From Golf · · 1m 30s
Tour Validated: Hunter Mahan tests Ping irons
Hunter Mahan finds game-changing Ping irons that boost ball speed and forgiveness.
In brief
Hunter Mahan finds game-changing Ping irons that boost ball speed and forgiveness. Hunter Mahan discovered Ping's i540 and G740 irons increase ball speed by 9 mph and launch higher with less turf interaction. Originally reported by Golf.
Tour Validated episode
Johnny Wunder and Kenton Oates tested Hunter Mahan's Ping irons at Trinity Forest.
Hunter's initial setup
Hunter uses Blueprint S irons, the most popular tour iron currently.
Blueprint T iron
Blueprint T irons interact better with turf than older blades for shallow players.
Spin difference
Blueprint S gives 600 to 700 more rpm spin than Blueprint T for Hunter.
i240 iron
i240 launches higher and saves speed on misses with better turf interaction.
i540 iron
i540 hits 9-irons at 124 mph, 9 mph faster than Hunter's standard setup.
G440 and G740
G440 and G740 irons launch balls over 120 feet with less turf interaction.
Loft progression
Ping irons reduce loft by 4 degrees from 6-iron to 9-iron across the lineup.
Loft comparison
Blueprint T 6-iron: 29.5°, 9-iron: 41.0°; i540 6-iron: 25.5°, 9-iron: 37.0°.
Key insight
Ping irons maintain ball speed and launch for players with slower swing speeds.
Why it matters
Technology helps players create shots more often without changing their swing.
What next
Amateurs should test clubs to find what works for their swing.
The main idea
Hunter Mahan discovered Ping's i540 and G740 irons increase ball speed by 9 mph and launch higher with less turf interaction.
