PING Irons by Year: 50+ Years of History

PING irons are beloved by the golf community. Their usual forgiving nature means they feature on many golfers’ bags – especially those with high handicaps.

However, you may not know that PING was in use for 10 years before its first iron came out. After being founded by Karsten Solheim in 1959, PING released the first putter club.

Ten years on, irons have also become part of the PING offering. So let’s go back in time and look at PING irons by year, what makes them special, and how to choose the right set for your game.

PING Irons by Year

We went through the PING archives to find a list of all PING irons by year:

PING iron release date	flat iron
1969-1976	Kasten I, Kasten II, Kasten III, Kasten IV
1979	Eye
1982	eyes 2
1984	Eye2 EZ Lite
1985	Eye2 square slot
1986	Eye2 Beryllium Copper
1989	Eye2 No+
1990	Eye2+
1990	Eye2 points
1991	just
1991	beryllium copper
1994	vitality 2
1994	Zing 2 Beryllium Copper
1996	international intelligence agency
1996	ISIK
1996	ISI Beryllium Copper
1996	ISI Nickel
2000	i3 blade
2000	i3 O size
Year 2003	S 59
Year 2003	G2 HL
Year 2003	G2 large
Year 2003	G2 EZ
Year 2003	G2
Year 2003	i3+ blade
year 2004	S 59 Tour
2005	i5
2005	G5
year 2006	S58
year 2006	ecstasy
2007	G10
2007	i10
2007	Rhapsody
Year 2008	Rapture V2
2009	G15
2010	i15
year 2011	wild goose
year 2011	G20
2012	i20
2013	S55
2013	G25
2013	G30
2014	i25
2014	Karsten
2015	my series
2015	grams max
2016	my blade
2016	G
2017	G400
2017	i200
2018	i210
2018	i500
2018	G700
2019	G410
2019	blueprint
2020	G710
2021	i59
2021	G425
2022	i525
2023	G430

read more: Where are PING golf clubs made? Are they still all-American?

Will there be new PING irons in 2023?

PING has released some new irons for 2023. The G430 provides significant range gains without compromising PING’s renowned fault tolerance. They were released on 26 January. You can check today’s prices on GlobalGolf.

Top PING Iron Sets Over the Years

PING irons of the 2000s

i3 hardcore

Available in blade or O size options, the i3 irons feature a new technology then used in PING – Custom Tuning Ports (CT). This eliminates unwanted vibration and also means that the weight of the club head can be controlled so no hosel weight or shaft weight is required.

G2 HL Irons

Due to the extreme perimeter weight, it was the most forgiving iron PING produced at the time. They are great game improving irons. This club allows for high shots with a soft landing. It was also the best selling iron in the US the year after its release (2004).

ecstasy hardcore

The Rapture irons were introduced in 2006. They are the first irons made by PING to use multiple materials in their construction. This means the club has the highest MOI PING has ever produced at that stage and is well-liked.

PING irons of the 2010s

G Max Irons

This club took over the Karsten irons in 2015 and became the new giant PING irons in town. It’s got a lot of forgiveness, and the COR-Eye technology encourages faster ball speeds. So those with slower swings can get some extra bang for their buck.

G400 iron

Released in 2017, the G400 irons feature face flex technology that lets you hit the ball higher and faster. Meanwhile, the Catholic Club has the power to stopPING.

blueprint iron

Released in 2019, these irons are ideal for lower handicap players. They’re functional, consistent, and offer great sound and feel. They’re not as forgiving as other PING golf clubs, but they do allow for more control.

PING Irons of the 2020s

G425 iron

These irons are best for intermediate-handicap golfers. PING replaced the previous Core Eye Technology and opted for a metal wood style design. This helps create the fastest ball speed in the G range on release. It also has plenty of forgiveness.

read more: PING G425 Iron Review

i59 hardcore

The sleek design of the i59s is functional and feels great in the hand. Because it’s a long iron, it produces a longer low spin. While it’s not a beginner’s club, the prices are high too.

i525 iron

These irons are another expensive set, but for good reason. The i525 irons offer a good level of forgiveness for blade irons, they hold ball speed well and help produce consistently accurate shots. It is no exaggeration to say that they are among the best PING irons ever made.

PING Iron Schedules: How They Evolved and Improved

Let’s take a closer look at the year-to-year evolution of PING irons…After the release of the Karsten irons, PING introduced new irons every few years in the ’80s and ’90s.

The Game-Changing i3 Irons

As we mentioned before, the turn of the century saw a change in the PING i3 irons. Not only did they incorporate CT to control clubhead weight, but the irons gave golfers, for the first time, a choice between regular irons and game-improving irons. These irons also eliminated unwanted vibration, which improved the feel of the club—a trait that PING maintained for the next two decades.

Material change and ecstasy

In 2006, the Rapture irons also changed the game for PING. For the first time, multiple materials were used, including a stainless steel body, thin titanium face and tungsten toe weights. This helps create the highest MOI ever created by PING.

This tungsten toe weight continued three years later in clubs such as the S57 irons to increase the MOI of those clubs.

G-Series dominance

First introduced in 2003, let’s take a look back at the PING G-Series irons year by year. The G2 line includes standard models, EZ models for slower swing speeds, women’s clubs and high launch clubs.

The G5s were released in 2005, the G10s in 2007 – both great gaming improvement clubs.

G25s (2013) Feel has changed thanks to the shock-absorbing medallion on the rear of the clubface. Unlike their predecessors, which were more suited to mid-to-high handicappers, these irons are suitable for any type of golfer.

With the introduction of the G400 (2017), ball speed and distance increase due to face flex technology.

2020 saw the rise of the G710, which at the time was not only the longest and most forgiving club in the history of the PING G-Series irons, but also the longest club in the history of PING irons.

Following on from the ever so forgiving G425, the G430 now allows for faster hits and greater distance without changing the famous level of PING tolerance.

20 years on, irons are still going strong on every course today.

Tips for Choosing the Right PING Iron Set for Your Game

You probably have a lot of PING iron models and vintages running through your head, so let’s simplify it a bit…

be aware of your obstacles

Your handicap is a good indicator of which PING irons are best for you. Game improving irons will suit higher handicaps. This applies to a part of the G-series, but especially the G710 irons should be a good fit for you.

If you want to increase the complexity of your game and you have a low handicap, then the players irons are your best bet. They’re for those looking primarily for distance control, maneuverability, feel and sound. Blueprint irons should work for golfers like this.

That doesn’t mean that if you have a high handicap, you can’t find irons for a lower handicap. You should still aspire to be your best self, and if part of your journey is playing with your favorite set of irons, you can achieve that. Be aware that if you get them too soon, they won’t work for you as well as they will in the future.

don’t go over budget

You need to consider how much you will spend on a new iron. Picture this: You’ve probably found a set of irons that, on paper, look and read like they’ll enhance your game. You’ve almost fallen in love with them before you look at the price tag—$1,500.

The feeling of temptation is there, knowing it might be out of your budget. Our advice is don’t break your budget or the bank for an iron.

There will be cheaper alternatives, and your favorite iron should be cheaper too if you still want one. If this sounds like you, you might want to see where you can buy used PING clubs.

they need to see the character in your eyes

If your new PING iron looks like it should, it probably will feel like it too. If you’re happy with the look and design of your latest irons, it should inspire confidence that you can and will use them to the best of your ability.

If your clubs are high handicaps with thick toplines, it can be comforting to know that your irons are more forgiving than other clubs. This will only help your mental approach to the round and your performance.

Otherwise, if you only have a set of irons and you’re not interested in a design that you don’t really like, you may lack confidence in your setup. This can affect your swing, and the next minute you’re sending the ball into the bunker. It’s a quick turn of events, but it’s easier than you might think.

final thoughts

Now you know the full history of the PING irons – hopefully under control.

You can even recite each PING iron by year…but our main takeaway is that you’ll now be able to use this information wisely when choosing your next PING iron.

Go enjoy the nice “pop” of your iron…

common problem

How do I know how old my PING iron is?

The best way to find out how old your PING iron is is to look for the serial number (usually on the hosel) and contact PING Consumer Relations. Call (800) 474-6434 or fill out the contact form online. Give them the serial number and they can find the date of manufacture for you.

How long will the PING iron last?

In general, golf clubs like the PING last about 8 to 12 years or about 300 drives. Of course, factors such as the quality of the iron, the number of shots played, and how the iron is cared for will all affect the life of the iron.