Ping S58 irons

[jmurdock]

Anyone playing these? Opinions?

[907golfer12]

My swing coach has a PING contract and gets clubs for free (basically a staffer), and he lets me try his irons sometimes at lessons, and generally I try his S59's and S58's. Now my coach, he got his S58's last year and played them once and went back to the S59's.

After hitting both, sometimes side by side, heres my comparison:

• S59 are smaller than S58
• S59 feel lighter than S58 (stock weight)
• S59 have a bit lower launch than S58

Personally I like the S59's a lot more than the S58, and like I said earlier, so does my coach. Now granted they are both great irons, and I might buy the S58's from my coach, but again I just think the S59's are a much better set, and the are cheaper

Also, if you are willing to wait PING is coming out with new irons (S57), but I am not sure when they will be released, but I could find out if you would like me to. This would also make the S59' cheaper, as well as the S58's.

Hope this helps, and good luck finding some irons.

[jmurdock]

That would be great if you could find out. Thanks

...I think the S57 is only being released in Japan...

[907golfer12]

No they are going to be released here in America, my pro mentioned them to me at one of my lessons. He was like, "Today I found out that PING is going to come out with new irons, the S57's"

[Ben]

If I weren't on staff with Callaway, I would definitely be playing the S58 or S59s. I LOVE those clubs!

[hawkeye]

Ping have released the S57's - true - but only in Japan at the moment. There have been pictures all over the net for the last few months.

The S58's are the nicest club i've ever hit. What 907golfer says is true about the S59's over the S58's (cheaper, smaller, heavier, lower ball flight, more workable) but I wanted a club that was a little bigger, a little more forgiving but still a players iron. Granted, they cost more but I feel the premium price is justified. The finish is beautiful - not that shiny chrome look that I dislike.

The top line is pretty thin as far as Pings come - it's similar looking than the Titleist 755 and a little thinner than the AP2's. I was a previous Titleist iron-player (DCI 962's for 8 years) but I would go for the S58's over any Titleists today. The S57's look sweet - well the orange bit at the back looks gimmicky (like the 755's - and i've seen a couple of them falling off) - they have that same tungsten weight as the Tour-W wedges too.

My pro is a Ping staff man, he plays the S59's mostly but has put the S58's back in the bag for some forgiveness. I didn't think many people would have this iron becaues it's a Ping - but at the top level: Angel Cabrera won the US Open with them, Lorena Ochoa wins every week with them, Gregory Havret won the Scottish Open with them and at the Walker Cup last year I counted 6 sets among the 20 players - making it the most played iron there.

One thing I would say if you are getting them is - get yourself fitted. You can do it online (I did - and then my pro measured me, same fitting: +1/2, blue dot) though I think the shafts aren't stiff enough for me. I'll look into getting new shafts this summer but the S58 heads are staying for a long time!

[thumper07]

i went with the s59, but i've hit the 58's very nice sticks

-matt

[jmurdock]

I talked to someone at Ping and they said that they are not planning any new releases (S57) this year in the States.

[Bump-n-MI]

Like the 59's but love the 58's. Both definitely launch the ball rather low (not a good combo for a low ball player like myself). Too bad or I'd have a set in my bag.

FYI….good link w/ photos of the 57's http://www.tourspecgolf.com/proshop/...duct_info.html

[jmurdock]

Anyone else out there playing the S58's???

[wolverine318]

They are on my radar. What I have hit of them I like. Maybe a tad too light of a club for my liking. But I would get a different shaft to combat that. I think they default a D0 or D1 swingweight, I THINK am not 100% sure. Everyone I know who has them loves them.

[AndThenISaid]

Are the S59 forgiving at all?

[hawkeye]

Are the S59 forgiving at all?

Yes they are - they're not uber difficult to hit, but in relative terms they require a little more consistency to produce good shots than S58's. I had a choice between the 2 and the little bit of forgiveness swayed it for me.

The S57's look a little more blade-y than either - with less offset and tinner top line. I'll give them a look if they get released in the Western world.

[jmurdock]

Does it make sense that these were a gold medal winner on Golf Digest's hot list in 2007, but a silver medal winner in 2008?

[Dent]

I tried them for the first time a couple days ago, ABO****LY loved them, not matter how bad I hit it it felt amazing!

[jmurdock]

Were you fitted or did you just hit the standard black dots?

[Dent]

Were you fitted or did you just hit the standard black dots?

Standard black dots, Didn't even hit them well and it was going good.

[hawkeye]

Does it make sense that these were a gold medal winner on Golf Digest's hot list in 2007, but a silver medal winner in 2008?

I guess it makes sense - in that the judges decided that there were better clubs in 2008 in comparison. I saw that too - They were gold when I got them and now they're silver!

Well it doesn't really matter what GD says - they are a great club, Lorena Ochoa and Angel Cabrera will tell you as much. Pre GD 2008 and post.