2nd Swing Golf
Master fitters, Trackman-heavy testing
“This could go right in the bag right now.”
A fast, high-launching driving iron that surprised the testers by being genuinely playable off the turf as well as the tee; the host, a current i Crossover player, said it could go straight in his bag.
+ the facts · 7 pros · 3 cons− the facts
- +Big ball speed, 145-150 mph out of a 3 iron with smash factors up to 1.48
- +Launched and flew surprisingly high for a driving iron, 110+ feet peak height with 46-degree land angle
- +Very playable off the deck, some of the best strikes came off the turf
- −Feels firmer and sounds louder than the i Crossover, more like a big-faced hybrid
- −More visible mass behind the head at address, which may deter picky players
- −No hosel adjustability
For: Mostly higher swing speeds off the tee in the 2 and 3 iron, but the 4 iron works as an iron-set alternative for mid-speed players who dislike hybrids
Alex Etches
Custom fitter, gear deep-dives
“It's not cheaply trying to get distance. This thing is extremely fast”
The 2-iron iDi utility is a genuine distance monster with authentic ball speed and standout forgiveness, and it earned a spot in Alex's bag.
+ the facts · 5 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Exceptional ball speed and efficiency, averaging 283 yards over 37 shots with smash factors around 1.47-1.49
- +Extremely forgiving, toe strikes lost only about 5 mph of ball speed and a few yards
- +Spin stays healthy so the distance is real speed, not a cheap low-spin trick
- −Not the highest launching utility, the strong 2-iron favours a flatter forward flight
- −Big, hefty head won't appeal to players wanting a compact driving iron
For: Almost anyone, from players who can't hit driver but strike their irons well to better players wanting a tee club; go 4-iron if you need launch and stopping power
Mark Crossfield
Coach, famously hard to impress
“a solid well-made blended brilliantly driving iron”
The iDi driving iron blends seamlessly with the i240 set and impressed him enough that he is considering putting one in his own bag.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Launch, sound and feel are powerful and solid for a 3 iron
- +Shorter blade length blends seamlessly with the i240 4 iron
- +Versatile off the ground and the tee, easy to shape
- −Did not feel the claimed faster ball speeds from the 5% thinner face; output matched input, no more
For: Players wanting a long-iron replacement that packs more punch than a set 3 iron
Michael Newton Golf
On-course, season-long club tests
“I think that's a massive improvement from the crossover.”
A big step up from Crossover: better looking, better sounding, and the three lofts are each individually tuned for a different job rather than being one head in three lofts.
+ the facts · 6 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Each loft is tuned separately: 2 iron low launch and low spin for tee shots, 3 iron mid flight, 4 iron higher launch and stopping power
- +Sound and feel are excellent for a hollow utility thanks to the internal air pocket and I-beam vibration control
- +Shorter, squatter blade length than Crossover but 15% higher MOI on low strikes
- −Adjustable hosel is gone, so no loft or lie adjustability
- −Still a thickish top line with some offset and visible back section
For: Golfers who don't get on with a hybrid but struggle with a traditional long iron, off the tee or into greens.
Club Champion (TXG)
Tour-level fitting studio
“that's driver numbers. It's wild.”
The iDi 2-iron put up genuine driver numbers off the deck, hitting 284 to 296 yards with low spin, and even chunked mishits still ran out to 270.
+ the facts · 6 pros · 3 cons− the facts
- +Enormous distance: 284 to 296 yards off the deck with a 149 smash factor
- +Very low spin and a penetrating low flight, ideal as a fairway finder
- +Thick, confidence-inspiring head that looks like it has pop at address
- −A 2-iron is not a club most golfers are comfortable swinging
- −Low launch and low flight limit it to tee shots and punch-outs, not holding greens
- −Overlaps enough with a mini driver that it may displace one rather than add to the bag
For: Players comfortable with a long iron who want a tee-box fairway finder on short par 4s, or who punch out of trees often
Golf Monthly
UK magazine, season-long testing
“That's a bullet”
The new iDi driving iron, replacing the Crossover, paired a much softer feel with big flighted tee-shot numbers, carrying the 2-iron 260 yards with the exact 40-degree land angle he wanted.
+ the facts · 4 pros− the facts
- +I-beam construction with an internal air pocket gives a much softer feel than the old Crossover
- +2-iron carried 260 yards off the tee, the 3-iron slotted the target 240-yard gap perfectly
- +Land angle came out at 39.8 degrees, exactly the number he was looking for
For: Players who want a low-flighted driving iron primarily for tight tee shots
MyGolfSpy
Data-driven independent testing
“it's hard for me to think of a better option than the crossover”
Ping finally admits it makes a driving iron. The hosts loved what the outgoing i Crossover did for average golfers in their testing, so the shorter blade, wider sole and shallower face here make them a little nervous.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Ping's thinnest utility face ever thanks to the shallower profile
- +Internal air bladder and I-beams dampen sound and vibration without restricting the face
- +Loft tuned performance across two, three and four irons
- −Chrome plated plastic badge, though better looking than Titleist's old ones
- −Changes to a category-leading design make the hosts nervous
For: Golfers who hate hybrids or want a low flying long club option
James Robinson Golf
Mid-handicap everyman reviews
“is the tech in the ping worth that extra 120 pounds?”
The £269 Ping driving iron edged the distance battle with the longest shot of the day and a touch more ball speed, but it feels firm, mostly sounded awful to him, and he questions whether it's worth £120 more than the Vice.
+ the facts · 2 pros · 4 cons− the facts
- +Longest shot of the test (242 yards) with slightly more ball speed
- +Short blade length at address, which he likes
- −Feels a bit firm off the face
- −Sounded awful on most strikes
- −Looks a little funky with the big back weight
For: Players set on a premium big-brand driving iron who don't mind paying for it
