Ping has today announced that it is expanding its iron offerings with the i525 players distance model.

According to Ping President John K. Solheim, who today officially introduced the newest entry into Ping’s lineup of irons, the i525 players distance models are designed to provide significant distance gains combined with improved feel and sound.

“What’s most satisfying in the i525 iron from an engineering standpoint is how our team has been able to maximize the flexing of the metal-wood-style face structure while creating a pleasing sound and feel. As golfers know who’ve played this type of iron design, they often sacrificed some of the feel for more distance. That’s not the case in the i525 as we’re able to provide golfers a solid-feeling iron with the increased ball speed they need to hit longer, higher shots that hit and hold the green. We’re seeing some incredible results as a lot of golfers are a club stronger or more, including Tour pros who are attracted to the compact look and increased ball speed of the longer irons.” – John K. Solheim

Some technological features of the i525 players-distance irons include:

Forged, Maraging-Steel Face: The strength of the variable-thickness, maraging steel allows for a thinner, more dynamic face structure with an internal sole undercut in the 17-4 stainless steel body to increase flexing in design for more ball speed and shots that launch faster and higher with distance control.

Sound Engineering: A polymer is precisely injected onto the inside of the face in a bid to improve feel and sound without interfering with face deflection, the source of its increased ball speed.

Extreme Weighting: Tungsten toe and shaft tip weights combine with a tiered, dynamic face structure and cavity to expand the perimeter weighting while preserving ball speed through greater face deflection in design for added distance and improved accuracy. Per Ping, this also provides tighter dispersion and increased forgiveness.

• See what GolfWRXers are saying about Ping i525 irons in the forums. 

Friction Face with MicroMax Milled Grooves : Introduced last year in the i59 iron, the i525’s precision-machined face has MicroMax grooves for tighter spacing and a geometry that results in an average of four extra grooves on each club to reduce fliers in the short irons and preserve spin in the long irons for greater control and consistency.

Specs, Availability & Price

Available 3-9, PW, UW in 10 color codes (lie angle), RH and LH. Black color code is standard.

• Loft options: Standard, Power Spec and Retro Spec
• Stock Shafts: Project X IO (5.5, 6.0, 6.5), PING AWT 2.0 (R, S, X), PING Alta CB Slate (SR, R, S), Alta Distanza Black 40, UST Recoil 760 ES SMAC (A), 780 (R, S)
• Optional Stock Shafts: Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), KBS Tour (R, S, X), Nippon Pro Modus Tour 105 (R, S, X), Elevate 95 (R, S)
• Stock Grip: Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet (six sizes)
• Available: Now
• Price: $205 per club with stock steel shaft; $220 per club with stock graphite shaft

• See what GolfWRXers are saying about Ping i525 irons in the forums.