Exploring PING Glide 3.0 sole grind options

It doesn’t take long for most golfers to realize that their quickest path to improvement is to work on their short game.

Manufacturers understand this as well, which is why in recent years wedges have become more and more specialized both in terms of their technological innovations and their sole designs.

When PING set out to create its new Glide 3.0 wedge line, there were plenty of lofty goals to be achieved.

That list included shaping modifications, optimized spin, a softer impact feel, and added forgiveness on both full shots and shots played around the green.

“The Glide 3.0 wedge is a great blend of a players-style design and game-improvement technology,” said PING President John K. Solheim. “At address, it provides the clean look of a tour-style wedge. We've added some offset based on Tour player feedback to provide a more captured look. At the same time, we've increased the perimeter weighting and improved the feel with the softer insert material to ensure golfers have the forgiveness they need to play with confidence.”

Equally important, however, yet not surprising given PING’s commitment to fitting, was to offer golfers unique sole designs that would match up with their swing characteristics, their on-course needs, and the conditions where they play most often.

PING is certainly not alone when it comes to creating multiple grind options, but it does it as well as anyone in the game right now, and evidence of that is readily available on Tour.

During a recent visit to the PING Tour Van at the 3M Open, PING Tour Technician Jack Ulrich revealed that he and his team are doing less wedge grinding than they ever have before.

The reason? The grind options that have been developed by PING’s R&D team are so versatile and comprehensive that players can usually get exactly what they need from one of the grind options that has been developed.

And that is exactly what PING set out to do.

“From a fitting standpoint, we engineered four distinctly different sole grinds to ensure that trained PING club fitters can properly match a Glide 3.0 to a golfer's swing and playing conditions,” Solheim said. “We see tremendous opportunity in wedge fitting. It starts by focusing our product designs on meeting the needs of golfers. With the new sole grinds and multiple loft options, a fitter can really dial in the wedges to help improve the player's performance.”

Of course, having the perfect sole grind available and choosing the perfect sole grind are two different things, and selecting the right grind might prove challenging for players who won’t have the opportunity to be professionally fit.

That being the case, here’s a closer look at each of the four sole grinds that are available in the PING Glide 3.0 lineup:

SS Grind: The SS Grind (Standard Sole) will fit the widest range of golfer among PING’s four options. It would best be described as a mid-bounce grind that features heel relief to promote shot-making versatility. The SS Grind will work well for players with moderate angles of attack and prove effective from most turf and sand conditions. It will also excel on full shots and shots played with a straight face around the green. Glide 3.0 SS wedges are available in lofts of 46, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, and 60 degrees

WS Grind: The WS (Wide Sole) is PING’s high-bounce grind option, and players, when in doubt, should think of bounce as their friend when it comes to forgiveness. The WS sole has a rounded shape and more camber, and it will be a great option for players who have steeper angles of attack. It’s also a great option when playing from softer turf and sand, and it will excel from thick greenside rough. Glide 3.0 WS wedges are available in lofts of 54, 56, 58, and 60 degrees.

Eye2 Grind: Brand new from PING is the Eye2 sole grind, which will take players back in time to the original Eye2 sand and lob wedges that were so incredibly popular during their heyday. The Eye2 would qualify as a low-to-mid bounce option with a high toe section and narrow hosel transition that promotes incredible versatility around the green. Additionally, if you’re looking for a wedge to solve your issues from greenside bunkers, the Eye2 is the ideal choice. Glide 3.0 Eye2 wedges are available in lofts of 54, 56, 58, and 60 degrees.

TS Grind: The TS (Thin Sole) is a low-bounce option that was created for shot-makers. It will qualify as the least forgiving of the Glide 3.0 sole options, but its extreme heel relief allows players to open the face and play a wide array of shots around the green. The TS will also excel for golfers who have more shallow angles of attack and it’s at its best from firmer turf and sand. Glide 3.0 TS wedges are available in lofts of 58 and 60 degrees.

Certainly we’d encourage any player with the opportunity to visit a 2nd Swing store for a wedge fitting, but if that’s not an option for you the information above should provide valuable insight into how the grinds differ and who/what they were intended for. And picking the right grind(s) is imperative when it comes to maximizing performance in your wedge game.

Additionally, you can watch this exclusive 2nd Swing video for more information on bounce and wedge selection to help you in the decision-making process.