subject: Ping Forged Anser Irons--the new comer of The Ping Family [print this page] Ping Forged Anser Irons--the new comer of The Ping Family
In 1967, Ping received a patent for its breakthrough Anser putter. It's also the last time that the company sold forged irons (100 Anser sets). The new Ping Anser Forged Irons , a forged multi-material iron, is designed to raise Ping's profile among avid single-digit handicappers in Japan, Korea and other Asian markets. (Ping iron sales in Asia are relatively weak by Ping's U.S. standards). Of course, Ping expects its share of converts in the States, too. The U.S. version, for the record, has an identical head design as the Asian model, the same shaft length, a 1-degree weaker loft per club, and the Project X shaft.
As expected, the Ping Anser Forged Irons clubhead materials and overall design package contribute to a softer, quieter impact sensation. The forged "8620 carbon steel" clubface is thick behind the hitting area, similar to a muscleback blade, while a "support bar" (just below the oval "custom tuning port") connects the face to the back flange. A heavy tungsten-nickel sole (22 percent of clubhead mass) serves many functions, too: It dampens vibration more so than less-dense metals (aka steel), shifts the club's center of gravity more rearward (to increase ball trajectory), and boosts overall forgiveness. The forgiveness bit ties into a hollow cavity (behind the lower portion of the face) that redistributes 30 grams away from the face. The Ping Anser Forged Irons has forgiveness qualities that are similar to the i15's, but the Anser looks cleaner, feels noticeably smoother, produces more spin on short irons and flies slightly lower in the long irons.
Ping's First Forged Design in More Than 40 Years
The forged, multi-metal design, of the Anser Forged Irons combines an 8620 steel body, a dense tungsten sole, and machined grooves for unequaled forged-iron feel and forgiveness. Its hollow-sole cavity softens feel and positions the CG for higher-launching shots. The progressive set design offers long-iron forgiveness and short-iron control.
The Anser carries the same name as one of the early models Karsten Solheim produced before he transitioned to the popular investment casting process. The newest version pushes the forging process to create performance benefits not previously associated with a forged club.
