PING are renowned for producing forgiving performance irons, but not a brand you would traditionally associate for producing blades. As technology has advanced over recent years, the traditional blade created for the better player has evolved. In the past, a blade was for the purists with a swing speed more than 110mph and a consistent strike pattern, but now top amateurs and Tour players want enhanced forgiveness and performance from their blades.
PING has some of the best R&D in these areas and their recent i530 blade design has the better player in mind that is searching for some extra yards.
The blade enthusiasts will appreciate the thin top line, narrow sole and shallow face height. The i530’s clean, premium look features a new machining technique that thins the back wall of the hollow-body design, saving weight to increase forgiveness and tighten dispersion.
The new PING i530 also packs a punch. Enhanced yardages come from an internal weight pad that provides a deeper and thinner face-to-sole transition for more face flexing. This then allows weight to be pushed down to lower the centre of gravity for more ball speed. A polymer applied inside the head on the back of the face improves feel and sound while maximising face bending.
The body design contributes to distance by accentuating face bending. The lower CG is more aligned with where impact occurs, and distance-optimised lofts help ensure more distance and higher max height.
This club is aimed at the mid to low handicapper that is looking for more ball speed. They are like the PING i230 on steroids, but with all clubs with a lower CG and strong lofts keep a close eye on the spin rates when it comes to holding greens in the Middle East. The loft on a i530 7 iron is just 29 degrees to compared to 33 in the i230. The feel isn’t the same as a forged blade, but the polymer insert does prevent the i530 feeling like a hybrid. You are still able to shot shape but have the comfort of knowing you are not going to be penalised massively in terms of distance from a poor strike. For this reason we are huge fans of the i530.
When one of the games’ leading manufacturers, that is a leader in the field of game improvement irons, comes out with their most powerful iron to date, you need to pay attention. These clubs are not about feel and workability, these are designed for the golfer that needs help to get the ball further down the fairway and as straight as possible. Forget spin rates and holding greens. These bad boys are about making the game more enjoyable by adding muscle to the bag.
The set starts at a five iron and goes up to a wedge, with additional utility clubs available in 45, 50 and 56 degrees. Don’t get fixated on the number on the sole of these clubs, as they are all about assisting the higher handicap player achieve a consistent distance. The five iron for example is just 21.5 degrees and can be adjusted in the power spec to 20 degrees. Yes, a Tour player with the right shaft could carry the ball further than a their three iron, but that is not what these clubs are about.
High, straight and long
As expected, there is more offset to the head, which PING says is a key factor in helping to get the ball airborne easier and more consistently.
The lofts of each iron have also been custom engineered, to make sure that the configuration allows maximum performance right through the bag. The G730 wedges have not been added to make up the numbers. All four wedges have machined faces and grooves to improve performance and added control.
PING has obviously listened to players that used the outgoing 710 model. The black finish on the 710 did not wear well and that has been replaced by a more durable Hydropearl 2.0 silver finish. The new PurFlex insert has also improved the feel in the 730 head and gives a better sense of feedback from the strike. Something we feel is overlooked in game improvement irons.
