Ping Announces Complete New Line of Clubs, the G5 Series

Lineup Includes Driver, Fairway Wood, Hybrids, Irons, Putters

Ping G5 Driver
The Ping G5 Driver. Photo Courtesy Ping Golf

Aug. 9, 2005golf equipment manufacturer

With its new G5 Series, Ping is trying a different tack: introducing the complete series - driver, fairway woods, hybrids, irons and putters - simultaneously. It's the first time, according to the company, that Ping products in all categories have been launched under one name simultaneously.

That makes the G5 Series unique in company marketing annals. But it's the clubs, not their marketing, that consumers will ultimately judge.

Here's a look at the clubs we'll be seeing in Ping's G5 Series:

Ping G5 Driver
The G5 driver is 460cc in clubhead volume with its internal weighting redistributed to lower the center of gravity. Ping says this driver produces lower spin rates at launch for greater distance. The G5 driver is similar in shape to the popular G2.

With the lower spin rates achieved with this driver (compared to the G2), the lofts were increased by one-half a degree. Available lofts are 7.5, 9, 10.5, 12 and 13.5. The Ping TFC100D is the standard shaft, with Aldila NV 65 and Grafalloy ProLaunch 65 also offered as stock shafts.

An offset version will also be available for golfers who need help fighting a slice or producing a draw. The G5 Offset Driver utilizes a quarter-inch of offset and will come in 9, 10.5 and 12-degree loft angles.

Both drivers carry an MSRP of $350 and shipments begin on Sept. 1, 2005.

Ping G5 Fairway Woods
The Ping G5 Fairway Woods combine large stainless steel heads with 455 steel faces. According to Ping, the strength of the plasma-welded face material allows for a thinner construction, making the hitting area more responsive.

Inside the clubheads are weight pads that progress rearward as the lofts increase. A rocker sole is designed to help square the face at impact from a variety of lies.

Models are the 3-wood (two versions, 13 degrees and 15 degrees), 5-wood (18 degrees), 7-wood (21 degrees), 9-wood (24 degrees) and L-wood (27 degrees).

The G5 Fairway Woods carry an MSRP of $200 per club with steel shafts and $260 per club with graphite shafts. Shipments begin Sept. 1, 2005.

Ping G5 Hybrids
The G5 Hybrids are the first-ever wood-like hybrids from Ping. The stainless steel head features a sloped crown to move the center of gravity low and back, helping launch the ball higher.

These hybrids come in lofts of 16, 19, 22 and 25 degrees. They carry an MSRP of $185 per club with steel shafts or $215 per club with graphite shafts. They begin shipping Nov. 1, 2005.

Ping G5 Irons
What Ping calls the most forgiving irons the company has yet made feature a deeper, parallel cavity design to widen the sole and expand the perimeter weighting. The 17-4 stainless steel heads are larger overall, with a deeper cavity. These qualities launch the ball higher with more forgiveness than previous Ping irons.

Also bigger is the G5 irons' Custom Tuning Port (CTP), which is also thinner and positioned closer to the face. The result, Ping says, is a more consistent and solid feel.

The G5 irons are available in 2 through 9, plus PW, UW, SW and LW. Ping's color coding system for custom fitting is used with this set, as well. MSRP is $115 per club with steel shafts, or $145 per club with graphite shafts. Shipments begin September 1, 2005.

Ping G5i Putters
Eleven models make up the G5i putter lineup, which utilizes some technology first used by Ping in its Craz-E series. These putters feature a moment of intertia that is increased an average of 10-percent over previous Ping putter series. There's also a new insert design and a new alignment aid.

The 11 models in the series are: Anser, Zing, B60, Mini-c, Tess, Craz-E, Craz-E B (mid-length), Craz-E C (center-shafted), Craz-E H (Anser-style hosel), Craz-E L (long) and Ug-Le.

The MSRPs range from $135 to $205 depending on model, and shipments begin on Sept. 1, 2005.