Moderator Review: Ping G25 irons -- more forgiving than your favorite grandmother

[OspreyCI]

Thanks to PING for suppling the irons for this review and thanks for the time in writing this.

The G25 made me a PING convert after being a LONG TIME Taylormade Fan Boy. The whole G25 is REALLY REALLY good!

The G25 driver, fwy wood, hybrid, and irons are seriously awesome!

[da_boys]

Just got a set of used G25's with stock CFS regular and played with them this morning. Coming from a set of G2's with nippon 950's. I can't remember a round that was so easy and stress free with the irons. Point and shoot. Accurate and consistent. Old faithful G2's will be for sale shortly.

[peakposition]

Great write up!
Have a new set of super peening blues x. Hearing so many good things about the g25 that i might put the spb's in them. But still a bit scared that the ballflight is still too high, because i'm a high spin launch guy, as most in here

[Little Ned]

[quote name='da_boys' timestamp='1372551371' post='7352376']
Just got a set of used G25's with stock CFS regular and played with them this morning. Coming from a set of G2's with nippon 950's. I can't remember a round that was so easy and stress free with the irons. Point and shoot. Accurate and consistent. Old faithful G2's will be for sale shortly.
[/quote]

G2 user here that can't wait to get his hands on the G25s. I assume you saw a marked improvement over the G2s?

[ronnbee]

what dot color do you get ?

[Asleep]

PM question[quote name='codyhogan' timestamp='1372472153']
I'm about to order g25s as well, but wanted to know why you decided to order the heel grind and did you do it thru the entire set? Thx[/quote]

In Houston in the summer, our fairways can get quite firm. (107* yesterday!) And I've always been curious about Ping's iron grind offerings.

My thinking was I might be a bit upright in my lie angle choice and the heel grind would offset that.

Honestly I'm not sure how much help I get from the heel grind -- not a lot of severe sidehill lies here.

Getting the correct lie angle is very important with the G25s, I think, and that reduces the need for a heel grind. YMMV

[quote name='da_boys' timestamp='1372551371' post='7352376']I can't remember a round that was so [b]easy[/b] and [b]stress free[/b] with the irons. [b]Point and shoot[/b]. [b]Accurate[/b] and [b]consistent[/b].[/quote]

[quote name='ronnbee' timestamp='1372606805' post='7355540']
what dot color do you get ?
[/quote]

I ordered [color=#ff8c00][b]orange[/b][/color] dot thinking the longer heel-to-toe would increase toe droop at impact.

I'm now at [color=#8b4513][b]brown[/b][/color] dot in all my irons & wedges.

[mws92]

[quote name='NWS Alpine' timestamp='1372520512' post='7349260']
The finish isn't removed. The heads are pulled before the tumbling so that the whole head matches. The tumbling process was covered on the extreme factories show. Really cool to see the G25 process from start to finish.
[/quote]

The grind is done by the WRX department. They get finished heads in and then grind them. This would remove a bit of "dark smoke" finish from the heel. However they are still made form 17-4 so you wouldn't have any issue with rusting.

It's important to note that [u]any[/u] consumer can get that kind of grind through the WRX dept for a slight upcharge.

As far as wind control, as long as you get fit for the right shaft ballooning won't be a problem. While the longer irons do have a nice high launch which helps a lot of players, the iron is specifically designed so that spin is reduced. It still has enough spin to sit reasonably quickly on a green but won't balloon up into the air.

If you really hit them too high the proper shaft like DG or flighted Project X will help keep it down.

[mws92]

Also Marty Jertson, who has played in major championships and other PGA tour events, play the G25s -- read that again.

While they make be GI compared to the I-series, they are still compact enough to fit a better players eye.

[NRJyzr]

[quote name='Asleep' timestamp='1372608838' post='7355712']

I ordered [color=#ff8c00][b]orange[/b][/color] dot thinking the longer heel-to-toe would increase toe droop at impact.

I'm now at [color=#8b4513][b]brown[/b][/color] dot in all my irons & wedges.
[/quote]

Ping compensates for that with their lie angles. The Zing/Zing2s and assorted ISI were 1° upright from the Eye2, because of the added toe droop, while the i3s went flatter than the ISI.

[jdtoyou]

Thanks for the write up as I've been considering the G25 after my friend went to them. Can't wait to hit 'em.

[NWS Alpine]

[quote name='mws92' timestamp='1372613243' post='7356056']
The grind is done by the WRX department. They get finished heads in and then grind them. This would remove a bit of "dark smoke" finish from the heel. However they are still made form 17-4 so you wouldn't have any issue with rusting.

It's important to note that [u]any[/u] consumer can get that kind of grind through the WRX dept for a slight upcharge.
[/quote]

That is not the case with his set of irons though. The dark finish is not applied to the heads as is clearly shown in the pictures. Typically the finish would be applied then WRX will do the grinds leaving what you describe.

[Nessism]

The grind is done by the WRX department. They get finished heads in and then grind them. This would remove a bit of "dark smoke" finish from the heel. However they are still made form 17-4 so you wouldn't have any issue with rusting.

 

It's important to note that any consumer can get that kind of grind through the WRX dept for a slight upcharge.

 

That is not the case with his set of irons though. The dark finish is not applied to the heads as is clearly shown in the pictures. Typically the finish would be applied then WRX will do the grinds leaving what you describe.

 

Sorry to belabor this point but still don't understand. Am I the only one that sees this photo this way?

 

 

 

[mws92]

The grind is done by the WRX department. They get finished heads in and then grind them. This would remove a bit of "dark smoke" finish from the heel. However they are still made form 17-4 so you wouldn't have any issue with rusting.

 

It's important to note that any consumer can get that kind of grind through the WRX dept for a slight upcharge.

 

That is not the case with his set of irons though. The dark finish is not applied to the heads as is clearly shown in the pictures. Typically the finish would be applied then WRX will do the grinds leaving what you describe.

 

Sorry to belabor this point but still don't understand. Am I the only one that sees this photo this way?

 

 

 

 

Guys listen - the heads come in and the sole grind done with the ABBRASIVE grind wheel removes material and puts a polish in the sole. That's why the bodies are still smoked and the sole is polished and more shiny.

 

[liptrot]

Is that the bounce grind?? Hit the irons at a demo day last Friday and really liked them. Just worried about the wide sole and bounce on tight fairways. Considering ordering them with the bounce grind

[EdMan63]

Nice write up and review. I've had my G25's about 3 weeks now and I get excited every time I get ready to play with them. I'm having more fun with them than any set of irons I've bought in recent years. I have never hit so many good long iron shots with accuracy. Part of golf is believing in your equipment and I have total confidence in these irons. They go where you aim with good distance and feel. Anybody who is thinking about new irons needs to give these a try.

[TU_Owl]

finally go a chance to see these in person but man.. these things are shovels!!

[Nessism]

[quote name='jhy1281' timestamp='1372692137' post='7362312']
finally go a chance to see these in person but man.. these things are shovels!!
[/quote]

If you judge clubs based on size, with large being bad, G25's may not be for you.

If you judge clubs based on performance, and don't hit the sweetspot all the time and appreciate forgiveness, G25's are an excellent choice.

[Hstead]

I thought the G25 looked Gianormous at first. But the way they fly, you start learning to like the obese look fairly quickly.

[pearlcitygolfer]

I just purchased a few sets of G15s from $$270-300 from 4-U (one set with a 3 hybrid). I can't imagine any clubs could be that much better than these. I am a low ball hitter, and these are simply straight. I can't tell you how many times after my shot, I am saying, it's dead on (I could literally see the flag right below the irons). The the ball would drop down and stop anywhere from 10-15 feet behind or in front of the pin (and anywhere in-between).

Has anyone hit both the G-15 and G25s? Is there really a noticeable difference. How would you compare the two? Thanks.

[Cwing]

Yes. I had g15 and now have g25's. My g15 were blue dot with stock stiff shafts. My g25's were fit with 1/4" over standard and dg XP s300 shafts. The g25's blow away the g15 but the g15 were still very good.

[HillbillyInBC]

Somebody scoot over and make room for me on the bandwagon. I ordered a set on Saturday, 5-U, green dot, TFC-189i R-flex. Counting down the hours until they arrive.

[agent4587]

[quote name='HR Dave' timestamp='1372390928' post='7339514']
wow, great review, makes me want the clubs, sorry to hear about the hairy ears though....
[/quote]

Not anything to do with this thread, but are you aware that Doink passed away yesterday. RIP.

[j.a.]

I tried today the G25s, i20 & K15. I was more consistent with the G25s, also the feel was great and pretty much I got convinced that they are a better option to me than the Mizuno JPX-825 I've been thinking about.

[NWS Alpine]

The grind is done by the WRX department. They get finished heads in and then grind them. This would remove a bit of "dark smoke" finish from the heel. However they are still made form 17-4 so you wouldn't have any issue with rusting.

 

It's important to note that any consumer can get that kind of grind through the WRX dept for a slight upcharge.

 

That is not the case with his set of irons though. The dark finish is not applied to the heads as is clearly shown in the pictures. Typically the finish would be applied then WRX will do the grinds leaving what you describe.

 

Sorry to belabor this point but still don't understand. Am I the only one that sees this photo this way?

 

 

 

 

Guys listen - the heads come in and the sole grind done with the ABBRASIVE grind wheel removes material and puts a polish in the sole. That's why the bodies are still smoked and the sole is polished and more shiny.

 

I know the sole will not have the media tumble due to the grind. Based on this picture it looked as though the graphite finish was not applied to the head at all. Looks very different than the normal G25 finish. It may just be the lighting.

 

 

 

No, they pull the custom grinds off the line before that cool looking graphite finish is applied. I'm not 100% sure I needed it, but our fairways can get 'Scotland' firm down here in the summer heat.

 

Here's the PW comparison...

 

 

 

[peakposition]

I went for a round of golf with my father yesterday and like coincidence wants my dad bought a complete set of G25 Irons with the standard cfs regular shaft. So I was able to hit them live on course not only into a net with a monitor. And.... Damn those irons are brilliant (regular and such a lightweightshaft is definitly not my preference) but these irons give you so much confidence it's just insane. Just aim... grip it... and let it fire. It's so easy and so simple. I do understand everyone who is saying they look awful, but when you hit them you will fell in love. Give them a chance as I did.
I ordered a set today and will put my SPB's in them, I guess that will be a hell of a combo!
Golf just became easy...

[Hstead]

I think the G25 with SP Blues will fire rocket shoots that fly forever. The G25 is a high launcher paired with the SP Blue low spin low launch and POW!. Would love to hit those. I want a set of SP Blue X flexes real bad. Real real bad. I just don't want to fork over 4 bills for them.

[booglez]

Got to try these bad boys out today, as I finally went out and got fit for irons. Ended up +1/2" White dot (3* up) and most likely going with the KBS Tour 90 stiff shaft. I fell in love with them.

[wbyman]

My set of G25 's came in yesterday. 4-pw with real DGS300. I like the ball flight. Previous set was Titleist 731pm cavity back-blade combo. You still need to put a good swing on the G25's, it is not automatic. I like them so far.

[jabrch]

Can someone tell me what is significantly different between the G25s and G20s?

[Asleep]

[quote name='peakposition' timestamp='1372786953' post='7372010'][b]Golf just became easy...[/b][/quote]

That's an endorsement if I ever saw one.

[quote name='Hstead' timestamp='1372792572' post='7372796']
I think the G25 with SP Blues will fire rocket shoots that fly forever.
[/quote]

A'ight, I'm seeing this over & over .... what's the story with the Super Peening Blues & G25s?

[quote name='booglez' timestamp='1372793156' post='7372906']
Got to try these bad boys out today, as I finally went out and got fit for irons. Ended up +1/2" White dot (3* up) and most likely going with the KBS Tour 90 stiff shaft. I fell in love with them.
[/quote]

White dot, wow! That's up there.