I admit that I held out on the hybrid craze longer than made sense. I carried a two-iron in place of a 5-wood or hybrid and would use it from the tee, the fairway, and the rough when the lie was good enough to goad me into going for it.
What’s that have to do with a set of irons? My two-iron was a PING Eye2, and until I tried the i15s, that single club represented the vast majority of my experience with PING irons. Sure, I’d seen how popular the Eye2s were with players in the 90s, but I never liked the look of the excessive high toe weighting, the bulge in the heel, the thicker topline, and the general look and feel. Even that two-iron had a bit too much offset for my taste – I had to watch that I didn’t hook the thing off the planet.
Having played with the i15s for several rounds now, though, it’s obvious to me that while PING has stayed true to their roots (the i15 is immediately recognizable as a PING iron), they’ve made substantive improvements through the years and deserve consideration from a wide variety of players.
Design and Technology
PING’s i-series irons of irons – though not their “S” series for the best players (or those wanting the most blade-like irons, anyway) – were designed with the better player in mind. However, the i15 borrows heavily from the company’s G15 line of irons and works the technology into a sleeker, more workable iron that better players will find more pleasing to look at and play with more compact heads and thinner lines to give these better players more workability and shot control.
PING’s i15 irons remain true to their lineage while taking advantage of newer technologies.
The most prominent feature on the i15 is the tungsten weight low in the toe to add forgiveness. The bulge that houses the weight is visible at address only in the longest irons and only if you tend to lean the shaft forward a bit. The toe weight also helps to optimize the center of gravity to provide trajectories better players prefer across the set.
The back of the i15 features a dual stabilizing bar and a Custom Tuning Port (CTP) support the face for a solid feel and sound across the hitting surface. In photos, the bars and CTP are housed in the raised “PING” on the back of the irons.
The i15 was designed as a progressive set of irons. The long irons are slightly longer heel to toe for a touch of added forgiveness while the short irons are a more traditional width for better shot-making ability and control.
And yes, the i15, like all of PING’s irons, is a cast club. If you’re still hung up on the process by which the metal in your golf clubs is formed, then you’ve either drank the Mizuno Kool-Aid or you have a heightened (and unrealistic) opinion of your ability to feel things.
Esthetics
I’ve never cared for the look of PING’s irons, but if I’m being honest with myself (and you), I really stopped looking at them a decade or so ago with the Ping Eye2. As you’ll recall, that club had protuberances and bulges all over the place, with thick lines and a healthy amount of offset.
In the years since, I’d picked up a few of irons in the S series in golf shops, but hadn’t really looked at the i or G series at all. My bad.
The i15 is still obviously a PING iron in the Eye2 lineage, but PING has done well to choose a color scheme that looks great and to do all they can within their design beliefs to minimize any obvious thickness, bulging, and protuberances, since I want to use that word again.
The silver/black/dark red thing PING has going on with the i15 irons appeals to me. Again, I’ve always liked their slightly darker grey/silver clubheads, and the i15s carry that color forward. The back of the irons get the bulk of the “decoration,” and on the i15 that means a PING logo on the CTP, “i15” on the high toe, and a black meshwork pattern printed in the cavity with a splash of red paint between the dual stabilizing bars.
The hosel retains the look of recent PING irons: a gouge of metal is taken out of the hosel on the very heel end of the clubhead (which undoubtedly helps to move the sweet spot further towards the toe), and the hosel is angled at roughly the lie angle so that the collar is level at address.
Dare I say that a set of PING irons are attractive? The red/black/silver scheme is easy on the eyes.
The large tungsten housing in the low toe isn’t as hidden as I’d like at address in the longer irons, and the topline is thicker than I prefer as well. Though these are nowhere near the “shovel on a stick” look favored by some other companies, they’re halfway there. Some players may like this – they’ll say it “inspires confidence” or something like that – but I’ve never been among them. The thick topline I can deal with – the protuberances and bulges (one more time!) less so. On the bright side, it’s only a two-club issue: from about the 5-iron on up, the back cavity and toe aren’t visible at address, and the notch in the hosel/sole is never visible.
On the bright side, again, the clubface remains relatively uncluttered. A number stamped on the high toe lets you know at address that you have the right club, and the bottom groove is filled with white paint to aid in alignment.
Performance
The PING i15 are targeted at better players. They’re not PING’s “top” club in terms of feel (and corresponding lack of “game improvement”) – that honor belongs to the S57 – but occupy the second slot on the list.
The first thing I noticed when I picked up the irons was the reminder rib installed along the underside of the grips. The grips themselves were PING’s standard all-rubber grips, and just fine for the job. This reminded me that PING pioneered what may still remain the most advanced custom fitting system in the world of golf, and they’ll fit golfers to a wide range of shafts, lofts, lies, lengths, and grips. If you’re ordering a set of i15s (or any other PING club), be sure to check out your options. PING’s custom department is second to none.
Overall, and in a variety of situations, the i15s performed extremely well. The feel is freakishly consistent all over the clubface. No matter how good the contact, the i15s never felt as good as a svelte muscleback struck on the button, but only the worst mis-hits relay a noticeably different feel to your hands. I’d personally prefer more feel – I like to know exactly where I struck the ball on the clubface – but I’ve come to understand that I’m in the minority on this issue.
I’ve long postulated that feel and forgiveness are diametrically opposed to one another, and that seems to be the case here once again. While the lack of specific feedback and feel is mildly disappointing, the forgiveness offered by the i15 does more than make up for it. In short, the i15s are some of the most forgiving irons in this category that I’ve ever hit. If you make contact anywhere in the “it all feels the same” area on the clubface – say within a half inch in any direction of center – your ball will pretty much go where you expect it to go, give or take two or three yards. Ball flight is almost completely unaffected as well.
You can see the 3-iron’s cavity at address, but from the 5-iron on up it’s well hidden.
On a lark I grabbed some impact tape and hit some balls at the range. No, it’s not the most scientific of tests, but the results were still surprising. Shots struck as much as 3/4″ towards the heel or toe lost about five yards of distance and were a few yards offline. Shots struck high and low on the face were affected even less. No doubt the range mats helped (particularly on the “high on the clubface” shots, which on grass, would have been fat), but the results were still surprising. Play during rounds of golf did nothing to lead me to any different conclusion than: these are incredibly forgiving irons for better players.
If you’re a golfer who likes to work the ball with every shot you take, these clubs may impose a bit of a ceiling on your ability to do so. However, such players are few and far between these days, particularly within the i15’s target market. The i15 excels at hitting the ball high in the air – it’s fairly easy to hit a 7-iron with a 9-iron trajectory and a normal 7-iron’s distance if you need to clear a tree, for example – but it lacks the ability to really go downstairs, what with the thick sole and the tungsten weight. Though I understand the modern trend towards putting more weight in the sole, I still wish the center of gravity was a bit higher specifically for this knock-down, escape-from-trees shot.
Golfers in the northern states know that the lies can get somewhat “cuppy” in the spring and fall, and though I feared that the thicker soles on the i15 might cost me some striking quality from these cuppy lies, that never turned out to be the case. The normal adjustments one would make for a cuppy lie – moving the ball back a smidge in your stance to ensure a bit more downward angle of attack – worked just fine with the i15s. If anything, the thicker sole and lower center of gravity helped with those lies, as you could catch them a tad thin and still get a fairly normal ballflight and distance.
The i15s have grooves which conform to the 2010 groove rule, so I’ve got to mention something which will again become a factor in golf: the flier. The i15s are susceptible to flier lies, as I think all irons in 2010 will be, and golfers everywhere will have to learn the lost art of reading their lies. The i15s are what they are – neither better nor worse than other clubs with the “new” grooves, and I personally think having the occasional flier lie is fun.
Overall, the i15s were impressive in terms of forgiveness, consistency of ball flight and distance, and in providing uniform, consistent feel to the golfer within a wide range of strike positions.
Specifications
PING’s i15 irons have the following specs:
Club Length Loft ° Lie ° Offset Bounce ---- ------ ------ ----- ------ ------ 3 38.75" 21.0 59.25 .26" -2.7 4 38.25" 24.0 60.00 .22" -1.8 5 37.75" 27.0 60.75 .19" 0.8 6 37.25" 30.0 61.50 .17" 2.8 7 36.75" 33.0 62.25 .14" 5.0 8 36.25" 37.0 63.00 .11" 6.0 9 35.75" 41.0 63.75 .09" 8.0 PW 35.50" 46.0 64.00 .07" 9.0 3I-9I swingweight is D0; PW is D2
I was going to compare these numbers against some other clubs in the same niche (one spot down from any company’s “for the best players wanting the most feel” irons), but this is a PING i15 review, and I don’t want to throw in the names of other clubs (and exclude others in the same market) just for the sake of comparison.
I will say that I found that the PING i15s tended to have as much as or more offset, particularly in the longer irons, than many of their peers. Their lengths and lofts are “fair” – they don’t “give you more distance” via a 37.5″ 40° pitching wedge. The bounces had the widest range, but that’s largely due to the negative loft in the 3I. By the time the i15s get to the 6-iron or so they matched up well with the others.
This toe-angle photo gives a great view of the thickness of the sole and topline. Whether or not these are too thick or just right is a matter of personal taste.
The i15s are available in sets of 3-PW, and come with either the PING-designed AWT steel (Soft R, R, S and X flexes) or TFC 149i graphite shaft (L, Soft R, R and S flexes). MSRP is $115 per club with steel shafts and $142.50 per club with graphite shafts.
Overall
The i15 remains true to its PING roots while taking advantage of newer technology. If you’re looking for a more consistent iron game, they deserve a look: they offer a consistent ball flight, distance, and dispersion when struck almost anywhere on the clubface. You won’t get the marshmallow feeling on a well-struck shot, but nearly everything will feel “solid” instead, and that’s a tradeoff I think a lot of people are willing to make.
As always a great review. I may be in market for new irons next year and I like Ping as a brand therefore will be likely to trial these. (Personally, through my teen years I lusted after a set of Ping Eye2 irons; indeed to this day I believe they remain among the best cavity irons ever produced.)
I note in your review a hesitancy to make direct comparisons versus other brand irons however given you play Titleist AP2’s I’d be interested in how you think these compare to the AP2’s? (Indeed is that a fair comparison or would you rank the Ping’s ‘S’ lineup against the AP2 line?)
Many thanks.
I’m playing TaylorMade R9 TPs currently, actually (for an upcoming review) and the i15s are fairly similar to those. The R9s have a little more feel and a little less forgiveness, and the AP2s are probably a little further in the same direction for both (the most feel of the three with the least forgiveness). They’re all very close, though, so it may come down to looks or preferred brands.
“Feel” here is two things, too. The first is the buttery softness (or lack thereof), and the second is “where exactly did I hit that on the face.” The PING i15s are incredibly forgiving – perhaps the most forgiving “for good players” clubs I’ve ever hit – but lack a little of both types of feel found on the other two sets.
My preference is always for feel over forgiveness, but I’m in the minority. I care more about hitting – and feeling – good golf shots than my score at the end of the day. 🙂
Erik
Nice review. I have had the i10’s for a little more than two years and have enjoyed them. My question is whether you have hit the i10’s and how they compare to the i15’s. Do you think they are worth buying the new irons?
Thanks
Thanks Erik.
In my heart I agree with you, feel over forgiveness; but I’m at a stage in my life when 1-2 games a week is the very most I can manage and therefore I need the forgiveness.
I look forward to your upcoming review of the R9 TP’s.
Do you think that these irons will be a good upgrade from a set of look alike King Cobras ( King Snakes) . Would like your input please.
Forgiveness for the “better player”. I’m an mid-fifties golfer playing G2’s. I like the look and feel of the i15’s better than the G15’s on the range. Are the i15’s inappropriate for an 18-20 handicapper?
Well, I tried these out at the range last night. As a consequence, I will be ordering a set and by the turn of the year, the i15s will be replacing my current Mizuno MP57s.
No doubt, the Mizunos are an infinitely better looking club and when you strike them pure, it is a wonderful feeling. That said, you miss the ‘meat’ of the club by very much and you know about it, not only from the feel of the strike, but also the end result.
As Erik pointed out above, even if you catch the ball towards the toe or the heel of the i15s you still get a reasonable result. Distances were a little better (maybe 5-10yds) than with my MP57s, but the consistency was far superior. I was hitting shot after shot the the same spot on the range, something that I’ve not been able to do with the Mizunos.
Just for the sake of it, I also tried the G15s. These clubs are like sniper rifles, just point and shoot – all they want to do is go high and straight, plus the distances were even better than the i15s. Personally, I couldn’t get used to the increased bulk of the clubhead, but if you are a higher handicapper, the G15s are the club to go for.
At the end of the session I was asking myself why I had made playing golf so difficult for myself the last couple of years. I had been seduced by my Mizunos and gotten blinded by love.
Now I am looking forward to getting my game back on track!
For the better player? Are these clubs only for the low to scratch golfer? I am looking to purchase a set to be my last set and would like your opinion on this. Thank you.
I’m an 11 hcap, so you definitely don’t need to be low or even scratch to handle these sticks, but you should be a relatively good ball striker. Although they are forgiving, they are definitely not game improvement clubs.
Personally, if you’re an 18 or higher and not a good ball striker, I think the g15s are probably more your cup of tea.
If you’re on the fence, you could get a mixed set, with i15s for the shorter clubs and g15s for the longer irons…
Tim, I’m a 20 handicapper, hit the ball pretty well and have just been fitted for Ping i15’s. The Pro reckons that from 5-iron down there’s not much between the G15 and i15. I tried them both and frankly didn’t see a difference. I just like the looks of the i15 over the G15. Hope this helps.
That’s the target market. That doesn’t mean there aren’t exceptions, and with PING, there are a lot of exceptions simply because of how forgiving their clubs tend to be. I would encourage a mid- or even high-handicapper to give these irons a shot alongside the G15 or any others they’re considering.
Thank you guys for giving me your input! I have hit both the G15 & I15 and tend to like the I15 better . Not too keen on the really wide sole of the G15. Thanks again this will be my first set of PINGS, I am really lookin forward to playin with them soon.
Dimestacker…I ordered my i15’s yesterday aswell.
Not sure where you getting yours but I priced them up on the web then had a discuss with my Pro. Managed to negotiate a 9 hole playing lesson and a couple of free clinics to better than bridge the difference. I work on the basis of supporting my club and giving him every opportunity to compete just don’t be afraid to negotiate. I’ve heard a number of guys who got clubs elsewhere then try and give the Club Pro a hard time when they don’t work out!
Maybe this will start another thread?
Dimestacker…I ordered my i15’s yesterday aswell.
`JB What is your color code? And by the way congratulations!! I am standard length with Red Dot.
JB Hey Dimestacker – standard yellow dot. Be back in toich once I’ve started using them!
Erik, what is your opinion on the level of golfer for which “feel and workability” really become important.
I mean, beyond the realm of personal preference (“I like to have more feel for the impact site, and I like the ability to shape the shot more”)…what level of golfer do you think “needs” more workability and feel than typical irons (by typical, I refer to what golf digest calls “game improvement” and “super game improvement” level irons) in order to play up to their potential?
Stina Sternberg at Golf Digest recently wrote in a blog post that she has been using or experimenting with a set of super game improvement clubs. She is a professional level player (not touring pro, but still professional level), and I found it intriguing that she would consider making that move. I also know a Callaway sales rep where I live who about 2-3 years ago provided a local club pro (a man) with a set of Callaway Big Bertha (super game improvement) irons, which he used to win a high level regional tournament.
I wonder if in 20 years we are going to see everyone playing game improvement and super game improvement clubs.
It depends entirely on the golfer. Some are content to hit the ball within a reasonable distance of center on the clubs, to hit the ball within a reasonable yardage every time, and to shoot reasonable scores even if their game isn’t “on” that day.
Others are not. Others derive joy from shotmaking, and simply use the golf course and often the scores as accessories to what they truly enjoy: the great feel of pulling off the shot exactly as you’d intended.
Given that some PGA Tour players use clubs that I’d regard as shovels on sticks, I reject the notion that it’s primarily determined by skill level, though certainly that’s a factor.
I doubt it. But that depends on what you call “game improvement” clubs too. True blades are tougher to find, but is the AP2 a “game improvement” club? TaylorMade’s “R9 TP”? Are the i15s?
That answer is going to be different for everyone too, particularly as R&D teams figure out how to maintain feel and workability while improving forgiveness.
…well he is an exception..but kenny perry has done well with r7 game improvement irons..and that is the std…r7…not the tp’s like so many think he plays…
Originally I got the R7 TPs, when I was 17 or 18 handicap against the advice of my instructor. On the assumption that if I didn’t swing well, I was going to pay for it. In beginning I did, but now two years later I play to a 12.5 handicap.
Now that I have both improved my swing, both technically and in tempo and because I have better understanding of my swing, I think I am ready to go back to the game improvement irons.
This review is very timely and i5’s attract me a lot, provides it seems the best of both worlds, game improvement in the longer irons and performance in the shorter irons. Only trouble is, I have little confidence I will have a job in six months, so this is going to have to wait, until that situation improves.
I’m shooting low 80’s now, and want to break that margin. I’ve been playing Ping Eye II’s since I started playing. I love them to bits, but I think it’s time to move on.
Would the i15’s be a logical upgrade?
I am currently looking for a new set of irons. I play Mizuno MP-32 right now, but I’m looking for a more forgiving set. I’m, also, left-handed and live in a rural community, so I do not have a chance to hit the irons the right-handers do and get extremely frustrated about that. From looking at website reviews and right-handed clubs at a couple of golf stores, I’ve pretty much decided to get either, Ping i15, Titleist AP2, Cleveland CG7 Black Pearl or Taylor Made R9. I like the looks of all four and, just swinging the right-handed models back and forth, I have, probably, decided to get one of them. I’m about a 10-12 handicapper and wondered which iron would be your preference.
Thanks.
Im an 18 handicapper. I have hit both ping irons. I like the I-15 but lack ball striking consistency. Im thinking of going with a mixed set: G-15 for 4, 5, 6, 7 and I-15 for 8, 9, PW and UW. What do you guys think?
This “workability” factor seems to me is an oxymoron. The only reason you should need to work the ball is if you messed up the previous shot, direction wise. Which only can mean you could’nt control your direction so well on the previous shot! Would’nt you be better off if you had used a forgiving club on the previous shot?
In my own game, I don’t have length but I do have good control on direction and I rarely need to “work” the ball inspite of all those trees lining our fairways. Even on the dog leg fairways, if you just hit straight towards the desired landing for the next shot, you don’t need to work the ball for that next shot.
So may be we all would be better off to keep the ego factor in check and select those clubs which you feel most comfortable hitting straight.
Bobby, that’s simply not true. If there’s water to one side of the green, or the pin is tucked behind a bunker but there’s room on the other side, a good player will often work the ball away from trouble or into a flag even if their previous shot left them right in the middle of the fairway.
Erik, I understand what you are saying about approach shots to a tight pin location. In such situations, I try to hit the safer area on green with a normal straight shot because the straight shots give me the best control on distance.
But I can understand for players much better than me might try to work the ball so that it ends up nearer to pin from a safer direction. Those better players can probably work the ball AND control distance at the same time.
I am a two handicap and have been playing ping irons since I was a kid. I currently play I3+ blades. I can work the ball fairly well but also like forgiveness as my schedule does not permit me to practice a ton. I was attracted to the i15 due to my loyalty to ping and its combintation of players iron and forgiveness. However, I really like the look of the AP2. I tried both in a simulator and hit the i15 a little longer and straighter on a consistent basis. The AP2 felt and looked wonderful but performance is what matters most to me. Thus, leaning toward the i15 – also due to my reluctance to change brands. thanks for the review. Very thoughtful.
Erik,
Great Review!!! I suppose you tested the I15 irons using the PING AWT steel shafts? I have read many reviews on this iron and people seem to be concerned with hitting it too high…I am thinking about the I15 irons but with the PING Z-Z65 stiff shafts…this should help to bring the ball flight down…any thoughts?
Hi,
I purchased a set of I15 5-W with Nippon NS 850R last november. I like the distance compare to my EYE2+ and also forgiveness (stronger lofts help). On the other hand the coating of the clubs is gone and the head are scratching very easily, my set looks like a three years old one… hum, hum.
Is anyone experiencing the same thing?
Regards,
Bertrand, Paris, France
Great review as always. I am ordering a set of i15 4-6 and s57 7-p. I definatly like to work the ball and love hitting knockdowns and 4 iron from the tree’s or trouble. In your review you stated it was hard to keep it down and hit knockdown’s. Do you think it is the more the awt shaft than the club I am ordering s300 , what do you think?
I am a 10hc and have been playing the I5’s for the past few years. I just purchased a set of I15 irons, blue dot (as recommended in fitting). I love the clubs but am having issues with my mid to long irons. Some hits feel like I’m hitting a metal wall with the amount of vibration and the shot turns out horrible…and it progressively gets worse from 7 to 3 iron. I have a feeling this has something to do with the lie angle as the length gets further away from my body. Anyone else have this problem or can share a solution?
Wow!!! Looks like there is no definitive answer on anything!!! I am in the market for new irons and really looking at the G15 & i15 irons. Only thing is I am a 20 handicap, but am really looking to crank up my game. I went to golfers warehouse and hit the i15s much better than the G15. Everything I read though tells me that I should go for the game improvement iron?!? What do you guys think? Should I go simply on the feel from the swings I have had indoors?
I (58, 7.1 index) was playing at a local club yesterday and while warming up I noticed a guy at the end of the range who had a distinct swing and walked over to watch him hit balls. I was talking to his swing coach and he introduced me to the fellow, Chien Soon Lu, Champions Tour player (T3 Toshiba Classic a couple of weeks ago) and he was pounding his driver (Ft3) down the range. I walked over to his bag and notiiced a full set of i15 irons with stock Ping shafts!! Better players are using them, and I just might make the switch. I played the i10’s for half a season when they first came out (Yellow dot) and liked them, but went back to my r7 TP’s. Recently put the g15 driver, 4 wood and 2 hybrids in the bag and I love them (all stock graphite) I will probably need to get fit for the irons cause I might be leaning towards the graphite shafts, since I like them so much in my woods. Got “web fit” on the Ping web site (Blue dot, Reg, or Stiff) but I want to get this one right. Local guy in So Cal has all the gear to get me fit. I recommend doing this to all of you that are considering buying new irons. As Erik stated, Ping is second to none in the fitting arena.
I was wondering if the ball flight is a lot like the g10s?
i remember reading something about some asking about Ping blades coming out. i just saw on a japanesse website about new Ping answer Forged irons coming out soon maybe that will help out the guy who was looking info on new ping irons. the kinda look like the i15’s its a nice clean look with the weight in the center of the cavity.
I have been playing the I-3’s for about 8 years and have gone from a 20HC to a 12 HC. Just pick up a new set at a PING demo day. After hitting 50 -60 balls with both the I-15″s and the G-15″s the PING rep and I both agreed on a mixed set of 4I-6I are G-15 and 7I-PW are I-15’s. This mixed set works great for all aspects of my game. This years goal it a single digit HC and things are looking good.
I have replaced my three lowest PING i3+ Blade irons; 5, 6 & 7; that I carry with the same i15 iron. I had the 7 iron weakened 1 degree to keep appropriate loft gaps with my i3+ irons.
The i15 irons have a larger sweetspot and a longer head than my i3+ Blades, but with a similar look at set up. I am not comfortable with the look of the G15’s at set up with larger offset, thicker topline and very wide sole, so the i15’s are what I have been waiting for PING or someone else to bring out. The Mizuno MX-300’s were my other consideration.
I plan to replace the 8 & 9 iron and maybe the pitching wedge as my budget allows. Your review was very helpful with my club search.
I have had 3 sets of Ping Irons in my golfing life. Two sets of Eye2’s ( second set fitted to me) and the G2’s I play now.
I play to a 10.5 and was encouraged to try the i15’s against my G2’s.
I don’t know if it is between my ears or if the i15’s are better for my swing.
I was consistently 5 yards longer with the i15 7 iron than I was with my G2 7 iron.
This hour and a half session, which included some long chips, really sold me.
When Ping had their Demo day at the course, I went and was fitted by the ping rep.
Nothing against the guys in the shop, but the Ping guys fit players every day.
I bought 5 through PW and can’t wait for them to get here.
I wouldn’t suggest them to players with a handicap higher than 15, that’s G15 territory.
I’ve hit the I3’s for almost 10 years now, tried R7’s, Callaway X’s, Mizuno 900’s and always go back. Ordered the i15’s (green dot steel) and love the wedge through 6 iron. I too noticed the vibration and just lousy feeling on the 5 iron down and checked the swingweight against my I3’s. Sent them to Ping, had them raise the weight from D0 to D2 and now love them through the set. I’m a 10 handicap due to putting, not the soft high launch of these irons.
Just got fitted for i15 last Saturday. At first my intention was to go for G15 for the extreme forgiveness. Hey even K.J. CHOI is using a G15 so why shouldn’t I who is just an 11hcp be using it too.
My webfit says a Yellow dot +0.25. But during fitting and hitting on the lie board, it’s the blue dot that has the best ball flight and consistent slight soft draw which I prefer also a consistent centre hit shown on the tape on the clubface. The Yellow went straight to slight fade with just a slight inconsistent clubface hit mark. After discussion with he fitter, I went for the Blue. Since a slight draw can be easily turned to fade by just opening the clubface a little more but a fade would be harder to draw.
Hitting the G15 gives a plain straight ball only, not easy to shape ball. But the i15 gives a more exciting feeling as I can shape it when I want to. And the clubfitter didn’t mind me choosing i15 the way I hit them better than the G15.
So there goes my order for a Blue dot i15 6-PW.
Will use a G15 hybrid for the longer iron. Don’t want to waste time learning hitting a long iron. TIme better spent lowering my handicap to single.
I have tried the i15 7 iron out of the fitting cart a few times, but got to a Ping demo day yesterday and really liked the i15’s. They felt really solid and were consistent. I ended up getting the 4-7 iron in yellow dot, and the 8-PW a shade flatter in the blue dot. I got a good deal on them; $500 tax in with trading in my i10’s.
I get them in about a week and a half, so I will post something else once I have played a few rounds with them. Can’t wait.
I just returned my Taylormade Tour Burners yesterday and got myself he i15’s..I wanted to get this clubs back in Feb but I purchased the taylors…I found myself hitting the I’s great i just hope for a 12 handicap i purchased the right set…
Does someone know if I can get the i15’s without this horrible red graphite shaft?
My fiiter recommends steel shafts AWT in stiff flex but I really want to go through graphite…
Thanks to let me know
The answer is a strong No. I was sold on the idea last year that I needed G10’s not i10’s or the S57’s. So in 09 I bought a set and while I hit the G10’s well I hated the size of the sole on those clubs and hit a lot of fat shots. I went into the store and started hitting a demo set of S57’s. To my amazement I hit those better and the reaction of off center shots was really no different than my G10’s. I was so mad i bought them. Even though I’m around a 15 handicap I can hit these clubs as good or better than the G Series.
So my advice, go with the whatever you like. Like any club in your bag, you’ll find a way to hit that little white ball. Better to do it with something you like rather than something someone wants to sell you.
1st set of pings ISI-K w/JZ cushin-stiff, sholdn’t have sold
them for i3+, cslite-reg w/cushin, got rid of these and found
some ISI-K with reg JZcushin, alright but then found ISI-S
with JZcushin stiff and these are GREAT. By the way,
Lee Westwood plays Ping Irons with JZCushin shafts. The
shaft means more to playing well than even Tom Wishon
states in his book. The AWT’s seem good, forget the CS lite ! Z-Z65 is tip stiff/low kick point and still made but you’d
better be strong, DGS same. Most people say the head is
most important but I believe the wrong head and the right
shaft will produce better results than the right head and
the wrong shaft ! My question on the I15,s is what wedges
are people using since the PW is where the set ends-I’ve
always preferred the SW to match, too many different sticks
in your bag(hybrids, wedges, etc.) with too many different
shafts does not help feel or consistency ! Remember golf
is ACD (1-accuracy,2-consistency,3-distance), in that order!
Just traded my Mizuno MP-52 (DG stiff) for a set of 4-PW Ping i15’s with Regular steel.
Handicap 8, and just went through my first ever fitting using Ping nFlight system. I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t need to smash the ball with stiff shafts anymore – it’s costing me a fortune in chiropractor bills for my back.
i15 are very easy to hit, as long as you let the club head do the work. Who cares about working the ball when you get it consistently on target.
I recommend the Ping fitting system. Just make sure it’s outdoors and you can see the actual ball flight.
I just ordered a set of the i15’s (3-GW) in Stiff Flex. I’m an 8 handicap and have been playing the same used set of Titleist 775CB’s (Regular Flex) for a couple years now. I consistently hit the i15’s about 15-20 yards further then my 775CB irons. Can’t wait to get them in!!
After years of hitting nothing but blades, my last set was the muscle-back RAC by Taylormade, I made the switch to the i15’s. I have yet to play with them, but on testing them, I found them to be the most playable and affordable of the Ping line. It’s going to take some time to get used to that thick top line, but at 51, I can’t hit the sweet spot as often as I used to. The pain from slight off-center shots has gotten to be too much for my self=esteem and my hands. Wish me luck.
Great review. I love the PING brand and being a local AZ boy have always been a fan.
I’m currently gaming Wilson Ci7’s. They seem very similar to the i15’s with regard to forgiveness and still maintaining some feel and workability.
Have you hit the Ci7’s? If so, how did they compare to the i15?
First of all I have to admit I’m a club ho so I switch irons quite often. My favorites have always been Ram ProForged (best feel of all when rarely pured), Mizuno TZoid Pro’s and Precept forged; however I never scored best with these great “feel” irons. My best scoring has been with Ping Eye 2’s and Ping Zings with a dabble in the Ping ISIs irons. These I15’s intrigued me by their color scheme, thinner top line and similarities to the Eye 2 and Zing’s without the extra bulges. My first shot with a 4 iron was a horrendous toe shot that hooked and felt like it should have been OB left. Instead it barely missed the fairway on the left. I had to get used to the very light swingweight since I was used to D-2 and D-3. I made several practice swings and decided Im just going to swing slow since coming over the top seemed inevitable. So I hit the next shot with the same 4 iron with my confidence shattered from the swing before with a very slow swing. I expected the worst of a 150yd weak fade. I hit it in the center this time and look up. WOW 210 yds and on the green from the rough. I kept swinging light the rest of the round what felt like I wasn’t even trying compared to my forged glory clubs. Shots were mainly straight and Longer than my beloved Rams and Mizunos. They certainly didn’t have that buttery “feel” but if I can do this easy swing and get these results with my first time playing in a month, how good can I get with these sticks. Answer: Much better. I have tried Callaways x-18, x-21pro and other very thick sets but they turned me off so much I felt like swinging shovels and feeling nothing. These look like players clubs but forgive like the shovels without the 8-pw big head loss of accuracy. I certainly can tell where I hit them on the face but the results don’t reflect some of the horrendous swings I made with them. They certainly make me feel like my youth days of Eye 2’s but much hotter off the face and without the grooves tearing shears of the balls. Yes you do lose backspin but they are long. I would say a club longer than my forged irons and equal to half a club longer than the Callys when swung well. The swingweight has been quite an adjustment but the playability of the 8-pw is what separates these from the big headed cally’s and other sets.
I’m a 17 hcp and play with Ping rapture irons. For the moment I’m playing a lot and feel the time is there to switch to a more player’s iron. Do you think the i15’s are the right choice?
The Ping rep was out with his magic tent today after my round so I went down and hit a bucket or so with the i15 7-iron. I’d hit them off the launch monitor before, but never at the range, and it was — if not eye opening — a real pleasure. SOOOOO easy to just stuff a good one right down the middle without even trying. I’ve been playing MP-57s for a few years now, and don’t feel like giving them up just because that feel of a perfect shot is so hard to forget, but if all the i15s perform as well as that 7-iron right off the shelf, I could basically drop them in my bag and not even blink. It’s true, you don’t “feel” the shot nearly as well, because it feels like you hardly swing and the ball just rockets off into outer space. Definite travel clubs for me.
Mizzy 63s felt better when hit solid. But even as a better than scratch golfer, there are too many mishits. The Pings gave me much more confidence.
So I just ordered 4-PW with kbs shafts. Get fitted, because the shaft made a huge difference in trajectory and carry distance. project x went way too high, dg and others too low, kbs was just right. 6 iron around 180 yds with a 90 mph clubhead speed.
Also, the lie and loft options with the pings were better. 2 degrees upright, 3/4″ longer. I was hitting it pure by the end.
I could care less about working the ball. It’s pretty much a fallacy. Better players do this when absolutely required. But if a player hits a natural fade, they aren’t suddenly going to hit a draw when there is trouble right. They just aim left and hope their fade is there. Anyone doing more is overthinking it. Go to the range at a tour event. Rarely will you see a player work the ball both directions. Maybe 1-2 shots to get the feel if a shot is needed, but in general they stick with their bread and butter.
Just switched to i15s’ from 2009 Taylormade TPs’ and found that I’m at least one club longer with the Pings. My Taylormade TPs’ had the Dynamic Gold S300 shaft and I found I was fading the longer irons more than I liked – so I switched to the Ping i15s’ which have a more off-set head. The off-set has really helped, but find I almost draw the ball too much. I play off a 3 handicap and have only had the Pings for a few months – so I hope to get them dialed in soon. I have the Ping AWT stiff shaft, green dot.
I find the Pings are a really decent set of clubs, but if anyone can offer suggestions regarding different brands it would be appreciated.
Hey guys, so from looking at the timestamps…I’m guessing no one comes on this thread anymore, but I just thought that I’d throw it out there.
I’ve been toying with getting a new set of irons for a year or two now. I’ve never really been able to get out on the course enough to justify dropping the cash on a new set of clubs. Back in high school, my uncle gave me a set of Ping Eye 2′s that I absolutely loved until the older brother stole them. Now I’m using some Hogan Edge irons that I can hit very well up until about the 5 iron. I have to hit the things absolutely pure for them to go anywhere resembling a straight line…otherwise its a shank off into the woods. Don’t even ask me about the 3 iron, that club singlehandedly made me buy a 7 wood that I use in all situations, even one that would favor an iron. It’s been working fairly well for me, about 210-220 consistently, but I’d like to get back into the higher irons.
I’ve been going to the local golf shop and trying out the i15′s and really like them a lot…it seems a lot easier to get solid contact on the 3-5 irons, but I’ve noticed that I don’t get the same feeling from a really solid hit like I did on the old Hogans (relics they may be ). I also don’t have the ability to try them out at a full range to see the ball flight, but I can normally tell from the feel of the club whether or not I at least hit a solid shot that would go where I wanted.
Before I buy, are there any other comparables out there that I should give a try? I’m about a 15-18 handicap golfer, but mainly due to putting…I’m normally on and putting for par about 12 holes per round, and when I’m not in that situation, it’s usually because I put my second shot 100 yards up and 30 yards to the right/left!
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!
As a side note, I have been playing with these Hogans for about 5 years now, so I am used to playing with very, very difficult irons. I actually took my 5 iron in to the store to compare with the i15 in the indoor range and that difference was unbelievable. Three people actually gave me a hard time about my club!
To JonPSU85…… I purchased a new set of G15’s last November after a 10 year layoff. The only thing I will say is technology had made many inroads for golf equipment (of all kinds). You owe it to yourself to try some of the new clubs and find one that “speaks” to you for your style, swing and game.
While I love the G15s, I find I do hit them a little higher and as a 12 hndcp I’m exploring my options to include I15s and a few other brands.
Ciao!
Hey JonPSU85, I have played both the G and I 15’s. I used the G15’s for the last two months of 2010. I have the AWT stiff shaft. I also use the Pro V1x. The frustration I had with the G’s was the ball flight. Very high. I agree with all of the other posters regarding the ability to hit straight, flush shots from just about any lie. I was looking for a lower ball flight with the ability to work the ball some. I got fitted for the i15’s this summer. I have the ZZ65 shaft, which produces a lower trajectory. I compensated for this by strengthening the loft by one half club. The i15’s do not provide the feedback that a forged blade does, but I can live with that. I agree with an earlier poster that the shaft is the most important item. Make sure you are able to test the AWT, KBS, and ZZ65. It’s all about personal feel and confidence. This comes from 40 years of golf experience and playing PING equipment since I started. Good luck.
For those golfers trying to decide between G15 or I15, it depends more on how you play with offset irons. Some have a tendency to slice, and play better with moderate offset irons. Others like me (14 handicap) are not highly skilled but the offset plays tricks with my brain.
Some highly skilled players (includes a few tour pro’s!) actually play with the G-series irons. You can now buy a customized I15 iron with stock graphite shaft for $100 & stock steel shaft for $80. Check Golfsmith website to order. I play with 6-PW I15’s & Taylormade hybrids for 4 & 5 irons.
I have played these irons for like 10 years and they’re unbelievably good. So easy to hit well! So good I lost them and bought them again. I’ll probably buy some new ones soon but it’s gonna have to be something as good as the PING i15s. Long, forgiving, and beautiful. Thanks PING!