PING Unveils i59 Irons, Glide Forged Pro Wedges
PHOENIX (August 24, 2021): Employing a patent-pending technology known as AlumiCore™,
PING today introduced the i59 iron, a forged blade that delivers the look, feel and trajectory
control preferred by better players with forgiveness unprecedented in blade-style designs.
The custom-built i59 irons are now available for custom fittings at authorized PING retailers
around the world.
“There’s been a lot of anticipation for the i59 iron since we took them out on tour a few months
ago, so we’re very excited to bring them to golfers around the world,” said John K. Solheim,
PING President. “It’s a true forged blade on the outside, but inside it’s like nothing ever
engineered in golf equipment. Our team took on the challenge of disrupting an iron category that
traditionally has lacked a lot of performance innovation and they developed an iron unlike any
other. The combination of the look, feel and forgiveness ‘when you need it’ sets it apart from
anything else in the industry. Once golfers hit it, they’ll be pleasantly surprised by its versatility.
The i59 will clearly appeal to better golfers but the combination of forgiveness and clean
appearance will attract golfers of all skill levels.
“It’s been very well received on tour and was in the bag of Viktor Hovland when he became the
first Norwegian to win on the European Tour earlier this summer. Johannes Veerman just won
with a full set of the i59s on Sunday at the Czech Masters. The players really like the distance
control and the ability to consistently flight the ball to the precise yardages required to succeed
at the professional levels.”
AlumiCore Technology Increases MOI
An aerospace-grade aluminum insert allows approximately 30 grams of material from the center
of the club to be redistributed to the perimeter, some in the form of toe and shaft tip weights,
elevating the MOI to match that of the larger PING i210 iron. Each iron in the set requires a
different size of aluminum core, adding to the precision and complexity of the manufacturing
process to ensure quality and performance in every iron. The result is a forgiving, forged iron
with a crisp, solid feel at impact that delivers lower launch and trajectory control with the
precision expected from a blade design.
“We know this type of player might not put forgiveness at the top of their list when considering
their iron choice, so we engineered it in a way that increased the MOI in a clean and impactful
way,” said Solheim. “At address, it’s perfectly sized and shaped with a thin top line and the right
amount of offset. It has a narrow sole to move smoothly through the turf and ensure a pleasing
impact experience. Inside, the AlumiCore technology allows us to increase the MOI by moving
the weight to the perimeter using toe and shaft tip weights. Our player testing shows tighter
dispersion throughout the set and very high marks for feel.”
Friction Face with MicroMax™ Milled Grooves
The precision-machined face has new MicroMax grooves for tighter spacing and a geometry
that results in an average of four extra grooves on each club to reduce fliers in the short irons
and preserve spin in the long irons for greater control and consistency.
“We love the challenge of improving groove performance,” Solheim said. “When golfers address
the i59 iron, they’ll notice more grooves. We were able to accomplish this through our
continuous research and experiments with different configurations to deliver the spin
performance required for consistency and predictability from all conditions.”
100% Inspected Manufacturing Steps
During the development of the iron, PING’s innovation and engineering teams spent significant
time perfecting the manufacturing process which includes 100% inspection of numerous steps,
including sole shaping, head polishing, face machining and head forging. Joining the 1025
carbon steel forged body, aluminum insert and laser-cut 17-4 stainless steel face employs a
forging process known as swaging, which applies pressure to the three parts, creating a
unibody-style part that is then plasma-welded to seal the seams.
“The i59 project pulled in our expertise from multiple disciplines within our engineering and
innovation groups,” said Solheim. “Once we had the idea to join the three parts together, we
were challenged with scaling the complicated process within the manufacturing process. In
collaboration with our suppliers, we developed highly precise procedures that make the i59 the
most technologically advanced iron we’ve ever manufactured.”
PHOENIX (August 24, 2021): Engineered for golfers in search of versatility and improved shot
making inside the scoring zone, PING today introduced the Glide Forged Pro wedge series. The
tour-inspired, high-spinning design is offered in two grind profiles and multiple loft options to fit
players who rely on precision and control to shoot lower scores.
The custom-fit, custom-built Glide Forged Pro wedges are now available for pre-order at
authorized PING retailers around the world.
“When you look at the Glide Forged Pro wedge, everything about it stands out,” said John K.
Solheim, PING President. “It’s a great-looking club with amazing feel that performs beautifully. It
has the versatility to attract and benefit a lot of different skill levels. Our engineers focused on
every design attribute. It’s slightly smaller heel-to-toe with a rounded profile to allow players the
ability to control the club and play any shot with precision. We’ve also applied a new face blast
to improve friction for increased spin and trajectory control.”
Tour-Inspired Compact Shape
In consultation with its Tour staff and brand ambassadors, PING’s engineers designed the Glide
Forged Pro for golfers who focus on saving shots into and around the green. The smaller heel-
to-toe head, which is forged from 8620 carbon steel, creates a captured look at address, giving
players the confidence to manipulate the head to help execute any shot they are facing.
“We know golfers are very particular about the look of their wedges. That first impression when
they look down at it is vitally important to whether it makes it into their bag,” said Solheim. “The
feedback from our players and coaches really helped guide the design of the Glide Forged Pro.
It sets up perfectly behind the ball, giving you the confidence to pull off most any shot. It has the
all-around performance that will lead to lower scores for a lot of different types of players.”
Friction Face with Emery Blast
In combination with the precision-milled face and grooves, the new Emery face blast adds more
texture to the hitting surface, creating higher friction and more interaction between the club and
ball for more spin and lower launch. The 50º and 52º lofts feature wheel-cut grooves with a 20º
sidewall to optimize performance on full shots. The 54º to 62º options are milled with a 28º
sidewall and tighter radius for more spin and precision on finesse shots around the green and
from the sand. The hydropearl 2.0 chrome finish adds to the higher spin and lower launch,
especially from wet and rough conditions.
“As great as these clubs look, it comes down to performance off the face,” said Solheim. “The
new Emery blast makes a huge difference. The added spin and lower launch overall give shot
makers the control they need to play at the pin on full shots or take on the tough shots around
the green.”
Expanded Lofts and Grinds
Two grind options in multiple lofts expand the offerings to ensure a wedge choice to match a
golfer’s playing conditions and angle of attack. In the “S” grind, moderate bounce and a rounded
lead edge combine to produce an option that fits most golfers. It comes in seven loft/bounce
configurations. The “T” Grind has a narrower sole with approximately 3º less bounce than the
“S” to make it more versatile and precise around the green. It’s available in three lofts, including
a 62º, which offers low bounce and high loft for the most greenside versatility and will be a
popular choice on tour when matching course conditions. Golfers can also choose from eight
custom grinds through PING Wrx, the company’s facility that custom builds the majority of its
tour and college equipment.
59º EYE2 High-Toe Option
The PING EYE2 wedge face profile inspired the “S” grind 59º option, which is distinguished by
the high-toe design made popular by Karsten Solheim’s iconic sand wedge developed in the
early 1980s. It features a blended hosel and a more traditional sole design than the original with
approximately 1.5º less bounce than the other “S” grind lofts.
“I may be a little biased since my swimming pool as a kid was shaped like a PING EYE2 wedge,
but I love the high-toe option in this line,” said Solheim. “It gives me the confidence and
versatility to play high and low shots with a lot of spin without being intimidated. It’s especially
good out of the bunker.”
Matt Saternus
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