– By Ed Travis
The latest irons from Ping, the i230, are targeted for use by better players and have a cavity back in the stainless-steel body filled with injection molded thermoplastic.
Fast Fact Ping i230 Irons
Players-distance category
431 Stainless steel head
Stainless steel capped cavity back filled with injection molded thermoplastic
Toe weight screw
Hydropearl chrome finish
Milled grooves
3-iron through U-wedge
Stock lofts: 5-iron 26°, pitching wedge 45°
Stock shafts: Dynamic Gold 105, PING Alta CB Black
Stock grip: Lamkin Crossline Black
$205 per iron steel shaft, $220 per iron graphite shaft
WYNTK
Ping is promoting that one of the main features of the i230s is their distance control and predictable trajectory time after time. The hollow head allows weight to be distributed outwards and the center of gravity to be lower which improves feel and distance.
Of note is, as with their other iron lines, the option of a Power Spec loft which is 1°-1.5° stronger than stock and a Retro Spec loft 2° weaker.
We also like the fact the leading edge of the i230s is more rounded to facilitate contact with the turf and that the 3- through 5-irons compared to the short irons have a more compact head for a better look at address.
“The i230 iron sits in the middle of our iron offerings, so it requires us to balance a variety of performance attributes,” John Solheim Ping CEO and President said. “It needs the precision and solid feel of a players iron while offering the forgiveness a lot of golfers expect from a PING iron. We also want to provide more distance in a way that is predictable and repeatable to ensure it meets the precise gapping needs of the best players in the world. I’m excited to report our research and early tour feedback confirms we’ve achieved all that and more. It has a little bit of everything to deliver a lot of performance.”