Why Was it Great? Ping Eye2 wedge
If there is one wedge design that has stood the test of time it’s the Ping Eye2. From the early 2000s madness of used BeCu wedges going for up to $400 to the modern-day Glides, it’s the definition of a classic. So classic in fact that we have seen other OEMs take Eye 2 design characteristics and incorporate them into their own designs. In this video, I explain what made the Eye2 so good and why it is still one of the best wedge designs of all time!
Kristoffer Reitan just won his first PGA Tour event at the 2026 Truist Championship. He is a Ping staff member and has a complete set of clubs from the brand. He did make a late driver switch this weekend that helped propel him to victory.
Driver: Ping G440 Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 60 TX
3-wood: Ping G440 Max (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
7-wood: Ping G440 Max (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black 85 TX
Irons: Ping Blueprint S (4-9)
Shafts: KBS Tour X
Wedges: Ping S259
46-S
Shaft KBS Tour X
50-S
54-S
58-S
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Ping PLD Custom Ally Blue H (white finish)
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Midsize
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Videos
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In this week’s episode of Inside the Ropes from the Truist Championship, Alistair Cameron catches up with Tony Finau, who is in the midst of an interesting long-putter experiment, and Webb Simpson, whose irons must be seen to be believed. Also featuring: Sepp Straka, Ryan Gerard, and much more!
Right now, I am tied for first place in my league! Don’t worry, the wheels will fall off as we get further into the year, but let’s keep the train rolling with 14 brand new clubs this week. We are off on the back nine again, so the driver is back in, and the 7-wood is out, as the course dictates what clubs I tend not to use. Excited to get these New Level irons out there and see if I can catch some of that driver magic I had down at Pinehurst with the Wilson Dynapwr+.
Driver: Wilson Dynapwr Max+ (12 degrees @ 11)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6s
3-wood: Cobra OPTM Max (15.5 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VR-7s
Utility: PXG 0311 X Gen8
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD DI-85s Hybrid
Hybrid: Ping G440 4h (22 degrees @ 21)
Shaft: Ping Tour 2.0 Chrome 85s
Irons: New Level 702+ (5 & 6)
Shafts: Project X Red 6.0
Irons: New Level 702 CB (7-PW)
Shafts: Project X REd 6.0
Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM11 (50.12F)
Shaft: Nippon Modus Tour 105 S
Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM11 (56.14F)
Shaft: Nippon Modus Tour 105 S
Wedge: Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks (60V)
Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold S200
Putter: PXG Hot Rod ZT
Ball: Titleist ProV1x Left Dash
Bag: Ghost GT-14 Patriot
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Teddy
Jan 28, 2020 at 8:43 pm
The part of the EYE 2 story you didn’t tell was the lawsuit with the USGA over the groove spacing.
Eye 2 are cast not forged and the groove edges on the early releases where so sharp a Balata cover ball would be shredded after a few holes. To remedy that PING milled the edges a bit after casting. USGA then banned them as non-compliant because grooves where spaced too close together. Solheim, a former Boeing engineer sued USGA claiming the proper way to measure groove spacing was center-to-center not edge to edge. The case was settled with PING Eye 2 given an exemption from all future rule changes regarding grooves. Fast forward to 2010 when USGA mandated V grooves…. Mickelson, Harrington and others started gaming Eye2 wedges again and PING reissued the 60° as the Eye 2 XG.
I still use a 3i – 60° set of Eye 2s with an extra PW bent to 53° as a gag between 50° PW and 56° SW. I had the lofts and lies on all four wedges checked and adjusted.
Bob Vokey
Jun 27, 2019 at 12:20 pm
These wedges are low grade dog food.
Bobbyg
Jun 26, 2019 at 11:28 pm
Had one. Didn’t like it. The groves were great but the rest not so great.
John
Jun 26, 2019 at 9:02 pm
I bought a Ping 56° wedge with the ES sole about two years ago. It worked fine from the sand, but I could not chip with it because the skinny front part of the sole dug into the ground. My handicap was close to zero, so I think I know how to chip at a basic level but even substantial practice didn’t help. As soon as I got rid of that club and switched to a standard sole on the same club, the problem disappeared. Very strange.
Matt Strube
Jun 26, 2019 at 7:44 pm
Ryan, How do these type of wedge designs work for opening up the fact on tighter lies? Great explanation btw.
Matt Strube
Jun 26, 2019 at 7:45 pm
Face, not Fact. 🙂
Garth
Jun 26, 2019 at 5:29 pm
Don’t have a club to show you?
I guarantee?
B grade content at best
Cyril Zupan
Jun 26, 2019 at 4:02 pm
Great Video and explanation …
Before Ping Eye 2 wedges…
I would consider the Hogan Sure-Out and the Bite wedge forerunners to the wide sole..
Thanks and Keep them coming…
Clay Long
Jun 26, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Nice piece on the Eye 2 sand wedge. One thing you missed is the CG location of the Eye 2 compared to conventional classic wedges. The Eye 2 has its CG right in the center of the scoring. Very unusual for popular sand wedges, even the Callaway PM Grind and the Taylormade High Toe wedges don’t accomplish this. (mainly due to no cavity)The high toe shape of the Eye 2 helped accomplish this balance along with the cavity back design. Ugly by classic wedge standards but quite functional as were most of Karsten’s designs. The concaved sole is still difficult to justify and explain its functionality, however it evolved from the wear pattern of older classic wedges that had brand stamps in the center of the sole. Blasting shots from the sand over time dished out the stamping into a concave shape. When going through tour player’s old favorites this worn feature looked like a good shape to copy into a new design. The only thing you can logically draw from the concave sole design is that it allows a sole to bite or dig more easily into the turf the straight on position while offering added bounce resistance or lift when opened compared to a more conventional sole design. (as the designer of the Taylormade High Toe wedge I thought I would offer up these comments)
hoganben
May 16, 2023 at 7:18 pm
recognized your name right away..wow, talk about an expert opinion/comment..thanks for the info