If you play the word association game with Ping golf clubs — specifically irons — the first thing that comes to mind for most is the word forgiving. Now, on the heels of releasing the better player-focused Blueprint T and S irons, Ping is rounding out its 2024 iron lineup with the release of the distance- and forgiveness-focused G730 and i530 irons.
Here’s everything you need to know about the G730 and i530 irons.
The G730 means distance
G-Series irons have always been about distance and forgiveness, but the G730s go a step further by also creating more height for more stopping power into greens — because a mid-iron isn’t useful if you can’t hold a green from 150 yards.
The irons utilize a hyper 17-4 stainless steel that is heat-treated after the casting process to allow engineers to push the boundaries of face thickness, resulting in higher shots that come off the club face up to 2 mph faster. That extra 2 mph helps the irons average roughly 5 extra yards of distance through the set.
“The G730 irons are engineered for golfers who can benefit from more distance and a higher level of forgiveness and consistency to shoot lower scores,” said John K. Solheim, Ping’s CEO and president. “The new G730 brings them all that in an easy-to-hit, confidence-inspiring design. It’s the longest and most forgiving iron in our current lineup and is a great solution to help maximize the performance of a lot of golfers.”
Another element of the design is extra offset to help golfers square the face and a wider sole to lower the center of gravity. Like all Ping irons, the design also features tungsten hosel and toe weights to push mass away from the center of the club head, increasing MOI. Behind the face sits the PurFlex cavity badge to allow the face to flex while also not hampering the speed and improving acoustics, making for a powerful impact sound.
Finally, with the help of their research database, the lofts of the Ping G730s have been custom-engineered to increase distance while still maintaining optimal gapping between clubs. And, to offer even more control into the wedges, the grooves are precision machined to enhance spin and control.
Ping G730 Custom Irons
i530 for distance and feel
The players’ distance iron category is one of the most popular iron types on the market today, and for good reason. Most irons in this category offer similar technology to distance irons, but with all of that technology hidden in a golf club design that mimics the looks of a classic muscle-back blade. It’s kind of like putting an F1 engine in a family sedan — it looks simple from the outside but inside it’s packing extra power!
The clean looks and thin top line of the i530 are made possible thanks to a newly developed machining technique that allows for the manufacturing of extremely thin back walls of the hollow head. Since the rear of the club doesn’t have to make contact with the ball, this thin wall design helps to keep mass lower in the head to boost MOI and reduce dispersion.
“We’re seeing significant distance gains with the i530 iron mainly due to its higher face flexing and bending. It’s a great fit for the golfer whose top priority is more distance, including someone who may have lost yards with their current irons over time,” Solheim said. “It also has a level of forgiveness not typically found in distance irons. It’s packed with performance. It looks great, feels great and more importantly, will lead to lower scores and more enjoyment on the course.”
As for the face, it is forged from C300 maraging steel — the same type of material used on the faces of the G430 fairway woods — which helps to create more flex for more distance around the entire face. The back of the face is then coasted using a polymer to fine-tune the acoustics and feel without reducing the ability for the face to flex and bend at impact, resulting in distance loss.
All of the saved mass from the thin back walls and face are placed in an internal weight pad on the sole of the iron to increase launch and maintain proper spin windows. The i530 utilizes Ping’s Micromax grooves and hydropearl chrome 2.0 finish to further bring consistency to ball flight and distance control.
Price and availability
The Ping G730 and i530 irons are now available for pre-order, with the G730 priced at $185 for steel and $200 for graphite, and the i530 priced at $205 with steel and $220 for graphite.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2024? Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.
