PING Launches Hot-Faced Rapture 3-Wood

By: Golf Shake | Tue 28 Jan 2014

ping rapture 3 wood PING have announced the launch of a new 13-degree Rapture 3-wood. The new 3 wood is designed for golfers looking for a versatile driver alternative or hotter-faced 3-wood. The multi-material, adjustable design combines a Ti 8-1-1 titanium body, high-strength beta-titanium face and dense tungsten sole plate for increased ball speed and lowered spin, leading to more distance and accuracy.

The Rapture 3-wood is now available for pre-ordering from PING-authorised golf shops.

“The weighting properties of titanium and tungsten provide our engineers a lot of opportunities to improve performance,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “The high-strength beta-titanium material allowed us to really focus on creating a hotter face that yields ball speeds and distance unlike any we’ve seen in fairway woods. The tungsten positions the weight extremely low so we can optimise the CG position. It has a taller face and deeper head profile, so golfers will have complete confidence with the Rapture. We think golfers will really appreciate this unique combination of technology to improve their performance. It’s extremely long off the tee. We’re excited to get it in golfers’ hands.”

A tall, extreme-variable-thickness face made of high-strength beta titanium (30% stronger than standard titanium) enlarges the hitting surface for increased forgiveness while accelerating ball speed to generate distance. Almost 25% of head mass is isolated in the tungsten sole plate, which positions the CG much lower in the Ti 8-1-1 head, further improving energy transfer for higher ball speed and less spin.

The matte-black 219cc head has a deep profile for inspiring confidence. The standard 13 degrees of loft can easily be adjusted plus or minus ½ degree using PING’s Trajectory Tuning technology. The lightweight adjustable hosel has the same outer diameter and mass of PING’s traditional fixed hosels and provides the benefits of adjustability without sacrificing the performance that’s often lost in clubs with larger hosel designs.

PING’s proprietary TFC 949 graphite shaft promotes an increase in momentum and inertia for improved energy transfer, resulting in faster ball speeds and greater distance. Solheim said his company’s unique high-balance-point shafts have been key contributors to maximising performance in its drivers and fairway woods. “In the TFC 949, for example, its high balance point enabled us to engineer a standard length of 43½ inches while increasing the mass of the head. With the same amount of effort, the golfer will be able to deliver a lot more power.”