Matt Fitzpatrick on why he (finally) switched out of 10-year-old irons
Matt Fitzpatrick, known for his loyalty to his Ping S55 irons since 2013, has finally made the switch to new irons after a successful run with the old ones. Fitzpatrick's attachment to his Ping S55 irons was understandable given his consistent performance with them, including a win at the 2023 RBC Heritage.
Despite the S55 irons being over a decade old, they provided Fitzpatrick with the combination of compact size, thin toplines, and forgiveness that suited his game perfectly. However, after the 2023 Ryder Cup, Fitzpatrick began testing the Ping Blueprint S irons and eventually won with them at the 2023 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Impressed by the performance and modern aesthetics of the new irons, Fitzpatrick made the switch, replacing his trusty S55s with the Ping Blueprint S irons. The transition also involved a change in shafts, from True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 to Project X LZ 6.5 iron shafts.
The switch has already shown promising results for Fitzpatrick, with an improvement in his Greens-In-Regulation ranking on the PGA TOUR in 2024 compared to the previous season. While Fitzpatrick's loyalty to his old irons served him well, his willingness to adapt to newer equipment highlights the importance of periodically testing out the latest technology to optimize performance.
With his new irons in play, Fitzpatrick's fans may be curious to see if this marks the beginning of another long-term relationship akin to his decade-long stint with the Ping S55s. Only time will tell if the Ping Blueprint S irons will accompany Fitzpatrick through another successful chapter in his career.