Ping has redesigned the S259 wedges so you can hit wedge shots like a pro

Ping knows that the best wedge shots are the ones that start low and land on the green with control and spin.

So with the new S259 wedgesPing’s goal was to make these shots easier to hit more often, without changing much of what Ping wedges are known for, from the Glide series to the S159.

“S259 is the continuation of our wedge line,” Ping Director of Product Design Ryan Stokke told GOLF. “What’s really important for us when you talk about wedges and versus Ping is that we just want to be an extremely reliable OEM in wedges. I think if you look at someone who gets to a point where he or she has a relationship with the product and has confidence in that product, that really grows over time.”

The S259s feature new face blast technology to increase spin, refined shaping to better frame the ball and give players the feeling of “catching” it to fly it low, and a larger elastomer insert to improve feel.

Many PGA Tour pros quickly switched to the new wedges last fall.

Keep reading below to learn more about Ping S259 wedges, including my thoughts on the release.

What’s actually new with Ping S259 wedges – and why should you worry about them?

Trying to ‘catch’ the ball

Based on feedback from Tour players, Ping has tweaked the design of the S259 to give you more confidence at address, as it feels like you’re ‘capturing’ the ball.

No one likes wedge shots that hit high on the face and roll up, launching high with no spin. That is not only bad for predictability and control, but it is also very unpleasant to feel.

To give the feeling that players will cover the ball better and launch it lower, Ping has made the heel portion of the head shallow to give the appearance of a higher toe and the hose tapered slightly towards the face.

This also gives the impression that the leading edge is lower to the ground.

“We talk about catching in the way it holds the position, the ball relative to the head, but then it’s actually a verb and a verb that gives the feeling that the player can catch the ball, hit a small shot that is knocked down in flight, and a lower flight with higher spin,” Stokke said.

There was also a subtle change to the bottom groove, moving it from 3/4 length back to full length. That change also came from Tour staffers who said the full-length bottom groove helps them square the club and let them use the shape of the clubhead to open the club.

The face as a spider system

When it comes to generating spin, S259 wedges have more than just grooves to generate spin.

Wheel-shaped grooves work together with advanced face blast technology to maximize friction at impact and generate more spin.

“We have studied extensively for years: how do you design the face, the grooves, the explosion and the finish, the actual finish that is applied to the club, to achieve the highest level of friction and to get the right performance out of each of the clubs?” Stokke said. “Our competitive advantage is our understanding of the sensitivity of how we apply milling to the clubhead, the wheel-cut grooves we use, and the specific geometry, our face friction applied to each individual design, and then pairing that with a finish to give players very consistent launch and spin conditions across different lie conditions.”

A dual purpose

Perhaps the most noticeable cosmetic change to the S259 is the 13 percent larger elastomer insert on the back of the wedge.

That insert serves a dual purpose. First, it refines the feel and gives players a look behind the wedge’s technology.

But behind the scenes, Ping has all the different insert weights to use it as a swing weight mechanism without having to use tungsten plugs or drill into the head.

That’s especially important because Ping is offering S259s at retail in two different finishes: the Hydropearl 2.0 Chrome and the darker Midnight QPQ finish.

The Midnight finish is lighter than the Hydropearl finish, but because of the flexibility in the deployment weights, Ping can build the clubs so that they are the same overall. It is also easier to adjust the weights to suit customer preferences or longer/shorter builds.

The Ping S259 series

In total, Ping offers six different grinds with 25 unique loft/grind combinations. Four of the grinds are largely unchanged from the S159, while the E-Grind is now the same shape as the rest of the line, and the T-Grind has a steeper trail edge relief. There are also two new gap wedge options (50˚ and 52˚) in the high-bounce W gravel.

S-grinding

What it is: A mid-bounce standard profile grind with some extra heel and trail edge relief.

Available cages: 46°, 48°, 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°

Who is it for: Players with a moderate angle of attack who play primarily square-faced shots but want a touch of versatility.

H-grinding

What it is: This is the crescent-shaped sole profile with a lot of trail-edge relief.

Available cages: 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°

Who is it for: The H-grind is great for a steeper player who likes to play shots from many different facial positions around the green.

B-grinding

What it is: An option with low resilience, but with a wide sole that sits tightly on the surface.

Available cages: 58°, 60°

Who is it for: A great option for players on firmer grass or shallow players who mainly play square shots.

T-grinding

What it is: The lowest bounce option in Ping’s range with aggressive trail edge relief (deepened from previous generations) for maximum versatility.

Available cages: 58°, 60°, 62°

Who is it for: Shallow players who demand maximum versatility.

W-grinding

What it is: A high-resilience, wide-sole option for steeper players who need more forgiveness. New this year are gap wedge options (50°, 52°) that should help players transition directly from game improvement irons like the G440s.

Available cages: 50°, 52°, 54°, 56°, 58°, 60°

Who is it for: Steeper players and players who want to match the soles of their short irons with the gap wedge.

E-grinding

What it is: Formerly Ping’s famous Eye-2 shape, this shingle retains the “saucer” in the center of the sole, allowing for high, soft shots from tightly mown lies.

Available cages: 58°, 60°

Who is it for: A great option for players who want forgiveness from the sand, but don’t want to give up control through tight lies.

My opinion: focus on consistency

Ping isn’t trying to impress you with new technology with S259. They knew how popular S159 was and didn’t want to change what players liked about it.

The biggest advancement here is the new design, which I think works as intended and gives me a better feeling of covering the ball, something I really struggle with on flying wedge shots.

Combine that with Ping’s goal of producing consistent spin and the ability to swing the wedges using the elastomer insert, and Ping has done a very good job with the S259.

Not to mention, getting fit for Ping wedges is super easy with the updated version WebFit Wedge App. Interestingly enough, I plugged my own preferences into the app and got very similar grind recommendations to what I fit into at the Proving Grounds.

Overall, Ping has taken a successful wedge platform and brought it forward and their loyal following will love the changes.

Price and availability

View Product

The Ping S259 wedges are available for pre-orders start January 13 and arrive at retail locations at January 29.

Every wedge costs $199.

Want to find the best wedges for your bag in 2026? Find a club fitting location near you at True Spec Golf.

“>