Best Ping Irons 2024
Published:
Which model are the best Ping irons for your game? Here’s a complete guide to each iron in Ping’s 2024 line-up, who they are aimed at, and how they performed when tested by our pro.
JUMP TO: Best Ping Irons | The Data | How We Test | Buying Advice & FAQs
Ping’s line-up is smaller than many of the other biggest brands, but they consistently produce some of the best golf irons and are always very popular among mid- and high-handicappers. That’s not to say they don’t cover for better players, too, with plenty of elite golfers and even tour pros using Ping irons.
Many Ping iron models have a decent lifespan, particularly compared to some other brands who replace or update models every year. Some current Ping models have been around for four years, which is virtually unheard of in the golf industry these days. That doesn’t mean they’re outdated, simply that Ping won’t replace a model until they truly believe its successor offers a significant improvement.
Whether you’re an aspiring tour pro or a beginner golfer, there’s a Ping iron out there for you. Here’s our rundown of the best Ping irons you can choose for your game.
Best Ping Irons 2024
www.pgatoursuperstore.com
The Ping Blueprint was developed in cahoots with tour players including Louis Oosthuizen, who continues to use them, but even among the world’s best golfers it’s not the most-played Ping iron; the i210 and its replacement, the i230, see more action on tour than the Ping Blueprint.
The best blade golf clubs typically have very slim soles, but the Blueprint’s are some of the slimmest we’ve ever laid eyes on. For absolute elite ball-strikers that can mean unrivalled turf interaction, but it also means you need to be a hell of a player to get the most from them.
Read our full Ping Blueprint iron review.
Pros
- A few will love the super-slim soles
- Forged feel
- Traditional lofts will suit some
Cons
- Very unforgiving
- Short distances
| Category: | Muscleback blade |
| Handicap range: | Four and below |
| Construction: | Forged from a single piece of 8620 carbon steel |
| 7-Iron loft: | 34º |
www.pgatoursuperstore.com
Even the best players’ irons are never going to produce launch monitor numbers that wow in terms of ball speed and distance, but the i59 generated a very respectable carry distance of 169 yards in our test, only two yards shorter than the Ping i230, which is 1º stronger in loft.
That said, the i230 generated higher launch, more spin, a steeper descent angle and a tighter shot area than the i59, so will be a better option for a lot of golfers.
Read our full Ping i59 review.
Pros
- Nice looks and feel
- Very controllable for good players
- Decent distance from weak lofts
Cons
- i230 offers better performance in most metrics
| Category: | Players’ |
| Handicap range: | Six and below |
| Construction: | Hollow body with forged 1025 carbon steel chassis (with an aluminium core) and 17-4 stainless steel face |
| 7-Iron loft: | 34º |
www.tgw.com
Our irons test data highlights why the Ping i230 is one of the best players’ irons available. It generated 2mph more ball speed than the Ping i59 iron, while also launching shots higher, with more spin, a greater peak height, and a steeper descent angle. To put it simply, it means shots hit the green and stop quickly.
Ping also improved on the sound and feel of the i210, giving the i230 a thinner face supported by elastomer, which makes it feel more like a forged iron than its predecessor.
The Ping i230 looks good and is one of, if not the most forgiving irons in the players’ category, making it a great option for good golfers who want some help on days when they’re not quite striking it.
Read our full Ping i230 review.
Pros
- Fantastic performance for good players
- Great combination of distance and stopping power
- Nice sound and feel for a cast head
Cons
- Relatively weak lofts mean other irons are longer
| Category: | Players’ Iron |
| Handicap range: | 10 and below |
| Construction: | One piece cast 431 stainless steel |
| 7-Iron loft: | 33° |
www.golfgalaxy.com
The blade length is longer and the soles are wider, but the hosel offset from 7-iron to PW is exactly the same as the Ping i59, so good golfers should find nothing to dislike at address. A little extra offset in the long irons helps launch shots from distance and at lesser swing speeds.
A lot of golfers will be choosing between the Ping i525 and G430 as the distances are pretty evenly matched. If you are an improving player, the i525 might be the best option of the two, whereas golfers whose game needs shoring up may find more comfort in the G430 with its bigger heads, wider soles, and extra offset.
Read our full Ping i525 review.
Pros
- Lots of performance packed into a neat-looking head
- Great speed and distance
- Minimal offset in short irons
Cons
- Not as forgiving as the G430
| Category: | Players’ distance |
| Handicap range: | 12 and below |
| Construction: | Hollow body with cast 17-4 stainless steel chassis and forged maraging steel face |
| 7-Iron loft: | 30.5º |
www.golfgalaxy.com
The Ping G430 are the best-looking G irons so far. Gone is any hint of the boxy head shape of Ping’s older models, with the mid and short irons in the G430 looking particularly attractive.
Traditionalists often argue that strong-lofted irons launch lower, with less spin and a shallower descent angle, meaning shots don’t stop well on the green, but the Ping G430 rubbishes that thinking.
Despite a 1.5° stronger loft than the Ping i525, the G430 launched shots higher, generated more spin and a steeper descent angle. Combine that with great MOI and forgiveness and you get an iron that pretty much does it all.
There’s also a Ping G430 HL (high launch) variant, which looks exactly the same but is 15% lighter and comes with a lighter shaft to help golfers with slower swing speeds generate faster ball speeds and more distance.
Read our full Ping G430 review.
Pros
- Wonderful performance
- Hugely versatile
- Good looks
Cons
- Some better golfers will want a sleeker appearance
| Category: | Mid-Handicap Iron |
| Handicap range: | Eight and above |
| Construction: | Cast 17-4 body with Hyper 17-4 stainless steel face |
| 7-Iron loft: | 29° |
Launch Monitor Data: How the best Ping irons compared
How we tested the best Ping irons
To test golf equipment, we create a controlled indoor environment at Keele Golf Centre and use a premium tour-level golf ball (the Srixon Z-Star). We collect all the data from every shot hit, using a Foresight GC Quad launch monitor.
Why do we use a Srixon Z-Star golf ball?
It would be easy to use just one test golf ball brand every year, but that inevitably leads to criticism for being too closely aligned to one manufacturer, especially if that brand’s equipment performs particularly well. To ensure fairness we like to switch manufacturers for the Top Gear test ball each year. For 2023 we’ve used the Srizon Z-Star.
The brand have just revealed their eighth-generation model, and Srixon General Manager Brian Schielke says “finding the right ball for your game is just as important as finding the right irons or driver, it’s the one piece of equipment you use on every single shot”.
Thanks to the previous Z-Star mopping up 31 wins across all tour global tours last year (that’s 15.5% of the wins available) we know the model is trusted by the world’s very best.
Why do we use a pro tester?
Speak to any golf club engineer about product testing and they all talk about needing a repeatable, reliable strike to offer any sort of valuable comparison. So, whilst we accept not all of the equipment included within our tests was designed for our test pro, what our data shows is a great comparison of how clubs in each particular category differ, which is hugely valuable in helping you narrow your choice as a consumer.
We tested 83 different 7-irons, during which our test pro missed a target green at 170 to 200 yards no more than a dozen times. He got a hole-in-one, lipped out, and hit the flag several times, he also loves hitting golf balls all day long. In short, Neil Wain is the perfect club tester due to his consistency in delivering accurate and reliable comparative data.
We would of course always recommend attending a proper fitting session, to ensure any purchase is tailored to your game.
Buying advice & FAQs
Are Ping irons good for beginners?
Ping have always made very forgiving clubs that are well-suited for beginner golfers. The Ping G430 and Ping G430 HL are irons that will suit beginners well and continue to be very playable even as they improve towards mid and even low handicaps.
Which tour pros use Ping?
A vast array of tour pros use Ping irons, including Cameron Champ, Stewart Cink, Corey Conners, Tony Finau, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Joaquin Niemann, Louis Oosthuizen and Bubba Watson.
Which are the best Ping irons?
Whilst the best Ping irons will depend on the individual golfer, we feel the Ping G430 will be the best Ping iron for the widest range of golfers. The Ping i230 may be the best Ping iron for good players.
Which Ping iron is the most forgiving?
The Ping G430 are the most forgiving Ping irons in the range.
What is the best Ping iron for high handicappers?
The Ping G430 is the best Ping iron for high handicappers, or the Ping G430 HL for high handicappers with slower swing speeds.
Are the Ping G430 worth the money?
Obviously any golf equipment purchase decision depends on your individual budget, especially as a set of irons can set you back £900+, but the Ping G430 offer fantastic performance and will continue to serve you well for years, even if you improve your golf during that time.
If budget is an issue, look out for deals on the older G425 or G410 irons, just be aware you may not benefit from a custom fitting to ensure your irons are set up perfectly for you.
READ NEXT:
– Best Hybrids
– Best Golf Irons
BECOME A TODAY’S GOLFER MEMBER: Unlimited access to premium content and exclusive rewards!
-
We test Ping's 2022 irons to find out which model is best for your game.
-
How the best Ping irons compared on a launch monitor in our test
