMoneyShot' timestamp='1343695913' post='5381076']
Has anyone preordered these irons as of yet?
[/quote]


I did

[TheMoneyShot]

[quote name='JSouth' timestamp='1343696136' post='5381112']
[quote name='TheMoneyShot' timestamp='1343695913' post='5381076']
Has anyone preordered these irons as of yet?
[/quote]


I did
[/quote]

Wow. Ae you going to dump your S56 irons for them? What made you pull the trigger?

[tigerfan23]

does anybody know if Ping is going to come out with new anser wedges to match?

Im buying the irons no doubt but would love matching wedges! Any info?

An all anser bag is calling my name!!!!!

[JSouth]

[quote name='TheMoneyShot' timestamp='1343696283' post='5381128']
[quote name='JSouth' timestamp='1343696136' post='5381112']
[quote name='TheMoneyShot' timestamp='1343695913' post='5381076']
Has anyone preordered these irons as of yet?
[/quote]

I did
[/quote]

Wow. Ae you going to dump your S56 irons for them? What made you pull the trigger?
[/quote]


Not sure if I will dump the S56. We shall see on that. And why not. I liked the last anser, just wanted a thinner sole. These seems to be the ticket.

Not sure if the Anser driver will kick the V2 out of the bag though.

[TheMoneyShot]

Jsouth, please post some pics and a review after you get your new sticks. I'm intrigued by these irons too.

[JSouth]

Will do.. If you care, I ordered them with DG TI X100. So it should be a pretty great setup.

[TheMoneyShot]

[quote name='JSouth' timestamp='1343697949' post='5381334']
Will do.. If you care, I ordered them with DG TI X100. So it should be a pretty great setup.
[/quote]

Sweet! Where did you order them throu if you don't mind me asking?

[bjackson]

[quote name='closetoscratch' timestamp='1343696534' post='5381170']
does anybody know if Ping is going to come out with new anser wedges to match?

Im buying the irons no doubt but would love matching wedges! Any info?

An all anser bag is calling my name!!!!!
[/quote]

No new Anser wedges with this release. Only the new Tour wedges with Gorge grooves.

[Bob57]

[quote name='J.W.' timestamp='1343244203' post='5352354']
I wonder if Bob57 will pop in here telling us that these are still closer to G20 than i20... His buddies saw them first!
[/quote]

My "buddies" did not see anything first other than some initial pictures that everyone saw. The[b] [size=8]reps.[/size][/b] told the buyers they would be placed between the i20s and G20s have a considerable amount of offset and very wide tungsten soles. Now those same reps. after getting better pictures (and actual product last week) were telling the buyers they are being placed between the i20s and S56s and have less offset than the i20s. They still have very wide soles and a ton of tungsten (can you say high high trajectory). They also appear to have designed them not to be able to see the cavity/sole at address in the long irons (unlike the i20s)..The biggest selling feature to me is no upcharge for the KBS C Tapers. By the way not unusual for Ping to salt the reps. with misinformation good for feedback, opinion, and cheap market research...

[tigerfan23]

[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1343698382' post='5381416']
[quote name='closetoscratch' timestamp='1343696534' post='5381170']
does anybody know if Ping is going to come out with new anser wedges to match?

Im buying the irons no doubt but would love matching wedges! Any info?

An all anser bag is calling my name!!!!!
[/quote]

No new Anser wedges with this release. Only the new Tour wedges with Gorge grooves.
[/quote]

ok thanks! no reviews on the new wedges yet? Did you hit them?

[bjackson]

[quote name='closetoscratch' timestamp='1343699548' post='5381568']
[quote name='bjackson' timestamp='1343698382' post='5381416']
[quote name='closetoscratch' timestamp='1343696534' post='5381170']
does anybody know if Ping is going to come out with new anser wedges to match?

Im buying the irons no doubt but would love matching wedges! Any info?

An all anser bag is calling my name!!!!!
[/quote]

No new Anser wedges with this release. Only the new Tour wedges with Gorge grooves.
[/quote]

ok thanks! no reviews on the new wedges yet? Did you hit them?
[/quote]

I've hit the entire line. Did so in during my trip to PING a month ago, which is linked in the OP. In that trip overview, there is a link to the wedges, which can also be found here ---> http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/700654-ping-tour-wedges-with-gorge-grooves-story-video-and-pictures-inside/

[mtnbiker5]

Please, whoever gets these in hand on turf post a review on how they play. Read alot of posts on how these are very similar to the AP2's. Why then would anyone buy these over the AP2's? Not disputing this just questioning it. Their gorgeous looking clubs. Just click your heels three times.........

[bjackson]

[quote name='mtnbiker5' timestamp='1343700511' post='5381644']
Please, whoever gets these in hand on turf post a review on how they play. Read alot of posts on how these are very similar to the AP2's. Why then would anyone buy these over the AP2's? Not disputing this just questioning it. Their gorgeous looking clubs. Just click your heels three times.........
[/quote]

I'm the one who posted, in the OP, that they remind me of AP2s. So you ask why people would buy them...maybe because people prefer them to AP2s? I've hit the Ansers off grass, albeit not very much, and seeing as I owned the original AP2s and currently game the 712 version, I think I'm a good judge to say they are similar. Maybe people have loyalty towards PING, prefer the performance, simply want them, or a million other reasons why people choose chocolate over vanilla. I'm trying to get my hands on a full set so I can give a full fledged review, but until then, I really have to recommend that people give them a whirl. Great set of sticks that perform, look, and hold plenty of technology.

[GooseHook]

Man, these look fantastic but like others have said, you can buy a new set of Mizunos (with more head options) and still have money left for a new driver.

[toddba11]

[quote name='gopherguts' timestamp='1343347221' post='5360998']
Ummmmmm, I'm confused.

Weren't these irons out in the stores 3 or more months ago ? I seem to remember seeing them in a PGA Tour Superstore in Delray Beach.
[/quote]

I was told today that major golf stores should have them in stock on 8/16.

[gopherguts]

[quote name='TheMoneyShot' timestamp='1343697467' post='5381296']
Jsouth, please post some pics and a review after you get your new sticks. I'm intrigued by these irons too.
[/quote]

Yeah JS, please post more pics for TMS.

I'm SURE yours'll look SO much different than the pics on Page 1 of this thread,,,,,,,

[igman]

Has any learned more about the PXi option? Why it isn't included, and if not, what the upgrade charge is?

[creecool]

Looks pretty sweet...might be a battle between Cmb and the Anser for the spot in the bag!!