PING _ have they caught the bug

[drdel]

There have been a few posts commenting on the variation in the lofts across makers.

I play a set of G25s where the 7 iron's loft is 32* on a 36.75 shaft; I was thinking about a change to their new GMAX irons (for no particular reason). Their I's have more or less the same spec.

Ping's marketing sings the praises of extra distance from these new, improved irons by virtue of the improved CG location and steel composition.

Isn't technology great - but perhaps I'm being cynical as I also see the new GMAX 7 iron has about 2* less loft (30.5) on a 37" slightly longer shaft !!

The stronger lofts progress through the set.

I thought PING was above these naughty methods

 

[HomerJSimpson]

There have been a few posts commenting on the variation in the lofts across makers.

I play a set of G25s where the 7 iron's loft is 32* on a 36.75 shaft; I was thinking about a change to their new GMAX irons (for no particular reason). Their I's have more or less the same spec.

Ping's marketing sings the praises of extra distance from these new, improved irons by virtue of the improved CG location and steel composition.

Isn't technology great - but perhaps I'm being cynical as I also see the new GMAX 7 iron has about 2* less loft (30.5) on a 37" slightly longer shaft !!

The stronger lofts progress through the set.

I thought PING was above these naughty methods

Why would they be. Most manufacturers have cranked lofts to some extent. The GMAX is being marketed as a long and forgiving club for the mid-high handicapper so how else will they get the results?

 

[GB72]

Cranking the loft, from what I understand is necessary. Once you make a GI club high launching the loft needs to be decreased to maintain the distance travelled. Lower loft is often essential with GI irons and is not always a case of duping golfers into thinking they go further

 

[KenL]

They have also strengthened the lofts in their new Ping i irons compared with the i25 irons they are replacing

i25 - 7 iron 33deg, PW 46deg

i - 7 iron 32deg, PW 45deg.

 

[Sybez]

Cranking the loft, from what I understand is necessary. Once you make a GI club high launching the loft needs to be decreased to maintain the distance travelled. Lower loft is often essential with GI irons and is not always a case of duping golfers into thinking they go further

Finally! Someone gets the "jacked" lofts debate. :thup:

 

[BTatHome]

Finally! Someone gets the "jacked" lofts debate. :thup:

It's been said (by some) for a long long time, but when TM are involved it's usually just easier for people to get outraged rather than listen.

 

[Rooter]

What Greg says. Unless they come out saying our new 7 iron is xx yards longer than our old one. Which I doubt they are or will do.

 

[Maninblack4612]

Cranking the loft, from what I understand is necessary. Once you make a GI club high launching the loft needs to be decreased to maintain the distance travelled. Lower loft is often essential with GI irons and is not always a case of duping golfers into thinking they go further

Precisely! People go on & on about this. A lot of people say they can't hit a 3 iron, but give them an easy to hit 4 iron with the same loft & length as a 3 & they will happily use it. My 3 iron is set at 18° and is 1½" longer than standard but I can hit it well because it is so easy to get in the air. If the manufacturers produced a set starting with a 2 iron nobody would buy it so they crank the lofts to make it easier for a player to get better distance & still get the ball airborne. The longest iron in your bag should have the most length & lowest loft you can hit consistently. For some, this will be a 5 iron, while, for others, it will be a 3 iron with a number 4 on it.

 

[KenL]

My main gripe with this is the huge gaps you can be left with at the short end of the bag.
A PW at 44 degrees makes another 3 wedged a necessity.

 

[Craigg]

My main gripe with this is the huge gaps you can be left with at the short end of the bag.
A PW at 44 degrees makes another 3 wedged a necessity.

Agreed. There is a massive 9* between A G30 PW (45*) and SW (54*), almost forcing you to buy their UW at 50* to bridge the gap

 

[hovis]

Agreed. There is a massive 9* between A G30 PW (45*) and SW (54*), almost forcing you to buy their UW at 50* to bridge the gap

Its not forcing you to buy it. Its the next club in the sequence . Not many golfers would think of buying 4 to sw but leave the the 'u' out the bag. Most go with 4 to pw
and use dedicated wedges from then on

Its the same as someone saying i baught a set of irons but i decided not to go with the 7 iron

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I already use a 52 and 58 plus a PW so it's not an issue. I have always had this set up since my TM TP's. Not just a Ping thing

 

[drdel]

Agreed. There is a massive 9* between A G30 PW (45*) and SW (54*), almost forcing you to buy their UW at 50* to bridge the gap

Exactly the point behind my original post. As lofts get stronger then everything club just moves up. OK so we can claim we hit our 6iron further than our mate hits his. However when needing to get down from closer in club options decrease.