The Ping i230s are extremely gameable player irons that offer surprising levels of forgiveness. Apart from looking great at address, the i230s also aren’t too punishing if you don’t make perfect contact. This makes the handicap range of this iron set quite versatile. They can cater to golfers ranging anywhere from 0 to 12, and maybe even a touch higher than that.
Arguably the biggest strength of the i230 irons is that they offer superb distance control. Provided you make a good swing, the i230s should provide reliable distance numbers time and time again.
All-in-all, it’s a very attractive product offering from Ping. These irons look and feel great, and they back it up with excellent performance numbers in terms of distance control and accuracy. If you want irons that can improve your proximity to the hole on approach shots, you should definitely put the i230s on your shortlist.
Ping i230 Irons Standard Lofts
| CLUB | STANDARD LOFTS |
|---|---|
| 3-iron | 19.0° |
| 4-iron | 22.5° |
| 5-iron | 26.0° |
| 6-iron | 29.5° |
| 7-iron | 33.0° |
| 8-iron | 37.0° |
| 9-iron | 41.0° |
| PW | 45.0° |
| UW | 50.0° |
- The first thing to note is that the Standard lofts aren’t that far off the Power Spec lofts, especially in the long irons.
- This speaks to the fact the standard lofts aren’t necessarily ‘weak’.
- If anything, the gapping setup for the standard lofts is arguably the most desirable, especially for fast swing speed players.
- Instead of ‘sacrificing’ distance, you are effectively gaining access to irons that can offer exceptional distance control.
- This also explains why the i230 irons are often more popular than the i525 irons with better golfers. The distance dispersion between clubs is simply better.
Ping i230 Irons Power Spec Lofts
| CLUB | POWER SPEC LOFTS |
|---|---|
| 3-iron | 19.0° |
| 4-iron | 22.0° |
| 5-iron | 25.0° |
| 6-iron | 28.0° |
| 7-iron | 31.5° |
| 8-iron | 35.5° |
| 9-iron | 40.0° |
| PW | 44.5° |
| UW | 49.5° |
- The case for the power spec irons isn’t that compelling. You can effectively gain about half a club of distance from 5 iron to 8 iron.
- From our perspective, the power spec lofts are actually too similar to the standard lofts.
- If you really like the i230 irons and you need every ounce of distance available, the power specs lofts are probably the right call.
- However, if you have a medium-fast, fast, or very-fast swing speed, you might be better served by the default lofts, which should offer better gapping between clubs.
Ping i230 Irons Retro Spec Lofts
| CLUB | RETRO SPEC LOFTS |
|---|---|
| 3-iron | 21.0° |
| 4-iron | 24.5° |
| 5-iron | 28.0° |
| 6-iron | 31.5° |
| 7-iron | 35.0° |
| 8-iron | 39.0° |
| 9-iron | 43.0° |
| PW | 47.0° |
| UW | 52.0° |
- The Retro Spec lofts are only really suitable for very high-swing speed players. Basically, you need to have a driver clubhead speed over 110 mph to consider the retro spec lofts.
- In essence, the retro spec i230 irons are 2 degrees weaker than the standard i230 irons. This translates to about half a club of distance, and maybe a bit more in certain cases.
Ping i230 Shaft Options
| Shaft | Flex | Weight | Launch Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 | R300 | 95.0 grams | Mid |
| True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 | S300 | 97.0 grams | Mid |
| PING ALTA CB Black | Soft Regular | 65.0 grams | High |
| PING ALTA CB Black | Regular | 72.0 grams | Mid High |
| PING ALTA CB Black | Stiff | 82.0 grams | Mid |
| PING AWT 2.0 | Regular | 98.0 grams | Mid High |
| PING AWT 2.0 | Stiff | 104.0 grams | Mid |
| PING AWT 2.0 | X-Stiff | 119.0 grams | Low Mid |
| True Temper Dynamic Gold | S300 | 124.0 grams | Low Mid |
| True Temper Dynamic Gold | X100 | 124.0 grams | Low |
| True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 | S300 | 112.0 grams | Mid |
| True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 | X100 | 114.0 grams | Mid |
| KBS Tour | Regular | 104.0 grams | Mid |
| KBS Tour | Stiff | 114.0 grams | Mid |
| KBS Tour | X-Stiff | 124.0 grams | Low Mid |
| Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 105 | Regular | 103.0 grams | Mid High |
| Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 105 | Stiff | 106.0 grams | Mid High |
| Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 105 | X-Stiff | 112.0 grams | Mid High |
| UST Recoil ES SmacWrap | 760 A (F2) | 59.0 grams | High |
| UST Recoil ES SmacWrap | 780 R (F3) | 73.0 grams | High |
| UST Recoil ES SmacWrap | 780 S (F4) | 78.0 grams | High |
| True Temper Elevate MPH 95 | Regular | 93.0 grams | High |
| True Temper Elevate MPH 95 | Stiff | 94.0 grams | High |
There are 3 primary concerns that you need to address when choosing the correct shaft option for the Ping i230 Irons.
1. Clubhead Speed
First and foremost, you need to ensure that your clubhead speed is matched to the stiffness of the shaft. As a basic rule of thumb:
- Slow swing speed = Soft Regular or Senior Shaft
- Medium/Moderate Swing Speed = Regular Shaft
- Fast Swing Speed= Stiff Shaft
- Very Fast Swing Speed = Extra Stiff Shaft
Thankfully, Ping caters to all of these swing speeds with the Ping i230 shaft options. The only thing to note is that Ping prefers the term ‘Soft Regular’ to ‘Senior Shaft’. Keep this in mind if you are searching for the Senior Shaft Option.
2. Launch Angle
Your preferred launch conditions will also play a key role in finding the right shaft option for your swing characteristics. You essentially have the choice of:
- Low Mid
- Mid
- Mid High
- High
It’s worth noting that Ping doesn’t offer a ‘Low’ launch shaft option with the i230s. Presumably, this is because 99% of golfers wouldn’t generate enough backspin to produce solid carry numbers with a low launch shaft fitted into the i230s.
That being said, if you are a low handicap, fast swing speed player, you should definitely consider the Low and Low Mid shaft options. They will allow for a super penetrating ball flight, while still offering decent carry numbers.
It’s also worth mentioning that most golfers will probably be best served by the Mid and Mid-High shaft options.Thankfully, there are an array of options to choose from, including:
- True Temper Dynamic Gold 105
- PING ALTA CB Black
- PING AWT 2.0
- True Temper Dynamic Gold 120
- KBS Tour
- Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 105
3. Graphite or Steel
Even though some amateurs look down on golfers that use graphite shafts in their irons, the simple reality is that choosing graphite shafts is one of the easiest ways to unlock additional swing speed. The key benefit of a graphite shaft is that it is considerably lighter than a steel shaft.
As a result, it is easier to swing the club faster, and this applies to every iron in your bag.
On the other hand, most golfers are familiar with using steel shafts, and it is still the more popular option across the world. Steel shafts tend to feel better than graphite shafts, and they also tend to be a bit more accurate.
This choice can ultimately be determined using swing speed as a guideline. If you have a slow or moderate swing speed, you should at least consider putting graphite shafts into the i230s. If you have a medium-fast, fast or extra-fast swing speed, it’s probably best to stick with steel shafts.
Ping i230 Irons - Key Selling Points
A) Impeccable Distance Control
Arguably the best feature of the i230 irons is that they offer amazingly good distance dispersion and distance control. This applies to well struck irons and even mishits. Provided you make a normal swing, the ball should travel within 3 – 5 yards of the expected distance, in the vast majority of cases. You don’t have to worry about flyers out of the fairway, which can happen if you invest in ‘player distance irons’.
B) Clean, Confidence Inspiring Look At Address
The Ping i230s look fantastic at address. The topline is thin, but not worryingly so. Each iron in the set looks great behind the ball.
The darkened Micromax grooves help to frame the ball, while the rounded leading edge improves turf interaction. Ultimately, it’s fair to say that Ping has nailed the design of these irons. They are both beautiful and confidence inspiring. This is a very good combination.
C) Surprisingly Forgiving
Despite falling into the ‘player’ category, the Ping i230’s are surprisingly forgiving irons. In fact, many testers have commented that they find the i230’s more forgiving than the i525 irons. This is a bit surprising, because the i525 irons are built for a higher handicap range, and they fall into the player distance category.
The point is, the Ping i230s are more forgiving than most player irons. This is a huge bonus for anyone thinking about putting them in the bag.
D) Very Accurate When You Make Good Swings
In addition to excellent distance dispersion, the i230s are extremely accurate. Provided you execute a good swing and make solid contact with the ball, the i230s should unlock some extra accuracy relative to your current irons.
It all comes down to the consistency of the launch, spin, and distance that the i230s offer. Everything is very repeatable. This is exactly what you want from a set of irons.
Biggest Drawbacks of the Ping i230 Irons
A) They Are Quite Expensive
While Ping tends to make excellent golf clubs, they also tend to be very expensive. This holds true with the Ping i230s. They are a bit more expensive than the Titleist, Taylormade and Callaway alternatives.
B) They Are Very Similar To the i210 Irons
Truth be told, the Ping i230s are very similar to the i210s. They look better, they are more forgiving, and they should give you a bit more ball speed. However, the core product is still very similar. If you like the i230s but your budget is well and truly stretched, you could probably find that an older set of i210 irons are almost as good.
C) Some Players Might Need The Distance Offered By Other Iron Sets
The last potential criticism of the Ping i230s is that they aren’t particularly long. This shouldn’t be an issue for players with medium-fast and fast swing speeds. However, if you have a slow swing speed, you might be better served by irons with a bit more gas in the tank.
Final Thoughts
All-in-all, the i230s are a very attractive product offering from Ping. They look great, they are surprisingly forgiving, and they provide a bit more ball speed than the i210s. The only caveat is that they are quite expensive, and they aren’t necessarily a good fit for slow-swing speed players.
FAQ
What handicap are the Ping i230 irons for?
The Ping i230s cater to primarily to single figure handicaps, but the range extends from about 0 – 12. If you have a relatively consistent swing, the i230s could be very compatible with your golf game.
Do any pro golfers use Ping i230 irons?
Tyrell Hatton is the most notable professional that games the Ping i230s, and he is an excellent iron player. That being said, there are plenty of lesser-known pros that also have them in the bag.
Ping i230 Release Date
The Ping i230s were released in October 2022.
