So, you’ve got a set of Ping irons in the bag and you're wondering if you can get them bent to better fit your swing. It’s one of the most common questions out there, especially given Ping's unique reputation. The quick answer is yes, you absolutely can, but an even better answer is that you need to know how and why the process for adjusting Pings is different from many other brands. This article will walk you through exactly what makes Ping clubs unique, how their famous color code system works, and the right way to get your irons adjusted for loft and lie angle so you can play your best golf.
To really get why "bending Pings" is a topic of its own, we have to look back at how they are made. While many equipment brands, particularly those focused on 'players' irons, use a forging process, Ping’s founder, Karsten Solheim, was a pioneer of investment casting for golf clubs way back in the 1960s. This was a game-changer.
Let's break down the basic difference in simple terms:
The trade-off is in the metal itself. That durable 17-4 stainless steel is significantly harder than the carbon steel used in forgings. This durability is fantastic for the lifespan of your clubs, but it does make them much more resistant to bending. That hardness is the root of the "Can you bend Pings?" myth. People assumed that because they were cast and so durable, they were either unbendable or would just snap. Fortunately, that’s not true.
Before we even talk about physically bending the clubs, we have to talk about Ping’s color code system, because it’s at the heart of their fitting philosophy. Ping strongly believes in getting you into the right specs from the very beginning.
Lie angle is the angle between the center of the shaft and the sole of the club as it sits at address. Your goal is for the sole to be perfectly flat on the ground at the moment of impact. If it isn't, the face will point somewhere other than your target.
A minor lie angle mismatch of just a couple of degrees can send your golf ball 10 yards or more offline. It’s a huge factor in accuracy that many golfers overlook, blaming their swing when it’s actually their an equipment mismatch.
Ping created a simple but brilliant color-coded system to identify the lie angle of their irons. Each color represents a specific lie angle setting, measured in degrees of upright or flat relative to their "standard" black dot. Here is how some of the common ones break down:
The idea is that a certified Ping fitter can measure your height, wrist-to-floor measurement, and conduct a dynamic fitting (having you hit balls off a lie board) to determine your exact color code. They can then build your set with that exact lie angle directly from the factory. It’s a proactive approach designed to get it right from day one, minimizing the need for major post-purchase bending.
Okay, so you bought a used set of Blue dots on a great deal, but you got fitted and found out you actually need a Black or Red dot. What now? Can they be bent? Yes, they can. Ping clubs are designed to be adjusted, but you have to respect the material.
This is not a job for your garage vise and a block of wood. The hardness of Ping's stainless steel requires a specialized loft and lie bending machine. A professional clubfitter or golf repair shop will have a heavy-duty machine that can apply the significant, yet controlled, force needed to bend the hosel without damaging it. Trying to do this on your own is the fastest way to snap the hosel clean off, turning your 7-iron into a paperweight.
Even for a professional, there are limits. Generally, Ping and experienced clubfitters state that most modern Ping irons can be safely adjusted by about two color codes. For example:
Attempting to bend the club further than 2-2.5 degrees from its original setting puts too much stress on the metal. The hosel can develop microfractures that lead to it eventually breaking, or it could snap right there on the machine. Some older models, like the iconic Beryllium Copper (BeCu) Ping Eye2 irons, are even more brittle and should be adjusted with extreme caution, if at all.
Lie angle gets most of the attention, but loft is just as important for controlling your distances.
Yes, the loft on your Ping irons can be adjusted right along with the lie angle. The process is identical - it’s done by a professional on the same machine. This is commonly done to create consistent distance gaps between your clubs. Sometimes, through normal use, the lofts of your irons can subtly change over time. It’s always a good idea to have them checked and potentially "gapped" every year or two.
Again, there are limits. A knowledgeable fitter will typically recommend sticking to a range of +/- 2 degrees of loft adjustment. Bending them "stronger" (less loft) or "weaker" (more loft) beyond that can negatively affect the club's designed bounce and sole interaction with the turf.
Club length is not adjusted by bending. This is a modification to the shaft itself. To make a club longer, an extension is inserted into the butt end of the shaft. To make it shorter, the shaft is cut down from the butt end. It’s a simple procedure, but it has consequences. Changing the length impacts the club’s feel and balance (known as swing weight) as well as the stiffness of the shaft. This type of adjustment should only be done as part of a comprehensive fitting with a professional who can account for those changes.
If you think your Ping irons need an adjustment, follow these simple steps to do it the right way.
1. Get a Dynamic Fitting. This is the most important step. Don’t guess your spec. Go to a reputable fitter who can use a lie board and impact tape to see exactly how your club is interacting with the ground at impact. This removes all guesswork and tells you exactly what adjustment (if any) you need.
2. Know Your Starting Point. Look at the hosel of your Ping irons and identify the color dot. This is your baseline. Knowing whether you have a Blue Dot or a Black Dot tells the fitter what the club's original specification was.
3. Find a Qualified Club Fitter. Take your clubs to an experienced professional with a proper, high-quality bending machine. Ask them if they have experience bending Ping clubs specifically. Anyone who seems hesitant or tells you "Pings can't be bent" is not the right person for the job.
4. Consider Sending Them to Ping. For the ultimate peace of mind, you can have an authorized Ping retailer send your clubs directly back to the Ping factory. They have the precise equipment and knowledge to adjust them perfectly to your new spec, and even repaint the color code for you. It might take a bit longer, but it's a foolproof option.
The idea that Ping golf clubs can't be bent is one of the longest-running myths in golf, but it's simply not true. Because they are investment cast from uniquely durable steel, they must be adjusted carefully by a professional with the an appropriate tool, respecting the 2-color-code bending limit. Getting your lie angle and loft dialed in is a fundamental part of equipment-fitting that builds confidence and helps you hit straighter, more consistent shots.
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