your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

[MikeH]

hi all

as part of what we are doing up at Gainsborough on Monday we'll be putting some questions to PING around the R&D, technology, design, performance and marketing of the new G range

I know these topics - design/tech, performance of new product and how its marketed - are all hotly debated any time new gear is launched so here's your chance to ask questions around these areas

If you have a question please post to below and include your 'real' name and where you're from

Please try to keep posts in this thread just questions

thanks

 

[Norrin Radd]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

when are ping going to enter the ball market with a viable product ?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Where do the R&D team think golf club technology will go. There has to be limits to MOI, forgiveness etc and it appears that most releases bear little tangible differences to the average player

 

[Tiger]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

What are Ping's plans for the next incarnation of putters? Have they come up with any further enhancements on TrueRoll?

Following on from dragonflies can we expect any further insect inspiration in future Ping clubs?

Tiger de Souza, Suffolk

 

[Hacker Khan]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

How much pressure are you under to increase the frequency of your releases as other manufacturers seem to be doing?
Was there a deliberate push to give the new G range irons increased 'shelf appeal'?
Why is the hosel back in the G range irons?
Will you ever allow your clubs to be sold directly on line without the need for some form of static custom fit/consultation before the purchase?
Do you think there is a danger of manufacturers having too many different ranges within their portfolio? Will that lead to confusion for customers?
What is more important to Ping, the engineering or the marketing of a club?
Do you get tired of people claiming 7 irons are effectively 6 irons when in fact the lofts have been changed for many years now? (as I do)
Are you tempted to follow Ben Hogan irons and just put the loft on the club instead of a number which is increasingly becoming a bit meaningless due to the wide range of lofts say a 7 iron can have across all manufacturers?
How much responsibility do you think club manufacturers have to grow the game and ensure it has a viable future?
How often do you think the average handicap golfer should change their irons, assuming that not a lot has changed in their ability?
What is the average time between the start of designing a new range range/club and it being released to the market?

Nick Johnson from Nottingham

 

[ManinBlack]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

With driver technology developed to the extent it is now how much further can it go. The clubhead size & COR are limited & with graphite crowns now becoming common what further improvements can be made? There is also much more understanding of the effect of the placement of the centre of gravity so what innovations will next year's clubs introduce.

BILL Allon
South Shields

 

[Imurg]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Turbulators/Dragonfly on the crown of the drivers. These obviously offer a benefit.
What is the benefit, in swing speed gain, stability etc, over a "clean" crown such as the G20..?

Ian Murgtroyd. Aylesbury

 

[Fish]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Do you think it's important to bring out new clubs whether that be a driver, fairway woods or irons annually, and if so why?

Based on the above answer being yes, would not a longer development and research time be more beneficial so that you provided a set of clubs that could be attracted to a greater range of handicaps and show the dividends in investing in them, rather than trying to keep up with the noisy neighbours, so to speak?

In other words, quality not quantity and more importantly, affordability to match, would this not lead to a greater market share and more loyalty?

Robin, Coventry

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Ever since I have played golf there has always seemed to been a stigma attached to ping that they are clubs aimed towards the older generation. Is the recent naming of clubs and addition of things like the "Turbulators" are Ping trying to make their image look a bit more modern and aimed towards the younger generation ?

Phil Coumbe - Leighton Buzzard

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Lofts are continually being made stronger and stronger to increase distance. In effect, a modern 7 iron is now the loft of a 6 iron from maybe no more than seven or eight years ago. Why has design gone this way and why do all manufacturers see distance as some kind of holy grail when most players would be better off with better dispersion

Martin Bedborough
Bracknell

 

[masterosouffle]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Given the incremental advances in me club technology, how often would Ping reccomend that the average (17 handicap) player they update their clubs so there is a tangible difference in performance?
James Brown
Faversham

 

[paddyc]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Why have Ping continued to design and build mostly cast headed irons rather than go into the forged market like their competitors.

M Chalklin
Cambridge

 

[stevelev]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Are there any plans in the near future to launch a game improver club with a thin topline or is this not possible due to engineering constraints? Not sure about others on here but I prefer a thinner topline but every game improver club looks too chunky to my eye

 

[KenL]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Ignoring development costs, how much does it cost to manufacture a £300 driver?
K Laidlaw
East Lothian

 

[delc]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

What's the point of a 44 degree pitching wedge, when your need several more lofted wedges to play the game? Why the huge gap between the PW and the SW?

Derek Copeland, Rickmansworth

 

[Hacker Khan]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Have you ever been tempted on April fools day to issue a press release announcing the launch of you new limited edition Pong range?

Kevin Phillips Bong - Slightly Silly Party

 

[drdel]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Why do Ping leave a small gap in the backs of their irons which gather muck and grass that is very difficult to remove: especially mid-round?

 

[ADB]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Is every incarnation of an iron range designed from scratch or are successful elements of previous models used as a starting point?

How long is the typical R&D phase prior to launching a new range?

Do 'typical golfers' (not robots or professionals) test prototypes and, if so, is their feedback used to develop the final product?

Adrian Bayly, Sussex

 

[garyinderry]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

Is there any chance of a modern update of ping eye 2 beryllium irons.


Gary Etherson, Derry.

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

Re: your questions (R&D, technology, design, performance, marketing) for PING

If the average player plays say 27 holes a week and hits 50 balls at the range, how long should his clubs last before there is a noticeable drop off in performance, ie worn out clubs ?

Steve Ashford - Welwyn Garden City