The PING i540 is a sleek players-distance iron offering impressive ball speed, consistent carry, and added forgiveness, all while maintaining a compact look and the familiar feel PING players expect.
Price: £200 per iron (steel) (+£10 graphite)
Typical set: 4 iron – PW (with optional wedges)
7-iron loft: 29°
Pitching wedge loft: 42°
Loft options available:
Standard
Power Spec (stronger lofts for more distance)
Retro Spec (weaker lofts for higher launch)
Pros
Serious distance gains
Delivers strong ball speeds and noticeable yardage increases, even without increasing swing speedExcellent consistency
Tight carry numbers and reliable gapping make it very repeatable shot-to-shotForgiveness in a compact head
Maintains ball speed on slight mishits, especially for a players-style ironSleek, modern look
Slimmer topline and refined shaping give it strong shelf appealHigh launch with good stopping power
Gets the ball up easily while still holding greensSolid, familiar PING feel
Improved acoustics compared to many hollow-body irons thanks to internal tech
Cons
Premium price point
Sits at the higher end of the players-distance market, making it harder to justify vs competitorsFeel not the softest
Slightly firmer or “hot” feel compared to more traditional or previous PING ironsStronger lofts won’t suit everyone
Distance comes partly from loft jacking, which may not appeal to all playersLong iron offset may divide opinion
Some golfers may find the look in longer irons slightly off-putting
If you’re anything like me and you’ve always liked what PING do with their irons, but maybe feel like your numbers have dropped off a bit over time, then the Ping i540 is a really interesting release.
I’ve not played as much as I’d have liked over the last 16 months, so my iron game isn’t exactly razor sharp right now. But sometimes that actually gives you a better test of a club, because you’re not just seeing your best swings, you’re seeing the real ones.
And that’s where the Ping i540 really surprised me.
This isn’t just about gaining a few extra yards. It’s about gaining them consistently, without feeling like you’ve suddenly got to change your swing or start chasing something new.
First Impressions – Look & Feel (4/5)
Where It Fits in the PING Line-Up
The i540 sits in that players-distance bracket, which is probably the most competitive part of the market right now.
In simple terms, it fits between:
The more forgiving G-series irons
And the more traditional players irons like the i240 and Blueprint
What PING are trying to do here is give you distance and forgiveness, but in a head that still looks and feels like something a better player would use.
And I think they’ve done a really good job of that.
A lot of distance irons can end up looking a bit bulky or feeling a bit disconnected. This doesn’t really fall into that trap.
Who It’s For (And Who It Isn’t)
On paper, you’d probably say this is for high single-figure to mid-teen handicappers.
But honestly, I think that only tells part of the story.
For me, it’s more about how you strike the ball.
You don’t need to be flushing it every time, but if you’ve got a bit of consistency in your strike, even if your scores don’t always reflect it, then you’ll get the benefit of what this iron offers.
You might be someone who:
Loses shots off the tee
Or struggles around the greens
Or just hasn’t played much recently (like me)
But if your iron strike is decent enough, this club gives you that extra help without taking away the feel and control.
Performance – 5/5
This is where the Ping i540 really stood out for me.
And I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting the jump I saw.
I was getting over 15 yards extra on average, which is a big gain.
Now, you do have to put that into context. I was moving from a cavity back into a hollow body iron, so you’d expect some difference. But even with that in mind, the consistency of the numbers is what impressed me most.
Distance Without Effort
It didn’t feel like I had to swing any differently.
Clubhead speed stayed pretty much the same, but the ball was just coming off the face hotter and carrying further.
That’s exactly what you want, more output, without more effort.
Forgiveness That Actually Helps
One of the big things I noticed was how well it handled slight mishits.
I had a couple off the toe that still carried really well. Not perfect, but definitely not punished in the way you might expect from something that looks this compact.
That’s where this club really earns its place in that players-distance category.
Consistency Is the Real Win
For me, the biggest takeaway wasn’t just distance, it was repeatability.
The carry numbers were really tight. You’re not getting one that flies 10 yards further out of nowhere and then struggling to control it.
It’s just consistently strong.
And that’s what lowers scores, not the odd great shot, but being able to rely on what the club is going to do.
Launch and Flight
The ball flight was high and stable, which is exactly what most golfers want.
It gets up easily, holds its line, and comes down in a way that feels predictable. You’re not fighting it to get it in the air, and you’re not seeing anything overly spinny or ballooning either.
Value – 3/5
This is probably where it gets a bit more difficult.
The i540 is priced at over £15 more per iron than the TaylorMade P790, and slightly more than something like the Titleist T250.
Now, those are both very strong competitors in this category.
The P790 in particular has been one of the leading irons in this space for a long time, so naturally that’s what a lot of people will compare this to.
So the question becomes:
Is it worth the extra money?
And I think the honest answer is, it depends.
If you’re getting clear performance gains, like I saw, then yes, you can justify it.
But if you’re testing it side by side with something like a P790 and the numbers are very similar, then it’s harder to say it offers better value.
It’s not that the i540 isn’t good, it absolutely is. It’s just going up against a very competitive price bracket.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I came away really impressed with the i540.
It’s one of those irons that just makes the game feel a bit easier without making it feel like you’re using something oversized or overly forgiving.
You’re getting:
A sleek, modern look
Strong, consistent distance gains
Forgiveness where you need it
And a feel that stays true to PING
For me, the biggest thing is how repeatable it is. That’s what builds confidence, and that’s what ultimately helps you score better.
Overall, a great iron.
And a big thanks to PING and Nick Boulton for the insight and time. It definitely helped me understand what this club is trying to do, and more importantly, who it’s really for.
Performance Testing
The most important question with a super game-improvement iron is simple:
Does it actually make golf easier?
In my testing, the answer is largely yes.
The G740 is clearly designed to deliver consistent results across the face, and during testing that’s exactly what it did.
Forgiveness on Off-Centre Hits
Thin shots, toe strikes and slightly heavy strikes all produced remarkably consistent ball speeds.
Even when contact wasn’t perfect, the drop-off in distance was surprisingly small.
This is exactly what golfers buying a super game-improvement iron want.
Instead of losing huge yardage on mishits, the club keeps shots relatively close to your normal distance.
Ball Speed and Carry
During testing with a 7-iron:
Higher swing speeds produced carry distances into the 180-yard range
At slower swing speeds in the high-70 mph range, ball speeds around 110 ft/s still produced carry distances close to 160 yards
These numbers show the iron can generate respectable ball speed even when swing speed isn’t particularly high.
Launch and Height
Testing was done with a slightly slower swing speed, and in hindsight the shaft selection may not have been ideal.
Because of that, I would have liked to see a little more height in the ball flight.
However, even with that limitation, the club still produced very consistent distance numbers, which reinforces the idea that forgiveness is its strongest attribute.
Score – 4/5
Shaft Options and Fitting
PING offers the G740 with a variety of shaft options designed to suit different swing speeds and player types.
These include:
Graphite Shafts
Lighter weight
Higher launch
Ideal for slower swing speeds
Lightweight Steel Shafts
Provide a traditional feel
Slightly heavier than graphite
Suitable for players who prefer steel but still want easier launch
As with most modern irons, proper fitting is essential.
The right shaft can dramatically affect launch height, spin rates and overall distance performance.
For golfers with swing speeds under roughly 85 mph with a 7-iron, higher-launch graphite shafts may help maximise carry distance.
Value for Money
The G740 sits at approximately £185 per iron, placing it firmly in the premium category.
This raises an important question.
Does it offer good value?
Compared to the PING G440 irons, it’s noticeably more expensive. And when compared with other game-improvement irons on the market, there are certainly cheaper options available.
However, it’s important to remember that the G740 isn’t a standard game-improvement iron.
It sits in the super game-improvement category, targeting golfers who prioritise forgiveness above everything else.
For new golfers or players who struggle with consistent contact, the ability to hit straighter, more repeatable iron shots could easily justify the extra cost.
In that sense, the value may depend on the individual golfer.
If the club helps you hit better shots more often, that improvement could be worth far more than the price difference.
Value Score: 3/5
Who Should Play the G740?
The PING G740 is not designed for low-handicap golfers looking to shape shots or control trajectory.
Instead, it’s ideal for golfers who:
Miss the centre of the clubface regularly
Need help launching the ball higher
Want maximum forgiveness across the face
Prefer consistent distances over shot-shaping ability
Are newer to the game or returning after time away
For these players, the G740 offers exactly what it promises: stability, forgiveness and repeatable performance.
Final Verdict
The PING G740 irons do exactly what they’re designed to do.
They make iron play more forgiving, more consistent and easier for golfers who struggle with strike quality.
While the looks from the back of the club might not appeal to everyone, the clean address profile and impressive sound and feel help balance that out.
Performance is where the G740 truly shines. Off-centre hits remain remarkably consistent, distance drop-off is minimal, and the club provides plenty of help getting the ball airborne.
The price tag is on the higher side, but for the right golfer the forgiveness and consistency could make a genuine difference on the course.