Can One Of The Most Ground-Breaking Wedge Designs Of All Time Still Save You Shots?
Joe Ferguson casts his eye over one of the most classic wedges of all time to see if it still performs in the latest Retro Review
![Can One Of The Most Ground-Breaking Wedge Designs Of All Time Still Save You Shots?](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rWezwQtiYc2Mo6Grwn4gKC-415-80.jpg)
Next up for the Retro Review treatment is arguably the most iconic wedge of all time, the Ping Eye2 copper beryllium. It was first introduced in 1982, just as part of the Ping Eye2 iron set, but little did Ping know, it would soon become one of its most successful ever creations as a standalone product and go down as one of the best wedges of all time.
WATCH: Joe Ferguson compares the 1982 Ping Eye2 copper wedge to the modern-day Ping S159
Original launch date: 1982
Price we paid: £79.99
Who used it on tour: Mark Calcavecchia, Bob Tway, Paul Azinger
What was the tech?
In terms of technology, the Ping Eye2 wedge had quite a radical design. It was one of the first wedges to feature perimeter weighting and also had a super thin hosel which allowed Ping to distribute the spare mass elsewhere. Ping placed it high in the toe of the Eye2, arguably creating one of the first-ever “high-toe” designs, moving CG and providing a larger face area. Furthermore, the sole of the club was, and still is, a masterstroke of design with the heel section featuring little to no bounce to allow an easy entry to the sand, whilst the high bounce in the center of the sole facilitated an exceptionally smooth exit.
How did it perform?
To see how the Ping Eye2 had stood the test of time, we brought in the modern-day equivalent from Ping, the S159 wedge with the E grind sole inspired by the Eye2. I measured both wedges for exact loft, with the original coming in at 57.5˚ and the S159 at exactly 58˚, and the results were certainly surprising.
From the bunker, the original Eye2 was genuinely fantastic. The unique sole design slipped through the sand with ease and provided consistently strong results from a wide variety of lies. Similarly, on shorter pitch shots, the turf interaction was exceptional, and nipping the ball off some particularly tight heathland ground felt effortless. Interestingly it still generated ample spin even after over 40 years of use!
The spin around the greens piqued my interest, so using my Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor, I wanted to gather some data on longer pitch shots versus the new S159 wedge, and remarkably the spin rates were almost identical on both full and half shots! Knowing that the water-dispersing Hydropearl 2.0 finish on the S159 is the envy of many manufacturers, I decided to wet the face of both wedges and re-test. The results were extraordinary with the original Eye2 losing almost 50% of its original rpm’s, whilst the Hydropearl 2.0 finish of the S159 wedge was clearly effective, with barely any drop-off in spin.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
Conclusion
I genuinely enjoyed reviewing the Eye2 wedge, and could absolutely see why it was one of the most popular wedges of all time, with many still believing it to be unrivaled from bunkers. The ease with which it entered and exited the sand was astonishing and the spin retention over 40 years (at least in dry conditions) was hugely impressive. The S159 wedge showed the potential advantages of some new technology, but for £79.99, you can own a piece of golf history and become a bunker wizard overnight, and it goes to show there are certainly some bargains to be had when buying second-hand golf clubs, especially from a reputable retailer like golfclubs4cash.
Joe has worked in the golf industry for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles. After a successful amateur career being involved in England squads at every age group, Joe completed his PGA degree qualification in 2014 as one of the top ten graduates in his training year and subsequently went on to become Head PGA Professional at Ryder Cup venue The Celtic Manor Resort. Equipment has always been a huge passion of Joe’s, and during his time at Celtic Manor, he headed up the National Fitting Centres for both Titleist and Taylormade. He’s excited to bring his knowledge of hardware to Golf Monthly in the form of equipment reviews and buying advice.
Joe lives in North Devon and still plays sporadically on the PGA West region circuit. His best round in recent years came earlier in 2023 where he managed a 9 under par 63 at Trevose GC in a Devon & Cornwall PGA Tournament.
Joe's current What's In The Bag?
Driver: Switch between Ping G430 Max 10K & TaylorMade Qi10 - both with Fujikura Ventus Black 6-X
Fairway wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour - Fujikura Ventus Black 7-X
Irons: Callaway Apex CB 24' 3-11 - Project X LS 6.5 shafts
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10 54D and 60M
Putter: Odyssey Toe Up #9
Ball: TaylorMade 2024 TP5x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 60R
Bag: Vessel Player IV Pro DXR Stand
-
How Many Birdies Scottie Scheffler Has Made In 2024
Scottie Scheffler has had an incredible year he has largely dominated throughout, but how many birdies has the World No.1 achieved?
By Mike Hall Published
-
Omega European Masters Tee Times: Round Four
Matt Wallace leads the way at the Omega European Masters as he looks for his fifth DP World Tour win
By Mike Hall Published
-
7 Reasons To Get Custom Fitted For Irons
Not sure whether you should be upgrading your iron set? There are some telltale signs to look out for...
By Joel Tadman Published
-
How Second Hand Clubs Make Golf More Accessible
It’s no exaggeration to say that the second-hand golf market is helping to grow the game – and make the sport more sustainable
By In partnership with golfclubs4cash Published
-
5 Common Misconceptions About Graphite Golf Shafts
Equipment expert Joe Ferguson takes a look at some of the myths still surrounding graphite golf shafts...
By Joe Ferguson Published
-
What Is A Game Improvement Golf Club And Who Is It Aimed At?
It's a well-used phrase in golf but what actually are game improvement clubs and should you be using them? We explain everything you need to know...
By Joel Tadman Published
-
Why The PXG Allan Putter May Be Most Innovative Club Released This Year
The PXG Allan putter promises more stability than ever before, here’s what we know about the Zero Torque Balanced putter so far
By Sam De'Ath Published
-
Taking On An Open Championship Course With Only A Bag Of Irons!
Staff writer and PGA Pro Joe Ferguson took on YouTuber Matt Fryer in a match around Royal Liverpool GC but with a twist…
By Golf Monthly Published
-
My 6 Biggest Equipment Takeaways From Attending A LIV Golf Event
I recently attended the LIV Golf UK event and was really surprised by some of the equipment I saw. Here's what stood out...
By Joe Ferguson Published
-
Does This Vintage Iron Set From 1994 Offer The Best Value For Money?
In the latest Retro Review, Joe Ferguson tests out the 1994 Callaway Big Bertha irons to see how they perform and stack up in today's power world
By Joe Ferguson Published