Going from Ping G15 to S58

[flipmode]

So I went to the range yesterday with my neighbor for the first time in a while. I had my G15's in the bag and he brought his spare set of S58's. The whole time we are there I am hitting my 8 iron about 140 carry rolling out to about 150. So we are wrapping things up and I asked to see if I could hit his S58 8 iron to see how bad I would hit it. To my amazement it went dead straight with the exception of 2 pulls and was gaining me about 5 yards. The S58's actually went higher than my G15's. S58's have the zz shafts and the G15's have the AWT's. Im ABOUT a 14 handicap normally shooting in the mid 80's with my best score being a 74 a couple months ago. I'm a sweeper of the golf ball and my miss is a thin shot. I absolutely loved the feeling of the S58's!

 

Anyway, he mentions he would sell them to me so Im thinking about taking him up on it. Has anyone ever gone from a super game improvement set to a set of "less" forgiving clubs? What have your experiences been?

[Golf64]

14 capper, don't do it. Maybe look at the i series first? Game is hard enough, play the most forgiving irons that can stand to look at. G25 look less 'bulky' than the 15s. Best bang for the buck IMO.

[Bad9]

Last year I went from G15 to I15 irons. I honestly didn't notice any dropoff in the quality of my iron shots or my scores. I didn't suddenly go from knocking pins down to missing greens. Late last year I picked up a set of S58 heads and put them on Graman UL580 lime green iron shafts. I only played twice with them but I didn't find them any harder to hit than the I15 and liked the feel more, perhaps due to the graphite shafts. I plan to give them more of a test when our season starts.

[BenHoganSlam1953]

I was working on my swing yesterday and noticed the same with my MP53s versus MP32s - the 32s can be 5 yards further - if I hit it pretty much perfect. For all the other hits my 53s average more, plus I'm seriously looking to try the AP2s.

If you are serious about the S58s than I would do another (or two) range session and hit them first and after a basic warmup go straight to the long irons - forget the 8i. Even better would be if you're a bit sore and tired when you try them again. I don't doubt the feeling of hitting them as I tried the S55s and loved them (of course the stiff shafts - Ping CFS vs DG300 - likely played a big part).

[j_king]

S58's are a VERY forgiving "S" series iron. The upside is you should be able to get them for cheap from your buddy and if you end up not liking them, sell them for what you paid for them. If you end up doing better with them, you got a great deal!

[sharkhark]

I am not saying not to do it... But I ask you how was the 5 iron etc? In other words many progressive sets these days have the low irons with little cavity etc because even the higher handicaps can hit them in the scoring irons...
But try to hit a 4 or 5 or 6 and no go. That's where you especially notice the lack of forgiveness.
I've tried many player sets and it's only in 7 and up to 4 that I notice a marginal swing is really punished. Plus grabbing someone else's club is always a free wheeling care free no expectations swing...
Then we buy what the other guy let us try and wonder where the can't miss swing went.

[maxcapouch]

since he is your buddy, i would ask to play a round with them before you purchase them.

G15 to an S iron is a substantial jump.

[flipmode]

Thanks for the great responses! I play 3, 4 and 5 Ping G10 hybrids now and I don't plan on replacing them with the S58's. So really the only clubs I would be replacing are the 6-pw. I actually had a set of the I15's a couple months back and didn't get along with them but to be honest I only took them out for 9 holes so I don't think I gave them the time they needed. I just remember I didn't like the feel of them. Im going to try to get out again with the S58's this week to see how I like them.

[596]

I play the s58 and g10. I don't really notice much difference in them. I also play hybrids from 3 to 6. I love the s58.

[ATLGolfwrx]

S58 irons have a much higher Maltby Playability Factor score than typical Ping S-irons.

Simply put, the S58s are borderline game improvement irons.

Do a search on this forum and you'll see that others have discovered what you just did.

Keep in mind that eventually, the S58 irons will not be conforming (grooves) but that shouldn't matter if you don't play in official tournaments (or where they check on conforming clubs).

[BenHoganSlam1953]

[quote name='ATLGolfwrx' timestamp='1398699442' post='9187049']
S58 irons have a much higher Maltby Playability Factor score than typical Ping S-irons.

Simply put, the S58s are borderline game improvement irons.

Do a search on this forum and you'll see that others have discovered what you just did.

Keep in mind that eventually, the S58 irons will not be conforming (grooves) but that shouldn't matter if you don't play in official tournaments (or where they check on conforming clubs).
[/quote]

Would the S55s be considered the same? I was swinging the 3 and 4 irons pretty sweet.

[pkshooter]

[quote name='flipmode' timestamp='1398688118' post='9185801']
The S58's actually went higher than my G15's. S58's have the zz shafts and the G15's have the AWT's.
[/quote]

Based on what I've read here, I'm very surprised to hear you hit the S58s with zz shafts higher than G15s w/ AWT. Not only do the G15s heads have a lower center of gravity to help get the ball up, but the zz shaft is quite a bit stiffer and lower ball flight than the AWT. Not doubting what you are saying, just surprised.

[richard t]

I don't know your game. There are many reasons to be a 14 or a 10 or even a 6. If you shot legit 74 it was not luck.
I have been playing Ping irons for over 30+ years. I play I20s right now. A friend has S56s. Can I play with them. You bet! Could you play S58s. Not reason not. Here's the big BUT. As OPs have said you are NOT going to get the forgiveness of Gs. You are also not going to get away with marginal shots/mishits either. ZZs and AWTs are miles apart. At least long term.Good advice given to play a couple rounds, go to the range.
Not saying you CANNOT just saying on the range, one shot time... I've hit X Flex drivers and irons real well on the range for a few minutes/few balls. You'll never see that in my clubs full time.
If you CAN hit them good on you as they are a great club. Just be sure.And DO NOT give up your Gs until you are certain.

[JERMINITIS]

[quote name='flipmode' timestamp='1398688118' post='9185801']
So I went to the range yesterday with my neighbor for the first time in a while. I had my G15's in the bag and he brought his spare set of S58's. The whole time we are there I am hitting my 8 iron about 140 carry rolling out to about 150. So we are wrapping things up and I asked to see if I could hit his S58 8 iron to see how bad I would hit it. To my amazement it went dead straight with the exception of 2 pulls and was gaining me about 5 yards. The S58's actually went higher than my G15's. S58's have the zz shafts and the G15's have the AWT's. Im ABOUT a 14 handicap normally shooting in the mid 80's with my best score being a 74 a couple months ago. I'm a sweeper of the golf ball and my miss is a thin shot. I absolutely loved the feeling of the S58's!

Anyway, he mentions he would sell them to me so Im thinking about taking him up on it. Has anyone ever gone from a super game improvement set to a set of "less" forgiving clubs? What have your experiences been?
[/quote]
Try his for a round, if ya love em, buy em. With you being a golfer, you know there's no price tag on a well struck golf shot. Sidenote: I recently borrowed my buddy's driver for a tournament, since mine was stolen. With every BOMB I hit with it, he'd jokingly raise the price $5 per good shot. Especially, after I hit a 285 yard bomb into a 20 mph wind. So, 'buddy rates' aren't always guaranteed.

Good luck!

[NDGolfer13]

I've gone from blades to G15 to forged cavity backs to blades to i20s and now back to g15 with ctapers. I play to a 6 right now and the 15s are staying. At the end of the day golf is a hobby if you want to hit 58s and you enjoy playing them you should.

Good luck.

[Conrad1953]

I went from G10s to S58s years ago. But I reshafted the
S58s with the same shafts (AWT). The S58s are great
irons and are easy to hit well for a small headed iron.

If you have a shaft that fits your swing you can play
with these. I had 4-PW and paired them up with Ping
Tour W Wedges 52/56/60. I played them for a year or
so then got the bug, sold them and bought S56, then
sold those to jump on the i20 bandwagon, and, well,
it's a typical WRX ho story.

S58s are hard to find in decent shape these days.
If you like the ones you got from your buddy I say
hang on to them and play them, unless you need
conforming grooves.

[AFatMonkey]

Seems like a lot of people have offered some good advise. I'd agree with a majority of them. Golf is a hobby, let's be honest we don't see tiger, Phil, or Rory on here talking about their obsession or game. As a hobby do what makes you smile. I went from sgi, to blades. Fell in love with the blades and loved the look. About 6 months later I went to ap1. Still a good looking club, but not that sports car. Overall though, my scores have gone down and my love for the game increased.

Long story, do what you want. It's your money, your time. Enjoy it how you want

[flipmode]

I was able to hit balls into my net for a couple hours yesterday comparing my 7 iron G10 (my G15's were in the car and I didn't like getting them) to the S58's. I think Im going to make the plunge into the S58's. You definitely cant put a sloppy swing with these but a flush hit is so rewarding! I would like to take them out to the range or course again to see if I still hit them higher than my G15's. Also, my buddy is giving me a price that I cant pass on! He has another set of S58's and a set of S59's so these are in absolutely perfect condition with brand new GPMC grips! At the very worst I can use this set as a practice set to work on my ball striking but in the end I really felt satisfied after hitting balls yesterday and if it translates onto the course then Im totally sold on them!