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Tour Validated: Testing with Hunter Mahan and why you should try everything

On this episode of Tour Validated, Johnny and Ping's Kenton Oates take Hunter Mahan through every iron and wedge they make. It's fascinating.

By Jessica Marksbury · Golf

Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 5:11 PM

Key Things to Know

Hunter Mahan tested Ping's complete iron family to highlight the importance of testing diverse equipment profiles.
Mahan's gamer Blueprint S irons produced 600 to 700 more rpm of spin compared to the Blueprint T.
Testing showed the game-improvement i540 nine-iron reached 124 mph ball speed, roughly 9 mph faster than standard.

The Story in 60 Seconds

In an episode of Tour Validated at Trinity Forest, former PGA Tour player Hunter Mahan tested Ping's full iron lineup alongside Ping representative Kenton Oates. Mahan worked through models including the Blueprint T, Blueprint S, i240, i540, G440, and G740 to demonstrate the value of keeping an open mind during equipment testing.

While Mahan plays the Blueprint S irons, testing revealed significant performance differences across models. Testing showed the Blueprint S produced 600 to 700 rpm more spin than the Blueprint T, while game-improvement models like the i540 generated ball speeds reaching 124 mph due to stronger loft profiles and modern sole designs.

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Tour Validated: Testing with Hunter Mahan and why you should try everything

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