Forged Pings?

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ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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7,733 posts
Mar 8, 2010 8:09 PM
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.


Mar 8, 2010 8:09pm
I

I Wear Pants

Senior Member

16,223 posts
Mar 8, 2010 8:21 PM
Were Pings cast only until now or...?
Mar 8, 2010 8:21pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Mar 8, 2010 8:22 PM
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.
Mar 8, 2010 8:22pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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7,733 posts
Mar 8, 2010 8:29 PM
To me it looks like a i15 and probably just form forged.
Mar 8, 2010 8:29pm
T

Timber

Senior Member

935 posts
Mar 8, 2010 8:31 PM
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.
Mar 8, 2010 8:31pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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7,733 posts
Mar 8, 2010 8:35 PM
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.
Mar 8, 2010 8:35pm
T

Timber

Senior Member

935 posts
Mar 8, 2010 8:52 PM
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.
Mar 8, 2010 8:52pm
lhslep134's avatar

lhslep134

why so serious?

9,774 posts
Mar 8, 2010 10:48 PM
Wow, I agree with Zwick, this is a huge step.
Mar 8, 2010 10:48pm
R

raiderbuck

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1,623 posts
Mar 8, 2010 11:20 PM
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.
Mar 8, 2010 11:20pm
september63's avatar

september63

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5,789 posts
Mar 9, 2010 1:37 PM
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.
Mar 9, 2010 1:37pm
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Mar 9, 2010 1:39 PM
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?
Mar 9, 2010 1:39pm
september63's avatar

september63

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5,789 posts
Mar 9, 2010 1:54 PM
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.
Mar 9, 2010 1:54pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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7,733 posts
Mar 9, 2010 2:46 PM
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.
Mar 9, 2010 2:46pm
september63's avatar

september63

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5,789 posts
Mar 9, 2010 2:59 PM
I deferred to you but isnt that what i had just said?
Mar 9, 2010 2:59pm
T

Timber

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935 posts
Mar 9, 2010 3:02 PM
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.
Mar 9, 2010 3:02pm
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Mar 10, 2010 6:11 PM
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?
Mar 10, 2010 6:11pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

Senior Member

7,733 posts
Mar 10, 2010 7:32 PM
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.
Mar 10, 2010 7:32pm
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Mar 10, 2010 8:29 PM
want something forgiving. Not brand loyal at all
Mar 10, 2010 8:29pm
T

Timber

Senior Member

935 posts
Mar 10, 2010 8:39 PM
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.
Mar 10, 2010 8:39pm
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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7,733 posts
Mar 10, 2010 9:37 PM
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.
Mar 10, 2010 9:37pm
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Mar 11, 2010 9:02 AM
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?
Mar 11, 2010 9:02am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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7,733 posts
Mar 11, 2010 9:09 AM
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.
Mar 11, 2010 9:09am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Mar 11, 2010 9:21 AM
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.
Mar 11, 2010 9:21am
ZWICK 4 PREZ's avatar

ZWICK 4 PREZ

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7,733 posts
Mar 11, 2010 9:26 AM
v2's aren't necessary. G15's would be good for u.
Mar 11, 2010 9:26am
j_crazy's avatar

j_crazy

7 gram rocks. how i roll.

8,372 posts
Mar 11, 2010 9:48 AM
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.
Mar 11, 2010 9:48am