Ping’s new S159 wedges have been widely discussed in the GolfWRX forums since we spotted them on tour late last year. I was fortunate enough to get two of the newest S159 grinds out on the course to put them through their paces around the green. I will admit that some of Ping’s previous wedge offerings never really suited my eye, but that definitely changed with these S159 wedges.
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Out of the box, I like the clean and simple look that Ping went with. From address, the wedges have had some of the offset removed and the line from the hosel into the leading edge is straight. A lot of wedges with a little offset have a curve, or “hook,” from the hosel to leading edge that I just don’t love. Ping, however, did away with most of that.
Speaking of the leading edge, Ping has gone a little straighter with it as you see very little curve on the lower lofts (like the 52 degree) and just slightly more radius as you get into the lob wedge. I like the simple look with minimal branding on these wedges and the Hydropearl 2.0 chrome finish looks nice while still reducing glare.
Ping added some new grinds and grind options to the S159 line and if you need a place to start with what wedge fits your game the best, Ping’s WebFit app is a quick way to get some suggestions.
I have been hitting the 56 H grind and 60 B grind. The wedges are cast from 8620 carbon steel and have a nice soft feel to them. When you do miss the center, you will get a little more vibration to your hands as well as a more audible click at impact. My miss with a wedge is typically low heel and definitely noticed a firmer feel and louder sound.
Spin on the S159 was very good, and Ping’s use of smaller grooves on the face produced shots that checked up hard from any distance on the green. Now the smaller grooves are a little hard to clean, so I suggest investing in a nice plastic bristled brush. Playing this early in Metro Detroit does not offer you tight, manicured fairway lies, and the S159 wedges were still allowing me to spin the ball back on fuller shots. Shots out of the rough still spun well and were met with very predictable, although shorter, release. I went a little long on a green and had very little green to work with, so I hit a little chip that just landed beyond the fringe and stopped after about one foot, leaving me well short. I didn’t think the wedge could get enough friction on the ball from that deeper rough, but the S159 proved me wrong.
Ball flight is a little higher than the Vokey SM10 wedges on standard shots for me, but you can still flight the ball down easily for a penetrating shot with a lot of spin. Ping states the S159’s shape is tour-inspired, but they do offer some good forgiveness when you don’t hit it perfectly. As I mentioned earlier I tend to miss low heel with my wedges and the S159 would still give me decent launch and spin, producing a solid shot.
Ping S159 56-10 H Grind
I was a little intimidated by this one, as I haven’t played a sand wedge with this little bounce in a long time. I am a steeper swinger and play in soft conditions, so most of my wedges are in the teens when it comes to bounce. However, Ping does describe the H as “A shot-saving option for players with steeper angles of attack who like to manipulate the handle and play with versatility,” so I didn’t need to be so cautious.
The H grind offers good turf interaction on full shots as the course was soft from a few rainy days, but the wedge got through quickly. Divots were just a touch deeper than some of the higher-bounce wedges I have used, but the H got through and out of the turf pretty quickly.
Around the green, the H grind was versatile and allowed you to open the face while the leading edge stayed close to the turf. I don’t open a 56 up a ton, but it was easy to open it slightly and hit a higher-lofted pitch or chip shot around the green. When you went wide open with the H grind in the bunker, it offered good float and slide through firm sand easily and quickly.
Ping S159 60-8 B Grind
This grind was the one I was most excited to try, but I was a little taken aback when I saw how wide the sole was. Now I am light years away from a tour player who can play flop shots off concrete lies, but I like to open the face a little bit. The B grind is wide and only has a little bit of heel and trailing edge relief. As Ping says, the grind is “For a shallow angle of attack and neutral face delivery. Low-bounce design sits low on the turf on square-face shots.”
Now the B grind does have a nice bevel from the leading edge to the sole that is subtle but allows the wedge to be “thumped” into the turf without worrying about digging while playing it square. As Ping says, square shots are great and you have a bit of forgivness if you hit just slightly behind the ball as the B will glide effortlessly across the turf. You can still open the face a little in some more lush and softer conditions. Shots hit very high on the face don’t carry a ton and lose some spin compared to some of the high-toe style wedges.
Bunkers with softer and fluffy sand are where the B grind will thrive as well; the wedge just floats like a pontoon boat through it. I am usually a 56-degree wedge player out of the bunker unless I am short-sided, but I could see myself using the B grind more and more, as it is just easy and consistent.
My final thoughts on Ping’s S159 wedges: They are very versatile and playable for a wide range of golfers. If you are looking for ultimate shotmaking or just some consistent wedges that spin well, these can be both. And now that Ping added some grinds and grind options to the lineup, you should be able to find a two, three, or four-wedge setup that complements your wedge game, swing, and course conditions.
