Showcase: Hot New Sticks

When it comes to golf equipment innovations, PING has left an indelible mark during the last 40 years or so. From the dawn of the cast cavity-back, to the advent of the heel-toe weighted putter, many of the equipment innovations that exist today are only because the folks at PING Golf thought them up. And while many of their designs have been tinkered with, tweaked and morphed into different iterations by different companies, PING's own brand has seen its fair share of advances, too. In fact, the latest batch of new irons from the company is, in our opinion, the best we've ever seen.

K15 IRONS The standout feature of the new K15 irons is the titanium-face insert, which increases ball speed for longer hits both on and off the sweet spot. Furthermore, the K15 set comes equipped with at least two hybrid iron replacements (3H and 4H), but can also include a 5H and even a 6H mixed into the set. A smart move, considering most golfers these days would rather hit a streamlined hybrid than a clunky, oversized iron.

Bottom Line: This iron/hybrid combo set will cater to higher-handicappers who need an extra boost of forgiveness, trajectory and distance with all their shots.

G15 IRONS More perimeter weighting equals more distance and forgiveness, two things that the G15 has over the previous G10 models. Now, that's not as though the G10s weren't forgiving. If anything, we can only deduct that G15s must be extraordinarily playable. We also dig the no-nonsense, classic shaping and size, which will no doubt appeal to the type of player who wants to maneuver the ball in the air from time to time.

Bottom Line: The G15 Irons are ideal for the player who wants a lot of forgiveness in an iron that has some shotmaking capabilities, as well. Mid- to high-handicappers are the target market here, and PING has hit the bull's-eye.

i15 IRONS Dubbed as a set for golfers who want control in their short irons and more forgiveness in the longer irons, the i15 represents the best in PING's cast irons. The short irons have a higher center of grav-ity for more trajectory and distance control, as well as greater shotmaking capabilities. That said, they're still uber-forgiving, a testament to the irons' perimeter weighting. As for the mid to long irons, they're also extremely forgiving, with a lower CG for more distance and accuracy.

Bottom Line: The i15s represent what PING has become famous for: a superb iron that's durable and forgiving, and has just the right amount of forgiveness and control for the good player. The i15 finally proves that a forgiving iron and a shotmaking iron can in fact be the same club.

S56 IRONS Whoa. Just when we thought blade-style irons were officially behind us, PING reinvents the category with the new S56 irons. Each club in the set features a Stabilizing Bar and a tungsten toe insert that are sized and positioned to maximize trajectory control and shotmaking capabilities. A draw, fade, high or low shot can be achieved with ease through the set. And yes, in case you're wondering, these blade irons are in fact PING irons, meaning no matter how hard the company tries, they'll always be forgiving and easy to hit.

Bottom Line: Total control. Better players will love the feel and performance of PING's best blade-style iron to date.

ANSER IRONS A forged iron from PING! It's been more than 40 years, and judging by the looks, feel and performance of the new ANSER irons, it seems as though they've spent all of those 40 years refining what's arguably the best-looking iron PING has ever made. In addition to being forged, they're also a mixed-metal design that uses a steel body and face with a tungsten sole. This means a lower CG for more forgiveness and higher-launching shots. Speaking of shots, these irons have the smoothest, most buttery feel from any PING iron we've seen to date, making them a top choice for golfers who want great feel, forgiveness and shotmaking capabilities, in that order.

Bottom Line: A favorite among new forged designs, the ANSER irons have the makings of a set that will be around for a long, long time. They feel and perform as good as they look.

As usual, all PING irons can be custom fit to your exact specifications. This includes a wide array of length and lie options, as well as shafts and grips to choose from. For more information on PING's clubfitting process, visit ping.com/fitting.