Forum Member Review: PING s159 Wedges

Introduction

PING revamped their wedges this year and introduced the s159 series, moving on from the previous Glide wedges. In MyGolfSpy wedge testing, PING has consistently performed well and excelled in wet conditions. The Glide series of wedges were known for having more spin when wet which was previously unheard of. The PING s159 wedges include much of the same technology but gone is the slight cavity-back design, resulting in a more traditional-looking wedge. We wanted to get these wedges in the hands of our testers to see how they would perform in a variety of conditions. Finally, we wanted to see if that legendary wet spin characteristic still exists.

The Testing Opportunity

PING has also introduced their WedgeFit app to help simplify the process of wedge fitting for consumers. PING WebFit uses a series of simple questions that follow the same process their fitters use to dial in what lofts, grinds and shafts you should be using.

We selected four testers for this opportunity to receive the wedges they were fitted for by the WebFit app. They had the choice of finish (Hydropearl 2.0 Chrome or Midnight) as well as shaft and grip options.

Once they had completed the WebFit app, the orders were placed and they began testing.

From The Testers: First Impressions

We always mention how important first impressions are. Testers are excited to get the product in their hands and often look at even the most minute details upon arrival. Let’s see what our testers had to say when they got their PING s159 wedges.

Bens197: “When they arrived I had a lot of confidence at address and they paired well with my T100 irons. The transition from 46* to 50* did not mess with my head despite being different OEM’s. At address, again it’s the sharp lines from hosel to toe. It’s everything I want to see in a golf club. The leading edges have a very slight prominence and minimal offset. Again, very pleasing to the eye. While in the bag, they’re equally beautiful, especially with the new grind shapes. Subtle but present and well engineered.”

Johngschultz: “Upon arrival, the PING s159 wedges were securely packaged, each tagged with their specifications and sheathed in no-frills neoprene head covers. Initially, the PING Dyla-wedge light grips made me a little worried as they missed the more tactile feeling I’m usually looking for on my grips, but after wiping them down they felt a little better.”

A solid start from all testers as the wedges arrived in a timely manner and all to spec. It didn’t take much longer for our testers to hit the course and get started with testing.

From The Testers: On-Course Performance

While the Forum community was curious about the wet weather performance, these wedges needed to also perform in dry conditions. Our testers were diligent in recording how they performed in all aspects on thecourse.

Aguybadatgolf: “On the course, I feel very confident standing over the ball as I know I can rely on consistent flight and spin. I am getting one hop and stop action, cut spin on flops, and check like I haven’t seen before. All my buddies are constantly noting how much these spin on the green, with envy.”

Bens197: “On course, I’ve seen no change or issues coming from the practice area. The technology here is real. Dispersion, flighting and control have exceeded not only my expectations, but outperform the #1 wedge in golf. I’ll say it…I’ve played them prior to the s159’s for years and it’s not even close. I hope that makes you wonder what it could do for you.”

Johngschultz: “The s159s continued to impress on the golf course, handling everything from bunker shots in wet, firm sand to pitches from lush rough. The bounces and grinds recommended by the PING WebFit Wedge app were spot-on, allowing me to execute shots confidently under various conditions. While I navigated some challenges with distance control on pitch shots, the overall performance was solid, with the wedges offering a forgiving yet responsive feel on less-than-perfect shots. I think the on-course performance can only go up from here as I keep using them.”

But not all was positive. There was one feature of the wedges that not all the testers liked.

Dyla-Grip

I have played these grips on several of my own wedges and love them. However, I recognize that they are not for everyone. A couple of testers wanted to switch them out.

The Dyla-Wedge grip is longer than normal and has three preset markings for hand placement consistency. This can allow golfers to choke down to the same spot time and time again, introducing added shots to their wedge game. However, for Johngschultz, they were too heavy and lightened the feel of the head too much. He would end up changing out the grips in order to get the improved feel he was looking for.

For Bens197, they simply didn’t jive with him. The features made sense and the feel was fine but he would also ultimately change out the grips for ones he was more comfortable with.

Our other two testers praised the grips’ features and feel.

Key Highlights From Testers

When going through the reviews and the overall testing opportunity, there were several key areas our testers highlighted as standout performances for the PING s159 wedges.

Consistency was a key factor for testers going into the test. The wedges had to provide consistent performance, which they did. All the testers saw consistent results with flights, spin, performance and predictability. This increased confidence which helped several testers see significant Strokes Gained jumps in their short-game data.

Spin rates were another performance priority heading. All testers highlighted the ability to perform high spin shots in all conditions. The question of whether the PING s159 wedges would spin as much as their predecessors was answered. They do, without question.

Feel and sound: Our testers used the words “solid,” “soft,” “distinct” and “impressive” to describe the feel and the sound was similarly described. One key aspect was that they could distinguish where they hit on the clubface just by the sound.

One tester did note that there was some excess glue around the elastomer port  on one wedge. While it had no performance impact, it was worth noting given the price of wedges and the expectation that wedges with that cost should be perfect.

Did WebFit Get It Right?

As our testers did not have in-person fittings but only the WebFit, did the app get it right? Did any of them feel they should change grinds or options?

Johngschultz: “The process was straightforward, and the explanation for my results was spot on for what I am looking for in a wedge that matches my game. The S/12 grind and bounce will help with fuller shots, while the T/6 combo should allow for me to be creative around the greens!”

Aguybadatgolf: “I am looking at the PING WebFit for accuracy. I play my current wedges +1” and 3 degrees upright. WebFit suggested the same specs I currently am using, so I stuck with that. It recommended the 50 S-12, 54 S-12, and 58 H-8.”

Leonvdwesthuizen: “The fitter was even impressed with how accurate the PING WebFit app fitted me with the wedges, as even he would fit me with exactly those wedges. The only difference is that he would bend the 50-degree wedge, but that is to make up for my steep swing, so no fault on PING and thus I give them full marks.”

Game It Or Trade It?

I am pretty sure you can see where this is going. Our testers loved these wedges. They found it hard to find flaws with them. All four testers are making these their go-to wedges. In the process, the PING s159 wedges displaced some other top-brand wedges in our testers’ bags.

Final Grades and Quotes

Our testers graded the wedges in several categories that would total to a final number out of 100. The PING s159 wedges received grades of 96, 94, 94 and 97. Impressive!

Bens197: “Cosmetically pleasing technology. Variety of grinds. Consistent feel and performance. Do I have your attention? If you’re in the market, you should put these on your list because they did not disappoint.”

Johngschultz: “To sum it up, PING took the look you want in a wedge and added the technology and forgiveness you need without sacrifices. The PING s159s are top-notch, and if you’re looking for new wedges, I would consider them worth the top-tier pricing that comes with it.”

Aguybadatgolf: “When it comes to the PING s159 wedges, the marketing wasn’t just hype. They accurately describe the performance you will see from these clubs. The spin is what stood out to me. PING has hit it out of the park with their newest wedges.”

Leonvdwesthuizen: “The PING s159’s give every golfer more spin, and much more confidence to play those difficult, around-the-green shots and those full wedge shots that need to stay on the green. This gives us a chance to convert to birdies or pars and shave shots off our scorecards.”

To dive deeper into our testers’ full reviews, photos and data, go here: PING s159 Wedges 2024 Forum Member Review

Interested In Testing? 

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