Ping irons for mere mortals (Alta CB graphite versus AWT steel)

[e-man]

I'm looking at a set of G430 irons, either with the Alta CB graphite shaft or AWT steel, both in regular flex (ss with the 7 iron around 75).  I hit both well in the fitting bay, but unfortunately, won't have the opportunity to demo them outside on real grass.  I'm 57, index currently at 6.4, and have been playing steel shafts all of my life (most recently Titleist NS Pro 105t (made by Nippon) in a set of AP1 710 irons. 

 

For those of you who are currently playing a recent Ping G iron with one of the two "stock" shafts, can you chime in with whether you tried both (steel versus graphite), which you went with, and why.  My concern with the graphite is that while it feels good in the fitting bay hitting balls rapid fire, it won't feel as good or give as much control as steel out on the course with the G head, which is supposed to be fairly high launching and low spinning.  Thanks.

[animalgolfs]

IMO Alta makes the club feel/swing really light. Don't feel the Alta added any extra height...I actually lost distance.

[Ghostwedge]

How do you physically feel after a round of golf ? That's your answer.

Want less wear and tear on your wrist, elbow and shoulder joints ? Go with the graphite. No health concerns, stay with steel. I played AWT shafts for years until my joints started feeling it. Switched to graphite, no problem. Handicap didn't go up either.

[Section ThirtyOne]

Funny you mention this, as I just switched from G430s with AWT to G440s with Alta CB.

 

My observations are that the ball flight is definitely higher and the swingweight does seem to be lighter. I am more of a "swinger" than a "hitter", so the lighter perceived swingweight works for me. The driver for my switch was a significant shoulder injury last season - since that time I have had some tenderness after playing. Fast forward to my rounds with the graphite shafted irons and that tenderness no longer exists. Mission accomplished!

[e-man]

21 minutes ago, Section ThirtyOne said:

Funny you mention this, as I just switched from G430s with AWT to G440s with Alta CB.

 

My observations are that the ball flight is definitely higher and the swingweight does seem to be lighter. I am more of a "swinger" than a "hitter", so the lighter perceived swingweight works for me. The driver for my switch was a significant shoulder injury last season - since that time I have had some tenderness after playing. Fast forward to my rounds with the graphite shafted irons and that tenderness no longer exists. Mission accomplished!

Interesting.  So how would you compare the G430s to the G440s? I’m wondering if they are basically the same in terms of forgiveness, sound and feel.

[e-man]

1 hour ago, animalgolfs said:

IMO Alta makes the club feel/swing really light. Don't feel the Alta added any extra height...I actually lost distance.

That’s my main concern. Even though my swing speed is relatively low, light usually does not work for me.  

[e-man]

1 hour ago, Ghostwedge said:

How do you physically feel after a round of golf ? That's your answer.

Want less wear and tear on your wrist, elbow and shoulder joints ? Go with the graphite. No health concerns, stay with steel. I played AWT shafts for years until my joints started feeling it. Switched to graphite, no problem. Handicap didn't go up either.

I actually feel fine at the end of round. It’s more a question of feel and my sense is that graphite might feel better and generally be more forgiving than steel.

[Section ThirtyOne]

27 minutes ago, e-man said:

Interesting.  So how would you compare the G430s to the G440s? I’m wondering if they are basically the same in terms of forgiveness, sound and feel.

 

The biggest difference for me is the aesthetics - the G440 irons hide their size much better. Very close to the size and shape of the i20 and i25 irons I loved so much in the past. Forgiveness is tough to say, both are very forgiving. Sound is more or less a wash, but the feel is more muted (but not too much) due to the graphite shafts which was expected.

[gdb99]

4 hours ago, e-man said:

That’s my main concern. Even though my swing speed is relatively low, light usually does not work for me.  

Ping’s standard swing weight is D0 in steel or graphite until the 9 iron. Looks like that on their specs anyway. That’s light. 

[Nessism]

AltaCB in R flex are 70 grams.  That's light.  Particularly for someone coming from 105 gram shafts.  You can ask Ping to jack up the swingweight, and that will increase the feeling of heft while swinging, but that's still a big difference.

 

FYI, I love Recoil 95's, but have MMT 80S shafts in some PXG irons.  The swingweight is up to D4-6, though, and I get along with them fine.

[PJE]

I had the G430s for a while and spent time with the graphite and steel. 
Like others already said, the Alta shafts are light.  I also think in R flex they feel “soft” and softer than the R in steel. It’s not like they don’t fly straight but the feeling for me was that I had to be careful and smooth with the transition and downswing. 
I suspect this feeling has more to do with shaft weight than anything else. 

The AWT 2.0 is not a stout or harsh feeling shaft but it seems to hold up to swinging harder better than the Alta. Again, I think this feeling probably has to with weight. 

[Esage]

7 hours ago, PJE said:

The AWT 2.0 is not a stout or harsh feeling shaft but it seems to hold up to swinging harder better than the Alta

I agree. I went from AWT 2.0S to Alta S when i got fitted for i530's and this what I see. I do really like the Alta S though. 

[Sparty4202]

20 hours ago, e-man said:

Titleist NS Pro 105t (made by Nippon) in a set of AP1 710 irons. 

The Ping AWT is made by Nippon for Ping…for me the AWT feels better and performs better than the Modus 105.

[Golfdoctor]

PING also offers Nippon NS Pro 850 and now the 750 for same price as the graphite, check it out.

[animalgolfs]

@e-man I'm hover 85ss on driver...138yds comfortable 7i

 

I demo'd the Alta quite a bit in different Ping fitting cart heads. Just couldn't not make that shaft work- I've been playing Recoil 110 for years. 

 

Currently have Dart V 105 F4 ssx1 in G730 & Recoil 95 F3 in i59. Just a better fit for my swing

Edited May 7 by animalgolfs

[e-man]

Thanks for all the helpful replies.  I’m probably going to go with the AWT 2.0.  I need to be able to trust the shaft and I’m concerned I’ll need to throttle back a bit with the light weight Alta CB.  
 

Is there any real difference between the AWT 2.0 and 3.0?

[Golfdoctor]

19 hours ago, e-man said:

Thanks for all the helpful replies.  I’m probably going to go with the AWT 2.0.  I need to be able to trust the shaft and I’m concerned I’ll need to throttle back a bit with the light weight Alta CB.  
 

Is there any real difference between the AWT 2.0 and 3.0?

If you're having the clubs build you can request AWT 3.0

[gvogel]

On 5/6/2025 at 12:07 PM, e-man said:

I'm looking at a set of G430 irons, either with the Alta CB graphite shaft or AWT steel, both in regular flex (ss with the 7 iron around 75).  I hit both well in the fitting bay, but unfortunately, won't have the opportunity to demo them outside on real grass.  I'm 57, index currently at 6.4, and have been playing steel shafts all of my life (most recently Titleist NS Pro 105t (made by Nippon) in a set of AP1 710 irons. 

 

For those of you who are currently playing a recent Ping G iron with one of the two "stock" shafts, can you chime in with whether you tried both (steel versus graphite), which you went with, and why.  My concern with the graphite is that while it feels good in the fitting bay hitting balls rapid fire, it won't feel as good or give as much control as steel out on the course with the G head, which is supposed to be fairly high launching and low spinning.  Thanks.

I seem to recall from a Ping fitting site, more than a few years ago, that suggested stiff in the Alta graphite shafts if you are playing R in the steel AWT.

 

By they way, the NS Pro 105T is a unicorn shaft - heavier at 108 grams but softer in the tip.  Save those shafts, they may come in handy.

[1550]

I was surprised when I weighed my G430 Alto CB AWT shafts, there was a 9 gram difference starting from 9 iron 8 and 7. (I didn't weigh the other clubs but it is consistent) I don't know about you guys but 9 gram step is a lot. "I think", theoretically, heavier weight shorter irons have more control swing slower etc., however, 9 grams+ increments will feel like you have to swing faster or harder and will feel like a sledge hammer compared to the 6 iron. Totally not good for swing tempo etc.  

[Drivingrangehero]

On 5/7/2025 at 12:34 PM, e-man said:

Thanks for all the helpful replies.  I’m probably going to go with the AWT 2.0.  I need to be able to trust the shaft and I’m concerned I’ll need to throttle back a bit with the light weight Alta CB.  
 

Is there any real difference between the AWT 2.0 and 3.0?

I hit the AWT 2.0 in a i230 head and a 3.0 in one of the Ping game improvement heads (not sure which one, the “fitter” at Dick’s  just handed me a club, I had no interest in hitting and said try this……. “Oooh that’s ten yards longer”………yeah, and probably 3-4°stronger lofted 🤦‍♂️ ) 

 

The 2.0 felt like it had more of a discernible kick, but very smooth (my favorite golf shaft BTW)  the 3.0 didn’t have the same kick, but very smooth.,… somewhere between a Modus 105 and a 950gh NEO. I could play either one, but preferred the AWT 2.0 over the 3.0 

 

Both were the same flex, but the 3.0 felt lighter……. Maybe it was the club head or the balance point. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯