The post Ping Scottsdale TEC Putters aren’t ‘zero torque.’ They claim this is better appeared first on Golf.

The post Ping Scottsdale TEC Putters aren’t ‘zero torque.’ They claim this is better appeared first on Golf.

Ping’s latest putters aren’t “Zero-Torque,” but their take on the putter industry’s biggest craze has loads of other ways to help you get it in the hole.

The company is bringing its first Onset putters to a full retail release in the new Scottsdale TEC line after teasing the technology with a PLD limited release last year. Of the three head shapes in the line, two are in Ping’s Onset configuration, which moves the shaft back behind the putter face, but not directly through the center of gravity of the putter.

The striking white mallets also feature Ping’s new EyeQ alignment technology to help focus your eye and deliver the putter more accurately.

“The new Scottsdale TEC putters represent an exciting new opportunity for golfers to improve their putting,” Ping CEO & President John K. Solheim said in a release. “The use of eye-tracking research has given us some great insights into the best ways to help golfers improve their focus and sink more putts. We’ve also chosen to make this line exclusively mallets to better serve the growing market for these types of designs while continuing to offer stroke-type fitting through optimal CG placement. All the Scottsdale Tec models are designed with proven Ping performance, including high MOIs and a fantastic feel. We’re seeing some nice Tour adoption as well as we come into the key season.”

Scottsdale TEC, which stands for “Tour Elevated Concepts,” has already made a splash on the PGA Tour after being first teased at the RSM Classic last November. Tony Finau and Matthieu Pavon led back-to-back PGA Tour events in SG: Putting in February and Wyndham Clark just added the Ally Blue Onset to the bag last week.

Keep reading below for more on the Ping Scottsdale TEC putters, including my take on the release.

What’s actually new with Ping Scottsdale TEC putters — and why you should care

Why Ping’s Onset putters aren’t “Zero-Torque”

Ping Principal Design Engineer Tony Serrano describes the difference between Ping’s Onset putters and “Zero-Torque” putters by imagining you need to haul a trailer with your car. You’re always going to tow it, and it goes where you lead it. But when you have to reverse your car, maneuvering that trailer in front of you becomes very difficult.

Ping’s approach to Onset putters is the same: the shaft sits in front of the Center of Gravity, rather than directly through it, as in other low-torque putters on the market.

“With zero torque, the shaft axis is going directly through the CG,” Serrano told GOLF. “That’s not what we want. We still want to pull the CG, because that’s what creates stability through the stroke. So even though the shaft is set back, the CG is far enough behind it that you’re always pulling it, not pushing it.”

That means Ping can push the CG farther back in the head to add stability and by moving the shaft back, that frees up the face to help you align the club (more on this in a bit).

The configuration also means the shaft and CG relationship is very similar to a blade putter, while still having mallet stability. Despite the center-shafted design, the Ally Blue Onset has five degrees of toe hang while the Ketsch Onset has 15 to fit Ping’s straight and slight arc stroke types, respectively.

“Because we can move the CG so far back with the aluminum body and steel sole, that shaft-to-CG relationship gets closer to what you see in a blade,” Serrano said. “So you kind of get the balance and feel of a blade, but with the forgiveness of a mallet.”

The Hayden, a new shape for Ping, is a more traditional round mallet shape with a double-bend shaft.

Keeping a Quiet Eye

One of the major benefits of the Onset is the ability to afford the golfer a completely unobstructed view of the face, making alignment easier.

Scottsdale TEC takes that concept even further by introducing EyeQ alignment technology.

The EyeQ technology came from studies linking the phenomenon known as Quiet Eye where the longer duration a player can lock their gaze on the ball during the stroke, the stronger the correlation to skill and better performance.

Ping engineers found a dot on the topline of the putter, followed by a line that significantly improved Quiet Eye when compared to a solid line or a blank top.

“What we found with the dot is that it really helps quiet the eyes,” Seranno said. “When players had nothing or just a line, their gaze was moving around a lot more, but with the dot it just locked in. Right before they start the stroke, everything is focused in one place.”

Until I saw the putters, I was confused what the eye was supposed to do once you started the stroke and moved the putter, but I found my gaze immediately locked on the ball in that moment.

The bright white finish helps the alignment feature stand out even more and grabs the consumer’s attention at retail.

Same name, new TEC

The Scottsdale name is an important one for Ping, whose founder, Karsten Solheim, began designing putters in a Scottsdale garage.

It was used last year for the initial line of Scottsdale putters, which featured a soft PEBAX insert, a material commonly used for superior energy transfer in running shoes.

But the new Scottsdale TEC line stands out from its predecessor with multi-material construction. Instead of the bodies being cast steel, the rest of the putter is milled from aluminum with steel sole plates.

Milling out of aluminum allowed Ping much more flexibility with the CG properties, one of the reasons they were able to create the stability from the Onset configuration.

“The biggest thing is going from a cast head to a milled aluminum head with a steel sole,” Serrano said. “That gives us a lot of discretionary weight to move around, so we can really maximize MOI and place the CG exactly where we want it. It’s just a higher level of precision and performance compared to cast.”

The Ping Scottsdale TEC putter lineup

There are three shapes in the Scottsdale TEC line with two being in the Onset configuration. The Ally Blue Onset is also available with a counter-balanced setup.

Ally Blue Onset

What is it: A square mid-mallet shape with an onset shaft and 5 degrees of toe hang for players with minimal stroke rotation. Also available in a counter-balance model.

Who it’s for: Players who want an ultra-stable and easy-to-align mid-mallet to match a straight-back and straight-through stroke.

Ketsch Onset

What is it: A larger mallet with 15 degrees of toe flow to match strokes with a slight arc.

Who it’s for: Players looking to take advantage of the alignment and stability benefits of onset, but with more of a feeling of release through the stroke.

Hayden

What is it: A more traditional round mallet shape with a double-bend shaft for face balance.

Who it’s for: Players with minimal arc who want to take advantage of alignment aids but in a traditional configuration.

My take: Something in between low-torque and conventional

As someone who has been using a low-torque for the better part of the last six months, both of the Scottsdale TEC Onset putters really intrigue me.

With both, you’re able to get the extreme stability that has been a staple of this new putter category, get the aiming benefits of having the shaft off the face all the while retaining the feel of the putter releasing that I’m so used to.

I’ve been experimenting with low-torque putters as a way of resetting my hands, similar to what Rickie Fowler talked about in his switch back to a center-shafted putter. These Scottsdale TEC Onset putters offer a way of doing that while still having an awareness of the putter face.

In my testing, I’ve also found the PEBAX insert, which I thought was a bit soft on the original Scottsdale line, so be a little more responsive and feel more like a milled putter, which is something Tony Finau mentioned when he switched to the Ally Blue Onset this year. It’s definitely still on the softer side, something I prefer, but not mushy, making it easier to transition from a milled face to this.

The thing you notice right away is how easy these putters are to aim, thanks to both the high contrast white look and the EyeQ alignment aids. It’s very easy to lock onto the dot before your stroke and then lock onto the ball when you take it away.

I look forward to seeing where this configuration goes. Ping has been taking their time with their Onset models, with this being the first full retail release after the PLD Milled Special Edition Ally Blue Onset last year. The Ketsch is a nice additional option to the Ally Blue, but I’d love to see what other shapes the configuration would work with as well as the alignment aids.

I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more to come here.

Price, Specs and Availability

Ping’s new Scottsdale TEC putters are available for pre-order starting March 31 and will arrive at retail locations on April 9.

Each putter will cost $399.99.

Stock specs are as follows:

Loft: 3˚
Lie: 70° 
Lengths: 35″ (37.75″ for Ally Blue CB)

Head Weights: 370 g (Ally Blue Onset and Ally Blue Onset CB), 360 g (Hayden), 350 g (Ketsch Onset)

Stroke Types: Straight Arc (Ally Blue Onset, Ally Blue Onset CB and Hayden), Slight Arc (Ketsch Onset)

Want to find the best driver for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post TaylorMade debuts MIM construction with new SYSTM2 Putters appeared first on Golf.

The post TaylorMade debuts MIM construction with new SYSTM2 Putters appeared first on Golf.

While Spider-mania has taken over the PGA Tour in the past year, TaylorMade still hasn’t forgotten about blades.

With their new SYSTM2 putters launch, the company is not only introducing three new blade models, along with two mid-mallets, but these putters will feature a new MIM (Metal Injection Molding) construction, a first for the company’s putters. The putters still feature flymill faces, preserving a soft feel many players prefer.

“SYSTM2 represents our commitment to delivering putters that perform at the highest level while showcasing the craftsmanship and precision that define TaylorMade’s world-class performance equipment,” TaylorMade Director of Product Creation (Putters) Andrew Oldknow said in a release. “By crafting each head from soft 304 stainless steel with precision-milled faces and our signature two-tone finish, we’ve created a complete system for every golfer. Whether a player prefers a compact blade, needs the forgiveness of our wide-body Del Monte, or wants a traditional mid-mallet, SYSTM2 ensures that golfers can find the perfect putter to match their stroke.”

What might be most striking about the putters is the price point, coming in at just $250, well below the cost of the popular Spider mallet and many other premium putters on the market. Yet these putters feature one of TaylorMade’s most advanced constructions to date.

Keep reading below for more on the TaylorMade SYSTM2 putters, including my take on the release.

What’s actually new with TaylorMade SYSTM2 Putters — and why you should care

A new kind of mold

MIM constructions have been around the golf space for some time, but they’ve picked up steam over the last couple of years, thanks to both costs coming down and the unique control it offers designers. SYSTM2 is TaylorMade’s first use of the technology in their putters.

Through the use of MIMing, as opposed to traditional methods of casting or milling, TaylorMade was able to remove mass from behind the face and reallocate it toward the toe and heel, increasing stability.

The use of 304 stainless steel and a flymill face with saw-milled grooves creates a soft and premium feel. This is going to feel different than the Pure Roll insert on TaylorMade’s Spider putters, but still on the softer side.

Two-tone alignment features

One of the best arguments for switching to larger mallet putters after the forgiveness boost is the additional alignment features. All the SYSTM2 putters tackle that obstacle with a two-tone finish that includes a scratch silver front piece and black PVD back.

The two-tone perpendicular contrast creates a visual separation for the golfer, helping them set up square to the target and keep it that way through the stroke.

The TaylorMade SYSTM2 lineup

There are five different head shapes in SYSTM2 putter lineup with three blades and two mallets. The blades are only available with L-neck hosels, while the mallets will be offered with both L-necks and single-bend shaft options.

Soto 12

What is it: A classic Anser-style blade with rounded bumpers and an L-neck hosel.

Who it’s for: Players who prefer rounded visuals and softer edges while having moderate toe flow.

Juno 12

What is it: A classic Anser-style blade with squared bumpers and an L-neck hosel.

Who it’s for: Blade players who prefer more angular shapes and perpendicular aligment features.

Del Monte 12

What is it: A wide-body blade with squared bumpers.

Who it’s for: Blade players who don’t want to tranisition to a mallet, but want more stability.

Ardmore 12/72

What is it: A more modern mid-mallet shape that isn’t quite a half-moon shape with a couple of corners for added stability.

Who it’s for: Players who prefer the half-moon shape but with more stability.

Bandon 12/72

What is it: A modern fang-style mid-mallet available in two different hosel options: L-Neck and single-bend.

Who it’s for: Players seeking max forgiveness from a mid-mallet with angular alignment lines.

My take: New tech, better price, more options

I’m not going to sit here and pretend SYSTM2 is cheaper than TaylorMade’s most recent blade/mid-mallet release. In fact, each putter is $50 more expensive.

However, what these new models have is the benefit of the MIM tech, allowing for greater stability and a different face technology with the sawmill grooves.

Are the grooves on a milled face better or worse than TaylorMade’s Pure Roll insert? No, that’s not what this is about. The Pure Roll insert is one of the reasons the Spider has been so successful, but some people simply prefer a soft milled feel.

This gives players different options.

While a blade isn’t going to be quite as forgiving as a high-MOI mallet, the MIM technology helps level the playing field with more stability through the heel-toe weighting.

Overall, SYSTM2 isn’t going to be a release that jumps off the page immediately, but when you look closer, not only will these putters round out TaylorMade’s lineup, but they could also serve as a stepping stone for future putter releases.

Price, Specs and Availability

TaylorMade’s new SYSTM2 putters are available order starting March 26 and will arrive at retail locations at the same time. 

Each putter will cost $249.99.

Stock specs are as follows:

Loft:
Blades (Soto, Juno, Del Monte): 3.5° 
Mallets (Bandon, Ardmore): 3.0° 

Lie: 70° (all models) 

Lengths: 34″, 35″

Hosel options:
L-Neck (toe hang, varying by model 31°–43°) 
Single-bend (face-balanced, mallets only) 

*All but the Bandon 12 and Ardmore 12 single-bend mallets are available in both left- and right-hand.

Want to find the best driver for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post L.A.B. Golf’s most traditional blade putters yet have arrived appeared first on Golf.

The post L.A.B. Golf’s most traditional blade putters yet have arrived appeared first on Golf.

L.A.B. Golf has removed another barrier to its Lie Angle Balance putters.

With the company’s new LINK 2.1 and LINK 2.2 HS blade putters, players who have clamored for a traditional Anser-style blade without a center shaft have finally got their wish. The new models are the most traditional-looking options to date and introduce a new flymilled steel face.

“There are a lot of people who are just more comfortable with a blade,” L.A.B. Golf founder Sam Hahn told GOLF. “And the conversation in the industry has people questioning whether they should still be in one. When you add Lie Angle Balanced technology to it, you don’t have to get off a blade. It’s just so much easier to use and is a little more forgiving than traditional blades. Because of the way we balance the putters, you don’t have to make that sacrifice anymore.”

The new LINK putters will join the existing center-shafted LINK 1.1 as L.A.B.’s three blade options in the lineup.

The new putters were introduced on the PGA Tour last month at the Cognizant Classic and Aldrich Potgieter became the first player to put one in play, gaming a 2.1 at the Players Championship last week.

Keep reading below for more on the L.A.B. Golf LINK 2.1 and 2.2 HS putters, including my take on the release.

What’s actually new — and why you should care

Removing the barriers to entry

While L.A.B.’s Lie Angle Balance has inspired many other “zero torque” and low torque putter options on the market in the last few years, most have come with signicant caveats for traditionalists. They’ve almost always been center-shafted designs with onset and they’ve almost always been oversized mallet options.

For many golfers, one of those ends up being a non-starter. Two makes them afterthoughts.

L.A.B. introduced its first non-center-shafted design last summer with the OZ.1i HS, but now they’re offering the heel-shafted riser technology in a blade for the first time.

“The goal over the last 24 months has been to eliminate as many barriers to entry as possible,” Hahn said. “If there’s an opportunity to have a chassis that makes it easier for your curiosity to get the better of you, we’re all for it.”

While Hahn stated the goal with every putter L.A.B. designs is first and foremost to make sure it balances and swings the way they want it to, they wanted to make sure the new LINK putters looked familiar to the player.

If it looks familiar, a golfer will be more likely to try it.

Making blades more forgiving

Mallets vs. blades has hit a fever pitch this season, with just five of the world’s top 25 players still using a blade, and no one on the PGA Tour has won with a blade since July.

With all the oversized and unconventional shapes used for L.A.B. putters and other low-torque designs, L.A.B. would figure to be one of the chief engines of that movement.

But somewhat surprisingly, Hahn proclaimed, “The blade is most certainly not dead.” He said many players still want to use a blade and they can gain the forgiveness of a mallet while still retaining the blade shape thanks to the Lie Angle Balance technology.

The visual of a blade is just simply comforting to many players, especially those who refuse to try a L.A.B. Hahn himself was skeptical of blades, but he found the new LINKs to be very easy to align.

“I’ve got a ton of confidence over eight-foot putts, and there’s no better attribute to a putter than one that makes you feel comfortable and confident standing over it,” Hahn said. “I think that’s the case for a lot of people. There are a lot of people out there who are just more comfortable with a blade.”

Tuning the feel

L.A.B. putters are designed with stroke dynamics first, which, with the use of the aluminum riser hosel, presented a unique challenge with the feel.

Because the putter is constructed with a 303 stainless steel body and an aluminum riser, it wouldn’t feel the same as a traditional single-piece steel putter.

To get the putters to feel as traditional as possible, L.A.B. went with a new flymill steel face as opposed to the grooves or aluminum flymill insert of their previous putters.

“Our No. 1 priority is getting the putter to swing in a particular way. And once we’ve achieved that, then we back into a feel,” Hahn said. “Aluminum doesn’t have the same response characteristics that stainless does. And with the way our putters are constructed, that connection piece can create a very different feel than if it was just a one-piece putter. So we experimented with a bunch of different face configurations to get it as close as we could to feeling like a one-piece stainless putter.”

The L.A.B Golf LINK 2.1 and 2.2 lineup

LINK 2.1

What is it: A compact, narrow modern heel-toe blade, the closest L.A.B. has ever come to making an Anser-style blade. The LINK 2.1 has a symmetrical and very angular shape.

Who it’s for: Players who have wanted to try Lie Angle Balance or other low-torque putters but wanted a more classic and smaller profile shape.

LINK 2.2

What is it: A shorter and more square-shaped wide-body blade for added stability and forgiveness.

Who it’s for: Players who want a more traditional shape with added stability and a longer alignment aid.

My take: L.A.B. injects some much-needed juice to blades

I wouldn’t be shocked if the new LINK 2.1 and 2.2 putters end up being the best-selling blade models of this year.

All this talk on how blades are dying and no one should be playing a blade, and yet, people still want them because they’re easier to look at for most.

What L.A.B. is doing here is taking their very own Lie Angle Balance technology, pairing it with their new riser hosel and putting it in a package that looks familar to many players.

If there was still the barrier of a mallet, which is still a non-starter to many players, that is now gone for a player to try a L.A.B. putter.

It still doesn’t change the fact that Lie Angle Balance and low-torque putters aren’t for every player. Players with high arc aren’t magically now going to be able to find a fit with a LINK 2.1 or 2.2 because they are offered in a blade shape or have a heel shaft.

But for the players with minimal stroke arc, like yours truly, this is going to offer a very familiar shape that many have used for a long time.

For me, I’ve tried some of the larger shapes as I’ve gone on a low-torque journey, but I keep looking for the smallest option I can find because that’s simply what I’m comfortable with. A putter should fit you, not you fit the putter.

The new LINKs now give two options that look familiar in a configuration that will match my stroke and take my hands out of the stroke.

For initial testing, I opted for a 2.2, which I thought would be most similar to the wide-body blades I had been most recently putting with. But one thing to keep in mind, as Hahn told me, the 2.2 is a touch firmer than the 2.1 because of the different shape.

While feel isn’t the main goal, it’s still a priority for me for speed control, so I am anxious to get my hands on a 2.1 and see if it truly can be my putter for the upcoming season.

Price, Specs and Availability

L.A.B. Golf’s new LINK 2.1 and 2.2 HS putters are available online for pre-order and will be available at authorized retailers on April 23.

The stock model costs $499, while custom versions start at $599.

Want to find the best driver for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post PXG drops new Stick’em forged wedges appeared first on Golf.

The post PXG drops new Stick’em forged wedges appeared first on Golf.

PXG’s new wedges won’t just help you stick the ball close to the hole, but also stick softly on the face.

The company announced its new Stick’em Forged wedge line Thursday, each precision-crafted from three-times forged 8620 soft carbon steel.

“The short game is where players either gain confidence or lose it,” PXG senior director of engineering Mike Nicolette said in a release. “With Stick’em Forged Wedges, the goal was to give golfers a wedge that performs predictably shot after shot. The head stays stable when you open the face, the grooves generate reliable spin, and the forged construction delivers the soft feedback players rely on to judge distance and touch around the green. When a wedge reacts exactly the way a player expects, it frees them up to be more aggressive and creative.”

PXG’s three-times forging process helps to align the metal’s grain structure at a molecular level. That’s how the company is able to create a super soft feel while retaining a crisp sound at impact.

Center of Gravity is also a focus of the design, as a high-toe shape helps to raise the CG and align it for open-face shots. That’s going to lead to lower launch angles and more spin, especially on open-face shots where spin is crucial.

The wedges also feature PXG’s high-performance groove geometry to maximize friction at impact to produce more consistent spin. The wider grooves help to grip the ball better and channel more water and debris away from the face.

The Stick’em Forged wedges will be offered in lofts ranging from 50˚ to 60˚ with the 54˚ to 60˚ lofts offered in either the wider, full-soled BP-grind or the tapered-sole S-Grind for more versatile performance.

Price and Availability

PXG‘s new Stick’em Forged wedges are available starting March 12 on PXG.com.

Each wedge will cost $199 in chrome, while the Xtreme Dark finish costs $219.

Want to find the best wedges for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post Bridgestone, U.S. Kids Golf release new golf ball designed specifically for juniors appeared first on Golf.

The post Bridgestone, U.S. Kids Golf release new golf ball designed specifically for juniors appeared first on Golf.

Giving your junior golfer the same golf ball you use isn’t doing them any favors; that’s why Bridgestone has come up with a fun solution.

The company, in partnership with junior golf club maker and youth golf organization U.S. Kids Golf, is introducing the new Boom It Junior golf ball. The ball is specifically optimized with an ultra-low compression and a high-launch dimple pattern to help juniors with slower swing speeds compress it and get maximum carry.

“We take ball fitting very seriously and with junior golf seeing more than 50 percent growth since 2019, it makes perfect sense for us to create a ball to meet their needs,” Bridgestone president Dan Murphy said in a release. “Our R&D team focused on the needs of junior players that require more speed and easier launch, and they knocked it out of the park. I am confident junior players will have more fun playing the Boom It Junior because it is specifically designed to fit their game.”

Bridgestone says the golf ball works for a variety of swing speeds, which makes it perfect for a junior golfer who is developing speed as they progress through the game and grow physically.

The Boom It Junior also features Bridgestone’s MindSet graphic, which was developed by Jason Day and his performance coach, Jason Goldsmith, to separate analytical thinking from athletic performance. Day, along with Chris Gotterup, Kurt Kitayama and Boo Weekly, all use the visual technology in competition on Bridgestone’s Tour B golf ball.

“We were proud to work alongside the Bridgestone team to help create Boom It Junior from the ground up, specifically engineered to provide young golfers with the distance, feel, and performance they need to enjoy every round,” U.S. Kids Golf President and Founder Dan Van Horn said. “Boom It Junior is a golf ball that meets the mission of U.S. Kids Golf by supporting the growth of and a true love of the game.”

The Boom It Junior will be available online and at retailers starting March 27. Each dozen will cost $22.99.

Want to find the best golf ball for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post Miura’s PI-402 irons bring legendary feel to game-improvement irons appeared first on Golf.

The post Miura’s PI-402 irons bring legendary feel to game-improvement irons appeared first on Golf.

Miura’s brand and legacy are built on ultra-premium single-pieced forged irons. Those irons can be played by a much wider range of golfers than you might think, but now they have a multi-piece iron for the aspiring golfer that looks like and feels like a Miura, too.

Miura’s new PI-402 iron is Miura’s attempt to deliver a design worthy of the Miura name while also offering a level of speed and forgiveness they didn’t previously offer.

“For the first time in Miura’s history, we have a multi-piece iron that looks and feels like a Miura one-piece forged iron,” Miura President Anthony Newville told GOLF. “That was the huge focus for us with this model: to have something with technology and forgiveness that still sounds and feels like the irons people associate with Miura.”

The new iron introduces a host of new technologies to help the target golfer, including a hot-rolled nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel face, 35-gram tungsten weights, a TPU vibration-control plate and a new Kissaki sole design for better turf interaction.

Aesthetically, the iron also features new, cleaner cosmetics than its predecessor, making it look right at home in Miura’s lineup.

Keep reading below for more on the Miura PI-402 Irons, including my take on the release.

What’s actually new with Miura PI-402 irons — and why you should care

Achieving the Miura feel with speed

With traditional game-improvement irons, sound and feel usually suffer because of different construction methods from those used in forged irons.

But with the PI-402, feel was always the main design goal.

To achieve this in the multi-piece construction, Miura used a TPU vibration plate inside the head to dampen the unwanted sound and then 30-35 grams of tungsten were placed right behind the center of the club face. The placement helps create the solid, satisfying Miura feel and sound at impact.

“We then strategically use tungsten so center of gravity placement as well as the TPU, the thermoplastic urethane, really is what makes it feel like a Miura,” Newville said. “Strategically putting those two things in through the design of Shinei Miura is what gives the 402 that Miura type of feel.”

1/3

2/3

3/3

Optimizing for strike location

Miura’s most recent iron, the TC-202, featured the company’s Y-Grind sole, a pre-worn leading edge that allows the club to enter the turf more efficiently.

With the PI-202 targeted for a much different player, one who has a shallower swing, Miura created a new, Kissaki sole, which is their interpretation of the modern V-sole design.

“The Kissaki sole is inspired by the tip of a traditional Japanese sword,” Newville said. “It helps the club enter and exit the turf cleanly and works across a wide range of attack angles. We wanted something that wouldn’t dig but still gets into the ground quickly and releases.

“We played around with sole tech quite a bit and landed on this because it has enough bounce to not dig, but it also has the perfect blend to help those players. It’s that gentle blend of trying to get the sole into the ground as quickly as possible, but not get stuck.”

The placement of the tungsten also plays into the target players’ shallower swing, as those players tend to strike the ball lower on the face. A lower CG helps that player even more to get the launch up, even from balls that are hit low on the face.

A complete Miura lineup

The PI-402 establishes the most forgiving iron in the Miura lineup and sits at the other end of the spectrum from the MB-101.

“Those pole positions are wildly important for us,” Newville said. “Miura started as a brand played by some of the best ball strikers on the planet, but in the evolution of the company, we’ve moved to making models for every type of player.”

Newville described the iron’s forgiveness level as similar to the IC-602 hollow-body, but players who need more help with launch and speed will gravitate to the 402.

The iron still has fairly compact shaping compared to competitors in the category, but it will help to reinforce that Miura isn’t just for elite ball strikers anymore.

The Miura PI-402

What is it: A more compact game-improvement style iron designed for fast ball speeds and without super strong lofts.

Who it’s for: Players looking for speed and forgiveness in a more traditional shape without sacrificing feel.

My take: The Miura iron for everyone

Miura irons are already more playable than you might first realize, but now there’s an iron in their catalog that looks and feels just like all the others while also allowing almost any golfer to enjoy it.

This iron is going to be slightly smaller and slightly weaker than others it’s competing with, but I think that will end up giving it an advantage simply in the looks department.

The new PI-402 looks much more like a Miura iron than its predecessor, and once people actually get to play it, they will have the revelation that Miura irons aren’t just for elite ball strikers.

I really like the addition of the new Kissaki sole, as we’ve seen turf interaction become much more of a focal point in iron design over the past few years.

That’s the kind of innovation that will help establish Miura as a brand for any golfer and not just the best iron players.

Price, Specs and Availability

Miura PI-402 Custom Irons

 

$350.00 from Fairway Jockey

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Miura’s new PI-402 irons are available for pre-order starting March 10 and will arrive at retail locations on March 17.

Each iron model will cost $350 per club.

Stock lofts are as follows, but can be adjusted through custom:

(4i) 21, 23, 26, (7i) 30, 34, 38, (PW) 43, (GW) 48

Want to find the best irons for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post Ping’s G Le4 clubs for women offer more speed (and intriguing new hybrid) appeared first on Golf.

The post Ping’s G Le4 clubs for women offer more speed (and intriguing new hybrid) appeared first on Golf.

Ping’s new G Le4 family of clubs is here — a full line, from driver to putter, designed and engineered exclusively for women.

Two years ago, as part of GOLF’s 2024 ClubTest, I got fit into the G Le4’s predecessor, the G Le3. It was my first-ever in-person fitting at Ping’s Proving Grounds in Phoenix, and the results were revelatory. For one thing, it’s rare to have a chance to test premium equipment that is designed specifically for female players, so that was very cool. And for me, a former college golfer turned far-too-occasional recreational player, the G Le3s provided the distance and forgiveness I was seeking, given my non-existent practice time and sporadic play.

The G Le3s have had a happy home in my bag ever since. But now the next gen is here — the G Le4 family — and I’ve already arranged a fitting appointment for next week.

What do G Le3 fans have to look forward to with G Le4? Keep reading below for more on Ping’s latest addition, including my take on the release.

What’s new with Ping’s G Le4 — and why you should care

Optimized gapping

No one likes unwieldy gaps between clubs, and that’s one of the first things Ping aims to eliminate with the G Le4. A new “WebFit Ladies” app designed by Ping’s fitting science group is intended to make it easier than ever to optimize yardage gaps in your set.

All you have to do is answer a series of questions about your game and preferences, and the app will generate club and set make-up recommendations.

“The WebFit Ladies app is a great starting point for the fitting process before visiting an authorized Ping fitting specialist to determine your ideal set make-up and specifications,” Stacey Pauwels , Ping executive vice president, said in a release. “The app takes only a few minutes and helps educate golfers on the importance of custom fitting.”

Carbonfly wrap crown

The addition of the Carbonfly Wrap crown — first introduced in the G430 line of clubs in 2023 — in the G Le4 driver is a first for a Ping women’s driver. The crown reallocates weight to position the CG lower and deeper, helping deliver faster ball speeds and higher launch with tighter dispersion for women with driver swing speeds of 80 mph or less.

The result: the G Le4 driver is Ping’s longest and most forgiving women’s driver to date, with 15 percent higher MOI than the G Le3.

New fairway wood lofts

Utilizing Carbonfly Wrap crowns on the G Le4’s fairway woods enabled Ping’s engineers to move the CG closer to the force line for higher-launching, longer results. New lofts in the 5-wood (23 degrees), 7-wood (28) and 9-wood (33) also help improve playability and gapping.

There’s also “Spinsistency” built into the clubs’ face profile — a technology described by Ping as a variable-roll-radius innovation that better accommodates mishits, especially those low on the face. More consistent spin results and faster ball speeds will help boost performance on those unfortunate swings that don’t make center contact.

Lightweight design

A lightweight, easy-to-swing iron is achieved with a thin face and high-density tip and toe weights that position mass low and to the perimeter. A lower CG position and custom-engineered lofts help produce faster ball speeds and measurable distance gains throughout the set.

New 8-hybrid option

The G Le4 set enables players to incorporate hybrids up to an 8-iron. There are four total loft options in hybrids, each of which is designed to combine seamlessly with the iron set depending on a player’s gapping needs.

Highlights of the hybrids’ design features include a shorter hosel and a deeper front-to-back shape to inspire confidence while also delivering distance and high launch with a maraging-steel, dual-roll face that is optimized to the target swing speed to provide consistent spin.

3 new putters

Three distinct, high-MOI G Le4 putter models are available in a variety of shapes, materials and alignment options, and all three putters are engineered with a one-piece elastomer insert that delivers a soft yet responsive feel.

My take: That 8-hybrid is intriguing!

I used to joke with anyone who would listen that I would play a full bag of hybrids if I could. My naturally flat and sweepy swing has given me occasional fits with my irons. I’ve never been able to take a natural divot, and hybrids have been a boon for my mid-length approach game over the years. Having the potential to go all the way to an 8 in a hybrid is an exciting prospect.

I’m also excited about that MOI increase Ping cited in the driver performance. The last time I clocked my swing speed, I was in the low 80s, and I can’t imagine any gains have been made since then, so the potential to add some yards off the tee by doing absolutely nothing is awesome! Overall, given the current state of my game and my let’s-just-have-fun-out-there aspirations these days, I think I may be an ideal candidate for what the G Le4 aims to offer: distance, forgiveness and flexibility, with a confidence-inspiring design.

Price, Specs and Availability

The G Le4 family of clubs includes Ping’s proprietary ALTA LE Lite and Ultra Lite premium graphite shafts as standard throughout the metal woods and irons.

Golf Pride Soft Tack Lilac grips are available in four sizes: Aqua (stock) -1/64″, Red -1/32″, Blue -1/16 and White – (Standard).

The clubs’ color combo is described as Galactic Lilac and Milky Way Midnight. The woods and irons also include gold accents on the clubheads.

The Ping G Le4 family of clubs

Ping G Le4 driver
$599; 11.5 degrees

Ping G Le4 fairway woods
$329 each; available in 3-wood (18 degrees), 5-wood (23 degrees), 7-wood (28-degrees), 9-wood (33-degrees)

Ping G Le4 hybrids
$186 each; available in 5H (22-degrees), 6H (26.5-degrees), 7H (31-degrees), 8H (36-degrees)

Ping G Le4 irons
$1,300.25 for set, inclusive of 6-PW, as well as UW and SW

Ping G Le4 Oslo putter
$299

Ping G Le4 Louise putter
$299

Ping G Le4 Anser 2D putter
$299

Ping’s new G Le4 clubs are available for pre-order starting Tuesday and will begin shipping on March 26.

Want to find the best clubs for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post Ping’s new i540, G740 irons provide same benefit for different abilities appeared first on Golf.

The post Ping’s new i540, G740 irons provide same benefit for different abilities appeared first on Golf.

Whether you’re an aspiring competitive player or a weekend hacker, hitting the ball higher is usually something that will help you get your next shot closer to the hole.

Ping’s latest irons accomplish that very task — but in two different ways.

The company has announced the addition of the i540 (player’s distance) and G740 (super game-improvement) irons to their lineup, two irons that help golfers in two different ways: more speed for the players’ distance golfer and ultra-forgiveness and launch for super-game-improvement players.

“i540 is the iron that has the look of that i240, that Blueprint-inspired shaping at address, but we try to pack it with all the distance that our game-improvement construction can give us,” Travis Milleman, Ping senior manager, design engineering, told GOLF. “G740 is our longest iron and our highest-launching iron. The goal was super-game improvement — how do we help the player who needs the most help get the ball in the air?”

Keep reading below for more on the Ping i540 and G740, including my take on the release.

What’s actually new with Ping i540 and G740 — and why you should care

The lightest and heaviest materials you can put in a club

The design of the i540 relies on both the lightest material and the heaviest material you can put in a golf club.

The iron retains the hollow-body design that players have come to know for the players’ distance category, but to help sound and feel, Ping utilized its InR-Air insert. The inflated air pocket insert was first used in the iDi driving iron last summer, and Ping prefers it over a foam or ceramic insert because of its weightlessness.

“Air is one of the lightest things you can put in anything,” Milleman said. “It lets us dampen the vibrations without restricting the face bending that we designed into the club. It is not there to help make the face thinner and it’s not there to change the bending. It’s there to dampen feel and sound.”

The inR-Air insert frees up mass that is then reallocated low in the sole of the club, specifically in the 4-7 irons, which is done with tungsten weighting.

Ping wanted the i540 to be a distance first iron, but with that came the need for height, because distance isn’t very useful if your ball is bounding through the green. By lowering the CG with tungsten, one of the densest materials used in a club, Ping can achieve higher peak apexes for increased stopping power.

“The way you get more height in an iron, if you don’t want to change the loft, is to lower the CG,” Milleman said. “The lower you can go on the CG, the more efficient the impact is going to be. You get more ball speed, higher launch angle, and that drives peak height.”

An iron with A LOT of sole

A lower CG was also a focus of the G740 to help players launch the ball in the air.

Players using G740 usually need all the help they can get, so the iron is the lowest CG in the Ping lineup.

Instead of using tungsten, Ping engineers accomplished this through the iron’s shape by shortening the face height and dramatically widening the sole.

“If we’re trying to get a low-CG iron, we need to take mass away from the top rail, we need to take mass away from the hosel, and we need to put it in the area that’s the lowest on the club, which is the sole,” Milleman said.

While game-improvement irons typically have wider soles for extra forgiveness through the turf, Ping made the G740’s sole even wider to push more mass low.

Had Ping designed a traditional sole, it likely would have been too bulky for many players and gotten stuck in the turf.

To combat this, Ping created a dual-camber where a large portion of the trail edge is angled away, reducing the effective sole width of the club.

“The extra mass we added you kind of see on that back edge,” Milleman said. “We tried to get it out of the way so the club gets into the turf and out of the turf the same way. On the toe side we tried to add a little bit more relief, but on the heel side, we actually flattened it to get even more CG-lowering feature.”

The new Ping iron lineup

i540

What is it: A player’s-distance iron with similar shaping and sizing to the i240, but with a hollow-bodied design, stronger lofts and ultra-low CG for increased launch and distance.

Who it’s for: Players who want to prioritize speed and distance above all else with their irons, or golfers who would like to regain lost distance.

G740

What is it: A super game-improvement iron with the longest blade length, thickest topline and widest sole of any Ping iron for maximum forgiveness.

Who it’s for: Players who need help launching the ball in the air or who miss all over the face.

My take: Helping golfers hit it higher is becoming a theme

You could argue the i540 and the G740 accomplish the same thing for different types of players.

The i540 is for the more accomplished ball striker who wants to hit it farther; the G740 is for the beginner who needs to hit it farther.

Both of these irons help their targeted golfer by lowering the CG and getting them to hit the ball higher. It seems like a trend more and more companies are following to help players hit the ball higher, which in turn will help them be more precise in holding greens.

Both irons fill distinct roles in Ping’s iron lineup, which is now complete from the Blueprint T to the G740. No matter what type of player you are, Ping has a set of irons that will help your game.

Price, specs and availability

PING i540 Custom Irons

$214.25 from Fairway Jockey

View Product

PING G740 Custom Irons

$185.75 from Fairway Jockey

View Product

Ping’s new i540 and G740 irons are available for pre-order starting March 10 and will arrive at retail locations on March 26.

The i540 will cost $214.25 per club, while the G740 will cost $185.75 per club.

Both irons are available in all three of Ping’s loft specs: Power, Standard and Retro.

i540
Power: (4i) 18, 21, 24, (7i) 27.5, 31.5, 36, (PW) 41, (UW) 46
Standard: (4i) 19, 22, 25.5, (7i) 29, 33, 37, (PW) 42, (UW) 47
Retro: (4i) 20, 24, 27.5, (7i) 31, 34.5, 38, (PW) 42.5, (UW) 47.5

G740
Power: (5i) 19.5, 23, (7i) 26.5, 30.5, 35, (PW) 40, (UW) 45, 50, 56
Standard: (5i) 21, 24.5, (7i) 28, 32, 36, (PW) 40, (UW) 45, 50, 56
Retro: (5i) 23, 26.5, (7i) 30, 33.5, 37, (PW) 40.5, (UW) 47.5, 50, 56

Want to find the best driver for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post Srixon unveils its softest tour-level ball ever with new Q-Star Tour appeared first on Golf.

The post Srixon unveils its softest tour-level ball ever with new Q-Star Tour appeared first on Golf.

Srixon’s new Q-Star Tour golf balls are not only faster and softer than the previous generation, but they’re also smarter.

The latest iteration features a new thin, premium urethane cover made with Biomass, which the company says helps reduce carbon emissions during the production process without sacrificing performance. The same cover material is used on the Z-Star lineup.

“The Q-Star Tour series is all about delivering tour-level spin and control, especially around the greens, but in a lower compression design that better fits a wide range of swing speeds,” Srixon Vice President of Business Planning Brian Schielke said in a release. “It gives golfers the performance they want from tee to green without needing tour-level swing speed to unlock it. And with the latest innovations plus the bold new Divide color options, it’s a ball that not only performs at a high level but stands out while doing it.”

Biomass is a plant-based material that can be used to replace the petroleum-based materials in urethane to create a cover that is indistinguishable from one made with fossil fuels.

The new Q-Star Tour also has a new FastLayer core that progressively gets firmer from the center outward. This helps to produce longer and straighter shots with low-lofted clubs while retaining a soft and responsive feel with the irons and wedges.

The result is what Srixon calls its softest Tour-level golf ball.

Q-Star Tour also features a Spin Skin+ coating that helps dig deep into a club’s grooves for maximum friction.

Lastly, the ball has a 338 Speed Dimple Pattern, which is optimized to reduce drag and create a penetrating ball flight for maximum distance.

The Srixon Q-Star Tour

What is it: A three-piece Tour-level urethane-covered ball optimized for a penetrating ball flight and super soft feel.

Who it’s for: Slower swing speed players who want to maximize distance without sacrificing spin.

Price and Availability

Srixon’s new Q-Star Tour golf balls are available starting March 3.

Each dozen will cost $39.99 and will be available in either white or four dual-color Divide options (White/Lime Green, White/Pink, Yellow/Red and Yellow/Orange) that now have a glossy finish.

Want to find the best driver for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

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The post Callaway’s Opus SP+ wedges aim to help you hit low spinners appeared first on Golf.

The post Callaway’s Opus SP+ wedges aim to help you hit low spinners appeared first on Golf.

Callaway has taken the design of their new Opus SP (Spin Pocket) wedges and quite literally put it on steroids.

With the addition of the new Opus SP+ wedges, Callaway has carried over the Spin Pocket design from Opus SP, which hollows out the sole to raise the center of gravity, and then pushed the CG even higher by adding 18 grams of tungsten to the toplines. The Spin Pocket itself is also 25 percent larger than it was on Opus SP.

“Opus SP+ takes on the best qualities of Opus SP, with lower launch, more spin, and engineering control,” said Brian Herr, Callaway R&D Manager for Wedges. “The higher CG helps us flight the ball lower, which is control.”

Keep reading below for more on the Opus SP+ wedges, including my take on the release.

What’s actually new with Callaway Opus SP+ wedges — and why you should care

The most glaring change to the Opus SP+ is the addition of the exposed tungsten plate just below the top of the flange on the back of the head.

That tungsten takes 18 grams of weight and moves it above the strike point, helping players to flight the ball down and increase spin. If this sounds familiar, it’s actually a concept Callaway used two years ago in the Opus Platinum line, where they placed tungsten underneath the topline to raise the CG of that wedge.

With Opus SP+, Callaway is using 23 percent more tungsten than in Opus Platinum.

To get that mass, Callaway designers made the hollow Spin Pocket cavity in the sole of the wedge 25 percent larger than in the Opus SP wedge.

Also, like in the Opus Platinum, Callaway is using a separate MIM’d (Metal Injection Molding) face construction.

Otherwise, the new Opus SP+ has all of the same technology as the Opus SP wedge line, including the tour-validated Shape 6 profile and the new Spin Gen 2.0 face technology with a tighter groove pitch and 17˚ groove angle.

Callaway Opus SP+ Wedges

What is it: A supercharged version of Callaway’s Opus SP wedge with a larger Spin Pocket and the addition of 18g of tungsten to the topline to raise the center of gravity. The SP+ also has a multi-piece construction with a MIM face and a cast 8620 steel body.

Available lofts: 54˚, 56˚, 58˚ and 60˚

Who it’s for: Players who want to lower launch and increase spin with their wedges.

My take: Higher CG is the next frontier of wedges

It’s probably a step too far to say we’ve maxed out what can be done to get more spin out of the groove system on the face of a wedge, but everyone seems to be taking aim at CG these days.

With Opus SP+, Callaway seems to be doubling down on it.

Flighting those 3/4 wedge shots and getting them to stop on a dime and even rip back is super easy to do with the SP+, and that has usually been a challenge for me as someone who doesn’t cover the ball very well.

With the SP+, it gives me the feeling that the ball is going to come out low with plenty of spin, so I don’t need to try to force it by getting too steep and allowing the ball to scoot up the face.

I think you’re going to see more companies focus on raising CGs on wedges to generate more spin, which will lead to players having more control around the greens. Right now, Opus SP+ might be the most extreme example yet.

Price, Specs and Availability

Callaway’s new Opus SP+ wedges are available for pre-order starting February 24 and will arrive at retail locations on March 6.

Each wedge will cost $229.

Opus SP+ Wedges are available in four lofts: 54˚, 56˚, 58˚ and 60˚. Each loft is available in three different grinds: Z, X or S. The stock configuration is with True Temper Dynamic Gold S200 shafts and True Temper Icon Velvet Grips.

Want to find the best driver for your game in 2026? Find a club-fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

The post Callaway’s Opus SP+ wedges aim to help you hit low spinners appeared first on Golf.