These irons are going to be a huge success for Ping. I say that with confidence because I’m convinced they’ve hit the spot perfectly – the i20s will appeal to Category 1 players but also to a much broader audience.
That isn’t easy to do. Lots of sets claim to, but very few succeed. That’s because it’s so difficult to get the right blend of playability in the longer irons and precision in the shorter clubs.
As a long-time S56 user, I was immediately comfortable using the i20 short irons. The heads are fractionally larger and rounder but that’s it.
The revelation for me is in the longer irons. Compared to the S56 4 and 5 iron the i20 equivalents are much more reassuring. They look powerful without being bulky, and they hit the ball noticeably higher.
Suddenly, I am looking forward to pulling out a 4 iron rather than trying to avoid it.
Their predecessors, the i15 irons, were in my opinion closer to the game-improvement G series than S56. With the i20s, it feels like they have split the difference.
And as you would expect from Ping, the feel is solid and the performance consistent.
Suddenly, I am looking forward to pulling out a 4 iron rather than trying to avoid it.
STABILISING BARS EXPLAINED
The stabilising bars on the i20 irons and the thicker face offer great feel and ensure that golfers can hit to precise yardages, say Ping.
Distance control is an absolute must for better players and that precision will help anyone lower their scores. In addition, tungsten toe weights in the 17-4 stainless steel heads elevate forgiveness.
IN THE WORDS OF PING
John Solheim, Ping’s chairman and CEO, on the concept behind the i20 range:
“In the i20 series, we’ve combined workability, distance and forgiveness with the goal to make any golfer a more versatile and complete player.
“We’ve engineered the i20s with a solid feel and generous forgiveness but also a degree of workability for the player who wants full command of the clubface for controlling trajectory and shot shape. Anyone who is passionate about their game is going to be very confident and capable with this technology.
DETAILS
Tested by Dan Murphy (3 hcp)
SRP: £90 per club (steel), £110 (graphite)
AVAILABLE: 3-9, PW, UW, SW, LW
STANDARD SHAFT: Ping CFS (steel); Ping TFC 169i (graphite)
STANDARD GRIP: Ping ID8
LEFT-HANDED OPTION? Yes
w: pinggolf.com
t: 01427 615 405
