Ping golf clubs are some of the favorites among golfers.
There are so many great things about Ping golf clubs, but the best is very likely the feel of the club.
The Ping clubs tend to feel so good that most players won’t switch back to another brand once they have played with Ping for some time.
Ping is an excellent option for people who are concerned about a custom fit and ensuring that their clubs are properly built for their game.
However, the first step in the Ping process is to ensure that you are getting the right set of clubs.
Understanding the difference between the different Ping sets takes a bit of time, but it can certainly be figured out.
Difference Between Ping I And G Irons
The most noticeable difference between a Ping I and a Ping G iron is that the G is built for game improvement, and the I is built for the better player.
If you are new to the game, it is important to understand that game improvement clubs are for the amateur golfer who needs to be able to get forgiveness from their shots.
Players’ irons are built for golfers trying to be very accurate and hit the shot as close to the pin as possible.
Understanding these differences between the Ping I and G will really help you decide which is better for you.
The original Ping I and Ping G irons are several years old now.
This year, Ping has just released the new Ping G425 irons.
However, since the release of the original Ping G and Ping I, all of the irons that have followed in the series have had the I or the G in the name.
Essentially, the I and the G identifiers will indicate two different categories of irons for players.
Let’s take a look at the Ping G series and the Ping I series and the differences you can expect between these types of clubs.
Once you have this information down, you should be able to get the proper set of irons in your hands for the season.
Comparison Of Ping I And Ping G Irons
Here are the major differences that you will notice between the Ping I and Ping G irons.
Use these differences to help you decide which is going to be the smartest choice for your game.
Chances are there will be something in these categories that stands out for you and makes you choose the club that is the best fit for your game.
1. Forgiveness
A Ping G iron is almost always going to be more forgiving than a Ping I iron.
The reason behind this is that the Ping G clubhead has a larger sweet spot and some more room for error.
If you don’t make perfect contact with your Ping G, you can still get plenty of distance and forgiveness from it.
In addition, the Ping G iron is a bit more offset than the Ping I.
The offset in the clubhead helps to ensure that you are able to straighten out your slice just a bit if that is the shot that plagues you with your irons.
The Ping G has a wider sole, and it leads to a higher launch on many shots.
These are all aspects that players want when they look for more forgiving irons.
The Ping I irons have some forgiveness built in, but it may not be enough for the average golfer.
2. Distance
All golf irons on the market today are longer than they were several years ago.
Golf companies are able to get distance like they never have before.
The distance is a result of improvements in the clubhead and shaft technology for a player.
We are impressed by the distances that both the Ping G and the Ping I irons can get.
Players’ golf irons used to make it difficult for golfers to get the distance.
You would have had to hit the shot so precisely that the distance you got was just not going to be enough unless you had very high swing speeds.
However, things are different today.
Golf manufacturers like Ping have learned how to put premium distance technology into the iron sets built for the lowest handicap players.
This is why the Ping I series of irons still can get players a good amount of distance.
Of course, your swing will have to be slightly more accurate, but you can still keep up when it comes to hitting long shots.
However, if you are purely seeking a set of irons that will give you easier distance and higher launch, take a look at the G series as opposed to the I series of clubs.
3. Offset
Offset is the way that the golf club head is attached to the hosel of the club.
Sometimes this angle is going to be very straight, and other times, the clubhead will be set a bit back.
When the clubhead is offset, the golf club becomes more forgiving, and this will help to keep the ball straighter.
If you are a player who tends to see a fade or a slice on your shots (that is not controlled), then it makes sense to purchase these clubs.
With the Ping I irons, you are going to see almost no offset.
The clubs have a very straight look to them, and they are built to look better for the better player.
Lower handicappers tend to need less help when it comes to straightening the ball flight, but instead, they want to control the ball as much as possible.
When it comes to the Ping I and Ping G irons, the Ping G will have a much greater offset.
The differences are noticeable.
4. Set Makeup
Another difference between the Ping I and Ping G is that you will sometimes notice that there are different clubs available with the set.
Since the Ping I are built more for players, most of the time, you will find that the set is available with a three iron.
In addition, some Ping I sets won’t have a gap wedge available.
This is because most lower handicap golfers are going to use a blade style gap wedge, and they will also like long irons as opposed to hybrids at times.
The set makeup for a Ping G set of irons is going to be a bit more user friendly.
You will likely not find any option for a three iron, but you will see that the gap wedge is offered.
Most game improvement sets will stop at the four iron as this is really the longest golf iron that an amateur should be using.
The set makeup is a tricky thing to decide on for some players.
The idea of how many wedges and how many hybrids to carry can take a little while to figure out.
Just because a set is offered with a 4-PW, this does not mean that is what you need for your game.
The clubs can almost always be ordered in whatever set makeup you would like.
Of course, if you are purchasing older used clubs, you may not have this luxury, but for new clubs, you can easily find what you need and order a set accordingly.
5. Look
Although the look of the club may not seem like the most important detail when looking at a set of irons, it is actually quite important.
A golfer needs to look down at their golf ball and feel confident that they are going to be able to hit a great shot.
The look of the club will help you get confidence in how the club is going to perform.
Typically speaking, a lower handicap golfer is going to prefer a thinner top line look.
These golfers will enjoy looking down and seeing that the club is thin and that they can use it to cleanly place the ball around the golf course.
A game improvement style club will not appeal to the lower handicap player as it will be too thick and bulky looking.
The golfer with a higher handicap will actually need the opposite in their game.
When a high handicapper looks down at a shot, they will want to see a thicker and wider sole on the golf club.
This gives players a bit more confidence that they can get the ball up in the air and headed down the fairway.
You will notice that this is a common trend throughout all iron sets and all manufacturers.
As you move from game improvement to players’ clubs, the irons get thinner looking.
6. Price
The game-improvement or the Ping G irons are almost always going to be more affordable than the Ping I irons.
The main reason behind this is that the Ping G are game improvement cavity back clubs.
The Ping I irons are oftentimes forged golf clubs.
Manufacturing a cavity back iron is cheaper than manufacturing a player’s forged clubhead.
These differences in manufacturing and the fact that you will see different types of performance from each club are certainly going to impact the pricing.
If you want a more affordable golf club, the Ping G will be the better place to look.
7. Feel
Feel is so important in golf.
Overall, as a company, Ping does a great job of making clubs that feel good and perform in a tremendous way.
Feel in irons will help golfers determine what they need to improve in their swing, and it is also going to reward them for a shot well hit.
The feel between the Ping I and the Ping G is going to be a bit different.
With a Ping G iron, you are going to get very little vibration at impact, even when you miss the center of the clubface.
This is a great thing for the higher handicap player who often misses the center of the club.
The problem with this concept is that it does not give you a great idea of what mistakes you are making in your swing.
The feel on the Ping I irons will be much purer, but you will typically only have a great feel when you hit the club in the center of the face.
Therefore, golfers with lower handicaps can determine if they have made a good or a bad swing based on the feel of the irons.
Feel is especially important in the short irons when you have to get a bit more accurate as you approach the pin.
Who Should Play Ping I Irons?
Now that we have reviewed all the differences between the Ping I and the Ping G irons, it’s time to narrow down which one you should have in your bag.
We would recommend the Ping I series of golf clubs for players who have a handicap of around ten or less.
If you are a twelve handicap but your numbers have been falling because of the time and effort you are putting into your game, then the Ping I would likely be a fine choice.
Many of the Ping I series golf clubs are going to work even for scratch or professional golfers.
These clubs certainly have enough performance to take your game to the next level and not hold you back.
The Ping I Blade is a more modern looking club, and it is one of the better-looking clubs that Ping has ever released.
Take a look at the options not just released by Ping this year but the choices they have put out over the last several years.
If you want to start attacking pins and getting the ball to respond to draw or fade spin, the Ping I irons are going to be your answer.
Who Should Play Ping G Irons?
Ping G Irons are the game improvement clubs that will help players who struggle with distance and forgiveness.
The mid to high handicappers and even beginners are going to see the most benefit from switching to a Ping G iron.
With the Ping G iron, players will see a better launch, increased control, and even some extra distance than they may see with the Ping I series of clubs.
The Ping G irons are also priced a bit better than a Ping I set of clubs.
This is important for those golfers who are trying to stay within budget but still put a new set of clubs in their bags.
Some golfers with a lower handicap will still use the Ping G clubs in their long irons as it provides a more diverse set of irons.
Conclusion
Now that you can see all the differences between the Ping I and the Ping G set of golf clubs, hopefully, you can make a better decision about what will work for your game.
There are many choices out there when it comes to golf irons, and getting it narrowed down to just the Ping golf clubs was likely a tough decision.
However, with the feel and quality of manufacturing you experience with Ping, you will be more than happy with either of these choices.
There is no question that Ping brings a unique golf club to the market, one that all golfers could benefit from.
