Club-makers Ping, which has its European headquarters in Gainsborough, North Lincolnshire is making a bold bid to further increase its share of the equipment market with a range of new clubs.
The K15 series compliments the G15 and i15 for the improving player, while the new forged Anser line of irons, available in November 2010, will back up the success of the latest S56 irons used by South African Louis Oosthuizen to win The Open Championship at St Andrews.
Other introductions include Tour-S wedges, Scottsdale putters and a range of clubs for women - the Faith series of irons, woods and hybrids.
“This launch is especially exciting because of the variety of products we’re bringing to golfers,” said Ping chief executive John Solheim. “From the super-game-improvement K15s to the tour-proven S56 irons and Tour-S wedges, we’re reaching golfers of all abilities with our newest technologies. Our putter lines also promise to catch the attention of golfers for their bold new looks and exceptional performance.”
He revealed that Ooosthuizen added both S56 irons and Tour-S Rustique wedges to his bag in the weeks running up to The Open.
“We couldn’t have dreamed of a better story. Tour validation for new product is important to its success and it’s used to win a major before it’s officially introduced, it has a tremendous impact.”
The S56 are a higher-launching iron with a penetrating trajectory available from 2-iron to pitching wedge. They will have stock Dynamic Gold (R300, S300, X100) and KBS Tour (R, S and X ) steel shafts or TFC 149i (L, SR, R & S) graphite shafts. Recommended price is £100 per club for steel shafts and £120 for graphite.
Solheim said the Anser iron will be the first forged iron the company has produced in over 40 years. Launched in Japan earlier this year, it's forged from 8620 steel with a tungsten sole for extra feel and forgiveness.
It will be available in 3-iron to 9-iron with a Project X stock shaft and cost £149 per club.
“We’ve pushed the forging process to a new level," says Solheim "and we believe we have created performance not previously associated with a forged club. It’s a beautiful golf club that has created a lot of interest from golfers around the world.”
