Review: Ping s159 wedges

Review Ping s159 wedges 

You may have seen the Ping s159 wedges on tour, notably in the bag of Viktor Hovland, and if there is one thing about these wedges that you’ll love, it’s the look. Ping has always made great equipment and that is no different with their brand-new s159 wedges. So let see what makes these wedges so good. 

First Look 

The shape at address is really clean. It has such a nice shape behind the ball. You feel like you can hit a variety of shots and that classic chrome HydroPearl 2.0 finish looks great. The back of the wedge is very minimalistic and looks very smooth with the Eye2 grind bringing back the nostalgic look in higher lofts. 

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The Ping s159 wedges come with 25 different lofts and lies. (Credit: Ping)

The Ping s159 wedges have a range of finishes. (Credit: Ping)

We found the Ping s159 wedges to be very versatile. (Credit: Ping)

We love the nostalgic look of these wedges. (Credit: Ping)

Scan to be taken to the Ping app!

The Tech 

Ping say the s159 wedges blend seamlessly with the Blueprint irons because of the shape and look. So, let’s see what performance benefits these wedges have. 

The Ping s159 wedges are made from 8620 carbon steel which is cast to an eye-pleasing shape with a straighter leading edge, a design feature beneficial on fuller shots. An elastomer insert behind the face contributes to the soft and responsive feel. The s159 wedges are available in two performance-enhancing finishes in all 25 loft/grind combinations. Wheel-cut grooves are precision-milled to help consistency while minimising the variations in spin, leading to more control. The 54-to-62-degree options feature more tightly spaced MicroMax grooves. The 46-to-52-degree wedges are milled for greater control on full shots. In combination with a friction-adding face blast, the s159 wedges deliver the launch and spin control to execute score-lowering wedge shots from every distance. 

From a spin comparison standpoint, the s159 wedges deliver strong results in the company’s much acclaimed “wet to dry” test. Performed in a controlled environment hitting 50-yard shots indoors with moisture applied to the face and ball, it’s a key factor in validating on-course performance.  

There are also two new grind options in H grind and the B grind. The H is a shot-saving option for players with steeper angles of attack who like to manipulate the handle and play with versatility. The B grind is for a shallow angle of attack and neutral face delivery. This low-bounce design sits low on the turf on square-face shots, providing forgiveness via the sole width to deliver score-lowering performance in firmer conditions.

“Our R&D team has gained a lot of notoriety for this test, which has revealed remarkable performance results when applied to our last several wedge models. A lot of fitters refer to it as the ‘spray-bottle test.’ The s159 consistently leads in the wet testing, out-performing other wedges. Considering it’s rare when a shot doesn’t encounter some level of moisture or loss of friction, this type of control provides a clear and convincing short-game advantage.” – John K Solheim

The bunkered Verdict 

When I picked these up for the first time at the PGA Show I was in awe. The look and weighting in the hands is brilliant and even after just having a few practice swings you felt like you were going to get some fizz on the ball.

After a few shots with them, the spin was really impressive, and you felt like you could be more aggressive to your target as you knew you were going to get the stopping power. There are also so many loft and grind options to choose from but that’s also made easier with Ping’s new and easy-to-use educational web app which narrows down the options for your style of play.

It also goes in detail what each loft does and how it can help your game just going through a few questions. This makes it really easy to choose the right wedge for you.

Available 13 February, 2024

RRP £175 Steel, £185 Graphite

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