2019-Official Forum Member Review-PING Blueprint Irons

[Shankster]

100 yard shots out of the rough with the PW... take this all day long.



45ish yard shots over a bunker with the PW, blind landing area... take all of these all day long too.

[golfertrb]

100 yard shots out of the rough with the PW... take this all day long.



45ish yard shots over a bunker with the PW, blind landing area... take all of these all day long too.

Those shots with a PW are EXACTLY why I need a change in the lower end of my bag. I love hitting that dead arm 100 yard shot with a wedge. Good stuff Shankster


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[Shankster]

Those shots with a PW are EXACTLY why I need a change in the lower end of my bag. I love hitting that dead arm 100 yard shot with a wedge. Good stuff Shankster


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For comparison here are some 56° from around 80... nowhere near as tight of a group.

[golfertrb]

For comparison here are some 56° from around 80... nowhere near as tight of a group.

Right? The ability to flight the ball and control spin is so great. Such a good comparison - so cool


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[Shankster]

Right? The ability to flight the ball and control spin is so great. Such a good comparison - so cool


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I don’t think I am going to take a full swing with my PW, GW or SW again.

[golfertrb]

I don’t think I am going to take a full swing with my PW, GW or SW again.

I feel the same way. That's honestly how I have played the last several years. I play in windy conditions constantly and that is the only way I have found to consistently control spin and launch conditions. Your proximity to the hole will definitely get better and if you are like me, your ball-striking will increase in general. I love that.


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[Shankster]

Roll the 8 track

 

Check 1, 2.

 

Sound, another selling point for this type iron. These are a muted, acoustically pleasing sound. They want to be hit.

 

Have a listen to the nice high bomb pure 2 iron fade. Carried around 215.

 

 

[Shankster]

Busy week everyone. Not sure if I’ll be able to swing the clubs till Sat/Sun.

I’ll try to add some pictures later on this evening to tide you over.

[Shankster]

Ok... I’m back.

Snuck out for a few hours of much needed practice.

Today was about flight control... my goodness.

I’ve been working on a Lee Trevino-ish set up as of late because I’ve been having some back pain and knee pain. So instead of forcing a hard rotation to my left side, setting up open “pre sets” my hips clearing. What a difference that makes. And keeping the left side of the golf course away has proven to be an ok thing.

I am getting a nice little fall off fade, but move my hands forward a touch and a bit more release and I get a nice little fall off draw.

Anyways no video of today’s stuff, or any pictures, but here’s a recap.

Working on full swing technique and varying flights probably doesn’t mix too well, but I did it anyways.

Side to side control and height is super easy with these. Was even trying some 2 iron 75 yard chip and runs... I’ll never use that shot here in the states, but I could probably keep that thing head high for 90 yards in the air, and have it roll for miles.

A running type shot has always been my weakness, everything was too the moon and spun so much that my 4 iron would stop dead on greens for me.

These things are giving me that ability to take the spin off and get that chasing shot, it will take a bit of work to get it down where I’d use it during a round, but the blade will let you do it.

[Shankster]

Couldn’t pass up this lighting. They were very photogenic this evening....

[GolfSpy MPR]

1 minute ago, Shankster said:

Couldn’t pass up this lighting. They were very photogenic this evening....

Awful generous of PING to send you one set to hit and another to take pristine pictures of

[Shankster]

Awful generous of PING to send you one set to hit and another to take pristine pictures of

Oh. They’ve been hit. Sandy here, I clean them up after every round/practice sesh. I keep the headcovers on so I don’t beat them up. Already a few dings and the soles are wearing nicely.

Yard is sandy and rocky so they don’t get to come out of the bag much at home.

Get more care than my vehicle does.

I’ve been trying to get more video, need a tripod. Phone keeps falling... but Stud and I hopefully will be playing Friday. Maybe he can snag a video.

How are your G700’s wearing? Any issues with the Hydropearl finish?

[GolfSpy MPR]

3 minutes ago, Shankster said:

 

Oh. They’ve been hit. Sandy here, I clean them up after every round/practice sesh. I keep the headcovers on so I don’t beat them up. Already a few dings and the soles are wearing nicely.

Yard is sandy and rocky so they don’t get to come out of the bag much at home.

Get more care than my vehicle does.

I’ve been trying to get more video, need a tripod. Phone keeps falling... but Stud and I hopefully will be playing Friday. Maybe he can snag a video.

How are your G700’s wearing? Any issues with the Hydropearl finish?
 

 

On mine, the finish did wear unevenly, in spots and blotches. But they keep on performing, so I keep on forgiving them for it.

[Shankster]

On mine, the finish did wear unevenly, in spots and blotches. But they keep on performing, so I keep on forgiving them for it.

Can’t beat performance. Seems like a trend throughout their lineup.

[golfertrb]

Well I did it. I ordered 9 and PW in the Blueprints. I was going to do 8-PW but the lofts are too different going up - I can get the 9 and PW the same as the i500 but it doesn't take long before they are far apart. Man I sure hope I don't love them so much I'm getting new irons...


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[Shankster]

Well I did it. I ordered 9 and PW in the Blueprints. I was going to do 8-PW but the lofts are too different going up - I can get the 9 and PW the same as the i500 but it doesn't take long before they are far apart. Man I sure hope I don't love them so much I'm getting new irons...


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Awesome! Can’t wait to hear your thoughts. I am fairly certain you’ll love them.

[null]

On 7/20/2019 at 9:04 AM, fixyurdivot said:

Regarding forged blades in general, and the opposite spectrum of MPF, where do these rank?  The i500 forged are a "188", Mizuno MP-18's are "135", and Hogan Ft. Worth's are "90" (WHAAT?). I couldn't find a rating for the BluePrints... how much lower can an iron design go and not enter into the niche market? 

That's why the MPF is absolute garbage 

[PMookie]

Roll the 8 track
 
Check 1, 2.
 
Sound, another selling point for this type iron. These are a muted, acoustically pleasing sound. They want to be hit.
 
Have a listen to the nice high bomb pure 2 iron fade. Carried around 215.
 
 

Phil’s calves!


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[fixyurdivot]

6 hours ago, golfertrb said:

Man I sure hope I don't love them so much I'm getting new irons...

Why don't I believe you? 

1 hour ago, jlukes said:

That's why the MPF is absolute garbage 

I don't agree its garbage. The various manufacturers design teams use these same physical properties to achieve desired club performance/characteristics.  On the whole, I would say the MPF rating system, while certainly not an absolute,  is sound.  As you move towards "players" and "classic" categories, the population of golfers that can hit these as well and as consistently as the other categories diminishes quickly.  

[Shankster]

Phil’s calves!


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At least I have something on Phil...

[downlowkey]

On 7/8/2019 at 11:01 AM, Shankster said:

Can I play the best golf I possibly can with these?

Fire away on questions!!!

Loving all the wonderful photography but aesthetics and perceptions aside - your answer to this question is what I am most interested to hear about.

On 7/8/2019 at 1:39 PM, Shankster said:

Already put them and myself through a pressure test. I was paired up with 3 other gents I never met last time out... you guys saw the results. 47 on the front because of some mistakes. Then I was 4 up on the back over the other fellas with a 38.

Playing some of my best golf... ever with these...

 

This is the kind of plain number I’m referring to re: playing your best golf.

On 7/9/2019 at 7:22 AM, Shankster said:

I just started tracking my “simulated” handicap and I am at a 5.8 right now after only 2 rounds. I expect that to come down a little when I work out a few kinks.

 

For us stat hounds would you be willing to share more numbers (FIR, GIR, Putts) so that we can start to form a better statistical picture of how the Blueprints are performing on the course?

On 7/14/2019 at 1:35 PM, Shankster said:

Did not play well. Too dang hot. But I flushed a few 2 irons... man is that a extraordinary sensation.

I want more specifics - please and thank you.

On 7/19/2019 at 6:25 AM, Shankster said:

Course is sort of out of the way. So I won’t be able to practice as much as I’d like or used to do. It is a much better practice facility, so I’ll just put more time in one or 2 days a week. Planning on at least 1 round a week for the rest of the summer, and 1/2 days of range work.

 

Now that the big cross-country move is out of the way - I am really looking forward to following your progress on the course and hoping to see more hard stats coming out of your weekly rounds.

Keep up the great work!

[Shankster]

Now that the big cross-country move is out of the way - I am really looking forward to following your progress on the course and hoping to see more hard stats coming out of your weekly rounds.
Keep up the great work!

I’m not a big stats guy. But I’ll start taking notes on some of the things you asked about. I was trying to use an app to track it all, but I don’t like entering it all in. I’m a go play, have fun, and leave guy. Stats aren’t my thing... but it seems to be a good time to track them, I’ll do it on the scorecard... hate bringing my phone out after every shot, or at all for that matter.

As far as playing my best golf... I’ve been playing really well with them, I can still mess a shot up with them.

That 2 iron sensation.... still can’t figure out how to put it into words. A forged 2 iron hit purely in the center, just melts the ball into the face. Could be in my head, but the forging seems to be a touch harder than I was expecting. Still feels phenomenal, but comparing them to the Bridgestone Wedges I can feel (hear) a difference.

Nowhere near hyperspeed cup 3D milled Quadra whatever cast feel. You can tell it was mashed metal, very, very similar feel to the P7TW irons.

[Shankster]

Swamped this week again.

Won’t be able to make it out with Stud this week, but I plan on playing Friday, or Saturday this week.

Other than my stats what else do you want to hear about that I haven’t covered?

[Shankster]

Looks like Sunday it is.

Bringing along a new ball to test. I walked into DSG, saw the MaxFli Tour sitting front row. Didn’t think twice.

I think this week of hardly swinging the club might have done me good. A few pitch shots out in the yard and I’m getting really good contact.

Been working on clearing my hips in the few swings I have taken this week. Just have to remember what I need to do when I get to the course.

[Shankster]

Learned 3 things on my outing with STUD.

1. I am a streaky golfer.
2. I need help with my swing.
3. My shoulder feels like hamburger.

No real stats for you DLK. I hit maybe 3 fairways, and if I was lucky 2 GIR.

Something severely wrong with my swing right now, or it’s all in my head. Push fades for days... need to find a pro that has worked with shoulder issue people.

But, I did hit several good shots with the Blueprints. Stand out was a knock down cut 7 iron from around 145 around a tree to about 12’. Another good shot was a chippy 8 iron from about 50 yards, it didn’t release like I wanted, but it was online and true.

And that’s about it for good shots. I played like it was my first time out, rather embarrassing honestly.

So far my gripe is still the finish, and I may have them regripped. I thought the stock grip was a Plus 4 wrap, but it is the midsize and probably a little chunky for my tiny hands.

[Shankster]

Oh. And for some reason I keep snagging the back of the blade on my takeaway. Been hovering the club to avoid this.

[THEZIPR23]

6 hours ago, Shankster said:

Oh. And for some reason I keep snagging the back of the blade on my takeaway. Been hovering the club to avoid this.

Another fun thing about Bermuda...

[Shankster]

Another fun thing about Bermuda...

Had to do a couple of Tiger stops on my way up.

I normally use all of the club. The butt of the grip is even with my palm. Will be working to leave a bit of meat there, hopefully will help with this issue.

[Shankster]

Looks like Sunday again.

This week I will be bringing a different swing to the course. I am expecting it to be a process.

Might just be a 3 hour range session, but I will shoot to get some video of the ball flights.

[HardcoreLooper]

On 7/8/2019 at 1:33 PM, Shankster said:

I think the shape and sole width and the bit of extra bounce for a blade is perfect for my swing

A blade with a sole with a bit of bounce you say?

Everything old is new again.

Good stuff, Shanks!