Ping i3 Blade vs Ping i3+
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | i3 Blade loft | i3+ loft | i3 Blade lie | i3+ lie | i3 Blade length | i3+ length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15.5 | — | 58 | — | 39.75 | — |
| 2 | 18 | 17.9 | 58.5 | 58.7 | 39.25 | 39.25 |
| 3 | 20.5 | 20.7 | 59.5 | 59.4 | 38.75 | 38.75 |
| 4 | 24 | 23.8 | 60 | 60 | 38.25 | 38.25 |
| 5 | 27 | 27 | 61 | 60.8 | 37.75 | 37.75 |
| 6 | 30.5 | 30.6 | 61.5 | 61.5 | 37.25 | 37.25 |
| 7 | 34.5 | 34.4 | 62.5 | 62.3 | 36.75 | 36.75 |
| 8 | 38.5 | 38.4 | 63 | 63 | 36.25 | 36.25 |
| 9 | 42.5 | 42.7 | 64 | 63.8 | 35.75 | 35.75 |
| PW | 47 | 47.2 | 64.5 | 64.4 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
| UW | 52 | 52 | 64.5 | 64.7 | 35.25 | 35.25 |
| SW | 56 | 56 | 64.5 | 64.7 | 35.25 | 35.25 |
| LW | 60 | 60 | 64.5 | 65.2 | 35 | 35 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- i3 Blade
- i3+
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the i3 Blade is 34.5° and the i3+ is 34.4°, a 0.1° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the i3+ should carry a yard or so further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the i3 Blade. Across the 12 clubs both sets share, the differences roughly cancel out, with the largest gap at the 9-iron (42.5° vs 42.7°). The pitching wedges are 47° and 47.2°; the stronger one leaves a 3° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping. Beyond loft, the i3+ 7-iron sits 0.2° flatter (62.5° vs 62.3°), which nudges start direction slightly right for a right-hander.
The sets are built differently: the i3 Blade runs 1-iron to LW (13 clubs), the i3+ 2-iron to LW (12 clubs).
The i3 Blade is a blade iron and the i3+ a game improvement iron, so they sit 3 steps apart on the forgiveness scale. The i3+ is the more forgiving design, with a wider sole, more offset and more perimeter weighting for roughly 10 to 25 handicaps. The i3 Blade trades some of that for a more compact head, thinner topline and more control over flight and shape, which suits low single-digit handicaps who strike the ball consistently.
Both heads are listed as investment cast. With the build method this similar, differences in feel come down to head size, sole width, topline and offset rather than how the heads are made.
The i3+ arrived 2 years after the i3 Blade, a typical one-generation refresh. Changes over that span are usually incremental: refined face thickness, revised weighting, updated looks and small loft tweaks rather than a new concept. Here the 7-iron loft moved from 34.5° to 34.4°.
Which should you choose?
Loft differences between the i3 Blade and i3+ run in both directions rather than shifting the whole set one way, so the choice comes down to shaping, feel and gapping at the ends of the set rather than outright distance.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Ping i3 Blade specs and Ping i3+ specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ping i3 Blade stronger lofted than the i3+?
No. The i3+ is the stronger-lofted set: its 7-iron is 34.4° against 34.5° for the Ping i3 Blade, 0.1° stronger and worth a yard or so of extra carry.
What is the loft difference between the Ping i3 Blade and i3+?
At the 7-iron the difference is 0.1° (34.5° vs 34.4°). The largest gap on a shared club is 0.2° at the 9-iron, and 8 of the 12 shared clubs differ.
Which is better for higher handicap golfers, the Ping i3 Blade or the i3+?
The i3+. As a game improvement iron it is the more forgiving design, suited to roughly 10 to 25 handicaps. The Ping i3 Blade is a blade iron, better suited to low single-digit handicaps who strike the ball consistently.
Do the Ping i3 Blade and i3+ have the same lie and length?
Not exactly. At the 7-iron the Ping i3 Blade is 62.5° lie and 36.75 inches, the i3+ 62.3° and 36.75 inches. Both can be bent or built to your own fit.
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