© Ping Golf

It seems like just yesterday that hybrids were the new kid on the block? Actually, they have been popular for more than 10 years now. Regardless, Ping has a new club called the Crossover that is purported to be as easy to hit as a hybrid. In Ping’s own words, the Crossover will combine the precision, workability and control of an iron with the speed and forgiveness of a hybrid. I remember the first time I hit a hybrid. I marveled at how easy it was to hit. Mishits didn’t sting your hands and were not affected performance wise as much as a long iron might. As a club fitter, it was such an easy sell after someone got the club in their hands and hit it. There were of course people who wouldn’t even try a hybrid.

Now all this time later, it seems that Ping has an iron that will allow traditionalists to use an iron that does most everything that a hybrid would do. The Crossover is available in both RH and LH with steel or graphite shaft and is designed to fly high and spin like an iron. The 3 Crossover is 18 degrees, the 4 is 21 degrees and the 5 is 24 degrees. Ping staff professionals, of course were all given the opportunity to test this club out. Bubba Watson immediately declared he was putting it in his bag. Hunter Mahan was amazed at the way it set up compared to his hybrid. All in all, it seems that Ping has a winner here.