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Ping G710
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Editor’s Conclusion
There’s been a huge rise in the numbers of hollow headed irons recently, aimed at mid to low handicappers looking to meld precision and performance with faster ball speed and longer distance.
This craze was possibly kick started by the Taylormade P770 and P790 range, but now includes offerings from nearly every major manufacturer, such as the Cobra King series and the Mizuno MP-20 HMBs.
Today, we’re looking at the iron that has brought Ping to the party - and this one might turn a few heads: the incredibly striking Ping G710 range.
This craze was possibly kick started by the Taylormade P770 and P790 range, but now includes offerings from nearly every major manufacturer, such as the Cobra King series and the Mizuno MP-20 HMBs.
Today, we’re looking at the iron that has brought Ping to the party - and this one might turn a few heads: the incredibly striking Ping G710 range.
Key Features
One of the big talking points Ping are putting out about the G710s is how fast the face is. Speed is the big buzzword in professional golf right now; more swing speed, more ball speed, more distance. Golf manufacturers are looking for ways to make faces faster and more efficient, propelling the ball into orbit with even more speed. Ping, in this case, have looked to orbit in more ways than one. The face of the G710s is made from, in their words, ‘one of the strongest aerospace grade alloys in the world’ to launch shots ‘higher and farther’.
As well as being fast and long, Ping have tried to make these irons as forgiving as possible, to appeal to a broad range of golfers. They claim that compared to the previous G700 model, the MOI (moment of inertia, essentially a measure for how stable the club is on off centred shots) has been increased by five percent. That might not seem like loads, but in a world where every club is manufactured to the highest degree, tiny gains here and there are huge. High density tungsten weights have been places in the toe and heel to increase forgiveness, especially for mid to high handicaps and slower swing speeds.
One of the big things you notice straight up about these clubs is the finish, and we’ll come to the aesthetics of it later. But the stealth black isn’t just for show; it uses hydrophobic materials to push water away from the face of the club through contact. This supposedly increases performance through the turf and rough when conditions are wet, helping you be more consistent no matter what the weather.
As well as being fast and long, Ping have tried to make these irons as forgiving as possible, to appeal to a broad range of golfers. They claim that compared to the previous G700 model, the MOI (moment of inertia, essentially a measure for how stable the club is on off centred shots) has been increased by five percent. That might not seem like loads, but in a world where every club is manufactured to the highest degree, tiny gains here and there are huge. High density tungsten weights have been places in the toe and heel to increase forgiveness, especially for mid to high handicaps and slower swing speeds.
One of the big things you notice straight up about these clubs is the finish, and we’ll come to the aesthetics of it later. But the stealth black isn’t just for show; it uses hydrophobic materials to push water away from the face of the club through contact. This supposedly increases performance through the turf and rough when conditions are wet, helping you be more consistent no matter what the weather.
The Looks
I know looks aren’t everything in a golf club, but when you’ve got a set like the Ping G710s it’s really hard to talk about anything else. The long and the short of it is: these clubs look awesome. The blacked out finish is incredibly cool, and the little chrome detailings - the numbers, the face, the writing, and the screw - really make it pop. The shape is really appealing as well, and fits the classic distance iron profile most manufacturers are using: thicker sole tapering up into a thinner topline. The notch out of the neck of the club to save weight is a little strange, but when combined with the sleek black finish it actually really works.
A few things to note: the Ping G710s are aimed at slightly higher handicappers than some of their competitors, such as the Taylormade P770s or the MP-20 HMBs. I would put these more in line with the Cobra King range, looking at players in the low teens and up. The sole is pretty chunky, and there is a decent amount of offset. They certainly don’t look like clubs that are particularly maneuverable for the better player; however, what they do look like is forgiving. They inspire a bunch of confidence behind the ball, which is exactly what a mid handicapper is looking for. And here’s where the black finish comes into its own: it naturally makes the club head appear smaller and more compact.
One final word of warning on the looks. The blacked out finish is really cool, and is almost enough to make me want to grab a set. But it will wear out much quicker than chrome, and there’s not much you can do about it. After a few shots out of the sand, it will scratch and mark. That’s not a reason not to buy them, but when you’re shelling out thousands of dollars it’s a good thing to know.
A few things to note: the Ping G710s are aimed at slightly higher handicappers than some of their competitors, such as the Taylormade P770s or the MP-20 HMBs. I would put these more in line with the Cobra King range, looking at players in the low teens and up. The sole is pretty chunky, and there is a decent amount of offset. They certainly don’t look like clubs that are particularly maneuverable for the better player; however, what they do look like is forgiving. They inspire a bunch of confidence behind the ball, which is exactly what a mid handicapper is looking for. And here’s where the black finish comes into its own: it naturally makes the club head appear smaller and more compact.
One final word of warning on the looks. The blacked out finish is really cool, and is almost enough to make me want to grab a set. But it will wear out much quicker than chrome, and there’s not much you can do about it. After a few shots out of the sand, it will scratch and mark. That’s not a reason not to buy them, but when you’re shelling out thousands of dollars it’s a good thing to know.
Overall Performance
The G700 was a great iron, and the G710 picks up where it left off. These are strong lofted irons (31.5 degrees for the seven) and deliver where they’re supposed to: they hit the ball far! But what is encouraging is that the ball flight remained high, despite the lower lofts, and the consistency of distance was superb. Sometimes fast faces can be a little all over the place, with some shots pinging out much further than planned; luckily, there seems to be no such worries here.
Another big plus for the G710, especially compared to Ping’s previous model, is how good it sounds. Hollow clubs can sometimes be a bit metallic and clicky, but Ping have managed to make a much better sounding club here, which really helps with the feel.
As well as being long, you want a club like this to be forgiving, and it certainly is. It feels super easy to get off the ground and gives excellent results across the club face.
Another big plus for the G710, especially compared to Ping’s previous model, is how good it sounds. Hollow clubs can sometimes be a bit metallic and clicky, but Ping have managed to make a much better sounding club here, which really helps with the feel.
As well as being long, you want a club like this to be forgiving, and it certainly is. It feels super easy to get off the ground and gives excellent results across the club face.
The Verdict
Hollow-headed distance clubs are the new vogue, and the Ping G710 is an excellent addition to the mix. It seems to be aimed at higher handicapped players, with its chunkier profile and bigger offset, but the sheer beauty of its looks will mean it catches the eye of many more golfers.
Combining those good looks with excellent distance and forgiveness makes the G710s a really mean prospect to look out for if you’re in the market for a new set.
Combining those good looks with excellent distance and forgiveness makes the G710s a really mean prospect to look out for if you’re in the market for a new set.
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