If you looked up “forgiving irons” in the golf dictionary (not a real thing, but it should be), you would be greeted with pictures of Ping G Series irons. Since the initial launch of the G2 in 2003, Ping has continually innovated and improved its most popular and best-selling iron family, and the company is doing it again with the all-new Ping G425.

The new 2021 G425 iron builds off the success of the G410 by packing more forgiveness into a smaller package designed to not just shout from the rooftops about distance but give golfers the ability to reduce dispersions and land the ball softer into greens. An iron that goes longer isn’t very helpful if the golfer using them cant hold a green with anything over an 8-iron, and the engineers at Ping have added some very interesting technology to the G425 irons to accomplish just that.

2021 Ping G425 irons: Technologies

• More photos and discussion in the forums. 

The most important new element of the G425 irons is the new metal wood style VFT (variable face thickness), used to increase ball speed, consistency, and launch. The new VFT is possible thanks to the Hyper 17-4 stainless steel material, which allows engineers to go thinner while still maintaining structural integrity and feel.

The most interesting aspect which separates the new VFT from the previous generation Cor-Eye technology is it is not symmetrical and is instead a more sideways egg-shaped oval. The reason for this new geometry is based on optimizing and equalizing speeds around the face to deliver better results from club to club. This allows the G425 iron to have more face deflection than Ping has ever been able to create with a cast design. When you add in the new face with an improved hinge (notice the small notch on the toe to also increase deflection) you get a diving board-like effect to send the ball higher to stop sooner.

G425 forgiveness and feel

Like the G410 from the G400, the G425 irons have gotten smaller yet more forgiving, thanks to smart engineering from the team at Ping. The weight saved from around the body has been positioned to the far heel and toe thanks to the visible tugsten weight screw in the toe and in the hosel using a tip weight.

• More photos and discussion in the forums. 

Let me explain: Every iron on the market utilizes a tip weight, either inserted into the shaft or into a port in the bottom of the hosel. (We’re about to go deep into the weeds from a design standpoint, but stick with me). There is 100 percent nothing wrong with OEMs using tip weights to achieve desired swing weight, but when you use them you move the CG closer to the hosel/heel side of the club—not on a humanly noticeable level but certainly from a definite engineering perspective.

This is why Ping has always placed the CTP (Custom Tuning Port) in the middle of the clubhead, behind the CG. But the custom tuning ports have been replaced with better-performing, thinner badges to increase MOI while still producing a soft feeling iron. Less weight in the middle of the head allows more mass to be positioned around the perimeter, and boom—an iron with a three percent higher MOI in a smaller package.

Going from distance to precision, Ping utilizes the same machining and groove geometry of the Glide 3.0 wedge in the G425 wedges from pitching wedge to lob wedge to offer “G” golfers the same short game control and accuracy in their matching wedges.

• More photos and discussion in the forums. 

This is not new, but it’s a unique option to be found in the game improvement category, where matching wedges are usually a bit of an afterthought in the design process.

Specs, pricing, and availability

The Ping G425 irons will be available for pre-sale starting today and will be available at retail starting February 4, priced at $137.50 each in a stock steel configuration and $150 in graphite.

G425 Specs

Shafts

The stock shaft options for the Ping G425 irons are the proprietary steel AWT 2.0, and ALTA CB slate in graphite. There are also a number of other no charge, and upcharge option available including Nippon 105 and True Temper Dynamic Gold 120.

• More photos and discussion in the forums. 

Like the rest of the Ping G425 line, the irons will come stock with PING X Arccos GP lite Caddie Smart Grip, which features an embedded sensor to record and analyze every shot taken during a round when paired with the Arccos Caddie app. With the purchase of a G425 club, golfers will get a 90-day free trial of the app, and then the option of a $99.99 annual subscription.

Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet/Arccos Caddie Smart Grip is available in Aqua (-1/64″) undersized, White -standard, and Gold (+1/32″) oversized.

• More photos and discussion in the forums.