Extensive Product Launch Highlights Ping’s 50th

Ping has saved the most comprehensive product launch in its history for 2009, the year in which the company is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The G15 and i15 Series include drivers, irons, hybrids and fairway woods, each engineered with two different types of players in mind.

The focus of the G15 Series is forgiveness and ease of use, while the i15 Series is for golfers who prefer workability and control. Ping also introduced its new iN Series of putters, which includes 10 models, and two new models to its JAS and i-Series of putters.

“Our engineering team continues to research and analyze the needs of all golfers. Our newest families of clubs address the specific performance goals of these players and they are designed accordingly,” said John A. Solheim, chairman and chief executive officer of Ping.

“The G15 Series appeals to the majority of golfers who rely on the easier-to-hit attributes of a maximum forgiveness, higher launch type of club,” said Solheim.

“With the i15s, a lot of players will be attracted to the added control and versatility they offer. The i15s will deliver the forgiveness we all need, but they’ve been engineered to provide the workability that a lot of more skilled golfers look for in their clubs.”

Ping’s world-wide team gathered in the company’s hometown of Phoenix this week to
officially launch the new lines. The clubs were introduced to Ping tour professionals earlier this month.

Mark Calcavecchia put the G15 driver in his bag and used it in setting the PGA Tour’s record of nine straight birdies at the RBC Canadian Open last weekend.

“The early feedback from our tour staff has been very favourable. Several players put the product in play immediately and others will wait for the opportune time,” said Solheim. “I was at Turnberry for the (British) Open Championship and had several great comments from the pros.”

The first-ever launch by PING of two complete families in the main equipment categories was led by John K. Solheim, Ping’s vice-president of engineering.

“This approach furthers Ping’s goal of bringing higher-performing products to market that meet the varying needs of golfers of all abilities,” said John K. Solheim.

“The technologies available today, from a design and fitting perspective, allow us to segment a product’s attributes like never before.

“Combine that with our expert teams of engineers and researchers, who define attributes in the development process and we’re able to provide this type of targeted product to help all golfers improve their games.”

Each of the designs was engineered with an emphasis on custom fitting to ensure golfers a combination of club specifications to match their games.

In both the G15 and i15 irons, 12 colour codes (lie angles), multiple shaft flexes in steel and graphite and a new Ping grip in six sizes provide comprehensive fitting options.

The metal woods offer multiple lofts and two stock shaft offerings in a variety of flexes. The lofts of each metal wood are designed to complement the weighting properties of each head design to optimize the flight characteristics.

“Custom fitting continues to grow in importance for golfers wanting to improve their games,” said John K. Solheim.

“What we’re learning from our nFlight Fitting Software and other research is being incorporated into our development process. It’s leading us in some very interesting and exciting directions as we look for ways to help lower scores and make the game more enjoyable.”

• G15 Irons

The technology of the G15 Iron is designed to provide high-launching, maximum forgiveness benefits with a focus on consistency in iron play.

The stainless steel iron’s cavity design features a new Custom Tuning Port (CTP) that expands the perimeter weighting and increases moment of inertia.

Weight savings from a thinner face are re-positioned to the toe for added forgiveness on mis-hits and the wider sole produces a higher launch angle.

Stronger lofts combine with a centre of gravity located low and farther from the face to produce longer shots, without sacrificing the higher launch angle required in a maximum-forgiveness iron.

• i15 Irons

In the design of the i15 iron, Ping focused on players who prefer a set that offers the control to play a variety of shots.

Created as a progressive set, the longer irons are larger for more forgiveness and higher trajectories, while the mid and short irons transition slightly smaller to ensure more workability and control on approach shots.

The stainless steel iron features a tungsten toe insert to add forgiveness to the mid-size design. A stabilizing bar and new Custom Tuning Port (CTP) provides the feel and sound attributes preferred by lower handicappers.

• G15 Driver

The G15 driver is engineered for golfers seeking a maximum forgiveness driver that delivers distance and accuracy. Its 460 c.c. titanium head is longer front to back and features Ping’s patented ultra-thin crown technology.

Weight savings from the thin crown are positioned as an external sole weight to increase the centre of gravity for higher trajectories and reduced spin. A larger face is designed to increase ball speed and provide consistency across the entire hitting surface.

The new Ping-designed TFC149D high balance point shaft allows for a five-gram
increase in head mass, without increasing swingweight or overall weight, for higher
ball speeds and increased moment of inertia.

• i15 Driver

The fade-biased design of the i15 driver is for golfers who place a high priority on
working their tee shots.

The traditional pear-shaped 460 c.c. titanium head is engineered with a bulge crown design and deeper face for increased energy transfer leading to greater ball speed and the solid feel preferred by low handicappers.

Internal weighting reduces spin and the hosel is positioned slightly back from the face to help promote tour-preferred trajectories and control. Its titanium carbon finish provides a sleek and optically pleasing appearance.

• G15 Hybrids

The G15 hybrid is engineered as a high-launching, forgiving alternative to long and mid irons.

A large internal toe pad expands the perimeter weighting for forgiveness and distance.

The stainless steel hybrid’s unique shape features an iron-style face and hosel design that positions the centre of gravity closer to the face to increase launch angle and reduce spin.

• i15 Hybrids

For golfers who prefer a traditional hybrid shape and size, the stainless steel i15 offers a high moment of inertia with tour-preferred trajectory.

Internal weighting positions the centre of gravity low and back to produce the penetrating ball flight that gives better players the control to hit a variety of shots from most lies.

Stronger lofts contribute to lower spin rates for additional control.

• G15 Fairway Woods

The elongated, low profile design of the G15 fairway wood offers a long, forgiving option for golfers who rely on the confidence of a larger head.

An external weight pad on the sole of the stainless steel head positions the centre of gravity low and farther back to provide higher trajectories and increased distance.

• i15 Fairway Woods

Developed for low handicappers who rely on the distance and versatility of a fairway wood, the i15 features a sleek, low profile shape that delivers high performance from all conditions.

The stainless steel heads are slightly elongated from heel to toe for added forgiveness and internally weighted to produce low spinning shots with the penetrating trajectory preferred by more skilled players.

For more information, see the website, www.ping.com.

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