Ping has finally, officially unveiled its iBlade successor: New i59 irons, which we first spotted on tour in May, and which GolfWRXers have been discussing in the forums for months. Ping i59 irons feature a thinner sole, an aluminum insert, and a Hydropearl 2.0 finish, among other elements, differentiating them from the five-year-old iBlades. 

At the heart of the new 2021 i59 irons from Ping is an aerospace-grade aluminum insert joined to a forged (yes, forged) 1025 carbon steel body and forged 17-4 SS laser-cut face, with the combination designed to provide crisp, consistent impact, as well as a solid feel and a flighted trajectory with added forgiveness, according to Ping. 

See more photos, comparison pics and read the discussion in the forums

Regarding the centerpiece AlumiCore insert, Solheim said

“We know this type of player may 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. 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.”

The irons’ aerospace-grade aluminum insert (1/3 the density of stainless steel) also saves approximately 30 grams of material.

This weight saving allows for tungsten toe and heel weights that elevate MOI to match the larger i210 iron to achieve a level of forgiveness uncommon in a forged design, according to the company. 

The face of the new additions is engineered with MicroMax grooves. The grooves allow for tighter spacing and a geometry that results in an average of four extra grooves in design to reduce fliers in the short irons while preserving spin in the long irons.

“It’s a true forged blade on the outside, but inside it’s like nothing ever engineered. Our team took on the challenge of disrupting an iron category that traditionally has lacked a lot of performance innovation and 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,” said John K. Solheim, Ping’s president. 

In addition, the Hydropearl 2.0 finish on the irons repels water in design for predictable, consistent performance in both wet and dry conditions.

Speaking to the rapid adoption on Tour, Ping president John K. Solheim said, “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.”

Ping i59 irons: Specs

• Stock Shafts: Project X LS (6.0, 6.5); UST Recoil 760 ES (A), 780 (R, S)
• Optional Stock Shafts: Ping AWT 2.0 (R, S, X), Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), KBS Tour (R, S, X), NS Pro Modus 105 (R, S, X), Elevate 95 (R, S), Ping Alta CB Slate (SR, R, S)
• Stock Grip: Golf Pride New Decade MCC White w/Arccos
• $275 per club with stock steel shaft; $290 per club with stock graphite shaft

See more photos, comparison pics and read the discussion in the forums