The PING Blueprint irons are the newest addition to PING’s impressive iron offerings. The Blueprint irons are a compact, precise players iron with the size and shape better golfers prefer. PING paired that size and shape with workability, versatility, and an appropriate level of forgiveness this category of golfer will love. Get your first look at this new design in our exclusive video. TGW also talked with Ryan Stokke, PING’s Director of Engineering, to bring you the inside story of the new Blueprint irons.
TGW: Can you take us through the design and key features of the new Blueprint irons?
Ryan Stokke: The Blueprint irons are a full muscle back iron. They have a shorter length blade, narrower sole, and less offset when compared to the iBlade. That is a big help for the player looking for shot-making and versatility.
Blueprint irons are fully forged from 8620 carbon steel. The soft nature of 8620 makes it easy to forge, but it’s also stronger and wears better. That material gives the clubs a soft, consistent feel. Each club is finished with a matte face blast that helps it stand out and features the Hydropearl 2.0 finish.
Each iron also has a machined tungsten toe weight that adds an appropriate level of forgiveness. It also helps us with custom orders to get the weight just right.
Subtle technologies and an elegant, premium look really help these irons stand out.
TGW: Where do the Blueprint irons fit into the current PING irons lineup?
RS: This is a new addition for serious golfers and golfers who play in competitions. These are the most compact, precise irons in the lineup.
TGW: What type of golfers do these irons fit best?
RS: Blueprint is definitely a players iron. Golfers who want shot-making performance. These irons deliver workability and versatility with an appropriate level of forgiveness. For low handicap golfers, maybe a 10 or below, will find these clubs to be very playable, especially in the short irons.
TGW: Describe the forging process for us.
RS: Forging is perfect for achieving the shape and geometry we want for the design. Each iron starts with a single billet of 8620 carbon steel. It takes four steps to get that billet into the shape of the iron. The face and grooves are machined as well for the most precise performance. The whole process includes more than 50 key inspections to ensure the clubs are made just right.
TGW: Will we see the Blueprint irons used by the pros?
RS: We are slowly rolling them out on Tour, but the pros like them. Our Tour players tested them well with the narrower sole. Louis Oosthuizen and Migual Angel Jimenez have already put them in the bag so you will definitely see the pros playing them.
