Next up for the Retro Review treatment is arguably the most iconic wedge of all time, the Ping Eye2 copper beryllium. It was first introduced in 1982, just as part of the Ping Eye2 iron set, but little did Ping know, it would soon become one of its most successful ever creations as a standalone product and go down as one of the best wedges of all time.
WATCH: Joe Ferguson compares the 1982 Ping Eye2 copper wedge to the modern-day Ping S159
Original launch date: 1982
Price we paid: £79.99
Who used it on tour: Mark Calcavecchia, Bob Tway, Paul Azinger
What was the tech?
In terms of technology, the Ping Eye2 wedge had quite a radical design. It was one of the first wedges to feature perimeter weighting and also had a super thin hosel which allowed Ping to distribute the spare mass elsewhere. Ping placed it high in the toe of the Eye2, arguably creating one of the first-ever “high-toe” designs, moving CG and providing a larger face area. Furthermore, the sole of the club was, and still is, a masterstroke of design with the heel section featuring little to no bounce to allow an easy entry to the sand, whilst the high bounce in the center of the sole facilitated an exceptionally smooth exit.
How did it perform?
To see how the Ping Eye2 had stood the test of time, we brought in the modern-day equivalent from Ping, the S159 wedge with the E grind sole inspired by the Eye2. I measured both wedges for exact loft, with the original coming in at 57.5˚ and the S159 at exactly 58˚, and the results were certainly surprising.
From the bunker, the original Eye2 was genuinely fantastic. The unique sole design slipped through the sand with ease and provided consistently strong results from a wide variety of lies. Similarly, on shorter pitch shots, the turf interaction was exceptional, and nipping the ball off some particularly tight heathland ground felt effortless. Interestingly it still generated ample spin even after over 40 years of use!
The spin around the greens piqued my interest, so using my Foresight Sports GCQuad launch monitor, I wanted to gather some data on longer pitch shots versus the new S159 wedge, and remarkably the spin rates were almost identical on both full and half shots! Knowing that the water-dispersing Hydropearl 2.0 finish on the S159 is the envy of many manufacturers, I decided to wet the face of both wedges and re-test. The results were extraordinary with the original Eye2 losing almost 50% of its original rpm’s, whilst the Hydropearl 2.0 finish of the S159 wedge was clearly effective, with barely any drop-off in spin.
Conclusion
I genuinely enjoyed reviewing the Eye2 wedge, and could absolutely see why it was one of the most popular wedges of all time, with many still believing it to be unrivaled from bunkers. The ease with which it entered and exited the sand was astonishing and the spin retention over 40 years (at least in dry conditions) was hugely impressive. The S159 wedge showed the potential advantages of some new technology, but for £79.99, you can own a piece of golf history and become a bunker wizard overnight, and it goes to show there are certainly some bargains to be had when buying second-hand golf clubs, especially from a reputable retailer like golfclubs4cash.
