Equipment
Spotted: Tony Finau testing an unreleased Ping Forged iron
Tony Finau was spotted at the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills testing an unreleased, unknown Ping utility iron.
What is the iron? If you check out this GolfWRX forum thread, members are saying its Ping’s new i500 iron, which is unconfirmed and strictly rumor.
What do we know about the iron? Nothing, aside from what we can see in the photos. They’re forged, they have a section in the toe that’s been milled out, and there’s a screw in the toe, likely showing that it has a hollow body construction, ala the Ping G700.
We’ll update you with more information as soon it becomes available. Until then, enjoy the images below.
Check out more photos of the Ping iron, and join the discussion/speculation here.
Check out more photos of the Ping iron, and join the discussion/speculation here.
This week, we have our Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, on the ground at the OccuNet Classic at Tascosa Golf Club in Amarillo, Texas, for the 14th event of the 2026 Korn Ferry Tour season. With that, we see some great things in the Lead Tape Report as we roll into Amarillo.
Joel Thelen
Monday Qualifier, Joel Thelen is in the field this week. He has played on the Korn Ferry Tour for a full season in 2023, and he is back in action this week. A couple of clubs caught my eye this week in his bag.
First off: His trusted Titleist 816 H2 hybrid. This club came out in October of 2015, and it still remains strong in the bag. Also, take a look at this Odyssey White Hot OG 7, putting a capital S in the 7S model. This custom neck has some impressive lean for an arm-lock-style putter. The bottom of the putter is covered in tape for optimal weighting.
Mitchell Meissner
Taking a look at Mitchell Meissner’s bag this week, we have some great lead tape coverage. Top to bottom working from fairway metals, irons, and wedges. We can see on the short irons and wedges that there is tape at the base of the grip, adding a little counterbalance. Along with that, some tape on the short irons and wedges as well. Moving to his putter, he rolls the Odyssey 7 Bird putter. Meissner putts left-handed and strikes the ball right-handed.
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament.
Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: Titleist GTS3 (15 degrees, B1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 70 TX
7-wood: Titleist GTS3 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Pro Red 80 TX
Irons: Titleist U505 (3), Titleist 620 MB (4-9)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 8 X, True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K*)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putters: Scotty Cameron Tour Prototype, Scotty Cameron GOLO 6.3 Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
In our forums, one user has offered up a prompt for the true sickos, inviting fellow forum members to share every set of irons they’ve ever owned. As to be expected, this is a lengthy forum topic.
@Lamosteve began:
Can you name every set of irons you’ve owned? Here’s mine
Spalding Dots
Spalding Eclipse
Ram Lazer FX
Lynx Parallax
Mizuno EZ Comp
Ben Hogans
Cleveland CG Red
Taylor Made R9s
PING i20
PING iE1
Taylor Made M6
Our members in the forum have been offering up their own collections. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- macedan: “Started with a hand-me-down Golden Bear set from my brother when I was in high school, never really played more than once a year or got into the game until about summer of 2017. First purchased a set of Cleveland CG4’s (I actually really miss this set sometimes, soft & not terribly large for a GI iron), moved into Nike Vapor Fly’s by the end of the year. Those lasted until spring of 18 when I decided I wanted new, so I traded them in for TM Rbladez. Honestly, although I liked the Rbladez, poor decision on my part, I think this was really about the only time so far that after a week or two I was kicking myself for not staying with what I had. Rbladez stayed with me until late last summer when I switched to P790’s and (knock on wood) I am hoping this will be my longest lasting set.”
- JimmyC59: “MacGregor Jack Nicklaus Triple Crown. Palmer The Standard. Still play these.”
- jgrzask: “Tommy Armour 845u
Mizuno MP-32
Mizuno MP-33 (2 sets)
Bridgestone J33cb – still own
Srixon i-302 (2 sets) – still own
Tourstage X-Blades – still own
Mizuno Hot Metal – still own
Nike Forged Blades – still own
Titleist 714 AP1 – still own
Cobra Forged SS – still own”
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Bud Cauley WITB 2026 (June)
Bud Cauley had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
Hannah Green WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
Asterisk Talley WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 S 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (16.5 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Brianna Do WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 3-wood: Callaway Elyte Titanium (15 degrees) Shaft: KBS PGW 5-wood:...
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Tommy
Jul 1, 2018 at 12:49 am
If this one is a hit and they take lots of business away from the P790/0311T/TMB, we’ll then be able to know that golfers buy clubs based on their looks….but we already know that, and this is one GREAT looking club for a GI design. Best ever, by a mile. If it performs, it’ll be in a lot of bags.
MD
Jun 14, 2018 at 10:37 am
Thank goodness they have a look better players wont mind gaming. The G700’s look like bazookas
HDTVMAN
Jun 13, 2018 at 9:35 pm
My G700’s are incredible. Two guy’s in my group today want me to fit them to a set. Long, high flying, and forgiving.
Jay
Jun 13, 2018 at 12:28 pm
Those look sweet. I already have them though, mine just have p790 on them. Maybe that is the part that was removed from the face.
Matt
Jun 13, 2018 at 8:22 pm
Are yours forged and come with a 3iron
Doug
Jun 13, 2018 at 11:26 am
It is the PING I500. It follows the industry trend being a distance iron with jacked up lofts.
The I210 and I500 are supposed to be out in July.
gif
Jun 13, 2018 at 1:07 am
Orgamsic feeel jello-filled hollow irons… only for frustrated gearheadbaters.
Travis
Jun 12, 2018 at 7:05 pm
That offset though…
Geohogan
Jun 12, 2018 at 8:09 pm
Agree, too much offset. Otherwise reminds of TMB 716, with tungsten weights and bore thru tapered shaft plug, that can be drilled out and more weight can be added. TMB is a very neat design IMO, too bad that technology makes them so expensive.
Tim Armington
Jun 13, 2018 at 3:03 am
You are joking when you say too much offset arent you?
Geohogan
Jun 13, 2018 at 5:39 pm
No joking. If leading edge isnt in line with the left side of the shaft, its too much offset.
Geohogan
Jun 13, 2018 at 5:41 pm
Ben Hogan called it onset.
Painter33
Jun 14, 2018 at 8:28 am
Agree; however, I’ll reserve that judgement until I see the specs. Maybe the long irons have much more offset than the mid and short irons, per usual. I’ll compare them to my S55s that I’m loving.
DL
Jun 12, 2018 at 6:22 pm
It’s the new i500 and its amazing. I’ve hit it and can confirm it’s really good.
The dude
Jun 12, 2018 at 5:55 pm
Fake forge……….oh wait, I already said that.
Billymo
Jun 12, 2018 at 6:29 pm
What?
The Dude
Jun 12, 2018 at 2:37 pm
Fake forge……
John
Jun 12, 2018 at 2:27 pm
Could be a masked PXG due to his contract..
Wslice
Jun 12, 2018 at 2:32 pm
Except for the the PING stamp on the hosel.
Ryan
Jun 12, 2018 at 3:36 pm
And different screw type, and ping lettering for the 3.