Ping S56 vs Ping S55
Side-by-side factory specifications. Differing values are highlighted.
Specification comparison
| Club | S56 loft | S55 loft | S56 lie | S55 lie | S56 length | S55 length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 18.5 | — | 58.5 | — | 39.25 | — |
| 3 | 21 | 21 | 59.25 | 59.25 | 38.75 | 38.75 |
| 4 | 23.75 | 24 | 60 | 60 | 38.25 | 38.25 |
| 5 | 27 | 27 | 60.75 | 60.75 | 37.75 | 37.75 |
| 6 | 30.5 | 30 | 61.5 | 61.5 | 37.25 | 37.25 |
| 7 | 34.25 | 33 | 62.25 | 62.25 | 36.75 | 36.75 |
| 8 | 38.25 | 37 | 63 | 63 | 36.25 | 36.25 |
| 9 | 42.5 | 41 | 63.75 | 63.75 | 35.75 | 35.75 |
| PW | 47 | 46 | 64 | 64 | 35.5 | 35.5 |
Highlighted cells differ between the two sets. Lofts and lies are factory standard.
Lofts compared
- S56
- S55
What the differences mean
At the 7-iron, the S56 is 34.25° and the S55 is 33°, a 1.2° gap. Each degree of loft is worth roughly 3 to 4 yards of carry at the same swing speed, so the S55 should carry roughly 4 to 5 yards further with that club, on a slightly lower, shallower flight than the S56. Across the 8 clubs both sets share, the S55 averages 0.7° stronger, with the largest gap at the 9-iron (42.5° vs 41°). The pitching wedges are 47° and 46°; the stronger one leaves a 4° jump to a 50° gap wedge, which matters when planning wedge gapping.
The sets are built differently: the S56 runs 2-iron to PW (9 clubs), the S55 3-iron to PW (8 clubs).
Both are players irons, built for roughly scratch to 10 handicaps. Small-to-mid cavity backs with traditional lofts, modest offset and workable shaping for low-handicap players. Because they target the same golfer, the decision comes down to the specific loft, feel and shaping differences rather than who the sets are made for.
Both heads are listed as investment cast. Both use tungsten weighting to lower the centre of gravity and steady the head on off-centre strikes.
The S55 arrived 3 years after the S56, 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 34.25° to 33°.
Which should you choose?
The S55 is the stronger-lofted set — up to 1.5° stronger than the S56 on matching clubs. Expect longer carry per numbered iron but a flatter descent angle; gapping at the wedge end is where that shows up.
Both charts are reproduced in full on their own pages: Ping S56 specs and Ping S55 specs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ping S56 stronger lofted than the S55?
No. The S55 is the stronger-lofted set: its 7-iron is 33° against 34.25° for the Ping S56, 1.2° stronger and worth roughly 4 to 5 yards of extra carry.
What is the loft difference between the Ping S56 and S55?
At the 7-iron the difference is 1.2° (34.25° vs 33°). The largest gap on a shared club is 1.5° at the 9-iron, and 6 of the 8 shared clubs differ.
Are the Ping S56 and S55 aimed at the same golfer?
Yes. Both are players irons, built for roughly scratch to 10 handicaps. Choose on feel, looks and gapping, ideally after hitting both.
Do the Ping S56 and S55 have the same lie and length?
At the 7-iron, yes: both are 62.25° lie and 36.75 inches long.
Shop Ping S56
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