Equipment
Ping releases Rapture driving iron
Talk about good timing for a club release.
Ping’s new prototype “Rapture” driving iron will be available to golfers this week at the British Open and the PGA Tour’s Sanderson Farms Championship.
The move makes sense, as many British Open contestants decide to swap out their 5 woods and hybrids for clubs that offer lower trajectories such as driving irons.
According to a Ping press release, the Rapture driving irons have faces that are made from 455 Carpenter Steel: a strong metal that is used to make the faces of many of today’s high-COR fairway woods.
“455 Carpenter Stainless Steels’ high strength allowed designers to thin the face to create faster ball speeds,” the press release said. “Thinning the face increased discretionary mass, which was then re-positioned low and back on the club head.”
The Rapture is also designed with high-density tungsten weights in the rear portion of the sole. According to Ping, the weights account for a sizable 20 percent of the entire club head’s mass, and their low, rearward position boosts the Rapture’s moment of inertia (MOI) and perimeter weighting, adding forgiveness on mishits.
The sole of the club also includes what Ping calls a “Tungsten Polymer Blend Sole Weight,” a screw-in weight that adds even more mass into the club’s sole. It helps decrease spin and can be used to fine tune swing weight.
Technical specifications:
- 17-4 stainless steel body, 455 stainless steel face
- Tungsten heel and toe weights
- 39.75-inch length, 18-degree head
- Foggy-chrome finish
- Stock graphite shaft: TFC 949 with chrome PVD finish (R, S, X flexes)
- U.S. MSRP: $220.00
Click here to see more photos of the Rapture D.I. and to read more discussion in the forums.
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 had >14 clubs in his bag when photographed prior to the Memorial Tournament. Driver: Titleist GTS2 (8 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura...
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Driver: Titleist GTS3 (10 degrees, D4 SureFit setting) Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Diamana RB 53 S 3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees,...
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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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Ivan
Aug 7, 2014 at 9:16 pm
Why not just go ahead and make the 1 iron again?
Mike from NR
May 24, 2014 at 5:28 pm
Last season I was frustrated with my inconsistency with using rescue clubs in the fairway on my second or third shot. Since I was constant with my irons I figured I would give the Ping 2 Iron a chance and it paid off HUGE. It took at least 5 strokes off my game. I look forward to hitting my second shot on all par 4 and 5 when I am around 200 yards out. The slower and smoother I swing the straighter and longer I hit this club. Trust me, put your rescue clubs up for sale and buy this 2 iron. You won’t regret it. I actually went out last week and ordered a second one to put it away so in 4 or 5 years from now I will have a new one to replace my current one. I don’t want to take the risk Ping changes or stops making this iron someday. Thank you Ping for solving my inconstant play.
TJ
Dec 5, 2013 at 1:55 pm
Good afternoon all,
I have to say that I am excited to test this out though I am partial to the Answer 2 Hybrid (stupid long), but if this performs better (launch angle)I will be putting in my order.
The real reason for my post is that the word on the street is that there will be a Rapture 3 wood at 14.5deg which is slightly oversized. has anyone else heard about this and if so do you happen to know any specs on it. I could be wrong but I was told its going to be a smaller version of the answer driver which would be great off the tee for my game anyways.
Any information on this would be welcome.
naflack
Dec 4, 2013 at 3:24 am
this club has wannabe scratch golfer written all over it…how long until 2nd swing has a whole rack of them? lol
Brian
Nov 29, 2013 at 5:16 pm
This looks awesome. Hopefully the 2 is a success and we see a 3 and 4 in another few months.
PatrickR
Nov 29, 2013 at 10:09 pm
Hope it compares to the titleist utilities by coming out with a 3 & 4. Honestly can’t wait to demo this when availble. Any one know if it will be available in any shaft besidea the tfc?
Patrick
Nov 26, 2013 at 4:18 pm
Looking forward to trying this out and potentially replacing the Adams Idea Pro currently in the bag.
Spengler
Nov 26, 2013 at 1:52 pm
anyone compare this vs. the callaway Utility?
Pingback: Desde el tee: semana 47/2013 | Golf76.com
JLeclair10
Nov 22, 2013 at 5:21 pm
Yous guys need to try this club…I can cruuush it 270 in the air!
Tyler
Nov 22, 2013 at 1:40 pm
Looks like they are available at 2nd Swing already…
http://www.2ndswing.com/p-238690-new-ping-rapture-driving-iron-graphite.aspx
Jezz
Sep 21, 2013 at 10:54 pm
Well,
Ping may even release this Iron in a set 18* & 21* Driving Iron with combo (if so desired). 4 Iron to PW in the new I25 player Irons. Haven for equipment junkies like myself. Also it would help a brother out, alot if less than a grand.
Cheers Jezz
Andy B
Aug 4, 2013 at 9:30 am
I play the i20’s but I put the callaway 24* x utility in the bag at the first of the season and just added the 18*. Looks like I will be sending those to the BST or the ebay. Can’t wait. I actually have a close friend who is a ping staffer (web.com) and he said they are more forgiving than his s56 irons. To bad he doesn’t live near me for me to try and he wont risk losing his contract by having one magically appear at my front door (I totally understand why he cant). It doesn’t hurt to dream. I will keep dreaming until january when they will be retail.
JEFF SMITH
Jul 22, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Ill be getting that I think. I cant hit a hybrid that well but pretty good w/ long irons…… well see!
Jeff Borders
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:45 pm
I wonder if the next Ping blade will look like a slimmer, narrowing version of this? I love the back of it.
tyler
Jul 20, 2013 at 11:07 am
Not a big fan of these utility irons.
IMO they look ugly at address.
Deaus666
Jul 18, 2013 at 2:55 pm
Very very nice, Ill put one in my bag if they release a 19-22* version, This actually reminds me more of the Yonex Zero driving iron with a Callaway style weight in the bottom. The only thing i wonder is how is it going to feel with that HARD face on slight miss-hits. I have a 20* old school Nike Pro combo utility in the bag right now.
golfing badger
Jul 17, 2013 at 1:42 pm
ping copying callaway…that’s a new one!
McCleery Crow
Nov 22, 2013 at 5:04 pm
My buddy had a Mizuno driving iron in 97. Who’s copying who?
http://silysavg.com/images/ebay/sporting/mizunodrivingiron_bottom.jpg
David Smith
Mar 7, 2014 at 10:28 am
I hope you’re just kidding around lol. If not, you’ve been under a rock for a very long time or are new to golf. I suspect the latter.
thefullsp
Jul 17, 2013 at 1:54 am
I have the cally x utility in 18 with GDesign shaft. It’s pretty fantastic off the tee. If I were playing Muirfield this week and were a Ping Staffer, this would be solidly in the centre of the bag!!!! Go G-Mac!
cg
Jul 16, 2013 at 1:27 pm
golf club makers exec meeting”
okay, here is the plan, first we tell golfers to buy fairway woods to replace hard to hit irons…then we tell them that hybrids are the way to go..easier to hit than fairway woods…then we wait a bit…then tell them we now have driving irons that they have to have because hybrids go too high….
Blanco
Jul 16, 2013 at 8:41 pm
Thats not what any manufacturer is saying about driving irons… They have all maintained, rightly so, that these are a specialty item for the better player/high ball hitter.
I’ll take a 24* Mr. Solheim… Yellow dot.
Steve
Jul 15, 2013 at 10:35 pm
@billyho_golf
Peter
Jul 15, 2013 at 6:46 pm
Looks very similar to the Titleist 712U…could be a great addition to my i20s in the future
Paul
Jul 15, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Looks like an AP2 and the X Utility got together in Phoenix.
Steve
Jul 15, 2013 at 1:30 pm
From a sole and address perspective, that looks a lot like the X utilities from Callaway.
t120
Jul 15, 2013 at 10:02 pm
+1 looks identical from top view to the Cally…which I didn’t really hit well, so it’s almost instant “pass on it”
Boo
Jul 15, 2013 at 12:00 pm
Good looking, but will not dethrone my Mizzy H4 2 iron (IMHO)!
Stephen
Oct 8, 2013 at 5:36 am
Fact. 270 yards of straightness. No need to hit driver 320 anymore.
Brian Wilson
Nov 22, 2013 at 6:19 pm
Nice!
Big_5_Hole
Jul 15, 2013 at 11:03 am
Need.
Blanco
Jul 15, 2013 at 9:11 pm
you need?
ME need
bandrz
Jul 16, 2013 at 12:27 pm
left handed, PLEASE
Blanco
Jul 16, 2013 at 8:38 pm
I love the guys who beg PING to release lefty versions… When was the last time ANY Ping club in ANY loft/style was not made for us southpaws?? I dont know of ANY in my lifetime.
bandrz
Jul 16, 2013 at 9:52 pm
Sorry i didn’t research their entire company history prior to my post. I will do better next time.