It’s easy to look at a driving iron and assume it’s only for the Tour truck or the ultra-low handicap crowd. However, after testing the new iDi driving iron, I’m here to tell you that this thing is legit.
Some driving irons are so low-spinning and firm-feeling that they turn into nothing more than a tee-only club — they launch low and run forever, but are tough to use into greens or from the fairway. Others try to soften things up but end up feeling too muted or clunky. The iDi finds a sweet spot in the middle. It gives you that penetrating, controllable flight off the tee, but still launches high enough and spins enough to be playable off the turf, especially in the 3i and 4i lofts.
Faster, higher, and more playable than my gamer i230 4-iron, the iDi was a standout from the first swing. It launched with ease, gave me more ball speed and landed softer. All without giving up that iron feel I prefer over a hybrid. And while it would be an easy 4-iron replacement for me personally, the iDi is much more than that.
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all driving iron. PING built the iDi in three lofts to fit a variety of players and bag setups. Whether you’re replacing a 2, 3, or 4-iron. or looking for an alternative to a hybrid, the iDi gives you options. The iDi is packed with technology built specifically for better players who want more control at the top of the bag.
Key Tech that makes the iDi stand out……
The iDi marks a significant step forward in driving iron and long-iron performance, providing better golfers with the flexibility of three loft choices to fit their distance and trajectory preferences. Loft offerings are optimised for launch and spin in 2, 3 & 4 irons with a thinner, forged maraging steel face that flexes to increase ball speed and distance. The 2 is a traditional driving iron, delivering low launch and spin. The 3 (mid launch, mid spin) is designed as a driving iron or long-iron replacement. The 4 launches higher with more spin, making it easier to hold greens, and is also recommended as a replacement for long irons. The 17-4 stainless steel head is both deeper from front to back and shallower, which allows for a 15% higher MOI on high and low impacts, and makes room for the new inR-Air technology. InR-Air is a pocket of air in the clubhead that damps sound and improves feel. The covered cavity and i-Beam structure help reduce vibration. In addition, iDi has a shorter heel-to-toe footprint, making it easier to turn over. For control in shot making, each iDi is approximately 1/4″ shorter and 1° flatter.
inR-Air Technology
This is the big one. There’s literally a small pocket of air inside the head that is designed to tune the sound and feel. Long, hollow-body irons can sound harsh or clicky, but the inR-Air pocket softens that sound without adding foam or dampening the face. It still feels solid, but is cleaner and more familiar.
Forged maraging steel face
The face is fast. It’s forged and super thin, which helps create more ball speed, even on slightly missed strikes. I saw a jump in speed over my gamer i230, which is already a really efficient head. Combine that with a lower CG and you’ve got a high-launching, high-speed long iron replacement that doesn’t balloon on you.
Compact, confidence-inspiring shape
The head is slightly deeper front to back, but shorter heel to toe and has a flatter lie angle, so it sets up beautifully behind the ball. It’s one of those rare driving irons that looks easy to hit without looking bulky.
Three loft options for gapping versatility
2i – 17°: A true driving iron. Low launch, low spin, made for the tee.
3i – 20°: Middle ground. More launch, more spin, playable from tee or turf.
4i – 23°: High-launching long iron replacement that’s still playable off the deck and can hold a green.
The iDi 4i is a standout in the lineup, and not just because it’s the most “user-friendly” loft. It’s designed to be a true long-iron replacement, offering the kind of launch, spin and stopping power that can be tough to find in a traditional 4-iron.
In my testing, the iDi 4i launched noticeably higher than my i230 4-iron, produced 300+ RPMs more spin and landed with a 2-degree steeper angle, all of which made it far more capable of holding greens on longer approaches. That extra height and softer landing isn’t accidental. With more loft (23°), a lower centre of gravity and a forged maraging steel face that’s fast but still spin-friendly, the 4i is built for height. The added spin not only helps with the launch but also gives you the control you need when you’re coming into a firm green from 200 or more yards out.
Whether you’re a better player looking for control off the tee, or someone searching for something more consistent than your current long iron, this is a tool worth testing. And for me personally? The iDi 4-iron might be the easiest switch I’ve made in years. More speed, better height and control I can see.
What really separates it is the combination of ball speed and playability. You don’t have to step on it to get performance, and the inR-Air tech helps it feel clean and responsive without the harsh click that usually comes with hollow-body long irons. Simply put, the iDi doesn’t ask you to compromise; it just works.
If you’re dialling in the top of your bag and haven’t quite found the right gapping solution, give the iDi a shot. You might not miss your old 4-iron (or 3-iron or 2-iron) as much as you think. You may even find something more fun to hit than that trusty hybrid.
Price and Availability
The iDi will be available in 2 (17° loft) 39.75” std. length, 3 (20°) 39.25”, 4 (23°), 38.75” with the stock shaft of PING Tour 2.0 Chrome 85 (R, S, X). Options of PING Alta CB Blue 70 (SR, R, S), PING Tour 2.0, Black 90 (S, X), Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black 85 (S, X), Project X Denali Red 70HY (5.5), 80HY (6.0, 6.5) are also available.
The new iDi driving irons are now available for custom fittings at authorised PING retailers around Ireland. Each iron will have an RRP of €365 per club with graphite or steel shafts.
