Ping is arguably one of the biggest golf-gear manufacturers in the world, especially if we’re talking about premium stuff, and their new Glide 3.0 wedges are currently available in retail shops worldwide. So, provided you can afford them, here is the good news: the Glide 3.0 wedges are more forgiving than ever, lighter and higher spinning, due to a massive redesign job. On top of that, you’ll benefit from multiple sole grind options, so golfers of all skill levels will be able to custom-fit their wedges to perfection. So, Ping’s engineers did a massive redesign job with the Glide 3.0 wedges, taking a grip to grind approach, which means that literally each component of the wedge has been redesigned, i.e. this is a completely new product by all means, not only marketing palaver. PING President John K. Solheim was quoted as saying about the company’s tour proven Glide 3.0 wedges that, let us quote:

“In the Glide 3.0 series, we’re broadening the appeal of our wedges and providing more differentiation within our own line and the rest of the marketplace. We approached the design with a goal of creating higher-spinning, great-looking wedges that also deliver more forgiveness with the improved feel from our other proven technologies. Every detail in the Glide 3.0 is designed to improve short-game performance, from the longer grip for choking down to the Hydropearl 2.0 chrome finish that helps the wedge glide through the grass. The Glide 3.0 wedge is a great blend of a players-style design and game-improvement technology. At address, it provides the clean look of a tour-style wedge. We’ve added some offset based on tour player feedback to provide a more captured look.

At the same time, we’ve increased the perimeter weighting and improved the feel with the softer insert material to ensure golfers have the forgiveness they need to play with confidence on approach shots. The combination of those attributes really sets the Glide 3.0 wedges apart and gives them a much broader appeal. From a fitting standpoint, we engineered four distinctly different sole grinds, including an Eye2 sand-wedge-inspired option, to ensure that trained PING club fitters can properly match a Glide 3.0 to a golfer’s swing and playing conditions.

We’re excited about getting it into golfers’ hands. It had a win its first week on the PGA Tour when Nate Lashley used one in his amazing and inspiring victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.”

So, if you’re wondering what’s so special about the new wedges, you should learn that Ping’s R&D team worked overtime on the Glide 3.0, and the end result is a premium wedge which is focused at providing ultimate feel and forgiveness. How did they do it, you asked? Well, the Glide 3.0 wedges are built using a composite-material design/construction, i.e. the head of the club is made from 431 stainless steel, which works in tandem with Ping’s proprietary Custom Tuning Port (CTP) insert. The Custom Tuning Port is crafted using a softer and larger elastomer insert, which is pretty much the same technology used in the very popular and bestselling i210 irons. The redesigned Custom Tuning Port is also larger in volume, which confers the wedge a soft yet rock solid feel at ball impact. The larger CTP works together with the patented cavity design (which is also a novelty) and allowed Ping’s engineers to expand the perimeter weighting. Obviously, that resulted in an increased moment of inertia (MOI) due to a higher center of gravity, which creates higher spinning/lower launching trajectories, thus better control around the green.

Ping also developed completely new wheel cut grooves, which boast a sharper edge radius for improving interaction with the ball by creating increased friction for improved trajectory and spin control. There’s also an emphasis on fitting options in the new Glide 3.0 wedges, due to the expansion of wedge sole options. To be more specific, there are 4 distinct sole grinds to choose from, and each of them is designed to match a golfer’s distinct angle of attack, as well as regular turf conditions, in order to deliver versatility and performance on full/partial shots. John K. Solheim explains that, let us quote again:

“We see tremendous opportunity in wedge fitting in general. It starts by focusing our product designs on meeting the needs of golfers of all abilities and swings. With the new sole grinds and multiple loft options, a fitter can really dial in the wedges to help improve the player’s performance based on how they dynamically deliver the clubhead and the type of conditions they typically play in. During the process, they can also determine the best combination of wedges to provide proper distance gaps between each club.”

It’s also worth mentioning that the Glide 3.0’s shaft and grip are lighter by 5 and 6 grams respectively, which means that each club benefits from an overall 15 grams reduction. And in case you were wondering, Bubba Watson and Cameron Champ are already using these babies with awesome results.

Specs:

Multi-material construction: 431 stainless steel head, elastomer insert, Hydropearl 2.0 finish

Available in 10 color codes (lie angle). Black is standard.

Swingweight: D2 – D4, depending on loft

Stock grip: PING 360 Dyla-wedge Lite in three sizes (Aqua -1/64?, White Std., Gold +1/32?)

Stock steel shaft: PING Z-Z115 Wedge made by Nippon

Stock graphite shaft: Alta CB Red (SR, R, S)

Aftermarket shaft options (no upcharge): True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300), True Temper Dynamic Gold (S300, X100), True Temper Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100), Project X LZ (5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5), True Temper XP95 (R300, S300), Nippon Pro Modus Tour 105 (S, X), KBS Tour (R, S, X)

U.S. MSRP: $160 per club w/steel shaft; $180 per club w/graphite shaft