Ping i500 irons:

I put a set of 4-P with DG105 stiff and Golf Pride microsuede tour velvet midsize grips in Nicks bag in the spring. Mint condition and to my eye one of the best looking heads around. I took them to Top Golf last night , first time hitting them.

To start, microsuede grips, never heard of them. Well they feel great and midsize is on the small size of midsize. The heads look great, not compact but not big. Offset is not noticeable and the top line is not thick.

If you see these clubs, buy them. The ball jumps off the face . Height is perfect, even hitting Top Golf balls the feel was soft, I forgot they were hollow heads. Felt smooth, solid and not clicky. I was able hit perfect draws one after another and they felt so powerful. Felt like I could go after it and would still hit a great shot…. Which I did and it was so much fun.

I’m tempted to take these out for a round but I have the feeling they’d never go back on his bag. I want to see the numbers on them because the ball was like a rocket off them.

Well, finally got my order from callaway after trading in a bunch of stuff. Up for review is a Callaway AI Smoke TD max 9 deg with a Mitsubishi Kai'li white 70x and the AI Smoke mini 11.5 deg with the Kai'li 80X

First impressions - the shafts feel pretty stable and easy to load with a nice mid to low launch and spin. The TD max is as advertised, very forgiving and pretty low spin, very similar to the Paradym triple diamond I had but definitely more forgiving. It sounds great too, just slightly less muted than the previous generation. Overall, considering my driver struggles the last few rounds, this driver was awesome when I put a decent swing on it. Distance wise, very similar to the paradym TD with the 4 or 5 good ones that I hit, I think my drives ranged from 260-290 with mild wind conditions. Case in point, last drive of the day, slightly against the wind, hit it off the toe and it went dead straight about 260 yards. I know with that same miss with my paradym TD or my Tsi4, those shots would typically go about 230-240 yards. One more thing to mention, it sits pretty open in the neutral setting but that didn't seem to affect my normal fade/slice. I actually even hit a baby draw on one drive which literally never happens - maybe more shaft related?

As for the AI smoke mini - this was amazing for me and hopefully not a honeymoon phase - I think I used it for 6 or 7 holes and only missed one fairway - I teed it pretty low, maybe an inch above the ground and was able to hit nice power cuts all day - about 240-270 yards with every shot. Slight mishits were a little spinny and didn't go very far for me, so that's something I may have to tweak - I had a 10g in the front and 6 in the back so might try a 12 or 14 deg weight up front. In any case, if this was any indication of how it will play, easily the most forgiving mini driver for me compared to others I have tried. Compared to the TD max, it sits pretty neutral, especially compared to the TD max

If you are looking for high forgiveness with low spin, the AI Smoke family will be hard to beat.

5 days later

Had the i500 irons out again today. One bad swing and still hit the green. Everything else was the high draw I wanted all morning. I also went to the Taylormade MG3 wedges after selling my High toe wedges that would only go high and right. The MG3 is solid, great feel, and was giving me the accuracy I expect.

    Typhoon also went to the Taylormade MG3 wedges after selling my High toe wedges that would only go high and right

    You're such a ho.......😂😂

      Despite my shitty round yesterday, the TD max is definitely forgiving and helped me keep most of my distance despite less than ideal swings. As for the mini driver - feels less forgiving than the driver but overall pretty darn good - missed a few fairways today but misses were all playable so no real complaints - can't blame the driver for my crappy outside-in swing!!

      No one looking at new drivers wants to read something like this, and I(esp.) never want to post something like this. But..

      Yesterday I had my Smoke TD and an Epic Max LS in the bag. The Epic Max was just for fun, but right off the bat, shit got real with that 'fun'. And I only used the Smoke a few times to save it all the embarrassment I could.
      Had several drives at 230 and over, middle of fw!! On 1 particular hole, for some reason, they had moved the tee box back 30 yds. from where it's been forever. I still hit past where my normal drive would be. Had a few 'PB' drives on particular holes.

      I'm not going to say it is better than the Smoke, but I'm wondering why I have that club now🤨. In my defense though, I haven't really hit the Epic Max but a handful of times. Oh, I did put a Penley Tour Light. S flex in it; it had a different shaft before yesterday.

        Par4QC

        On any given day, a player who is not a robot is going to fall into that magic path day and release the hands at the perfect moment for a round or two and prove that most modern drivers are as good as the next.

        I played 18 holes today with a PING Rapture driver. 14 of 14 fairways and only a few yards shorter than the Paradym X. Throw in wet morning dew on longish Bermuda fairways and there ya go.

        They're all good.

            Eguller

            Short accuracy wins every time. I think I averaged 170 yards today, tops. NO roll out as we teed off at 0715 (dew loop). The high lofted driver at 44" is a fairway machine. There were a handful of par 4s that left me 160 out but I managed to get up and down. 5 bogeys, no birdies. The guys we got paired with were awesome gentlemen. One my age, and his son who is built like an NFL linebacker. He bombed a few drivers off the deck and had eagle chances on two holes. Fun day!!!🙏😎

                sdandrea1 On any given day, a player who is not a robot is going to fall into that magic path day and release the hands at the perfect moment for a round or two and prove that most modern drivers are as good as the next.

                gawdam, that's not exactly the type of post I want to be reading either. 😫

                Was thinking 'Monday qualify', for next week.

                    Another round with the i500’s and I’m loving them. Crazy easy to hit consistently, added distance and accurate. I just go with my natural shot shape and the perform. Height is there, spin is on the low side but that’s ok. A bit more roll out than the drop and stop blades. I’ll probably keep them in the bag for the rest of the year.

                    sdandrea1 Supposedly Trevino was needling Jack one day about how much more accurate Lee was off the tee. Jacks reply was, “If I was hitting my 5 iron, I’d hit all the fairways too.”

                    🙂

                        sdandrea1 One of the advantages of getting old. Not enough club speed to spray it all over.

                        Absolute truth. Old guys thinking we're accurate. That 200 yard drive that catches the FW is deep in the rough at 230, OB at 250 and off the planet at 300.