The Ping color chart is an important tool for golfers to determine the proper club selection based on distance to the green. The chart provides recommended clubs for shots ranging from 50 yards to 225 yards based on the golfer’s typical distance with each club. Some golfers are wondering if Ping has changed their famous color chart in recent years.
The Origins of the Ping Color Chart
The Ping color chart dates back to the 1970s when Karsten Solheim first developed a SYSTEM of color coding for his Ping golf clubs. The idea was that each club would have a unique color to make it easy for golfers to identify their club selections based on yardages. The colors went from darker to lighter shades as the clubs went from lower lofted woods to higher lofted wedges.
Over the decades, Ping refined the distances on the chart as new club technology emerged. The Ping color chart became an iconic part of the Ping brand and was included with every new set of Ping irons. It gave amateur golfers valuable guidance on which clubs to use in different situations on the course.
Comparing Old and New Ping Color Charts
At a quick glance, the Ping color chart does not appear to have changed much over the past 10-20 years. The sequence of colors from black to white and the yardage gaps are very similar. However, upon closer inspection, there are some subtle differences.
Here is a comparison of the clubs/distances on an older Ping color chart from the early 2000s and a newer one from around 2020:
| Old Ping Color Chart | New Ping Color Chart |
|---|---|
| Driver – 250 yards | Driver – 275 yards |
| 3 Wood – 230 yards | Fairway Wood – 250 yards |
| 5 Wood – 210 yards | Hybrid – 225 yards |
| 3 Iron – 190 yards | 4 Iron – 200 yards |
| 4 Iron – 180 yards | 5 Iron – 185 yards |
| 5 Iron – 170 yards | 6 Iron – 170 yards |
| 6 Iron – 160 yards | 7 Iron – 155 yards |
| 7 Iron – 150 yards | 8 Iron – 145 yards |
| 8 Iron – 140 yards | 9 Iron – 135 yards |
| 9 Iron – 130 yards | PW – 125 yards |
| PW – 120 yards | UW – 115 yards |
| SW – 100 yards | SW – 100 yards |
| LW – 80 yards | LW – 80 yards |
The most noticeable change is that the driver distance has increased by 25 yards, reflecting improvements in driver technology over the decades. The old 3 and 5 woods have been replaced by more modern fairway woods and hybrids. There is also an across-the-board decrease in the yardage gaps between each iron, as the new irons are designed to have more consistent distance gapping throughout the set.
Has Technology Changed Ping’s Philosophy?
While the Ping color chart has evolved slightly over time, the core philosophy remains intact. Ping continues to design their clubs to deliver optimal performance for amateur golfers in terms of distance, forgiveness, and consistency across the set. While technology has enabled increases in driver distances, Ping irons maintain traditional lofts and yardage gaps preferred by everyday golfers.
Some critics argue that Ping has not kept up with technology by “jacking up” lofts and lengths in their irons sets as much as other brands have in recent years. But this is intentional on Ping’s part, as they aim to avoid large distance gaps between clubs that could leave golfers in “yardage limbo” on the course.
Ping believes most amateur golfers prefer having consistent 10-15 yard gaps between their clubs, so one club change makes a predictable difference in distance. While competitors may hype ever-increasing iron distances, Ping sticks to more moderated designs aligned with the preferences of their target audience.
The Role of Custom Fitting
One thing to keep in mind is the Ping color chart is meant to provide general guidance based on averages. Each golfer can have different personal distances with the same clubs due to factors like swing speed, launch angle, and shaft flex. This is why custom fitting has become such an emphasis in recent years.
During a Ping custom fitting, a trained specialist will have you hit shots with various club and shaft configurations on a launch monitor to dial in your optimal setup. This fine tuning of distances for your specific game results in developing a custom color chart just for you. Your custom Ping color chart may have subtle differences from the stock version based on your unique needs.
In summary, while the Ping color chart has remained similar over decades, it is still just a general starting point. Having a proper custom fitting will ensure you have the right Ping clubs with distances tailored specifically for your swing and abilities.
Ping’s Stance on Distance Marketing
As other brands boast about technologies to hit your irons farther, Ping has chosen not to get caught up in the distance marketing wars. In fact, Ping executives have openly questioned if continually increasing iron distances is truly beneficial for most golfers.
In their view, accuracy and consistency should take priority over pure distance. They believe chasing ever-increasing iron distances can be counterproductive, leading to worse accuracy and more distance gaps. Ping claims their irons are designed to optimize distance for forgiveness and control, not purely to post the biggest numbers on launch monitors.
This position aligns with Ping’s target audience, who tend to favor tradition and dependability over flashy tech promises. While competitors may cater to golfers seeking the “latest and greatest,” Ping leans on its trusted brand reputation and loyalty of its existing customer base.
Conclusion
At a surface level, the Ping color chart appears to have remained consistent over time. But upon closer inspection, subtle changes and enhancements have occurred to account for evolving club technology. However, Ping’s overarching design philosophy and ethos has stayed true to their roots.
Small distance increases in woods and hybrids have improved usability from the tee and fairway. Iron distances have stayed modest to maintain consistent gapping. Ping focuses on incremental improvements for real-world benefits, not hype and bombast in their marketing.
This steadfast adherence to tradition may seem outdated to some golfers seeking the latest technology. But for everyday golfers who prioritize control, dependability, and keeping the game enjoyable, Ping’s approach remains as relevant as ever. The minor tweaks to their trusted color chart reflect this nuanced balance of tradition and modernity.
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