Ping i240 Vs Ping i540 Irons Comparison And Performance Review

TL:DR Overview

The Ping i240 and i540 irons are two very different clubs aimed at different types of players.

The i240’s are precision focused players irons with high launch and excellent stopping power for mid to low handicappers who want forgiveness without giving up control.

The i540’s are players distance irons that bring explosive ball speed and distance in a sharper package for golfers who want power without carrying chunky game improvement clubs.

The i540’s were significantly longer and faster with less spin than the i240’s but the i240’s flew higher with steeper descent angles and better stopping power for attacking pins.

Both irons launch high and land steep but the i540’s deliver that distance in a sharper suit while the i240’s focus on consistency and precision.

Performance Stats

	Ping i240	Ping i540
Ball Speed	119.6 mph	126.5 mph
Height	106 ft	103 ft
Spin	5870 rpm	4552 rpm
Land Angle	49.9°	47.3°
Distance	168.7 yards	189.2 yards

Ping i240 Irons Overview

The i240’s are traditional cavity back players irons built for precision and consistency. They’re the most forgiving players iron Ping have ever made which is saying something.

These are made from 431 stainless steel with a lighter ABS and carbon fiber badge that saves about 8.5 grams. That saved weight gets repositioned low to boost MOI by 2.5% which means 11% less dispersion than the i230’s.

The elastomer insert in the cavity dampens vibrations brilliantly and gives these a soft feel that rivals forged irons. Ping ditched the tingy sound you sometimes get with cavity backs and these feel solid and buttery at impact.

They’ve also changed up the grooves, going wider with fewer grooves to maximize spin consistency especially on fairway shots under 150 yards where you need that control.

The center of gravity sits low which means high launch and steep descent angles to stop the ball on greens. These are probably the highest launching players iron Ping have made.

The look is proper players iron with thin topline and narrow sole but there’s a touch of offset and slightly thicker sole than pure blades.

Ping i540 Irons Overview

The i540’s are hollow body players distance irons that replace the i530’s with even more ball speed and distance packed into a sharp looking package.

The big technology here is inR-Air, a pressurized air pocket behind the face that’s nearly weightless but improves sound and feel while letting the face flex more for extra distance.

The face is C300 maraging steel and it’s 9% thinner than the i530 which means serious ball speed. It’s welded to a Hyper 17-4 stainless body with covered cavity construction that keeps everything looking clean.

Ping added 24 grams of tungsten low in the sole of the 4 through 7 irons which lowers the center of gravity by 2.4% compared to the i530. This helps with distance consistency especially when you don’t catch it perfect.

Despite the strong lofts these launch incredibly high with descent angles above 50 degrees in the short irons which gives proper stopping power.

The sound is distinctive, quite high pitched and loud at impact. It’s not harsh but it’s definitely not soft and forged sounding either. Feel is good though with clear feedback on mishits.

One thing to watch is the yardage gaps can get big because these are so powerful. You might see gaps of nearly 40 yards between clubs which means you need to think carefully about your wedge setup.

They’re also difficult to turn over, shots tend to start right and stay right which could help if you fight a slice but makes draws harder to hit.

Overall Ping i240 Vs Ping i540

These are two very different irons for different golfers.

The i540’s are significantly longer with over 20 yards more distance and nearly 7 mph more ball speed. They’re proper distance irons that still launch high and stop reasonably well despite lower spin.

The i240’s fly higher with steeper descent angles and way more spin for maximum stopping power. They’re about precision and consistency rather than distance.

For forgiveness the i240’s win, they’ve got better MOI and tighter dispersions for hitting more greens. The i540’s have forgiveness too but they’re aimed at more consistent strikers who can handle the extra speed.

Sound and feel go to the i240’s, they’re softer and more solid at impact while the i540’s have that high pitched crack that won’t be for everyone.

If you’re a mid to low handicapper who wants workability, control and precision the i240’s are the call. If you’re chasing distance but don’t want chunky game improvement looks the i540’s deliver speed in a sharper package.

Both launch high and both have good stopping power for their category. The i240’s suit golfers transitioning into players irons or better players wanting forgiveness. The i540’s suit single figure golfers who need explosive distance but still want to shape shots and attack pins.

Always best to get fitted but these two sit perfectly between the Blueprint series and the G440’s giving golfers proper choice in the Ping lineup depending on whether precision or distance is your priority.