PING G15 to Updated PING G Series Club - Which One?

[Speedgoat44]

Hello All - I'm a big fan of G15s - so solid and got me to high single digits a few years ago.  Now 50 and playing to a 12,  I'd like to update my irons for the shallow reason of wanting nicer cosmetics, and a slightly thinner sole.  Lame, I know.  I thought I'd found it with Cleveland TA5s, but hitting them both side by side, I think the Pings are slightly more forgiving and more stable on hits out towards the toe.  TA's are nice though.

I think my options start at G25s and run the gamut up to G430s.   For those of you that have updated similarly, what was your experience like?  Which of the updated models are most likely to be a decent upgrade?  Although this is a shallow move on my part, I don't want to forgo utility in favor of better looks altogether.  I tried the i series (E1) for awhile, and I didn't like them as much as the G15s.  They were ok, but my better rounds were almost (!) always with the SGI clubs.  I'm a bit lost in how the G700s are better/worse than the G425s or 430s, or even how they would compare to G25-G30, not to mention the 400s, 410s, g, G max, etc etc.

I've hit g20s and they are identical to g15s in my experience.  ping really cranked out a bunch of updates in seemingly a short amount of time!  I guess that's what it takes to sell clubs these days, who knows. 

Anyway,  I'm hoping the g25s and g30's could work simply because they're way more affordable.  Please help me make sense of all of these G-series options as they compare to stock g15s in a regular flex.  I basically want a G15 in a slightly slimmer profile. i play all kinds of irons, but I want my gamers to have the consistency I love in the 15s with slightly better looks. Thanks!!!!

SG  

[boogielicious]

Without being able to try older models, you are just going to have to pick one. I did that with my current irons. I found a 6 iron on eBay and build one up to test. I liked it then found a set. You may be able to find just the 6 irons of difference models to try before committing. 

[billchao]

I don’t think you’re going to get a much thinner top line with anything from the G series. Newer ones might bevel them slightly differently to make them appear slightly thinner but the thickness is part of the design of the club.

@Speedgoat44 if you are near a golf store you can see what they have in the used section and compare irons with what you have to see if you find ones you might like better.

[ChetlovesMer]

9 hours ago, Speedgoat44 said:

ping really cranked out a bunch of updates in seemingly a short amount of time!  I guess that's what it takes to sell clubs these days, who knows. 

It may feel that way, but it's not so much as you might think. For a long time PING ran with the Eye-2's. For like 10 years they were the best selling irons in the US. But that's ancient history. Then from about 2000-2013 Ping updated their irons every 3 years. From 2013 onward, and it looks like it will be this way going forward, they only update their irons every 2 years. 

The current PING update strategy is to put out new G series irons every other year on the odd years. Then put out new i-series irons every other year on the even years. They sprinkle in additional launches like the "Karstens" the "i-blades" and the "blueprint" irons here and there, but still far fewer updates then the majority of the big brands. 

 

10 hours ago, Speedgoat44 said:

I'd like to update my irons for the shallow reason of wanting nicer cosmetics, and a slightly thinner sole.  Lame, I know.  I thought I'd found it with Cleveland TA5s, but hitting them both side by side, I think the Pings are slightly more forgiving and more stable on hits out towards the toe. 

Sounds like you want a thinner sole, but your strikes need the chunkier sole. 

I think you have 3 options. 

1. Stick with what you have. Nobody gives a poop what your irons look like if you hit greens in regulation. 
2. Get an updated set of the G-series. Or similar thicker soled irons. Perhaps you just want a change for change sake?
3. Improve your striking to support thinner sole irons. 

There is, of course, one more option. ... Go to Play-It-Again-Sports or similar and buy a really inexpensive but super thin set of butter-knife blades. (My Play-It-Again-Sports has tons of cheap used blades.) Use those clubs for practice and taking lessons. When your strikes are descent enough to support those butter knifes, you can go out and get fit for something half way between the butter knifes and the G15's you currently have. ... Perhaps an i-series if you like Ping? Anyway, the new irons will "feel" very forgiving compared to the butter-knifes you've been practicing with and they will fit what you want your clubs to look like. ... Viola. A win/win! 👍🤪👍