How Ping’s stunning forged i530 irons combine distance with blade styling
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Get ready to fall in love as Ping i530 irons promise more yards and a surprisingly high level of forgiveness in a stunning players’ distance iron package.
Ping are renowned for making some of the best golf irons and the new i530 irons look set to continue the trend. They replace the incredibly successful Ping i525 model – one of our best players’ distance irons of 2023 – which our testing showed to provide incredible performance in a neat head. Distance and speed both impressed and we loved the minimal offset in the short irons. i525 offered far less forgiveness and a little less distance than Ping’s G430 irons but, based on our first hit (full test and comparison coming soon) it appears that the gap has closed with i530.
Who are the Ping i530 irons for?
Targeting golfers who want more distance but prefer the look of a blade, the i530 is a hollow-body forged iron that delivers additional yards and control thanks to innovative face technology.
Realistically these are mid-handicap irons or better player irons. There’s no reason a higher handicapper couldn’t use them but you’ll likely be looking for something with a thicker topline, more forgiveness and more confidence-inspiring.
Let’s take a closer look at the tech in the new model.
Ping i530 irons: Tech
Distance gains come from multiple sources, including an internal weight pad that provides a deeper and thinner face-to-sole transition, ensuring more face flexing and pushing mass down to lower the center of gravity for more ball speed.
Forged face and hollow-body
The forged, highly flexible maraging steel C300 face is precisely welded to a 17-4 stainless steel hollow body. The body design contributes to distance by accentuating face bending.
Distance-optimized lofts
There are three loft configurations (Standard, Power, and Retro) available to optimize your launch needs.
Standard loft will suit the majority of golfers with a 4-iron at 19º, 7-iron at 27.5º, and pitching wedge at 42º.
Power Spec Loft is an option for players looking to boost their iron distance or decrease spin. The 4-iron is 18º, with 7-iron at 27.5º and pitching wedge at 41º.
Retro Spec Loft is the option for those less concerned with overall distance and more with precision and a higher trajectory. It’s ideal for those who want to utilize a three-wedge setup or seeking a more classic loft spec. The 4-iron sits at 20º, 7-iron at 31º, and pitching wedge at 42.5º.
Confidence-inspiring
Blade enthusiasts will appreciate the thin top line, narrow sole and shallow face height. The i530’s clean, premium look features a new machining technique that thins the back wall of the hollow-body design, saving weight to increase forgiveness and tighten dispersion for greater accuracy along with the added distance.
More grooves
Precision-milled MicroMax grooves (tighter spacing, more grooves) ensure consistent launch and spin results and score-lowering performance from all conditions.
Power and feel
A lower CG is more aligned with where impact occurs, and a polymer precisely placed in the head improves feel and sound while maximizing face bending and ball speed. There is a Tungsten toe screw and shaft tip weights for swingweight fine-tuning.
Sweet sound
We’re yet to test the i530 irons in full, but during our first hit (100 balls) the sound and feel impressed. Where Ping’s drivers and some of their irons can be considered loud off the face, the i530 has a crisp, almost clean sound and the feel is soft but springy, all of which combine to inspire confidence.
Quality shafts as standard
The stock shaft is True Temper’s new Dynamic Gold Mid 100 in multiple flexes, and the slightly heavier Dynamic Gold Mid 115 is a no-upcharge option. Their stiffer mid-section and softer tip promote a medium launch angle and spin rate with a stable feel.
Video: Do the Ping i530 irons suit you?
What Ping say about the i530 irons
“The continued popularity of distance irons has been an interesting and fun challenge for our engineers, especially in the players category where there is such an emphasis on the look of the iron,” said John K. Solheim, Ping CEO & President and one of our most influential people in golf.
“In the case of the i530 iron, we’ve developed a stunning design that delivers significant distance gains through its innovative face technology along with the added benefit of control. We refer to it as a ‘playable distance’ iron. It appeals to the golfer whose primary goal is more distance who also relies on the precision of a players-style iron. That means longer irons shots with the consistency and predictability to stop the ball closer to the hole.”
“We’re seeing significant distance gains with the i530 iron mainly due to its higher face flexing and bending,” said Solheim. “It’s a great fit for the golfer whose top priority is more distance, including someone who may have lost yards with their current irons over time. It also has a level of forgiveness not typically found in distance irons. It’s packed with performance. It looks great, feels great and more importantly, will lead to lower scores and more enjoyment on the course.”
Ping i530 irons: Specs
- Price: $205/$190 per club with stock steel shaft; $220/£200 per club with stock graphite shaft
- Available: 4-9, PW, UW
- Loft options: Standard (7-iron 29º), Power Spec (7-iron 27.5º) and Retro Spec (7-iron 31º)
- Stock shafts: Dynamic Gold Mid 100 (R300, S300), Dynamic Gold Mid 115 (S300, X100), PING Alta CB Black graphite (SR, R, S)
- Optional stock shafts: Ping AWT (R, S, X), Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), KBS Tour (R, S, X), Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 105 (R, S, X), Elevate MPH 95 (R, S), UST Recoil Dart 65 (A), 75 (R, S), PING Alta Quick 35/45
- Stock grip: Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16″, Red -1/32″, Aqua -1/64″, White-Std, Gold +1/32″, Orange +1/16″)
Ping i530 irons: Buy Now UK
Choose between 5-PW, 4-PW, 4-UW
You can also choose 5-iron to Utility Wedge or 4-iron to Pitching Wedge for an additional £180. Or purchase 4-iron to Utility Wedge for an additional £360.
Ping i530 irons: Buy Now USA
Pre-sale available now
You can choose 5-iron to Utility Wedge, 4-iron to Pitching Wedge, or 4-iron to Utility Wedge.
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About the Author
Rob specializes in the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the Ryder Cup, spending large chunks of his days reading about, writing about, and watching the tours each month.
He’s passionate about the equipment used by professional golfers and is also a font of knowledge when it comes to golf balls, golf trolleys, and golf bags, testing thousands down the years.
You can email Rob or get in touch with him on X.
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The Ping i530 iron is a players' distance model that targets golfers who like blade styling.
