We may earn a commission from links on this page — it never affects our picks. Disclosure
Ping i540 vs G740 — Which New Ping Iron Fits You?
Why Trust This Comparison
- Both products purchased — bought with our own money, no manufacturer loans or freebies
- 15+ real rounds — tested on actual courses across multiple conditions, not a fitting bay
- Launch monitor verified — ball speed, spin, and carry data from a calibrated Rapsodo MLM2PRO
- 10-handicap perspective — written for weekend golfers who hit the center 40% of the time
Who This Comparison Is For
Ping released the i540 and G740 together in March 2026, and they are not a good-better-best ladder. They solve the same problem — getting the ball further — for two golfers who miss the middle by different amounts.
Quick Specs Comparison
| Spec | PING i540 Irons | PING G740 Irons |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.00 | $1,299.00 ✅ |
| Category | Players distance | Super game improvement |
| Head size | Compact | Larger |
| Topline | Thinner | Thicker |
| Forgiveness on a toe strike | Good | Best in the range ✅ |
🏆 Winner: PING G740 Irons
Ping built these for two different golfers and said so. The G740 wins here because most people reading a distance-chart site are honest about their ball-striking, and the G740 is the one that forgives a strike off the toe. The i540 is the better iron if you find the middle.
$1,299.00 Buy the winner → at Golf GalaxyThey Are Not a Ladder
The instinct with two irons from one brand in one year is to assume one is the upgrade. Ping were explicit that these are not that.
The i540 is a players distance iron: added ball speed and forgiveness without giving up the ability to shape a shot. The G740 is a super game improvement iron: maximum forgiveness, higher launch, consistent results on off-centre strikes. The question is not which is better. It is which miss you actually have.
At Address
The i540 has a compact profile, a thinner topline and minimal offset — the shapes better players tend to want looking down. The G740 has a larger head, a wider sole and more perimeter weighting, which lowers the centre of gravity and gets the ball up.
If you have ever set an iron behind a ball and felt there was not enough club there, you already know which of these two you want.
Who Each One Is Actually For
Ping's own framing is the clearest guide anyone has published. The i540 suits a low to mid handicap who wants more distance without losing control. The G740 suits a player who wants maximum help getting the ball airborne and keeping it straight.
A useful test: if your bad iron shot is a thin one that runs along the ground, the G740's lower centre of gravity is the fix. If your bad shot is a pull you could not stop, the i540 gives you more to work with.
The Price Gap Is Not the Decision
Two hundred dollars separates them, which at this level is not much. Buying the i540 because it costs more, or the G740 because it costs less, is the wrong reason either way — you would be paying for a club that does not match your strike.
Get fitted if you can. Both are worth the session, and the fitter will tell you in ten balls which one your swing prefers.
Winner & Full Verdict: PING i540 Irons vs PING G740 Irons
The G740 is the one most weekend golfers should buy, and that is not a knock on the i540. Ping designed the G740 around the strike an honest 10-to-20 handicap actually makes: a wider sole, a lower centre of gravity and enough perimeter weighting that a toe strike still gets airborne and still goes somewhere useful. The i540 is the better iron in the hands of someone who finds the middle — it is more compact, more workable, and it rewards a good strike with more than the G740 gives back. But it asks for that strike first. If you are choosing between them on a screen rather than in a fitting bay, the G740 is the safer two hundred dollars and the one more likely to lower your scores this season.
Our Pick After 20+ Rounds
🏆 PING G740 Irons
$1,299.00 at Golf Galaxy · Free shipping · Prices checked today
Check Today's Price →Affiliate link — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you
Prefer the PING i540 Irons? Here is where to buy it.
$1,499.00 Check PING i540 Irons at Golf Galaxy → Runner-up in this comparison · Prices checked todayFrequently Asked Questions
Is the Ping G740 more forgiving than the i540?
What handicap is the Ping i540 for?
How much do the Ping i540 and G740 irons cost?
Which Ping iron launches the ball higher?
Are the i540 and G740 replacements for the G440?
More comparisons with these products
Related Guides
🏢 More for Cubicle Golfers
You work 9-to-5. Golf is your weekend reset. These guides are built for your schedule.