Ping s259 wedges: What you need to know

What you need to know: An extensive and versatile wedge line, the s259 line features 25 loft/grind options. The six grinds feature refinements to the T and E grind. Cast from 8620 carbon steel, the wedges feature wheel-cut grooves and an ehanced face blast to add surface roughness for max spin. A web-based wedge-fitting app can help golfers find the best match for them.

Price/Availability: $217.50 per club in steel; $232.50 per club in graphite, available immediately in two finishes.

3 Cool Things

1. Spin city. When it comes to wedges it’s not always about achieving the most amount of spin possible, but the proper amount of spin. That’s because lower-lofted wedges are essentially full-swing only clubs while the higher lofts serve multiple purposes.

For the s259 line, “wheel-cut” grooves are precision-milled to ensure consistency while minimizing the variations in spin in various conditions, leading to more control. The 54-to-62-degree options feature more tightly spaced grooves because on short shots you want more groove edges to engage with the ball. On the 46-to-52-degree wedges, the grooves are less tightly spaced as they are designed to work better on full swings. A face blast adds surface roughness for added friction.

The Hydropearl 2.0 Chrome is hydrophobic, helping repel moisture for control and consistency in damp conditions or from rough.

2. Grinds galore. With 25 loft/grind options the s259 is Ping’s most extensive wedge offering to date. New this year are enhancements to the T and E grinds. The E-grind was re-shaped to give it a more familiar look at address while maintaining performance from the sand and slightly-open-faced shots. The T-grind features a steeper trail edge, allowing the face to sit very low on open-faced shots.

“Fitting for the ideal sole grind remains a key to unlocking improved wedge performance,” said Ping CEO and president John K. Solheim. “We work closely with our tour staff to ensure their needs are met and at the same time, we’re focusing on a selection of grinds and lofts that will help all golfers improve their short games. That includes grinds that are more forgiving and grinds that are more versatile. It’s one of the reasons getting custom fit for wedges is so important.”

Perhaps as important, each grind is available in 58 and 60 degrees. The company makes all the grinds available in the highest-lofted wedges because that is where use is more variable and the variety of shots are greater as opposed to full swing gap wedges.

3. Fitting made easy. With options, however, can come confusion. What grind do I need? What should my loft gaps be? It can be enough to make golfers want to throw up their hands and say, “Enough, already.” Ping understood that concern and has updated its WebFit wedge app to give golfers a quick, easy method to narrow the choices.

Golfers answer a series of questions about their short game, including their typical playing conditions and technique, which results in two grind suggestions. They can then take those recommendations to a fitter who can help validate them and further fine-tune the specs of the wedge. The app, which has been used by hundreds of thousands of golfers, also provides gapping information to help the player build out their wedge set. The app was developed in-house by Ping’s data scientists and relied on a vast collection of wedge data, much of it from the company’s relationship with Arccos,

The app doesn’t require downloading, logging in or signing up for anything. It will be accessible via a QR code in golf shops and on ping.com.