The loft and position of the clubhead could be modified according to the golfer's specifications during the heat-treating process. Solheim's irons were also custom-fitted to each golfer, which was unusual at the time. Solheim expanded his product line in 1969, adding a set of irons that used the patented Ping heel-toe weighting.

Solheim quit his job at General Electric in 1967 to create the Karsten Manufacturing Corporation in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1966, Solheim developed the Anser putter, which has been used in more than 500 PGA Tour victories. Founding the Companyĭemand for Solheim's new design increased during the early part of the 1960s, spurred on in part by John Barnum winning the 1962 Cajun Classic with a Ping putter and a subsequent 'Sports Illustrated' article. The Ping putter's head was weighted at the heel and toe, which created a larger sweet spot in the middle of the clubface. He designed a new one in his garage, calling it the 'Ping 1A' because of the sound the metal blade made when it contacted the ball. In 1959, a General Electric engineer named Karsten Solheim was dissatisfied with the putters available on the market. Ping innovations like perimeter weighting, heat-treated clubheads and color coding of lie and loft are now considered the standard and used by manufacturers throughout the golf industry. No matter how unattractive, this iron performs very well.Today, it is one of the most recognized names in golf equipment, with a product line that includes clubs, clothing, gloves and bags. The weighted insert on the back of the iron could be mounted better. The sand blasting on the bottom half of the irons is unattractive (why would they do this?). Looks: Look really doesn't matter when it comes to performance, but if you're one who cares about the look, these clubs could be more cosmetically pleasing.The club had remarkable recovery (for off-center hits) at most areas of the clubface (minus the hosel shank). I purposely hit hundreds of fades, draws, punch shots, and mishits close to the toe and heel to evaluate the feel, consistency, and control of these irons. Consistency builds confidence in your shots. Even amateur golfers realize the importance of consistency in any club. The MP33, even with their great feel and control, did not perform to this consistent level - not even close. Although the ball flight was slightly lower, I really compliment these irons as they maintained consistent ballflight even on mishits. Ball Flight: My S59 blades come with Ping Tour Staff custom-shafted shafts to create a lower, more boring ball flight, and to accommodate my faster swing speed.There was no comparison on distance, as the S59 clearly were the longer irons. When practicing, I laser my targets with my Bushnell 500 laser. Distance: I averaged 3-4 yards extra distance with the Ping S59 blades.

Ping club models by year