Ping i540 irons: What you need to know

What you need to know:

Ping introduces the i540, a players-distance iron designed for golfers seeking more ball speed and distance while maintaining the compact look and control of a traditional players iron. Built with a hollow construction, a maraging-steel face and tungsten weighting, the i540 blends speed, precision, and stopping power for better players looking to regain distance without sacrificing feel or workability.

Price/Availability:

Available immediately for custom fittings and pre-order. AU RRP: $420.00 per club with stock steel shaft; $440.00 per club with stock graphite shaft

3 Cool Things

1. Speed is a requisite

The players distance i540 uses a blade-style hollow construction paired with a high-strength C300 maraging steel face that allows the face to flex significantly at impact compared to a traditional cast iron face.

That extra flex increases ball speed and launch height, helping players generate more distance while maintaining control.

“Maraging steel is used in landing gear systems on aircraft,” said Ping design engineer Travis Milleman. “Because that material is so strong, you can go really thin. The maraging steel face is nine per cent thinner than the i530. This creates metal-wood-like flex for ball-speed gains and more height. Also, as you get thinner in the face, you’re taking more mass that you can redistribute, so you’re also getting a boost in moment of inertia.”

The flexible face is precisely welded to a 17-4 stainless steel body, delivering faster ball speeds while helping shots launch higher and land softer, which is key for stopping power on the greens.

Ping also optimised the centre of gravity and loft structure to increase peak height while still delivering the distance players expect from the category.

2. The secret sauce is … air?

Thin iron faces often come with one drawback: harsh sound and feel. Ping tackled that with inR Air technology, a patent-pending system that places an air pocket behind the face to improve acoustics and impact feel.

“This type of iron construction always presents sound and feel challenges,” said Ping CEO John K. Solheim. “The pocket of air inside the i540 iron is a great solution for softening the frequencies and improving the impact experience.”

The air pocket works alongside an internal iBeam structure, which stabilises the clubhead while helping tune vibration at impact. The technology first appeared in Ping’s iDi driving iron, and the company has now integrated it across a full set of irons.

3. Bring it down low

Tungsten weighting (an average of 24 grams) is used in the 4- through 7-irons along the sole. This lowers the centre of gravity, fostering a higher launch angle for distance and a stopping power boost.

Specs at a glance

• Standard
• Power Spec
• Retro Spec

• Dynamic Gold Mid 100 (R300, S300)
• Ping ALTA CB Blue graphite (SR, R, S)