By ED TRAVIS
The new Ping i540 is a players-distance category iron with a forged head, tungsten sole weighting in the long and mid irons, and a maraging-steel face producing a high launch and increased ball speed compared to previous models.
Fast Facts Ping i540 Irons
Better player distance iron category
Hollow construction
Forged stainless steel head
Forged variable thickness maraging steel face
4-7 irons tungsten sole weighting
Available lofts: 4-9 iron, PW, UW
Loft options: Standard, Power Spec and Retro Spec
Stock lofts: 5-iron 22°, pitching wedge 42°
Stock shafts: Dynamic Gold Mid 100, PING ALTA CB Blue
Stock grip: Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet
$235 per club steel shaft, $250 per club graphite
WYNTK
Ping has gone all out to redesign their players distance iron, and the 2026 version i540 has several very attractive features.
They start with what Ping calls i-Beam Technology, which is similar to the internal construction used in drivers. A metal beam runs from the top of the head to the sole increasing the head’s overall strength and a more solid sound.
The interior of the head has a patent-pending space or air pocket positioned inside the cavity behind the face that reduces vibration frequency and improves feel with no reduction in bending at impact.
The forged variable-thickness maraging-steel face is thinner and flexes more, giving faster ball speeds (more distance) and a higher peak trajectory. Ping says the reaction at impact is not unlike metalwood distortion contacting the ball.
For those unfamiliar with the loft specs Ping uses the Power Spec Loft is depending on the iron number 1° to 1.5° stronger than the standard and the Retro Spec Loft is 1° to 2° weaker.
“The popularity of the Players Distance iron category continues to grow as more and more golfers are in search of faster speeds from an iron with a blade-style look,” said John K. Solheim, PING CEO & President. “There’s a lot of technology in the i540 iron. Inside the head, tungsten sole weighting lowers the center of gravity and combines with the forged maraging-steel face to produce faster ball speeds. We’ve also applied inR-Air technology to improve the feel and sound. It’s an air pocket behind the face that attenuates frequencies and leads to a better impact experience. On the outside, the covered cavity design creates a clean, high-tech appearance.
