Forged Pings?

• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  I've heard rumors for years but these were released in Japan at the Golf Show.
  
  Karsten must be turning over in his grave.
  
  
  I'll have to demo a set when they make it to America though.
  
  
  
• I Wear Pants

  Were Pings cast only until now or...?
• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  I Wear Pants wrote: Were Pings cast only until now or...?

  I think the first ever Ping 69's were forged, but ever since then Karsten engineered them as cast cavity back. They've never had a muscleback though.
• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  To me it looks like a i15 and probably just form forged.
• Timber

  Karsten is doing dolphin rolls as we speak... lol
  
  Fortunately the young regime understands one must stay relevant to todays business culture. Even though the forged club market is a small demographic... it is an important better player market that drives trends. (ex. Pro V1's) Why lose market share in a category... just based on historic club philosophy. They can make these to order... I see very little risk.
  
  I look forward to seeing and hitting them as well.
• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  No snow we go! wrote: Karsten is doing dolphin rolls as we speak... lol
  
  Fortunately the young regime understands one must stay relevant to todays business culture. Even though the forged club market is a small demographic... it is an important better player market that drives trends. (ex. Pro V1's) Why lose market share in a category... just based on historic club philosophy. They can make these to order... I see very little risk.
  
  I look forward to seeing and hitting them as well.

  Well I think the big deal is people buy Pings b/c they
  A: are very forgiving
  B: Have great resale due to how well the cast maintains its look.
  
  Those forged irons wont look good in 10 years like a normal Ping iron will, and won't be as forgiving.
  
  I think it's a pretty big leap for Ping.
  
  I'm sure they released them in Japan first b/c Japan has a HUGE forged iron market.
• Timber

  Pings also retain their value better because the company does not flood the market with close-out clubs. Also... One can provide a serial # and have a club made to match their set. This is very important for resale as well... just in case one loses a club... or stolen, etc. Good company that is still privately owned.
• lhslep134

  

  Wow, I agree with Zwick, this is a huge step.
• raiderbuck

  Didn't know Ping didn't make forged irons. My game isn't anywhere near good enough to hit forged clubs consistently.
  
  
  edit...that should read Forged blades. I like the forgiveness of the cavity back irons.
• september63

  

  On a side note, the 20 yr old Ping Square Grooved Wedges will been banned from the PGA Tour beginning March 29. No longer will they grandfather them in. I know only a few guys were using them anyways.
• j_crazy

  

  can someone please explain/show the difference between square grooved and whatever else is available. i'd also like to know why they are banned. are they advantagous in some way?
• september63

  

  Ill defer the legal reasons to Zwick. I think the banned club only was the deeper square grooved wedge though. PGA changed some regulations on the clubs awhile back, but grandfathered the Ping wegde in because of a prior lawsuit won by Ping. Deeper square grooves I suppose some felt gave you an advantage digging a ball from the rough. Probably more backspin out of the fairway. Just my opinion. Im not really sure.
• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  A square groove gets more bite on a ball than a u groove due to the surface area of the groove. It's no longer much of a penatly to hit in the rough b/c u can get such a good bite on the ball with square grooves, so the PGA decided to ban square grooves to give more of a reward for hitting fairways.
• september63

  

  I deferred to you but isnt that what i had just said?
• Timber

  The square shape allows more grass in the groove than a v groove... therefore allowing more contact with the ball to the actual clubface resulting in more distance control... which is so important to the accomplished player.
  
  Initially Ping and the USGA argued over a groove that was a combination of a tapered top edge of the groove and a square bottom section of the groove. Ping contended the groove should be measured from the bottom of the groove... extending straight up vertically to the face of the club. The USGA contended the groove should include the entire width of the tapered groove on the face... which would exceed the width allowance of a groove. Ping had enough money and lawyers to fight the USGA on this matter in court... so a settlement was reached and they stopped producing more of these clubs, yet grandfathered in the old groove.
  
  I am glad the issue on tour has been resolved... so the players are all on a level playing field.. so to speak.
  
  This rule change will not affect the average golfer until 2024... except for US Am players... or US Open participants.
• j_crazy

  

  related topic:
  
  I convinced the wife to let me get a new set since she talked me out of getting another puppy (hence no re-hashing of the bulldog thread). Here are some facts about my game:
  
  I'm a 20 handicap (technically i'm a 24 now, but 8 months ago i was a 17 and I've been getting better every year as long as I get on the course regularly).
  I'm a very inconsistent ball striker. I'll hit 40% good, Tow 25%, Heel 10%, Blade 20%, hit 5% fat
  When I hit a ball square i have a slight draw and i always hit it much higher than most people.
  
  Best clubs:
  P
  7
  8
  
  Worst Clubs:
  Driver
  3
  6
  
  I currently hit Callaway Steelhead X-16's.
  
  My question is, should I get a new set since I'm so bad? I was considering the Wilson Ci9's because they are supposedly weighted so it can accomodate my inconsistent swing. Thoughts?
• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  j_crazy wrote: related topic:
  
  I convinced the wife to let me get a new set since she talked me out of getting another puppy (hence no re-hashing of the bulldog thread). Here are some facts about my game:
  
  I'm a 20 handicap (technically i'm a 24 now, but 8 months ago i was a 17 and I've been getting better every year as long as I get on the course regularly).
  I'm a very inconsistent ball striker. I'll hit 40% good, Tow 25%, Heel 10%, Blade 20%, hit 5% fat
  When I hit a ball square i have a slight draw and i always hit it much higher than most people.
  
  Best clubs:
  P
  7
  8
  
  Worst Clubs:
  Driver
  3
  6
  
  I currently hit Callaway Steelhead X-16's.
  
  My question is, should I get a new set since I'm so bad? I was considering the Wilson Ci9's because they are supposedly weighted so it can accomodate my inconsistent swing. Thoughts?

  Ci9's are for better players. I'd go for the Di9's if you're looking for Wilsons.
• j_crazy

  

  want something forgiving. Not brand loyal at all
• Timber

  A poor stance/set-up can result in many of the shots you mentioned... ball postion could be too far forward, or too open of a stance. I would work on a few things first before spending cash. (really check the allignment and ball position) You have a very good set of clubs already.
• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  ccrunner609 wrote: those clubs look sweet.
  
  I wonder if they have a slim profile when you look down the shaft?

  
  It's still got a pretty thick top line.. plus the offset is .06" more than my Ping I3 blades, so that alone will keep me from switching.
• j_crazy

  

  I think I'm gonna go with the Mizuno MX-100. Golf.com says they are good for high handicappers.
  
  I've known 2 guys that swear by Mizunos, but both were scratch golfers. Anyone here have any thoughts?
• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  j_crazy wrote: I think I'm gonna go with the Mizuno MX-100. Golf.com says they are good for high handicappers.
  
  I've known 2 guys that swear by Mizunos, but both were scratch golfers. Anyone here have any thoughts?

  Usually when you buy Mizuno it's for forged clubs. I dunno anything about their cast stainless. It's certainly not their specialty.
• j_crazy

  

  shit. come to think of it both guys had forged clubs.
  
  i'd love to get the rapture v2's but it will take a lot of schmoozing to convince j_lady to let me drop 1200 on 'em.
  
  maybe I'll hang with my callaways one more year and get the raptures (or whatever replaces them) next year.
• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  v2's aren't necessary. G15's would be good for u.
• j_crazy

  

  using Ping's online custom fitting it recommended Ping G15's with blue (not exactly sure what that means) iron color code and white grip color code (again don't know what this means).
  
  Zwick, you know your shit.