The Ping Eye 2 is a cavity back iron that Ping released in the fall of 1982 as the successor to the original Eye, which launched in 1978. It kept the eye-shaped cavity and perimeter weighting of the first model, and it became one of the most widely played iron designs of the 1980s. It is also the club at the center of a long dispute over square grooves, which is why sets from the mid-1980s still get talked about today.
What changed from the original Eye
Compared with the Eye, the Eye 2 had a longer blade length, a taller face and a thinner topline, along with a refined cavity. Early Eye 2 heads had V-shaped grooves. In 1984 Ping moved to U-shaped grooves after a USGA rule change allowed them. Ping also made a beryllium copper version alongside the standard steel head. Over its run the Eye 2 went through a large number of running changes, so two sets that both say Eye 2 can differ in small ways. The Eye 2+ followed later with refinements to the sole and grooves.
The groove dispute
The fight was over how groove spacing should be measured. The USGA counted from the radius of the groove edge, and Ping measured from the straight, parallel portion. The PGA Tour banned square grooves starting in 1990, and Ping sued both the USGA and the Tour. Ping and the USGA settled in 1990, with Ping changing its measuring method and the USGA grandfathering Eye 2 irons made in the mid-1980s. The Tour settled in 1993 on similar terms. When the USGA introduced new groove rules in 2010, those grandfathered clubs stayed legal in USGA and Tour events. The R&A was not part of the settlements and treats the grooves as nonconforming, so it is worth checking the rules of your event before you play a vintage set.
Common questions
Are Ping Eye 2 irons still playable?
Yes. They are a forgiving cavity back design and plenty of golfers still play them, though the heads are older and the shafts and grips usually deserve a look. The square grooves may not be legal in every event, so check before you enter a competition.
How do I tell an Eye 2 from an Eye 2+?
The Eye 2+ is the later refinement, with changes to the sole and grooves. Ping also used a color dot system for lie angle, so the dot on the hosel is worth noting when you compare sets. When in doubt, check the stamping in the cavity and the listing photos.
If you want to try a set, browse our used Ping Eye 2 irons, each one listed and photographed individually. For more Ping history, read about the Ping Karsten I irons that came before the Eye 2.
