Tag Archives: Ping

Golf Companies, PGA Tour, Ping, What's in the bag…

PING – Signs Viktor Hovland, former world #1 amateur

June 20, 2019 – Viktor Hovland, the most recent world #1 amateur, has signed an equipment contract with PING, the company announced yesterday. Hovland, who tied for 12th at last week’s U.S. Open in setting the record for the lowest 72-hole score (280) by an amateur in the event’s history, is making his debut as a PING staff pro at this week’s Travelers Championship.

While a decorated player for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, where he was a three-time All-American, Hovland won the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach, earning him an invitation to this year’s Masters and U.S. Open. He took full advantage of his Masters appearance, winning low-amateur honors, after which he rose to world #1 amateur. By finishing low amateur at the U.S. Open, he became the first player in more than 20 years to hold the distinction of being low amateur in both events in the same year.

Hovland’s collegiate career culminated with the 2019 Ben Hogan Award, given annually to the top men’s college player while taking into account all amateur competition in the past 12 months. He won three collegiate events and finished with a 68.59 scoring average during his final year at Oklahoma State. He was a member of the school’s 2018 NCAA Championship winning team.

The 21-year-old is from Oslo, Norway, a fact that brings great joy to the Solheim family, the owners of PING whose roots are traced to Bergen, Norway, the birthplace of PING founder Karsten Solheim. Hovland’s resumé includes a win at the 2014 Norwegian amateur championships, and he’s been building his credentials ever since.

“Viktor’s connection to Norway makes the relationship even more special. The country has been fully behind him since he burst onto the scene as a young junior, and he’s continued to impress on so many levels,” said John K. Solheim, PING President and Karsten’s grandson. “He’s polite, humble and always smiling. His talent is unbelievable and he’s already amassed a great career. His performance at Pebble Beach last week was a spectacular way to end his amateur career. We’re excited to watch his professional journey unfold. I know my grandfather would be honored to have a Norwegian golfer of Viktor’s character and talent representing PING.”

“Joining the PING staff is really exciting for me as I’ve always had tremendous respect for the company and what it represents,” said Viktor Hovland. “The technology behind the equipment and the service they provide allows me to focus on getting better and not worrying about my equipment. The Norwegian connection is also really cool. Karsten Solheim and his family have done so much for the game of golf. Their support of Oklahoma State’s team and their role in developing Karsten Creek are just a couple of examples of the wonderful things they do for golf. I’m honored to be part of their golfing family and look forward to working with them as I begin my professional career.”

Hovland’s relationship with PING began three years ago at Karsten Creek Golf Club, Oklahoma State’s home course named in honor of Karsten Solheim, whose family was a major contributor to the development of the facility in 1994. Oklahoma State is part of PING’s College Golf Program, which has been supporting schools around the country since the mid-1970s.

“We’ve been impressed with Viktor since we first met him when he was a freshman at Oklahoma State,” said Chance Cozby, PING’s Vice President of Sports Development. “During his time in Stillwater, he played PING equipment at various times and we continued to keep in touch with him through our regular visits to the school. When it became clear he was going to turn professional this summer, we identified him as someone who would be a perfect fit for our staff. We had a very productive testing session with him at Karsten Creek this spring, which ultimately led to where we stand today. We are extremely pleased Viktor is joining the PING staff.”

At the U.S. Open, Hovland switched to PING’s new G410 LST driver and saw tremendous results – leading the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee by nearly two full shots.

“The G410 LST driver is a great fit for my game,” Viktor Hovland added. “I don’t usually make significant changes to my equipment before such a big tournament, but after testing it during the week with the PING tour reps, it was clear the G410 LST driver was the best choice for me. It looks really good and I know I’m going to hit the center of the face. It flies in the window I like and the spin is right for my game. I can swing with confidence off the tee knowing the results will be long and straight.”

As part of a multi-year agreement, Hovland will play a minimum of 11 PING clubs, including a driver and putter. His headwear will display PING and he’ll carry a PING Tour staff bag. Financial terms and the length of the agreement were not disclosed.

Irons, Ping

PING – Introduction of the new G410 iron, a more compact distance model

January 23, 2019 – Ensuring the distance demands of today’s golfer while advancing PING’s reputation for making the most-forgiving irons available, PING introduced the new G410 iron today, a high-performance game-improvement model in a compact design. The multi-material iron is available for pre-order and custom fitting at authorised PING golf shops around the world beginning today.

“In the G410 iron, our engineers challenged the idea that you can’t make an iron smaller and increase the forgiveness at the same time,” said John K. Solheim, PING President.

“They’ve developed a clean, highly appealing design with less offset and a significantly higher MOI when compared to the G400 iron. It’s the most forgiving iron of its size. It will appeal to a very wide range of golfers as it produces faster ball speeds, maximum forgiveness and amazing feel with a pleasing appearance – all the attributes they need to hit their iron shots higher, further and straighter.”

Re-shaping Distance and Forgiveness

PING’s engineering team created a face and cavity structure in the G410 iron that delivers faster ball speeds and saves weight to expand the perimeter weighting. The additional weight savings are concentrated in the toe and hosel to achieve an 8% increase in the moment of inertia (MOI) for more forgiveness and consistency.

The more flexible, free-moving face amplifies ball speeds for greater distance and higher max height, allowing golfers to hit less club into the green with the control and precision to hold the putting surface. This is achieved by de-coupling the weighting structure from the face to create a larger flexing zone, which performs like a hinge to launch the ball faster and higher with consistency and predictability. The next generation of COR-Eye technology powers the performance in conjunction with the cascading sole design and deep top-rail undercut.

“The G410 iron represents several exciting iron design advancements for us,” said John K. Solheim. “Our innovations like COR-Eye technology have allowed us to re-imagine the way we engineer an iron. By increasing ball speed as much as we have in recent models, our irons launch much easier and higher than ever. As a result, we can experiment with the size and shape of the head while improving the MOI properties so critical to consistent performance.”

High Marks for Look, Feel adn Sound

The clean, refined shape of the G410 iron results from a slightly shorter blade length and 10% less offset compared to the G400 iron, creating an inspiring blade-iron-style look with broad appeal. Its resilient hydropearl 2.0 finish provides an attractive appearance and contributes to smooth turf interaction. The full-cavity, co-molded aluminum and elastomer badge delivers a powerful, reassuring feel and sound.

“We all know the first impression of any club design is vitally important. It starts with the appearance at address and continues when the golfer solidly strikes that first shot,” said John K. Solheim. “We’re seeing very positive results from our own data and hearing outstanding feedback from others about every aspect of the design and performance of the G410 iron.”

High-spin wedges

Using the same geometry as the Glide 2.0 wedge series, the grooves on the G410 PW, UW, SW and LW are precision machined with a sharper edge radius, increasing interaction with the cover of the ball at impact and creating more friction for improved spin and trajectory control.

“The fully machined grooves on all four wedges are an example of the added detail we’ve engineered into the G410 irons,” said John K. Solheim. “For players who want a consistent look and feel throughout their set, they can now enjoy much higher spin and control in their scoring clubs along with all the other performance benefits of the iron’s technology.”

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Multi-material construction: Hyper 17-4 stainless steel head, tungsten toe/hosel weights, aluminum/elastomer badge, hydropearl 2.0 finish
  • Available 4-9, PW, UW, SW, LW in 10 color codes (lie angle). Black is standard.
  • Std. grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White Std., Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)
  • Stock shaft options: PING AWT 2.0 (R, S, X), Alta CB Red (counter-balanced) powered by AWT (SR, R, S)
  • Aftermarket shaft options (no upcharge): True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), True Temper Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), Project X LZ (5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5), True Temper XP95 (R300, S300), Nippon Pro Modus Tour 105 (S, X), KBS Tour (R, S, S+, X) added spaces inside parentheses
  • RRP: €150 steel €162 graphite each club
Fairway Woods, Hybrids / Rescues, Ping

PING – The new G410 fairway woods, hybrids and crossovers arrive

January 22, 2019 – With an emphasis on speed-generating face technology, maximised MOI’s and added adjustability, PING introduced today the G410 fairway woods, hybrids and crossovers to ensure golfers have multiple options to properly gap their sets. The new custom-fit, custom-built equipment is available for pre-order at authorised PING golf shops around the world beginning today.

“With the added distance golfers are enjoying in their drivers and irons due to all the advancements in technology, ensuring a set make-up that delivers the proper gapping is more important than ever,” said John K. Solheim, PING President.

“Our G410 fairways woods, hybrids and crossovers offer golfers multiple options to transition from their mid-and long-irons into clubs that are easier to hit and provide tremendous distance while maintaining the necessary gapping benefits. They each provide varying performance features and launch characteristics. We’ve got everything from a low-spin 3-wood option, a 2 crossover all the way to a 6 hybrid. We encourage all golfers to undergo a thorough gapping analysis with an authorised PING fitting specialist to determine their ideal set make up.”

Maraging-Steel Face Technology

To maximise distance in the G410 fairway woods, hybrids and crossovers, PING has employed C300 maraging steel as the face material. One of the strongest alloys in the world, maraging steel is commonly used in the aerospace industry, where strength and flexibility are necessities. It’s those properties that also make it an ideal face material to deliver more flexing for faster ball speeds that launch shots further and higher.

“With maraging steel, we have a material that allows us to go extremely thin with the face to give us the faster ball-speed gains we’re seeking for more distance and higher launch. The results have been amazing as we’re seeing face flexing equal to the thickness of the face,” said John K. Solheim.

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A Focus on Forgiveness

In the G410 fairway woods, a low-back CG and high-density tungsten weight positioned at the extreme boundary of the head provides greater stability and forgiveness. A larger profile and high-density tungsten back weight in the G410 hybrid drive the MOI higher to ensure golfers the forgiveness they require while launching the ball higher. The G410 crossover, which has been streamlined to provide more iron-like performance, relies on a 30-gram dual-density tungsten toe weight to maximise forgiveness.

“Providing the most forgiving clubs in the industry remains a top priority for us,” John K. Solheim said. “The use of multi-material construction and high-tech manufacturing processes allow us to consistently increase the MOI and design clubs that fit the needs of all golfers. Whether they prefer the performance of a fairway wood, the reliability of a hybrid or the versatility of a crossover, golfers can always count on a certain level of forgiveness from our clubs.”

PING’s First Adjustable Hybrid Hosel

The addition of a patented, eight-setting adjustable hosel to the hybrid greatly expands the fitting options to ensure proper gapping for golfers who rely on hybrids as mid- and long-iron replacements. The lightweight and aerodynamic adjustable hosel, which is also in the G410 fairway woods, offers loft (0, +1⁰, +1.5⁰, -1⁰, -1.5⁰) and lie adjustments (including up to 3⁰ flatter than standard) to optimise ball flight.

“Loft and lie adjustability in the hybrids will greatly benefit golfers,” said John K. Solheim. “It’s a technology our fitters have been asking for and we’re excited to bring it to them to help golfers fine-tune their ball flight and dial in their gaps. We’ve also expanded the colour code options in the crossover to further customise them for lie angle to better transition into an iron set.”

G410 Fairway Woods Overview

Powered by a forged, maraging-steel face, the G410 fairway woods are engineered to launch the ball easily and deliver faster ball speeds on a penetrating trajectory that maximises distance. PING engineers positioned the low-back CG slightly forward of the G400 model to deliver more energy from the shallower face while providing greater stability. Eight fitting positions in the new lightweight, aerodynamic hosel sleeve enable golfers to tune their trajectories through loft and lie adjustments. Three models (Std., SFT and LST) ensure an option to fit every golfer.

G410 SFT (Straight Flight) Fairway Wood

More heel-side weighting and a lighter swing weight help square the face to create right-to-left shot bend (RH golfers). The heads are slightly larger to drive the MOI higher, and lofts are 1.5˚ higher to produce easier launch.

G410 LST (Low Spin) Fairway Wood

The all-new, slightly smaller head has a CG slightly lower and more forward than the standard head to launch shots higher with less spin, resulting in longer shots that get airborne easily for many higher swing speed and high spin golfers.

Specifications

  • Multi-material construction: 17-4 stainless steel body, forged, C300 maraging-steel face, high-density tungsten backweight, lightweight aluminium/thermoplastic adjustable hosel
  • Head sizes: 3W (171cc), 5W (162cc), 7W (148cc), 9W (144cc), 3 LST (159cc), 3 SFT (188cc), 5 SFT (177cc), 7 SFT (167cc)
  • Lofts: 3W (14.5⁰), 5W (17.5⁰), 7W (20.5⁰), 9W (23.5⁰), 3 LST (14.5⁰), 3 SFT (16⁰), 5 SFT (19⁰), 7 SFT (22⁰)
  • Loft adjustability: 5 settings: +-1.5⁰ (0, +1⁰, +1.5⁰, -1⁰, -1.5⁰)
  • Lie angles: 3 (56°), 5 (56.5°), 7 (57°), 9 (57.5°), 3 LST (56°), 3 SFT (56°), 5 SFT (56.5°), 7 SFT (57°)
  • Lie adjustability: Up to 3⁰ flat
  • Std. lengths: 3W (43″), 5W (42 1/2″), 7W (42″), 9W (41 1/2″), 3 LST (43”), 3 SFT (43″), 5 SFT (42 1/2″), 7 SFT (42″)
  • Std. grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White Std., Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)
  • Stock shaft option: PING Alta CB Red (counter-balanced) 65 (SR, R, S, X)
  • No-upcharge shaft options: PING Tour 65/75 (R, S, X); Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 70 (R, S, X), Project X EvenFlow 85 (6.0, 6.5)
  • RRP €319

G410 Hybrids Overview

The first-ever adjustable PING hybrid allows golfers to customise their ball flight eight different ways through loft (+- 1.5˚) and lie combinations for consistently better results. Thinner and more flexible, the maraging-steel face generates faster ball speeds and higher launch. A larger profile and high-density back weight provide added stability and elevate MOI for more forgiveness.

Specifications

  • Multi-material construction: 17-4 stainless steel head, C300 maraging steel face, high density tungsten back weight, lightweight aluminium/thermoplastic adjustable hosel
  • Lofts: 2H (17⁰), 3H (19⁰), 4H (22⁰), 5H (26⁰), 6H (30⁰)
  • Loft adjustability: 5 settings: +-1.5⁰ (0, +1⁰, +1.5⁰, -1⁰, -1.5⁰)
  • Lie angles: 2H (58⁰), 3H (58.5⁰), 4H (59⁰), 5H (59.5⁰), 6H (60⁰)
  • Lie adjustability: Up to 3⁰ flat
  • Std. lengths: 2H (40 3/4″), 3H (40 1/4″), 4H (39 3/4″), 5H (39 1/4″), 6H (38 3/4″)
  • Std. grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White Std., Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)
  • Stock shaft option: PING Alta CB Red (counter-balanced) 70 (SR, R, S, X)
  • No-upcharge shaft options: PING Tour 85 (R, S, X); Project X EvenFlow Black 85 (5.5, 6.0, 6.5); Mitsubishi Tensei Pro Blue 70 (R); Mitsubishi Tensei Pro Blue 80 (S, TX)
  • RRP €259

G410 Crossovers Overview

With a thin, maraging steel face for faster ball speeds and a 30-gram dual-density tungsten toe weight to increase the MOI, the G410 Crossover combines the precision and control of an iron with the speed and forgiveness of a hybrid. The G410 design is significantly shorter heel to toe and narrower in the sole than the G400. Available in 2, 3 and 4, the stainless steel head sets up square and offers a clean, premium look with the gearing properties of an iron to allow precision shot making. To ensure a solid feel and sound, the internal ribs are engineered to help stiffen the clubhead body.

Specifications

  • Multi-material construction: 17-4 stainless steel head, C300 maraging-steel face, tungsten toe weight
  • Lofts: 2 (17⁰), 3 (20⁰), 4 (23⁰)
  • Available in all 10 color codes (lie angles): Maroon, Silver, White, Green, Blue, Black, Red, Orange, Brown, Gold
  • Std. lengths: 2 (40 3/8″), 3 (39 3/4″), 4 (39 1/8″)
  • Std. grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White Std., Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)
  • Stock shaft option: PING Alta CB Red (counter-balanced) 70 (SR, R, S, X)
  • No-upcharge shaft options: PING Tour 85 (R, S, X); Project X EvenFlow Black 85 (5.5, 6.0, 6.5); Mitsubishi Tensei Pro Blue 70 (R); Mitsubishi Tensei Pro Blue 80 (S, TX)
  • RRP €259
Drivers, Ping

PING – Introduction of the new G410 drivers with movable-weight technology

January 21, 2019 – Significant advancements in custom fitting while delivering golfers the highest MOI’s and ball speeds available highlight the new PING G410 Plus and G410 SFT drivers. The multi-material drivers are available for pre-order today, and custom fitting at authorised PING golf shops around the world beginning in mid-February.

“We’ve continued to increase forgiveness and optimise ball flight in the G410 Plus driver while adding more dimensions to driver custom fitting,” said John K. Solheim, PING President.

“Our new, movable-weight technology provides the benefits of custom CG locations, including directional control, without sacrificing MOI or ball speeds which is what we’ve always seen with other non-fixed weight drivers. The G410 Plus offers golfers a simple, logical way to customise their driver and allows them to swing away on the tee box without fear of missing the fairway. It puts tour-level fitting into the golfer’s hands. We’ve also expanded the loft and lie options with a new eight-setting, lightweight hosel that further fine-tunes ball flight.”

Custom CG locations

In the G410 Plus model, three positions (Draw, Neutral, Fade) for the ultra-high-density tungsten back weight shift the centre of gravity (CG) location by 1/10″ in each direction from neutral to influence left or right shot direction approximately 10 yards (20 yards of correction between Draw and Fade settings). By positioning the weight on the extreme boundary of the clubhead, the moment of inertia increases compared to the original G400 driver – ensuring golfers enjoy the added distance and forgiveness required to hit their tee shots longer and straighter.

“Our engineering team took on the challenge of advancing driver fitting through custom CG locations without compromising the key attributes that ensure performance,” said John K. Solheim.

“It’s amazing how they’ve been able to deliver this new fitting element while also improving distance and MOI. The movable-weight technology clearly demonstrates the effects on shot shape and the ability to dial in your desired ball flight. This additional fitting element optimises a golfer’s trajectory – meaning they’ll consistently be further and straighter down the fairway than ever before.”

The G410 SFT (Straight Flight Technology) model is engineered with a fixed ultra-high-density tungsten weight positioned on the clubhead’s extreme perimeter and 50% more heel-side CG than its predecessor to ensure straighter ball flights. A lighter swingweight (D1) further influences direction by helping square the face at impact.

“There is still a large segment of golfers who will play better with a driver completely optimized for performance with the benefit of maximum fade correction,” John K. Solheim added. “When we pioneered Straight Flight Technology several years ago, we wanted to provide a ‘slice-fixing’ driver without adding huge offset or just closing the face. The G410 SFT sits visually square at address and delivers all the performance benefits of the G410 Plus while ensuring a consistently straight ball flight.”

Dragonfly Tecnology inside

A new “creased crown” design provides stiffening properties and combines with patented Dragonfly Technology to create an ultra-thin crown structure, which saves weight for optimising the CG location and increasing forgiveness. Together with more aggressive and efficient Turbulator Technology, the 455cc head’s crown design provides a clean, powerful and faster look at address while making alignment nearly effortless.

Forged T9S+ Face

The unique forging and patented heat-treatment process of the T9S+ face powers a thinner, hotter impact area that is precision machined to elevate ball speed across the entire face for more flexing and faster ball speeds. The forged face and the internal geometry of the head are instrumental in producing the powerful feel and sound of the driver.

Trajectory Tuning 2.0

The new, patented lightweight and aerodynamic adjustable hosel expands from five to eight settings, offering loft (0, +1⁰, +1.5⁰, -1⁰, -1.5⁰) and lie adjustments (including up to 3⁰ flatter than standard) to optimise ball flight.

“The expansion of the loft options is a tremendous benefit for all golfers who can now further optimise their launch conditions, including increasing ball speed, with the guidance of a club fitter or through their own experimentation,” said John  K. Solheim. “The lie angle fitting option adds another layer of opportunity for expert club fitters to really fine-tune a golfer’s driver performance based on a more detailed analysis of their ball flight and launch conditions.”

New Counter-Balanced Shaft Technology

Continuing PING’s commitment to optimising the entire club system, the engineering team developed the next generation of the Alta CB (counter balanced) shaft as the proprietary option in the G410 driver. The higher-launching, lightweight Alta CB Red 55 is engineered with an eight-gram counterweight in the grip end of the shaft, shifting the CG higher and allowing for more head weight to increase energy transfer and momentum – resulting in more ball speed and greater forgiveness.

The high-performance PING Tour 65 & 75 (lower launch, low spin, stable feel), Project X EvenFlow Black 75 (low launch, low spin) and Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 60 (mid-launch angle, low spin) are available at no upcharge and ensure a shaft-fitting option to match the launch conditions of all golfers.

G410 Plus y G410 SFT Driver Specifications

  • Multi-material construction: Cast Ti 8-1-1 body, forged T9S+ face, ultra-high-density tungsten back weight, lightweight aluminium/thermoplastic adjustable hosel
  • G410 Plus loft options: 9⁰, 10.5⁰ & 12⁰
  • G410 SFT (Straight Flight Technology) loft option: 10.5⁰
  • Head volume: 455 cc
  • Head weight: 206g (Plus), 204g (SFT)
  • Swing weight: D3 (Plus), D1 (SFT)
  • Std. length: 45 3/4″ (Alta CB Red 55); 45 1/4″ (PING Tour and aftermarkets)
  • Loft adjustability: 5 settings: +-1.5⁰ (0, +1⁰, +1.5⁰, -1⁰, -1.5⁰)
  • Lie adjustability: Up to 3⁰ (Std: 58.5⁰)
  • Stock shaft option: PING Alta CB (counter-balanced) Red 55 (SR, R, S, X)
  • No upcharge shaft options: PING Tour 65, 75 (R, S, X), Mitsubishi Tensei CK Orange 60 (R, S, X), Project X Evenflow Black 75 (5.5, 6.0, 6.5)
  • Stock grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 in six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White Std., Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)
  • RRP €499
Golf Junior, Juniors, Ping

PING – Introduction of the new custom-engineered Prodi G junior clubs

July 31, 2018 – Engineered with the score-lowering technologies of its adult line and inspired by its commitment to introduce more juniors to the game, PING have announced the new custom-fit, custom-built Prodi G Series – its highest-performing junior clubs to date. The new Prodi G clubs are available for pre-order and custom fitting at authorised PING golf shops around the world beginning this month. 

“The Prodi G junior clubs are engineered by the same teams that design our adult clubs. They feature a lot of the same technologies and undergo the same rigorous testing as all of our products,” said John K. Solheim, PING President.

“From a performance standpoint, our research reveals the clubs far out-perform the competitive junior sets on the market, including the Prodi G driver being 15 yards longer with a moment of inertia that’s 50% higher than the top-selling junior driver.”

The custom-engineered set is comprised of 11 clubs: a 15º titanium driver, 22º fairway wood, 27⁰ hybrid, perimeter-weighted irons (6-9, PW), two specialty wedges (52º & 56º) and a blade-style putter. The lightweight clubs can be ordered in any combination and all are custom built at PING’s European headquarters. Two sizes (34″, 3.5 lbs. and 30″, 3 lbs.) of the Hoofer Prodi G carry bags can be purchased separately.

The proven technologies applied to the new line include turbulators on the driver for increased clubhead speed and irons with a custom tuning port to allow for precise swing weighting during the custom-building process. Two lightweight graphite shaft flexes are optimised for weight and balance to match junior swing speeds.

“For the first time, junior golfers can play the same technology as mum or dad that is custom fit and custom built just for them,” John K. Solheim said. “We believe that has an appeal all on its own and will help get kids interested in playing more.”

In developing the new products, PING’s Fitting Science team created a junior fitting chart (a variation of the company’s iconic colour code chart developed nearly 50 years ago) that takes into account a junior’s height and wrist-to-floor measurement to determine the appropriate lie angle and club length. The Prodi G clubs are recommended for juniors 4’5″ to 5’2″ and can be ordered in custom lengths based on the results of a fitting session.

As part of the launch of the new clubs, the company also announced the Prodi G “Get Golf Growing” program, an industry-first junior golf equipment initiative that offers custom-fit and custom-built junior clubs that include a one-time, no-cost adjustment to sets of five clubs or more. The program helps address an all-too-common occurrence that results in a lot of junior golfers playing clubs not suited to their games.

“One of the biggest barriers parents of junior golfers face is investing in a set of clubs that their kids will outgrow in a short time,” John K. Solheim said.

“As a result, they often buy clubs that don’t fit their kids in hopes they’ll grow into them or they cut down old clubs. Neither option is ideal and impedes the junior’s golf development. Our ‘Get Golf Growing’ program is designed to be an affordable way to get juniors into high-performance custom-fit clubs while bringing more boys and girls to the sport. The Prodi G clubs grow with the kids. We believe if juniors are exposed to better equipment, they’ll enjoy golf more, which will ultimately help grow the game as the kids fall in love with golf and play it for a lifetime.”

To be eligible for the ‘Get Golf Growing’ program, five or more clubs must be purchased in one transaction. Allowable adjustments are re-shafting, lengthening, re-weighting and re-gripping.

SPECS

PRODI G DRIVER

  • Head size/material: 460cc, Ti811 head. Machined Ti 6-4 face
  • Key technologies: Turbulators for increased clubhead speed, Dragonfly Technology optimises CG position for maximum forgiveness
  • Loft: 15º
  • Standard length: 39.5″
  • Graphite shaft: PING Prodi G (R, S)
  • Standard grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Junior
  • RRP: €250

PRODI G FAIRWAY WOOD

  • Material: Machined 17-4 SS face, 17-4 SS body
  • Key technologies: Thin face for increased speed and distance, Easy-to-square
  • Loft: 22º
  • Standard length: 37.75″
  • Graphite shaft: PING Prodi G (R, S)
  • Standard grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Junior
  • RRP: €129

PRODI G HYBRID

  • Material: Machined 17-4 SS face, 17-4 SS body
  • Key technologies: Optimised loft and CG placement, easy-to-square
  • Loft: 27º
  • Standard length: 36.25″
  • Graphite shaft: PING Prodi G (R, S)
  • Standard grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Junior
  • RRP: €105

PRODI G IRONS

  • Head material: 17-4 stainless steel, elastomer insert
  • Key technologies: Perimeter-weighted head, optimised loft configurations
  • Available: 6-iron (32º loft, 34.125″ standard length), 7 (35º, 33.50″), 8 (39º, 33.00″), 9 (43º, 32.75″), PW (47º, 32.50″)
  • Graphite shaft: PING Prodi G (R, S)
  • Standard grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Junior
  • RRP: €70 per iron (graphite only)

PRODI G WEDGES

  • Head material: 17-4 stainless steel, elastomer insert
  • Key technologies: Glide 2.0 wedge styling
  • Available: 52º (32.50″) and 56º (32.25″)
  • Graphite shaft: PING Prodi G (R, S)
  • Standard grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Junior
  • RRP: €70 per wedge (graphite only)

PRODI G PUTTER

  • Head material/weight: 17-4 stainless steel, 320g
  • Key technologies: Voss inspired design, ball-width cavity for focus and additional alignment aids
  • Standard length: 29.50″
  • Grip: Original PP58
  • RRP: €70

HOOFER PRODI G GOLF BAG

  • Available in two colourways: Charcoal/Black/Electric Green (34″ tall, 3.5 lbs.); Black/Electric Green (30″ tall, 3 lbs.)
  • Key features: 4-way top, adjustable dual straps, aluminium bag stand
  • Pockets: 4
  • RRP: €150
Ping, Wedges

PING – New PING Glide Forged wedges with superior customisation and personalisation

July 26, 2018 – Forged from 8620 carbon steel with sizing and shaping influenced by PING tour professionals and advisors, the Glide Forged wedge is the company’s newest wedge engineered and crafted for golfers wanting to improve their shot-making by employing a sleek, high-spinning blade-style design with a soft, pleasing feel.

The new Glide Forged wedges are already available for custom fitting and pre-order at authorised PING golf shops around the world.

Working closely with PING professionals and company advisors, including Louis Oosthuizen, Stan Utley and Todd Anderson, PING’s engineers designed the Glide Forged wedge to provide the feel and versatility required to play an array of approach and finesse shots around the green. A sole design with a rounded lead edge and more heel-toe camber allows for greater shot-making and creativity around the green. The gooseneck-tapered hosel ensures a smooth transition through grass and sand while providing a captured look at address.

Patented, precision-milled, wheel-cut grooves, first introduced in the Glide 2.0 wedges and developed by PING’s engineering and manufacturing teams, enable grooves with a sharper edge radius, which increases interaction with the ball at impact, creating more friction for improved spin and trajectory control.

“Everything about the Glide Forged wedge is created around quality and performance,” said John K. Solheim, PING President.

“From the 8620 carbon steel that produces the incredible feel to the tungsten toe weight that ensures forgiveness in a blade-style wedge, we made sure every detail was covered, including milling the back of the wedge to create a distinct, visually appealing pattern. Several of our tour professionals have already added Glide Forged wedges to their bags since debuting them last month. They really love the feel and are especially excited about the added spin and trajectory control they are experiencing.”

SPECS GLIDE FORGED WEDGES

  • Multi-material construction: Forged, 8620 carbon steel. Tungsten toe weight. Precision-milled face and wheel-cut grooves. Machined flange and hosel knurling.
  • Available 50º, 52º, 54º, 56º, 58º, 60º in 10 colour codes (lie angle), RH & LH.
  • Stock steel and graphite shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S300, ALTA CB (Soft R, Regular, Stiff), AWT 2.0 Wedge shaft.
  • Aftermarket shaft options (no upcharge): True Temper Dynamic Gold (R300, X100), True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), Project X LZ (5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5), True Temper XP95 (R, S), Nippon NS Pro Modus 105 (R, S, X), KBS Tour (R, S, X)
  • Standard grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White Std., Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)
  • RRP: €239 per wedge w/steel shaft; €249 per wedge w/graphite shaft.
Irons, Ping

PING – Introduction of the i500 and i210 irons, two new high-performance golf clubs

July 17, 2018 – Continuing its reputation as a leader in high-performance iron designs engineered to provide the exceptional distance, forgiveness and precision today’s golfer demands, PING has just introduced the i500 and i210 irons. The new irons are available for custom fitting and pre-order at authorised PING golf shops around the world beginning yesterday.

“Unlike a lot of irons on the market, PING irons are created without sacrificing the performance attributes all golfers need to improve the distance, accuracy and consistency they require from their iron play,” said John K. Solheim, PING President.

“In the i500 and i210, we’re offering two distinctly different technology platforms to give golfers additional choices and fitting options. The i500 delivers unbelievable distance with amazingly high ball flights. In our testing, some golfers gained as much as 15 yards with the i500.”

“In the i210 iron, we focused on designing a club that ensures a soft, buttery feel with the distance precision to attack flagsticks. We’re already seeing a lot of our tour players seamlessly transition into the i210 iron, including Brandon Stone who shot 60 last Sunday to win the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open with the 3, 4 and 5 irons in his bag.”

The sleek-shaped i500 iron employs much of the same technology as the popular G700 iron in a smaller, more compact, muscle-back appearance. Its forged, C300 maraging-steel face is precision milled and combined with a 17-4 stainless steel body to create metal-wood-like performance, generating significant ball-speed increases and lower-spinning, higher-flying shots with stopping power.

“With the forged, maraging-steel face and metal-wood-like construction of the internal cavity, we’re seeing five times the face flexing,” John K. Solheim said.

“Golfers are experiencing significant ball-speed gains, which translates to more distance and a higher overall ball flight so the ball holds the green. The trajectory is unlike anything we’ve seen in an iron its size. They can expect to hit one less club into the green when properly fit for the new i500 iron. They’ll be amazed at the power and performance engineered into an iron this size. On top of that, it has a blade-style look at address with less offset, which a lot of golfers prefer.”

In the compact i210 iron, PING’s engineers put a premium on the feel and precision by leveraging a patented multi-material construction that combines a 431 stainless steel head with a larger and softer elastomer insert. The additional volume of the custom tuning port, which also increases perimeter weighting and provides swingweight fine tuning, allows for a 30% larger insert and creates 25% more face contact, resulting in activation of the elastomer to produce a soft and pleasing feel. They also took great care in refining the shape and look to ensure the iron appealed to the discerning golfer’s eye.

“The soft feel of the i210 irons is unlike any we’ve ever offered,” said Solheim. “We know players who rely on precise iron play also require exceptional feel to control their ball flight and trajectories. The improvements to the tuning port and elastomer insert along with the exacting, refined details of the i210 iron offer a new level of performance for this style of iron.”

The i210 iron’s face and grooves are precision milled as is the cavity, giving it a high-end appearance. Tighter groove spacing in the pitching wedge and U-wedge provides greater precision and helps prevent fliers on shots where control matters most. A new hydropearl chrome 2.0 finish repels water to greatly improve consistency from the rough and wet conditions.

SPECIFICATIONS

PING i500 Irons

  • Multi-material construction: Forged, maraging steel, precision-milled face. Precision-milled grooves. 17-4 stainless steel head. HydroPearl Chrome 2.0 finish.
  • Available 3-9, PW, UW in 10 colour codes (lie angle).
  • Stock steel and graphite shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), UST Mamiya Recoil ES SMAC (760A, 780R, 780S)
  • Aftermarket shaft options (no upcharge): True Temper Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), Project X LZ (5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5), True Temper XP95 (R,S), Nippon NS Pro Modus 105 (R,S,X), KBS Tour (R,S,X)
  • Standard grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White Std., Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)
  • RRP: Steel Shaft €185; Graphite Shaft €199

PING i210 Irons

  • Multi-material construction: 431 stainless steel head. Elastomer CTP insert. Machined face, grooves and cavity. HydroPearl Chrome 2.0 finish.
  • Available 3-9, PW, UW in 10 colour codes (lie angle).
  • Stock steel and graphite shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), ALTA CB (Soft R, Regular, Stiff)
  • Aftermarket shaft options (no upcharge): True Temper Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), Project X LZ (5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5), True Temper XP95 (R,S), Nippon NS Pro Modus 105 (R,S,X), KBS Tour (R,S,X)
  • Standard grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White Std., Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)
  • RRP: Steel Shaft €150; Graphite Shaft €162
Drivers

DRIVERS GUIDE 2018 – Choose your driver according to ‘your attitude to the game’

March 26, 2018 – Ready for the new season? Take a look at the new 2018 drivers that have just arrived in the golf shops, packed with breakthrough technological advances designed to help you, in amazing ways, to get your best score. Which one should you choose?

Until recently it was relatively easy to distinguish between customizable drivers and distance drivers, but now each brand offers adjustability in their models in both categories, and we could say that with a similar playability and performance in terms of low spin, forgiveness, ball speed and distance, it is difficult to distinguish for the amateur player. Therefore, it is not so much about your level of golf but more ‘your attitude to the game’: if you want to customize the driver to optimize the distance; or if you’d rather arrive, address and hit a good shot; or if you’d prefer to enjoy a premium high end driver.

Anyway, the best option is to have a personalized fitting, with accredited professionals, in a trustworthy golf shop or pro shop, because one of these drivers is sure to take your game from the tee to the next level.

CALLAWAY ROGUE: Standard or draw, the Rogue combines the Jailbreak technology with the X-Face VFT to enhanced ball speed and long distance. It has new Boeing aero geometry, the largest ever carbon composite Triaxial crown and a Premium shaft selection of various weights. RRP: 549€.

CALLAWAY ROGUE SUB ZERO: This is the Rogue with the Jailbreak distance, more forgiveness and low-spin. This is a powerful Tour-level driver but it’s easy to hit for any amateur seeking extremely low spin in a high-MOI head shape. It has X-Face VFT, Triaxial carbon Crown and interchangeable weights to adjust spin-rate and launch angle. RRP: 549€.

COBRA KING F8: Adjustable driver with Precision Milled Forged face, utilizing CNC milling pattern that delivers a superior performance. Precise face thickness and improved curvatures achieve maximum ball speed with distance and accuracy. It has 360º Aero aerodynamics and Cobra Connect by Arccos. In F8 and F8+ versions to adjust the centre of gravity towards the heel or the front. RRP: 429€.

COBRA F-MAX: The F-Max utilizes an ultralight configuration with the Superlite shaft which reduces swing weight to promote clubhead speed and greater distance for players with moderate swing speeds. It has a forged Ti-6-4 Titanium face; a back/heel internal weighting, offset hosel; new Crown alignment feature; and a black PVD finish. RRP: 299€.

HONMA BERES S-06: This is a premium driver for medium to low handicap players that combines a beautiful appearance with the finest craftsmanship of Honma’s masters. Its groove on the sole behind the face promotes its flexion at impact, providing increased forgiveness and improving the launch angle. Ti-5N face; Ti-811 body; and new ARMRQ X light shaft of soft feel and consistency. RRP: 1.349.

HONMA BEZEAL 535: This is a premium driver for medium to high handicap players with an amazing combination of distance and forgiveness and ease to place behind the golf ball. The groove of the sole expands the sweet spot and its higher repulsion produces an increased ball speed. A weight that shifts the centre of gravity to the heel helps to square the impact. Includes a VIZARD shaft. RRP: 699€.

CLEVELAND LAUNCHER HB: More distance, forgiveness, accuracy and control almost without effort. The HiBore Crown reduces the weight and promotes a high flight with low spin. The Flex-Fins compress at impact to increase the ball speed. Launcher Cup-Face, ultra-lightweight hosel and premium Miyazaki C. Kua shaft. RRP: 329,99€.

LYNX #BB: New for 2018, the #BB is the most technologically advanced and adjustable driver within the Lynx range, regarding loft (8.5º to 12.5º) and draw and fade bias. Its Bi Cast Titanium head (460cc) has moveable 3g weights, and comes assembled with a UST Mamiya Recoil shaft and a Lamkin Crossline grip. RRP: 399€.

MIZUNO GT180: A driver with extreme levels of adjustability to optimize performance of the existing swing, and keep pace with swing changes and course conditions. Forged SP700 Ti face; draw, neutral and fade settings; Quick Switch adjustable hosel; and an expanded line of high-end shafts at no extra cost. RRP: 499€.

MIZUNO ST180: Driver with Wave sole technology and with the weight low and towards the face, dropping spin rates and promoting the ball speeds for even the fastest ball-strikers. The sole contracts and expands to increase the energy imparted to the ball. Forged SP700 Ti face; internal Waffle Crown; and efficient low-spin performance. RRP: 459€.

PING G400: A driver with adjustable multi-material head of 445cc, that offers a high performance through its powerful forged face of T9S+ titanium, aerodynamic Dragonfly and Vortec technologies, tungsten back weight and multiple shaft options. Available in standard, LST with the weight towards the face (low spin) and SFT towards the heel (straight flight) models. RRP: 469€.

PING G400 MAX: Based on the G400, the G400 Max takes the MOI to the extreme, optimizing the volume to increase its forgiveness, tighten dispersion and help golfers to lower scores. Multi-material adjustable head of 460cc with Dragonfly aerodynamic technology Crown, powerful forged face, tungsten back weight and multiple shaft options. RRP: 469€.

PXG 0811X: The 0811X and 0811LX (lighter) are the lowest spin drivers of PXG, engineered with a honeycomb elastomer TPE insert, carbon fibre crown, titanium alloy face of variable thickness, with a precise adjustable hosel and 10 weights at the sole to obtain the desired effect. RRP: From 949€ (depending on shaft).

TITLEIST 917D2: This is a distance drivers with the traditional Tour-inspired pear profile. The 917D3 (440cc) offers more workability, a slightly lower launch and less spin than the 917D2 (460cc). Both offer faster ball speeds, with the Active Recoil Channel 2.0 and the adjustability Sure Fit of centre of gravity and hosel, to fit any skill level. RRP: 549€.

TAYLORMADE M4: The M4 is an adjustable and multi-material driver. But it is different, not as customizable as the M3, and puts emphasis on forgiveness with straight distance. It also has Twist Face technology, utilizes the Hammerhead Slot and Geocoustic, combining geometry and acoustical technologies for forgiveness and best-in-class sound. Also in M4 D-Type version, more draw-biased model. RRP: 449€.

TAYLORMADE M3: This adjustable and multi-material driver introduces the Twist Face, a curved face technology that corrects the hook and slice of the miss-hits to straighten them. Its intuitive Y-Track adjustability allows the CG to be placed in order to obtain the desired ball flight, Hammerhead Slot and M3 440cc version. RRP: 579€.

WILSON C300: With an appealing Deep Matte Red finish, this adjustable driver features four Power Holes, two on the sole and two on the Crown towards the toe and the heel, that allow face deflection and add extra distance. Its rapid adjustability introduces a Fast Fit 3.0 technology to tune the loft and the Multi-Fit 3.0 for a neutral, draw or fade through three different weight placements. RRP: 469€.

XXIO X: Packed with high quality and technology, this lightweight driver is oriented to help moderate swing speed golfers to hit farther and play better. Its new True-Focus Impact technology combines a larger and powerful sweet spot with a graphite Smart Shaft that helps to find the face-centre more often. RRP: 699,99€.

Golf Companies, Ping

PING – PING Europe announces Lisa Lovatt as new General Manager

February 16, 2018 – PING Europe has announced that current Operations Director, Lisa Lovatt, has been appointed to the newly-created position of General Manager.

The move represents an important commitment by PING Europe to enhance its future position in the UK and European golf markets.

Commenting on the new appointment, PING Europe Managing Director, John Clark, said: “Lisa has more than 20 years’ experience at PING Europe and has been instrumental in driving our service to be the best in the industry.

“She is ready and able to take on this exciting new challenge. I believe this is the right move for the business at this time and, personally, I am delighted for Lisa.

“She will manage the day-to-day business and operations of the company, which will allow me more time to focus on future direction and strategy.”

Discussing her new role, Lisa Lovatt commented: “As PING Europe sales grow year-on-year, it is imperative that our quality of service to customers and consumers remains second-to-none so this will continue to be a major focus of the company.”

PGA Tour, Ping, What's in the bag…

PING – Tony Finau signs to play with PING equipment at PGA Tour

January 31, 2018 – Tony Finau, a PGA Tour winner and one of the longest hitters on tour, has signed a multi-year agreement to represent PING, company President John K. Solheim announced. The 28-year-old Salt Lake City native led the just-completed Farmers Insurance Open with an average drive of 325.6 yards and is second on tour in average driving distance at 328.8 yards. He switched to the new PING G400 Max driver at this season’s Sony Open. He will make his debut as a PING Pro at this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open.

“Tony is very charismatic and has tremendous character,” John K. Solheim said. “He’s great with the fans and well-respected by his fellow tour players. He’s one of the most athletic players on tour who uses his strength to generate a lot of power -– he can really hit the ball a long way and has the overall game to become a consistent winner on tour. We’ve developed a great relationship with him in the last year as he’s looked to play the best equipment available for his game. We believe it’s a great fit for both of us.”

At 6′ 4″ and 200 pounds, Finau was a premier high school athlete in several sports, most notably basketball. But golf was his first passion, and he turned pro out of high school at age 17. He earned his PGA Tour card for the 2015 season with a win on the Web.com Tour in 2014. In 2016, he won the Puerto Rico Open on the PGA Tour.

“I’m honored to become part of the PING Tour team,” said Tony Finau. “The family atmosphere, people and core values at the company really spoke to me. I’ve played their equipment for the last year and have gotten to know their tour reps and the engineering team in Phoenix very well in the process. I’m most impressed with their passion for designing the best equipment in the game for golfers of all skill levels, and I know that their commitment to properly fitting and building equipment to fit my game will maximize my confidence every time I step on the tee.”

As part of a multi-year agreement, Finau will carry a PING staff bag and play a minimum of 11 PING clubs. Financial terms and the length of the agreement were not disclosed.