Ping G700 Irons

Ping G700 Irons Review - We test Ping's new super-game improvement iron on the GC2 launch monitor to discover the type of performance it will offer golfers

Ping G700 Irons Review

The Ping G700 irons replace the G-Max model as the largest in Ping’s range for 2018. Consequently, they will suit mid-to-high handicappers that struggle with inconsistent ball striking, and therefore require added distance and stability on a variety of different strikes.

The look of the G700 is different to anything Ping has done before – clean and simple with  very little of anything visible. Even it’s smallest iron, the iBlade, has a visible cavity, but G700 does not and therefore has hallmarks of a muscleback iron from the rear.

It is, in fact, a hollow iron, which should provide the added speed its target golfer requires, as well as the stability on off-centre hits.

Although it may look like a blade from a distance, its size is the giveaway on closer inspection as to who this iron is aimed at. It is long from heel-to-toe, has a wide sole (to the point that the back is visible at address on the long irons) and a thick topline.

Once you start hitting shots with them, the first thing that strikes you is the sound and feel. These irons feel fast like a hybrid, but also have a sound that’s similar too. Put simply, they sound like mini metalwoods.

Whether that is something you can be ok with, only you can decide, and while we found it unusual, the performance did make us forget about it to a degree.

The loft of the 7-iron we tested is 29.5˚, which is half a degree stronger than the G400 model and a degree stronger than the outgoing GMax iron.

We tested it using Pro V1s hitting off grass, which is slightly different to the environment we normally gather data in and could play a part in the figures.

The average carry of 174 yards was decent, although we were expecting a little more given the low loft. That said, the distances were very consistent and we had no problem getting the ball up in the air and keeping it there, thanks to spin being surprisingly high at just over 6000 rpm. Golfers also have the choice of opting for the lower-lofted 'Power Spec' - which will provide extra distance if this is required.

Again, the conditions we tested in could play a part here, but the extra spin over other models we’ve tested with the same loft should help stop the ball quicker and help slower swing speeds increase their carry distance.

It felt solid and stable from a wide area – it’s difficult to curve a shot offline significantly and even mishit shots stay relatively straight and lose little distance too. In fact, the forgiveness of this club is arguably its strongest asset.