The Ping i530 irons aim to combine the looks of a better-player iron with modern technologies designed to boost distance. The new i530s replace the popular i525 model in Ping's line up of players irons.
Who Are They Aimed At?
The new Ping i530 irons are designed for golfers who want good consistency and forgiveness, without losing out on any distance across their irons. These hollow-headed 'modern players irons' are for the golfer who prefers the look of a blade that can deliver high ball speeds with ultimate precision, for "score-lowering performance", as Ping claims.
If you're a golfer that likes a clean, traditional Ping design but is after some help along the way - these will no doubt be on your radar.
The Tech
For golfers looking for that bladed look, they’ll appreciate the thin top line, narrow sole and shallow face height in the i530s. A new machining technique thins the back wall of a hollow-body design, which saves weight that can be redistributed in the clubhead for added forgiveness across the set.
The i530s feature Ping’s classic Hydropearl Chrome 2.0 finish to allow consistent launch and spin, combined with precision-milled MicroMax grooves for ultimate performance.
To help chase some higher ball speeds, Ping have engineered these irons with a lower CG and internal polymer to allow for maximum face bending, without losing out on feel or sound.
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Ping i530 Irons Review
Looks
Visually, the i530s have a very clean and traditional blade iron profile which Ping calls an "internal concealed design". The clubheads are forged from 1025 carbon steel for a classic look at address. The finishes are also typically premium, with Ping’s usual Hydropearl Chrome 2.0 coating providing a dull shine.
Up close, the differences from previous Ping blade models become apparent. The heads are slightly more rounded and thicker from top to bottom for added forgiveness and to any golfer who is used to seeing a true blade, the i530s will look huge. We also see a lot more grooves on the iron face thanks to Ping’s new Precise-Fit Face Technology, this is something we've come expect from Ping in recent years in their irons.
Overall, I was very impressed with the modern yet classic Ping styling of the i530s, both in the bag and by the ball.
Feel
Feel is always subjective, but in my testing of the i530s I was getting a very solid feel with a muted sound that I was really keen on. Vibrations into the hands were dampened nicely, likely thanks to Ping's elastomer inserts designed to absorb unwanted feedback.
On full shots the i530s felt quite powerful with a satisfying impact feel that conveyed precision. Off-centre strikes still generated a quality feel, showing the club's ability to minimise mis-strikes from the added forgiveness in these clubs.
On-Course Performance
To try and test the i530 irons, and to investigate the differences between their previous model the i525s, I took out a set made up of half i530 and i525s.
Straight away on the course I found the i530 irons very easy to hit. There was a lot of forgiveness behind them which had me standing over the ball with confidence, even at the longer end of the set. This was something I almost wasn’t expecting, as at address, these certainly aren’t the most confidence inspiring irons, especially in the long irons. Safe to say, I was pleasantly surprised!
I felt like I could experiment with different shot shapes, knowing the iron would be there to catch any slight mis-strikes and keep the ball in play, which certainly happened on a couple of occasions on-course, making these irons really fun to play with.
The Data
Taking the Ping i530 irons over to HUKD, it was clear the distances were very strong across the set, with good gaps between each iron. The numbers I was getting with the i530s was comparable to my own Titleist T150 irons, which I thought was impressive, given these irons are designed with stronger lofts to help me see a little extra distance from my game.
There was a slight drop off in distance with the previous model, showing that Ping has made some gains in speed and distance with the i530s, however this was only very marginally and by maybe 2-4 yards per club. However, if you’re someone who has a faster swing speed than I do, you might see more of a benefit in distance from upgrading to the i530s than I did against the i525s.
Dispersion numbers were quite tight for a players iron, showing added forgiveness from the carbon composite construction, my misses remained low and fairly controllable. One slight drawback worth highlighting is that the spin rates were slightly on the lower side, which would help boosting distance, however it could mean a slight lack of control in stopping power and control on approaches to the green.
Ping i530 Irons Verdict
At around £1300 for a set of irons (4-PW), true to form for Ping of late, these are amongst the most expensive players irons on the market today. However, the i530s aim to offer forged construction, premium finishes, cutting-edge technologies and plenty of distance, feel and workability - attributes that we know come at a high price point these days.
While certainly hitting a higher price point, the forgiveness and distance I saw in these irons could be a huge benefit to golfers looking to upgrade their set. When looking at the difference between the i530s and i525s, I wouldn’t say there would be a huge benefit upgrading if you do have the previous model. You might find a few extra yards of distance, and I’d absolutely say I prefer the look of the newer set, but these small improvements might not justify the hefty price tag.
That being said if you’re looking to invest in some new irons offering distance, consistency, and forgiveness, I’d certainly say you want the Ping i530s on your testing list list year. Another great addition to the Ping 'i' family.
Would I Use Them?
Yes, I was impressed by these irons and having played game-improvement Ping irons in the past, I have a soft spot for new Ping irons in general - the combination of speed and forgiveness is what impressed me most here.
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