Ping Anser Forged Better Player Irons Review

Tested by Jon Greathead (8 h’cap)

As you might expect for £160 per club, these irons feel great; up there with anything else I’ve hit. There was plenty to get excited about in terms of distance as well.

The shorter irons feature a smaller head, but when you progress into the traditionally harder-to-hit long irons they are larger, which aids forgiveness and gives a little bit of much-needed confidence. In fact, the 3 and 4-irons felt incredibly forgiving and if I was using these on a regular basis I’d seriously re-think if there was any need for a hybrid. They don’t look dissimilar from the fabulous i20 irons and I didn’t find a great deal of difference these seemed to fly a little lower than my current set.

Negatives? Not in terms of performance, but when it comes down to real world stuff, the price would put me off. £1,280 for a set of eight irons feels very much on the indulgent side. But if you are loaded, and play off less than 15 or so, these irons won’t disappoint in any way.

Pros: Superb feel, looks and sound; they’re dangerously good for decent golfers
Cons: Extortionate. Yes, they’re quality irons, but nearly £1,300 for a set?

Ping’s success in the last decade in the woods market has been highly impressive, but their new Anser irons continue a fine tradition in this equipment category.
 
The irons feature a thinner face which designers have achieved by manufacturing a supportive structure that includes two stabilising bars in the back of the clubhead.
 
Constructed from an 8620 steel body, the irons use a dense tungsten weight and hollow sole to increase the Moment of Inertia for greater forgiveness.
 
The Anser series is aimed at players who are between PING’s i-range and G-range, but for a more detailed assessment of the irons, check out the video with Marty Jertson below.
 
You can also find out more about the irons, and the technology behind them, in the next issue of Today’s Golfer which goes on sale on August 9.
 
Available: 3-PW £160 per club (both steel and graphite)
Website: ping.com