Ping launch new G range
Ping’s G Series has consistently been amongst the most sold driver and irons in the game since the G2 launched in 2004. G’s won majors, been in the hands of the worlds number one player and brought game improving technology to millions of golfers across the globe. After seven G families Ping are reverting to just “G” for 2016 and we reckon it’s amongst the best looking gear the company’s ever made.
Ping G Driver £349
Lofts: 9deg and 10.5deg
With the rules on golf equipment so tight some of us scoff at the claims made by manufacturers as to the benefits of their new technology. But Ping insist they’ve broken down every conceivable contributor to a drivers distance and forgiveness potential (and the list runs to 56 points) in order to squeeze a little improvement from each to end up with some significant gains. So what’s new with the G?
Dragonfly Crown
Designers often get inspired by nature, and Ping CEO and Chairman John Solheim did just that when he took a picture of a simple dragonfly. His image showed the insects intricate wing structure beautifully. It led to asking his engineers if a similar vein pattern could strengthen a driver crown. It’s taken at least three years to develop but the idea’s shaved 8g of weight from the crown and incredibly means areas of the crown are just the thickness of 3 pieces of paper!
Vortex Shredder
You have to understand Ping are an engineering company, and currently the companies elite believe due to the constraints of the rules aerodynamics offer the most significant area for improved performance. Inspired by the trailer tails on the back of trucks and cars “VorTec Technology” helps reduce turbulent airflow at the back of the head. Improving stability, cutting drag by 11% and as their boffins like to say getting speed for free.
Turbulator Technology
Ping’s previous G30 driver was their first to boast of turbulator technology. Ping reckon for the new G they’ve improved upon their performance by increasing the size and refining their positioning.
New counter balanced shaft
Counter balancing is rife in putters right now, but Ping are bringing the concept to the table in the form of a new Alta 55 High Balance point shaft for its whole G family. What does it do? Well because of the shafts profile it means there’s more weight at the grip end so you can make the head heavier. Which effectively means you swing at the same speed but at impact you’ve got more mass hitting the ball so it should go further.
There’s also G SF-Tec and G LS-Tec…
The G isn’t just limited to a single head either. There’s an LS Tec head (9deg and 10.5deg)which lowers spin by about 400rpm and a SF Tec head (10deg and 12deg) which has 12 yards of shot bend correction to help straighten out a slice.
For further information visit www.ping.com
Whether you’re a Ping lover or hater you’ve got to admit their irons are functional, even if they haven’t always topped the pile when it comes to beauty. If you must have super sexy irons then we reckon you’ll love the new G. It’s a wolf in sheeps clothing. A full out game improvement iron but disguised as a sleeker, slimmer super model…who said game improvement irons had to be ugly ducklings? Intrigued? This is what they’ve changed from G30.
Cor-Eye Technology
Ping used Cor-Eye on their GMAX iron that launched last summer. It allows the club face to act like a spring board and flex at impact. Ping say the “eye” helps power shots an average of 5 yards further than the G30. The face is also 32% thinner than the G30 and 4 times as springy.
Hyper 17-4 Stainless Steel
You can’t create a flexible iron face without using some fancy metals, as standard steels are just not up to the job. Ping have worked out a way to heat treat the G ‘s 17-4 SS heads which includes baking them at 1040°C in a vacuum furnace to align grain structure. The heads are then cooled over 4 hours at 550° to strengthen the material. The process creates what Ping call Hyper 17-4SS.
Concealed weight port
Years ago game improvement irons had weight located at the bottom of the cavity to help get shots airborne, but current thinking has changed. The area that used to be metal now needs to be space to allow the face to flex fully. So Ping have uncoupled their usual tuning port (which allows them to offer lots of weight options) from the face, creating two benefits. One is the face can flex into the space created, and two by moving this weight back the MOI is improved so you get extra forgiveness and a tighter shot dispersion.
AWT 2.0 shaft
Did we mention Ping are an engineering company? Well they’ve not only completely redesigned the G iron head from the ground up but they’ve also come up with a new steel shaft for it too. They’ve partnered with leading Japanese steel shaft manufacturer Nippon to create what’s called an Ascending Weight shaft. The idea is for the shafts to be lighter in the longer irons to allow you to launch shots easier in the more difficult to hit clubs. The new shaft is also closer to the weight of your hybrids, fairways and driver so there’s a smoother progression from longer clubs to the irons. The shorter iron shafts get heavier to aid control and shot making but also match the weights of your wedges much more closely. Its not rocket science but to us it’s a theory that’s makes a lot of sense.
RRP: £92 (s) £104 (g) per club
Availability: 4-PW, UW, SW, LW
Stock steel shaft: AWT 2.0 R / S / X
Stock graphite shaft: CFS Graphite Soft R / R / S
For further information visit www.ping.com
Its not everyday golf companies claim to invent a new product category, and when they do we usually greet the statement with a hell of a lot of scepticism. However Ping’s lead Engineer Marty Jertson insists “The Crossover is not a Driving Iron…it delivers hybrid like launch and distance but with the spin of an iron.” So the Crossover is aimed at golfers that either don’t like hybrids or those wanting the option of being able to hit high or low shots on command. Which is particularly useful in windy conditions. So how does it do it?
Iron styling with Carpenter Steel 455 face
Ping have taken the high strength steel used in their fairway and hybrid faces and created the G Crossover around it. Which means increased ball speeds as the face is machined thinner to maximise bending. There’s also a wide body construction to increase playability.
Extreme Toe Weighting
Ping say a large weight pad in the toe helps reposition the CG and expands perimeter weighting. Ping also point out the MOI of the G is 31% higher than the Rapture driving iron, which is hugely significant. If we compare spin the Crossover generates more than a 4 iron but less than a hybrid making balloon’s into the wind less likely. And looking at ball speed the Crossover’s higher than a 4 iron but less than a hybrid, yet launch angle between the three is pretty similar.
Tiered internal sole
To wring out every last drop of juice from your swing Ping have incorporated an internal tiered sole which allows the Crossover’s head to deform at impact and rebound quicker. Effectively meaning you harness extra energy no matter where you impact the club face.
RRP: £180 (s) £180 (g)
Lofts: 3/18deg 4/21deg 5/24deg
For further information visit www.ping.com
First Hit…
Simon Daddow
I’ll be honest I’ve never had success with driving irons as I’ve struggled to launch them off the deck. So I didn’t hold high hopes for the Crossover. But after a session on the range I’ll put my hands up and say it actually does exactly what its supposed too. The Crossover launched higher than a traditional long iron and was much more friendly to hit. I’m excited to put one in the bag for 2016. Long term the versatility of having both a hybrid which I love and a Crossover in the bag which is more controllable I’m hoping will bring an extra dimension to my game.