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PING · Iron set · 2024 · Previous model

PING i530 irons

Players distance, 2.0 of 5 for forgiveness

PING's players distance iron before the i540: a compact, blade-style hollow head with a forged face, 3.0 mm of offset at the 7-iron and a 29° 7-iron, the same loft as the i540's. It gives less help on a mishit than PING's G-series heads. PING now builds the i530 only as fill-in or replacement clubs, and the i540 replaced it.

Side view to scale: 3.0 mm offset

2.0 of 5 forgiveness score

$569.99 used at 2nd Swing Golf6 clubs (6-PW, AW), graphite, regular flex, poor condition · checked 31 Oct

See used at 2nd Swing Golf

In average condition or better: from $718.995 clubs (6-PW), steel, regular flex, average condition · checked 31 Oct

New instead: PING i540, $1,499.75 at Golf Discount, 7 irons (4-PW), checked 2 Nov

Choose it if

  • You strike it well and want distance with a little help.
  • You need a left-handed club or a senior flex: both were stock builds.

Choose something else if

  • For more help on a mishit, PING's G440 and G740 forgive more; for a whole set built to order, the i540.
Class
Players distance
7-iron loft
29°Every club's loft, lie and length
Offset (7-iron)
3.0 mm
Stock flexes
Senior to extra stiff
Hands
Left or right
Used
From $569.99 at 2nd Swing Golf, checked 31 Oct

What changed in the i540

By PING's tables the two share every loft (a 29° 7-iron and a 47° UW), every lie and every bounce, and the same set: 4-iron to PW and UW. The i540's 4-, 5- and 6-irons are longer (by 3/8, 1/4 and 1/8 inch), and its offset is one or two hundredths of an inch less in every club but the UW (2.5 mm at the 7-iron against the i530's 3.0 mm). PING describes the i540's faster forged face, tungsten weighting, air-pocket technology and narrow sole.

PING now builds the i530 only as fill-in or replacement clubs, so most sets are bought used, and both score the same here. Choose the i540 for a whole set built to order, or the longer long irons.

The PING i530 and the i540 that replaced it: specifications as PING publishes them, prices as the shops showed them
Detail i530 (previous) i540 (current)
ClassPlayers distancePlayers distance
Forgiveness score2.0 of 52.0 of 5
7-iron loft29°29°
Offset at the 7-iron3.0 mm2.5 mm
Sole–Narrow
Stock flexesSenior to extra stiffSenior to extra stiff
HandsLeft or rightLeft or right
Price newFill-in and replacement clubs only$1,499.75 at Golf Discount, 7 irons (4-PW), checked 2 Nov
Price usedFrom $569.99 at 2nd Swing Golf (6 clubs (6-PW, AW), graphite, regular flex, poor condition), checked 31 OctFrom $843.99 at 2nd Swing Golf (5 clubs (6-PW), steel, stiff flex, average condition), checked 31 Oct

Head to head: PING i530 vs i540 irons · PING i525 vs i530 irons

Loft, lie and length, club by club

As PING published them
Club Loft Lie Length Offset Bounce
4-iron 19° 60.5° 38.875 in 0.2 in 6°
5-iron 22° 61° 38.25 in 0.17 in 7°
6-iron 25.5° 61.5° 37.625 in 0.14 in 8°
7-iron 29° 62° 37 in 0.12 in 9°
8-iron 33° 62.8° 36.5 in 0.09 in 10.5°
9-iron 37° 63.5° 36 in 0.07 in 12°
PW 42° 64.1° 35.5 in 0.05 in 13°
UW 47° 64.1° 35.5 in 0.03 in 13°

After the utility wedge (UW, 47°): with a 56° sand wedge, the 9° gap leaves room for one more wedge, at about 52°.

Callaway's iron fitting guide puts your first wedge 4° to 6° above the highest-lofted wedge in your iron set. A gap in degrees is not a gap in yards. To choose that wedge, see the forgiving wedges by loft and bounce.

Build a whole bag around it, or check the lofts in the bag you carry.

Use the iron finder to compare sets for your usual miss, and check the set makeup and loft gaps before ordering.

The PING i530 came in a senior (A) flex as well as regular (R): what the senior flex changes, and who it suits.

i530: the questions buyers ask

Is the PING i530 forgiving?
Less than most here. It is PING's players distance iron, with 3.0 mm of offset at the 7-iron and a 29° 7-iron. It scores 2.0 of 5 on our reading of what PING publishes about it; the most forgiving iron sets we cover score 5.0.
Who is the i530 for?
It suits good strikers who want distance and a little help.
Does the i530 come in senior or ladies flex?
Senior, yes; ladies, no. PING listed senior (A), regular (R), stiff (S) and extra stiff (X).
Is the i530 sold left-handed?
Yes: PING made it left- and right-handed.
What are the i530 lofts?
4-iron 19°, 5-iron 22°, 6-iron 25.5°, 7-iron 29°, 8-iron 33°, 9-iron 37°, PW 42°, UW 47°, as PING published them. The full table with lie, length and offset is above.
Which clubs come in an i530 set?
Sold by the club: 4-iron to 9-iron, PW and UW.
How much does the i530 cost?
PING now builds it only as fill-in or replacement clubs. Used from $569.99 at 2nd Swing Golf, checked 31 Oct. In average condition or better, from $718.99. Prices change; the seller's page has today's.

How the 2.0 adds up

The forgiveness score is our reading of what PING publishes about the head, from 1 to 5. It is not a test result. How every score works.

The parts of the forgiveness score
PartPointsWhy
Head class 2 Players distance: a compact head that forgives a little.
Offset +0 3.0 mm at the 7-iron, below our 4.5 mm mark.
Sole +0 PING doesn't publish a sole width, so the sole earns no point.
Forgiveness score2.0of 5

The score rates the head only. Hand, flex and price decide which version you buy, not how forgiving it is. PING does not publish a sole width.

Specification sheet

As PING published it; a dash means the maker did not state it.
MakerPING
Modeli530
Model year2024
TypeIron set
ClassPlayers distance
Handicap range the maker states–
Offset0.12" at the 7-iron (0.20" in the 4-iron down to 0.03" in the UW)
Sole–
Moment of inertia (MOI)–
Face technologyhighly flexible forged face in a hollow body with thin back walls; the saved mass in an internal weight pad on the sole
ConstructionA compact, blade-style hollow head with a thin top line and a flexible forged face; the weight saved in its thin back walls sits in a pad low in the sole, for a higher launch.
Set makeupSold by the club: 4-iron to 9-iron, PW and UW.
Clubs in the set–
Stock steel shaftsTrue Temper Dynamic Gold Mid 100, PING AWT 2.0, True Temper Dynamic Gold, True Temper Dynamic Gold 120, KBS Tour, Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 105, Nippon N.S. Pro Modus 3 Tour 115, True Temper Elevate MPH 95
Stock graphite shaftsPING ALTA CB Black, PING ALTA Quick, UST Recoil Dart
Stock flexesA (senior), R (regular), S (stiff), X (extra stiff)
7-iron loft29°
HandsRH, LH
Men's or women's–
List price (MSRP)not published
Price at PING–
Set price–

Compare with other players distance irons

Other players distance irons
Sole Hand Where to buy
2.0 Players distance 30° not published not published A · R · S · X RH · LH $1,199.99 at TaylorMade 7 irons · checked 2 Nov
See it at TaylorMade
2.0 Players distance 28.5° 3.2 mm Moderate width A · R · S RH · LH $1,399.93 at Srixon 7 irons at $199.99 each · checked 2 Nov
See it at Srixon
2.0 Players distance 30° 3.1 mm Dynamic Sole Design A · R · S RH · LH $1,449 at Golf Discount 7 irons (4-PW) · checked 2 Nov
Check price at Golf Discount See it at Callaway
2.0 Players distance 29° 2.5 mm Narrow A · R · S · X RH · LH $1,499.75 at Golf Discount 7 irons (4-PW) · checked 2 Nov
Check price at Golf Discount See it at PING
2.0 Players distance 32° 2.4 mm not published R · S · X RH · LH $589 at Takomo 7 irons (4-PW) · checked 2 Nov
See it at Takomo
2.0 Players distance 31° 2.8 mm Thinner than the 101 MKII's R · S · X RH · LH $649 at Takomo 7 irons (4-PW) · checked 2 Nov
See it at Takomo
2.0 Players distance 28° 3.2 mm 21.9 mm at the 7-iron R · S RH · LH $962.50 at Mizuno 7 irons · checked 2 Nov
See it at Mizuno
2.0 Players distance 30.5° 2.4 mm not published R · S RH · LH $999.99 at Wilson 7 irons · checked 2 Nov
See it at Wilson

Order: Forgiveness score first; on a tie, the set more golfers can buy, then a set that includes the long irons, then price. Use the arrows to sort. A dash means the maker does not publish it.

See all iron sets on the most forgiving irons page, or compare this club side by side. Waiting for a sale? The Black Friday golf club deals page has the price to beat on every club we price.

Sources

The specification comes from these pages; open the maker's page before buying, because prices and shaft options change. Check the exact shaft and hand at the shop before ordering.