Ping have introduced their new s259 wedges to the market, replacing the excellent s159 and aiming to provide even better levels of spin and control.
The new wedges come in two different finishes – Chrome and Midnight – and offer a whopping 25 loft and grind combinations.
They’ve already picked up victories on Tour, thanks to Rasmus Neergard-Petersen at the Australian Open in December. Not only that, but Kristoffer Reitan also won in South Africa, on the same day, using a full set of these wedges.
So what made those two players so comfortable to switch into the new model straight away?
The Tech
The wedge features wheel-cut grooves and a machined face. These combine with Ping’s face-blast technology to add more texture to the face, maximising friction at impact.
The result is higher spin and control, as well as a more penetrating launch that lots of good wedge players prefer.
The 54-62 degree wedges feature more tightly spaced MicroMax grooves. The 46-52 degree wedges are milled to offer more control on fuller shots.
Ping’s Hydropearl 2.0 Chrome is hydrophobic, helping to repel moisture for better control and consistency. The dark Midnight finish is designed to be anti-glare, if you’re lucky enough to play in sunny conditions.
Made from a cast 8620 carbon steel, the head has a larger, re-shaped elastomer insert behind the face which is said to improve the feel.
A more refined hosel transition and full-length bottom groove help to create a clean, square look. There’s also progressive hosel shaping and refined heel area, making the transition from short irons into wedges easy. The CG locations also vary depending on the loft, to match the characteristics of the type of wedge.
Ping are continuing their offering of six different grinds in the s259 wedges. This time around sees refinements to the E and T grinds, and the addition of 50W and 52W lofts. These see a wider, more forgiving sole and are designed to blend into Ping’s iron lineup, including the likes of the i240 irons.
The E grind has been reshaped for a more familiar look at address, whilst still offering strong performance from the sand and on open-faced shots.
The T-grind has a steeper trail edge, which allows the face to sit lower on open-face shots.
Ping s259 Wedge Grinds
S Grind: Fits a wide range of players conditions, supporting full shots and greenside creativity.
H Grind: Inspired by the Ping Wrx half-moon grind, ensuring versatility in softer conditions.
B Grind: Built for shallow angle attacks and a square setup, with a low bounce profile. Wider sole provides forgiveness in firmer conditions.
T Grind: Lowest effective bounce, at 6 degrees. The most versatile option, to make open-face shots easier, and performs best on tight lies.
W Grind: Maximum forgiveness through the turf, best suited to a steep angle of attack or plenty of shaft lean.
E Grind: Has an Eye2 style design, with softer and more controlled shots from tight lies around the green. Wider bounce on the back-edge is designed for easy use out of bunkers.
A new Dyla-Grip is said to improve performance by adding hand placement indicators, for more versatility around the green.
It’s 0.75 inches longer than a standard grip with a reduced taper. There are indicators for gripping down, leaning the shaft and moving the face for more precision.
Available from the end of January, the Ping s259 Wedges are priced at £190 per club, or £200 for a graphite shaft.
