Modern iron gains are largely driven by stronger lofts; when normalized for loft, 1969 Ping technology remains remarkably competitive in forgiveness and consistency.
Their scorecard
Forgiveness: 5/5 — Remarkable 4-yard standard deviation
Feel: 4/5 — Soft, rewarding feel on flush strikes
Distance: 3/5 — Shorter due to 36 degree 7-iron loft
What they rate
Ping Karsten 1s offer elite distance control and consistency
Vintage clubs provide high spin for better stopping power
Perimeter weighting from 1969 was ahead of its time
What they don’t
Modern clubs provide better turf interaction on fat shots
Old grips and shafts may need replacement for real-world play
Modern iron gains are largely driven by stronger lofts; when normalized for loft, 1969 Ping technology remains remarkably competitive in forgiveness and consistency.
Ping Karsten 1s offer elite distance control and consistency
Vintage clubs provide high spin for better stopping power