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July 29, 2009; Phoenix, Arizona: PING continues its 50th year of bringing game-changing innovations to golfers world-wide with its most comprehensive product launch in history, company Chairman and CEO John A. Solheim announced today.
The G15 and i15 Series, which include drivers, irons, hybrids and fairway woods, are engineered with two distinct player profiles in mind. The G15 Series continues PING's focus on developing the most forgiving, easiest-to-hit clubs available in golf. The i15 Series is designed for golfers who prefer clubs that offer more workability and control. The company also introduced its new iN Series putter line (10 models) and two new models to both its JAS and i-Series putter lines.
All the new products will be available at golf retailers world-wide in mid-August.
"Our engineering team continues to research and analyze the needs of all golfers," said Solheim. "Our newest families of clubs address the specific performance goals of these players and they are designed accordingly. 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. 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."
The company's world-wide team gathered in its hometown of Phoenix, Arizona this week to officially launch the new lines. The clubs were introduced to PING Tour professionals earlier this month. PING pro Mark Calcavecchia put the G15 driver in his bag immediately 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 favorable," added Solheim. "Several players put the product in play immediately and others will wait for the opportune time. I was at Turnberry for the 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 and the oldest son of John A. Solheim.
"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 those 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 all golfers a combination of club specifications to match their games. In both the G15 and i15 irons, 12 color codes (lie angles), multiple shaft flexes in steel and graphite and a new PING grip in six sizes provide the most comprehensive fitting options in the industry. The metal woods all offer multiple lofts and two stock shaft offerings in a variety of flexes. The lofts of each metal wood 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," the younger Solheim added. "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."
New product descriptions and technical specifications:
G15 Irons
The technology of the G15 Iron provides the high-launching, maximum forgiveness benefits that the majority of golfers rely on to bring consistency to their iron play. The stainless steel iron's cavity design features a new Custom Tuning Port (CTP) which expands the perimeter weighting and increases the moment of inertia. Weight savings from a thinner face are re-positioned to the toe for added forgiveness on mishits and the wider sole produces a higher launch angle. Stronger lofts combine with a center 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.
-Available 3-9, PW, UW, SW & LW.
-Available in PING-designed AWT steel (Soft R, R, S and X flexes) and TFC 149i graphite shaft (L, Soft R, R and S flexes).
-U.S. MSRP: $107.50 per club w/ steel shaft; $135 per club w/graphite shaft.
i15 Irons
In the design of the i15 Iron, PING engineers focused on the better player who prefers an iron 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 better players.
– Available 3-9, PW.
-Available in PING-designed AWT steel (Soft R, R, S and X flexes) and TFC 149i graphite shaft (L, Soft R, R and S flexes).
-U.S. MSRP: $115 per club w/ steel shaft; $142.50 per club w/graphite shaft.
G15 Driver
The G15 Driver is engineered for golfers seeking a maximum forgiveness driver that delivers distance and accuracy. Its 460cc 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 optimize the center 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) which results in higher ball speeds and an increased moment of inertia.
-Four lofts: 9°, 10.5°, 12°,13.5°
-Draw version: 9°, 10.5° and 12°.
-Available in PING-designed TFC149D (L, Soft R, R, S and X flexes) and Aldila Serrano 60 (R, S and X flexes)
-U.S. MSRP: $350 (graphite shaft only)
i15 Driver
The fade-biased design of the i15 Driver meets the needs of golfers who place a high priority on working their tee shots. The traditional pear-shaped 460cc titanium head is engineered with a bulge crown design and deeper face to optimize energy transfer for greater ball speed and the solid feel preferred by better golfers. 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.
-Three lofts: 8°, 9.5°, 11°
-Available in PING-designed TFC700D (R, S and X flexes) and UST AXIVcore Tour Red 69 (R, S and X flexes).
-U.S. MSRP: $405 (graphite shaft only)
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 to make it PING's most forgiving and longest hybrid ever. The stainless steel hybrid's unique shape features an iron-style face and hosel design which positions the center of gravity closer to the face to increase launch angle and reduce spin. The clean look at address inspires confidence for golfers of all abilities.
-Five lofts: 17°, 20°, 23°, 27°, 31°
-Available in PING-designed AWT steel (Soft R, R, S and X), TFC149H (L, Soft R, R, S and X) and Aldila Serrano 85 Hybrid (R, S and X)
-U.S. MSRP: $160 per club w/ steel shaft; $185 per club w/graphite shaft.
i15 Hybrids
For golfers who prefer a traditional hybrid shape and size, the stainless steel i15 offers a high moment of inertia with a tour-preferred trajectory. Internal weighting positions the center 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 any lie. Stronger lofts contribute to lower spin rates for additional control.
-Three lofts: 17°, 20°, 23 lofts
-Available in PING-designed AWT steel (Soft R, R, S and X), TFC700H (R, S and X) and UST Mamiya AXIVcore Tour Red 85 Hybrid (R, S and X).
-U.S. MSRP: $180 per club w/ steel shaft; $210 per club w/graphite shaft.
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 center of gravity low and farther back to provide higher trajectories and increased distance.
-Four options: 3 (15.5°), 4 (17°), 5 (18.5°), 7 (21.5°) woods.
-Draw versions: 3 (15.5°), 4 (17°), 5 (18.5°) woods.
-Available in PING-designed TFC149F (L, Soft R, R, S and X) and Aldila Serrano 75 Fairway (R, S and X).
-U.S. MSRP: $230 per club (graphite only)
i15 Fairway Woods
Developed for better golfers 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 golfers.
-Three options: 3 (14°), 3 (15.5°) and 5 (18.5°) woods.
-Available in PING-designed TFC700F (R, S and X) and UST Mamiya AXIVcore Tour Red 79 (R, S and X).
-U.S. MSRP: $265 per club (graphite only)