Ping Eye 2 Vs Modern Irons

Golf club technology has evolved significantly over the past few decades, leading to a vast range of equipment options for players of all skill levels. One of the most notable golf club designs that has stood the test of time is the Ping Eye 2, first introduced in 1982. In this article, we will compare the Ping Eye 2 to modern irons, examining the differences in technology, performance, and design.

1. Technology

Ping Eye 2: The Ping Eye 2 irons were revolutionary in their time due to their perimeter weighting, cavity back design, and investment casting process. These features contributed to a more forgiving clubface, which allowed players to generate more consistent shots even on off-center strikes. The Eye 2s also featured a wide sole, which helped improve turf interaction and reduce digging.

Modern Irons: Today’s modern irons benefit from advancements in materials, manufacturing techniques, and customization options. Clubs are now made from various alloys, composites, and even multi-material constructions that optimize weight distribution, forgiveness, and feel. Computer-aided design (CAD) and analysis tools have also contributed to improvements in the overall design, allowing for optimal center of gravity positioning and better fine-tuning of club performance.

2. Performance

Distance: While the Ping Eye 2 irons were long-hitting in their era, modern irons have generally surpassed them in terms of distance. The use of stronger lofts, improved materials, and more efficient energy transfer has contributed to increased ball speeds and overall distance.

Forgiveness: The Ping Eye 2 irons were known for their forgiveness due to their perimeter weighting and cavity back design. Modern irons have taken these concepts even further, utilizing multi-material construction and more precise weight distribution to create an even larger sweet spot and more stability on off-center hits.

Workability: The workability of a club refers to a player’s ability to shape shots and control trajectory. The Ping Eye 2 irons were known for their versatility, but modern irons offer even greater workability due to improved designs, shaft options, and adjustability features. Players can now fine-tune their clubs to achieve desired shot shapes and trajectories more easily.

3. Design

Aesthetics: The Ping Eye 2 irons have a classic, timeless design that many golfers still appreciate. However, modern irons come in a wide range of styles, colors, and finishes, allowing players to choose clubs that match their personal preferences and aesthetic tastes.

Customization: Modern irons offer extensive customization options, including adjustable hosels, interchangeable weights, and various shaft options. This allows players to optimize their clubs for their swing and playing style, something not available with the Ping Eye 2 irons.

 

General Information

Model	Brand	Year Introduced	Construction	Price Range ($)
Ping Eye 2	Ping	1982	Cavity-back	100-300
TaylorMade M6	TaylorMade	2019	Cavity-back	800-1000
Titleist T300	Titleist	2020	Hollow-body	900-1100
Callaway Apex 21	Callaway	2021	Hollow-body	1200-1400
Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal	Mizuno	2020	Cavity-back	900-1000
Cobra King Speedzone	Cobra	2020	Cavity-back	900-1000
Srixon ZX5	Srixon	2020	Hollow-body	1100-1300
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo	Cleveland	2020	Hollow-body	800-900
Wilson Staff D7	Wilson	2019	Cavity-back	500-600
PXG 0311 T GEN3	PXG	2021	Hollow-body	450-600

Design Features

Model	Blade Length (mm)	Sole Width (mm)	Offset (mm)	Head Material
Ping Eye 2	84	17	5	Stainless Steel
TaylorMade M6	83	19	3.5	Steel
Titleist T300	77	19	4.4	Steel
Callaway Apex 21	76	20	3.8	Steel
Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal	80	19	3.5	Steel
Cobra King Speedzone	83	20	3.5	Steel
Srixon ZX5	78	21	3.5	Steel
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo	81	20	3.5	Steel
Wilson Staff D7	83	18	3.5	Steel
PXG 0311 T GEN3	79	19	2.5	Steel

Performance Characteristics

Model	Forgiveness	Distance	Shot Shaping	Feel	Playability
Ping Eye 2	Low	Moderate	Limited	Soft	Moderate
TaylorMade M6	High	Long	Moderate	Firm	High
Titleist T300	High	Long	Moderate	Soft	High
Callaway Apex 21	High	Long	High	Soft	High
Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal	Moderate	Long	Moderate	Soft	Moderate
Cobra King Speedzone	High	Long	High	Soft	High
Srixon ZX5	Moderate	Long	Moderate	Soft	Moderate
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo	High	Long	Moderate	Soft	High
Wilson Staff D7	High	Long	Moderate	Soft	High
PXG 0311 T GEN3	Low	Long	High	Soft	Low

Pros and Cons

Model	Pros	Cons
Ping Eye 2	Classic design, affordable	Limited forgiveness, outdated technology
TaylorMade M6	High forgiveness, long distance	Expensive
Titleist T300	High forgiveness, long distance, soft feel	Expensive
Callaway Apex 21	High forgiveness, long distance, shot shaping	Expensive
Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal	Long distance, soft feel	Limited shot shaping, moderate forgiveness
Cobra King Speedzone	High forgiveness, long distance, shot shaping	None notable
Srixon ZX5	Soft feel, moderate forgiveness	Limited shot shaping
Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo	High forgiveness, soft feel	Limited shot shaping
Wilson Staff D7	High forgiveness, soft feel	Limited shot shaping
PXG 0311 T GEN3	High shot shaping, soft feel	Expensive, limited forgiveness

Loft Angles

Model	3-Iron	4-Iron	5-Iron	6-Iron	7-Iron	8-Iron	9-Iron	PW	GW
Ping Eye 2	21	24	27	30	34	38	42	46	50
TaylorMade SIM2 Max OS	19	21.5	24	27	30.5	34.5	38.5	43	49
Titleist T100S	19	21	24	27	31	35	39	43	–
Callaway Apex 21	19	21	24	27	31	35	39	43	48
Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal Pro	19	21	24	27	31	35	40	45	–
Cobra King RADSPEED	18	20	23	26	30	34	38	43.5	48.5
Srixon ZX5	19	21.5	24	27	31	35	39	43	48
Cleveland Launcher UHX	18.5	21	24	27	31	35	39	44	49
Wilson Staff Model CB	20	22.5	26	30	34	38	42	46	–
PXG 0211	18	20.5	23.5	26.5	30	34	38	43	48

Shaft Options

Model	Steel Shaft Options	Graphite Shaft Options
Ping Eye 2	True Temper Dynamic Gold S300	N/A
TaylorMade SIM2 Max OS	KBS Max 85 Steel, Fujikura Ventus Blue Graphite	Fujikura Ventus Red Graphite
Titleist T100S	True Temper AMT Tour White Steel, Project X LZ Steel	Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Graphite
Callaway Apex 21	True Temper Elevate ETS Steel, UST Mamiya Recoil Graphite	UST Mamiya Recoil Graphite
Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal Pro	KBS Tour Steel, Nippon NS Pro 950GH Steel	Project X LZ Graphite
Cobra King RADSPEED	KBS Tour 90 Steel, Project X Catalyst Graphite	Fujikura Atmos Graphite
Srixon ZX5	Nippon Modus 3 105 Steel, Project X LZ Steel	Nippon N.S. Pro 950GH Neo Graphite
Cleveland Launcher UHX	True Temper Dynamic Gold 98 Steel, Miyazaki C Kua Graphite	Miyazaki C Kua Graphite
Wilson Staff Model CB	KBS Tour Steel, True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 Steel	Fujikura Ventus Blue Graphite
PXG 0211	True Temper Elevate Tour Steel, Aerotech SteelFiber FC Graphite	Mitsubishi MMT Graphite

 Clubhead Size

Model	3-Iron Clubhead Size (cc)	7-Iron Clubhead Size (cc)	PW Clubhead Size (cc)
Ping Eye 2	158	164	149
TaylorMade SIM2 Max OS	127	103	89
Titleist T100S	102	86	74
Callaway Apex 21	127	99	77
Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal Pro	125	101	73
Cobra King RADSPEED	99	81	59
Srixon ZX5	109	91	77
Cleveland Launcher UHX	126	96	78
Wilson Staff Model CB	112	91	77
PXG 0211	99	82	70

Center of Gravity (CG) Location

Model	3-Iron CG Location (mm)	7-Iron CG Location (mm)	PW CG Location (mm)
Ping Eye 2	N/A	N/A	N/A
TaylorMade SIM2 Max OS	23.6	23.1	22.7
Titleist T100S	20.5	20.7	20.8
Callaway Apex 21	20.5	20.6	20.5
Mizuno JPX921 Hot Metal Pro	21.0	20.4	20.1

Conclusion

The Ping Eye 2 irons were groundbreaking in their time and continue to have a devoted following among golfers who appreciate their classic design and performance characteristics. However, modern irons offer significant advancements in technology, performance, and customization options that make them an attractive choice for players seeking the latest innovations in golf equipment. Ultimately, the choice between the Ping Eye 2 and modern irons will come down to individual preferences and playing styles.