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Ping i540

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Price
$235
Buy Now at golf galaxy

Why We Like It

  • An “air bag” inside the clubhead directly behind the center of the face enhances sound and feel without restricting face bend.
  • An average of 24 grams of tungsten weighting is used in the 4- through 7-irons along the sole to lower the center of gravity for a higher launch angle.
  • The maraging-steel face is 9 percent thinner than the i530. This creates metal-wood-like flex for ball-speed gains and more height.
  • A beam inside the clubhead adds structural support and assists sound and feel.
  • Top 5 in Forgiveness, low-handicaps
  • SPECS: 7-iron: 29 degrees; PW: 42 degrees

hot list score breakdown

Performance
4.5
50%*
Innovation
4.5
30%*
Look / Sound / Feel
4.0
20%*
how we test
An exhaustive review
Our editors conduct meetings with club engineers from manufacturers large and small.
A scientific method
A panel of scientists determines the clubs that raise new possibilities in design and theory.
Real players
Our editors review the input of 32 typical golfers to find the clubs that resonate the most.
Real results
Our ratings reflect the best scores in the Hot List criteria of Performance, Look/Sound/Feel and Innovation.

hot list testers feedback

Aesthetics
Plain
Elaborate
Acoustics
Quieter
Louder
Sensory
Softer
Firmer
Launch
Lower
Higher
Forgiveness
Least
Most
handicap
  • all
  • low
  • mid
  • high
COMMENT SUMMARY

Hot List panelists observed these irons launch very high, feel hot and forgiving, often gaining a club with strong ball speed and minimal distance loss on off-center strikes. Many praised the soft feel, clean, thin topline  and compact wedge that allowed shaping; long and mid irons delivered booming, straight distance and easy-to-hit performance. Heads felt light and smooth through impact, producing consistent medium-high flight. One repeated drawback: several found the impact sound too loud.

Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY

Hot List testers noted these irons are very forgiving and notably hot, often gaining about a club with strong ball speed and a medium‑high, high‑launch flight. The face delivers a soft feel while still popping long carry, and the 5‑iron launches as easily as shorter clubs. Mis‑hits still produce consistent distance. The head is very light, which boosts speed but may feel too light for golfers with very quick tempos. Overall: long, forgiving, easy to hit.

Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY

Hot List panelists observed a compact, clean-profile iron with a smooth back and players look that launches high and feels easy to swing. Long and mid‑irons were forgiving and delivered booming, consistent distance with a medium-to-high flight; wedges offered workable shot-shaping and the face gripped the ball well. Off-center distance loss was modest and turf interaction smooth. Only notable drawback: several found the impact sound unexpectedly loud.

Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
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Range Results

We tracked 20,000 shots through player testing and then had them analyzed by our team of scientists. These graphics reflect the relative performance our players saw for each club in the category.

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