Archive for the "Ping Golf Clubs" Category

PING Men’s G30 Driver

PING is a golf company with as much history and tradition as any other. PING clubs, specifically putters, have a notable place in the history of the game, and generations of golfers have sworn by their PING clubs. From the iconic Anser putter to the Eye wedges and more, PING clubs are almost instantly recognizable by many golfers. If you have every owned or used a PING club throughout your golf experience, you know the quality and care that goes into the PING brand of clubs.

With that in mind, the G30 is something of a departure for PING. Sure, it is still a well-made driver with some of the elements that make PING clubs what they are. However, it has a unique feature on the top of the club head that is noticeable immediately when you put the club down behind the ball. Called ‘turbulators’, these small aerodynamic additions are meant to allow the club to cut through the air faster as it speeds down toward the ball.

It’s a New Look

The presence of these raised spots on the top of the club is sure to make some golf purists raise an eyebrow – after all, golfers are not used to having anything raised on the top of the club head. Many golfers were just getting used to the idea of different colors and pingg30designs on the top of the club, so the introduction of the turbulators may throw some for a loop. However, golfers have proven they will adapt quickly if the technology helps them play better, so it will ultimately come down to the performance of the club. If golfers find that the club is moving faster through the hitting zone – and that speed is leading to more distance in the end – golfers are sure to love the G30.

Other Modern Features

Like most of the other drivers on the market, this 460cc model has an adjustable hosel that allows the player to add or subtract a degree of loft with just a quick adjustment. While one degree might not sound like much, it can have a large effect on the trajectory that you achieve with your drives. By spending some time experimenting with the different hosel positions and what they mean for your ball flight, you should be able to settle on one that works best for your swing.

Those who play PING clubs tend to be quite loyal to the brand, and they aren’t likely to be disappointed by this latest product. However, even those who aren’t typically drawn to PING clubs should consider giving the G30 a try because of the unique technology it brings to the market. Find a place to demo the G30 for yourself and see if it might be able to beat out your current driver and earn a spot in your bag.

Ping G25 Irons Reviews

Ping-G25-ironsPing continues to step it up a notch with every new iron model they come out with, and the G25 model is no different.  In fact, it is probably their best iron set to date with all of the great features that it contains, including progressive sole widths, a re-engineered custom tuning port, and thinner faces.  All of these improvements lead to an iron that the company says provides added forgiveness, playability, and control, but can that really be true?  What follows is my overall review of the irons.

Positive

The Ping G25 Irons certainly live up to the hype, starting with the appearance.  One of the more frustrating things when it comes to new irons these days is the amount of glare they have at address, and the G25 Irons have solved this with a non-glare matte finishes that help the clubs to look both modern and sleek.

When it comes to performance, I would say that the Ping G25 irons provide the best forgiveness out of any iron set out on the market today, hands down.  A lot of it has to do with the thinner faces and lower custom tuning port, which provide a redistribution of weight throughout the clubface.  This allows for shots that are not hit on the sweet spot every time to still get amazing distance and accuracy.  It didn’t matter whether it was the 3I or PW, one can still get a really good amount of forgiveness out of these irons, and that should appeal to many golfers who may struggle with inconsistency out on the golf course.

As far as playability and control are concerned, I found both to be very similar to other iron sets out on the market today such as Callaway X-Hot or Titleist API 712.  It is fairly easy to shape the ball either way when necessary, and the spin control on both the short and long irons was very good if using a decent ball with them.

Negative

The only real negative that I found when it comes to the Ping G25 Irons is the high launch that they offer.  For someone who has a high ball launch as it is, it may be best to look elsewhere, because golf balls with these clubs just shoot up in the air.  On the flip side, it could be beneficial for those who have a lower trajectory and are looking for added height, so it really depends on one’s game more than anything else.

Overall

Overall Ping hit the nail on the head when it comes to their G25 irons.  They can appeal to practically any golfer looking for added forgiveness and playability, and have a great design and appearance as well.  They may not be the best irons for those who naturally have a high ball flight, but other than that it is hard to find fault with them.  If you haven’t given Ping irons a try for whatever reason, make sure to at least give these a demo run before purchasing a new set.  You may be glad that you did.

Ping G20 Hybrid Review

One brand that has really been climbing the ranks in my book over the past few years is Ping, especially with their hybrids.  They don’t have the same airtime as Callaway and Taylormade do, but don’t let that take away from the fact that they have some really solid golf clubs.  One of the clubs that I played a few rounds with was the Ping G20 Hybrid, and what follows is my honest review of it.

Positive

The Ping G20 Hybrid is one of the best hybrids out on the market today, period.  I don’t usually say that about many golf clubs, but this hybrid is the real deal when it comes to performance and feel.  If you have ever tried out the G15 hybrid, the updated G20 has some subtle differences to it that really enhances the club.  The most important difference in my view is that more bounce was added to the club to make it more consistent in any lie.

The main negative I had about the G15 model was that it wasn’t very good out of the rough as opposed to similar clubs on the market, but Ping has seemingly fixed this with the G20.  It doesn’t matter whether I am hitting it out of the rough, fairway bunker, hardpan, or whatever, I get the same great contact every time.  The golf ball just shoots off of the club.

Another difference is that the G20 has a higher launch angle, which is really great for those who need to hit a shot at a 3 iron distance but want it to land like a 9 iron.  Not only does it have a high launch angle, but low spin as well to help stop the ball on the green faster.  I usually play from the blue tees at local golf courses, and many of the par 3’s in the area require a shot of about 200 yards or so to reach the green.  With the Ping G20, instead of having to pull out a 3 iron and try to run it up as close to the flagstick as I can, I can instead go right at it knowing that the ball will land softly.  The increased confidence that it gives on longer par 3’s is fantastic to say the least.

Lastly, another great positive I found in regards to the Ping G20 was around the greens.  For those of you who like to be more creative when playing rounds of golf, the G20 provides a great option for a ball that is up against the second and third cuts of rough, and also where there is a lot of green to work with.   There was a par 5 where I hit a good second shot that landed about 15 yards in front of the green, and with the pin all the way it the back it is usually difficult for me to get it all the way back there with a wedge.  Instead, I used a chipping motion with the Ping G20 and it rolled smoothly across the green about six feet from the cup.  The G20 not only offers great performance from the fairway, but also around the green if you are willing to give it a try.

Negative

The only real negative that I found when it came to the Ping G20 hybrid was that it had a tendency to draw from a normal lie.  I normally play a fade so it was beneficial to my game, but for those who already draw the golf ball it may turn into a hook using this club.

Conclusion

Overall I would give the Ping G20 Hybrid 4 ½ stars out of five.  The performance is great out of practically any lie you could imagine, and the high launch angle allows one to land the ball softly on the green and not have to worry about it rolling off.  I would especially recommend it to those who may be struggling a bit with the long irons and are looking to change it up a bit.

Take a look at some great deals on new and used Ping G20 Hybrid Golf Clubs.

I have struggled finding a good putter to cure my yips over the past few months, until I decided to try a Ping Karsten Series Putter.  Ping has traditionally been known as a great golf brand going all the way back to the 1960s.  It was 1967 to be exact, when founder Karsten Solheim created a putter that made a “ping” sound upon the club being in contact with the golf ball.  From then on it has been success after success with Ping putters, winning over 2,000 tournaments since its first putter was introduced.  Recently (as far back as a few years ago) Ping introduced a new line of putters named the Karsten line.  According to Ping, the Karsten line is the “perfect answer for the golfer seeking the performance of a steel face with and insert feel. An elastomer insert provides enhanced feel while maintaining the solid response of a steel-face putter.”  For this article the putter I am reviewing is the Ping Karsten C67 Putter.

Positives

With a price point under $100 ($89 when I bought it recently at Golf Galaxy), it seemed like a steal compared to the $200+ Scotty Cameron putters that everyone seems to rave about.  Don’t look at it as being just another under-$100 putter, because when you start putting with it you will think it should be worth more.  What made me attracted to it first was the bottom-heavy design of the putter.  This is extremely useful when having to deal with the yips, and I found myself making a lot more short putts out on the golf course with this putter as opposed to more expensive ones I have tried.  The alignment of the putter is very easy on the eyes, with one simple white line going down the middle.  The shaft of the putter also goes down the middle as well, which may seem awkward at first but it only took a short time getting used to.

What is also great about the Ping Karsten C67 Putter is in regards to its consistency.  Whether it was a five foot putt or a twenty-five foot putt, the golf ball always went on the line that I intended it to go on.  This is important, because many recreational golfers may know how a putt breaks out on the golf course but they don’t have a putter that can consistently go on the line they want it to.  If you are struggling with this problem you should definitely consider getting this putter.  Having a putter like this can only increase confidence when out on the golf course, and it certainly helped me shave some strokes off of my golf game.

Negatives

As far as any negatives concerning the Ping Karsten C67 Putter go, it was hard initially for me to find any.  After playing awhile with the putter I did find one negative that is worth mentioning.  The putter seems to me to take a lot longer getting used to when playing on faster greens as opposed to slower ones.  Because it is a bottom-heavy putter there is a tendency for putts to go farther than usual on fast greens, and thus it may take longer to get used to them.  In other words, make sure to hit some practice putts before going out to play or you may find yourself having a few too many three putts out on the course.

Conclusion

Don’t let the price of the Ping Karsten C67 Putter fool you.  It is a fantastic putter that has a bottom-heavy, simplistic design.  It will greatly reduce the yips and provides consistency on the putting green that is comparable to any of the top putters on the market today.

Check out some deals on new and used Ping Karsten putters.

Ping I5 Lob Wedge Review

Ping I5 Lob Wedge

Ping I5 irons have been widely regarded as for their craftsmanship and playability.  They are also one of a select few golf manufacturers that are well known for their wedges, whether they are 48, 52, 56, or 60 degrees.  With this in mind I decided to try out the Ping I5 lob wedge to see if it really provides the playability that I am looking for in a wedge.

The specific lob wedge I tried out was the Ping I5 with a red dot.  What does the red dot mean?  After putting in some research, I found out that the dot color relates to the lie angle of the club itself.  Before swinging a golf club one should make sure that the grooves of it are parallel to the ground, with both the heel and toe not being elevated above the other.  The red dot on the club specifies that the lob wedge  is  -0.75 degrees flat.  What this means is that the heel of the club is elevated a bit more than the toe, which leads to shots going more to the right for the average golfer.  With all of that technical golf jargon aside, let us move on to the review itself.

As far as positives, the Ping I5 lob wedge has great feel and control not only around the greens but also in the fairway as well.  It feels a bit lighter than a normal wedge, and I believe that is what makes it feel so good.  What does feel have to do with anything?  For low handicap golfers like myself, feel plays an important part in the wedge game (shots 100 yards and in).  You want to have a club that you can feel confident in and know will get the ball where you want it to go, and I certainly felt very comfortable using this club.  The trajectory on most shots was either mid or high ball flight.  The golf ball goes airborne very easily when hitting this lob wedge.  Even when in the deep rough it still has a pretty good trajectory to it.  Lastly, the Ping I5 lob wedge has very good forgiveness.  When I hit a shot that was a bit off the sweet spot the golf ball was still very close to my original target.

Now onto the negatives. Concerning spin, I thought the lob wedge was average to below average when it came both to fairway shots and shots around the green.  Don’t get me wrong, it spins like any other lob wedge would when hit properly, but that is the problem.  If the spin is the same as other lob wedges on the market, why not go with those instead?  I like to hit a lot of bump and chips around the green, and this lob wedge did an okay job at best.  At least two or three out of every ten shots did not check up the way that I had planned it to, and this can add unnecessary strokes to any golf round.

My overall conclusion of the Ping I5 lob wedge is that it is a good club for its intended target area – mid handicappers (around 15).  The lob wedge doesn’t have the top of the line performance that a low handicapper needs when trying to shoot scratch or below, but if offers great workability for golfers with mid to high handicaps.  Before purchasing a Ping lob wedge, make sure to check with a golf pro or golf store representative to figure out which color dot is right for you.  It could make the difference between a slice and a hook, so it is important to check into this before buying any golf club.

Take a look at some great prices on new and used Ping I5 Lob Wedges.

Ping G5 Individual Iron


The Ping G5 Individual Iron boasts of a larger CTP or custom tuning port which means it the clubface has a larger surface area and can deliver an improve feel. This iron can deliver higher moments of inertia due to wider sole.

The G5 is more forgiving and produces straighter off center shots due to increased moments of inertia. It makes use of the Wide Sole technology resulting to a higher trajectory. With this iron you can expect better contact with the ball and better performance.

This iron is made with the 703 rubber grip with flame patterns so you get a soft feel even if you play the whole day through.

Ping Karsten Craz-E Putter

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With the Ping Karsten Craz-E Putter, you get the solid response coming from a steel-faced putter and yet experience brought about by an insert feel thanks to the cavity’s elastomer insert. This putter provides increased moment of inertia and maximum forgiveness.

The Ping Karsten Craz-E Putter boasts of a stainless-steel head and a design that aims to lessen vibration. The grey steel looks attractive with the alignment aids in blue. The putter is also easily customizable with length and lie and loft options.

This putter has great looks plus a great alignment providing maximum balance and stability.