In 1989 Karsten Solheim, the founder of Ping, sued the USGA and the PGA Tour for $100 million after they moved to ban the square grooves on his Ping Eye2 irons. Ping settled with the USGA in 1990 and with the PGA Tour in 1993, and Eye2 clubs made before April 1990 were grandfathered. That exemption is why 20-year-old Eye2 wedges showed up on the PGA Tour in 2010.
What was the Ping Eye2?
The Eye2 arrived in the early 1980s and became one of the most popular irons ever made. Solheim had already pushed cast, perimeter-weighted cavity backs into the mainstream, and the Eye2 took that idea further with a wide sole and weight moved to the heel and toe. It made solid contact easier for a huge range of golfers. For the bigger picture, read our history of the golf iron.
Why were square grooves a problem?
Most irons of that era had V-shaped grooves. The Eye2 used square, or U-shaped, grooves, which hold more of the ball's cover at impact and help produce spin, especially from the rough. The USGA had ruled square grooves conforming in the early 1980s. The fight was over spacing and measurement. In 1985 Solheim slightly rounded the edges of his grooves, and under the USGA's way of measuring, that made the grooves look too close together. In June 1987 the USGA ruled the Eye2's grooves did not meet its specifications, and the USGA and the PGA Tour moved to keep the clubs out of competition.
What happened in the lawsuits?
- 1989: Solheim sued the USGA and the PGA Tour, seeking $100 million.
- 1990, USGA: Ping and the USGA settled. The USGA adopted a new way to measure grooves, Eye2 irons already on the market were declared legal, and Ping agreed to build future clubs to the USGA's specs. Eye2s made before April 1990 were grandfathered.
- 1990 to 1993, PGA Tour: The Tour had planned to ban square grooves in its events. A court injunction let players keep using the clubs while the case went through the appeals process.
- 1993: The PGA Tour and Ping settled out of court. Square grooves stayed legal on tour, and the 1985 to 1989 Eye2s were grandfathered.
The case is often cited as the moment an equipment company showed it would take golf's rule makers to court, and win terms, over a ruling it disagreed with.
Why did old Eye2 wedges show up on tour in 2010?
In 2008 the USGA and R&A announced a new groove rule that limits groove volume and edge sharpness. It took effect for the pro tours on January 1, 2010. But the old settlement still protected pre-April 1990 Eye2s, so they were technically allowed in PGA Tour events even though they didn't meet the new rule.
A few players used that loophole. At the 2010 Sony Open, John Daly played 1986 Eye2 wedges and Dean Wilson used Eye2 wedges from the late 1980s. Later that month Phil Mickelson put an Eye2 wedge in play at Torrey Pines, and the criticism from other players turned it into a public argument about the spirit of the rules.
In March 2010 Ping ended it. The company waived its rights under the settlement, effective March 29, 2010, so the old Eye2s were no longer allowed on the PGA Tour, the Champions Tour and the Nationwide Tour, and Ping applied the same waiver to that year's U.S. Open. Ping chairman John Solheim said the move "levels the playing field on the PGA Tour."
Can I still play Ping Eye2 irons and wedges?
For almost every golfer, yes. The 2010 groove limits apply only in competitions that adopt the groove Local Rule, which mainly means professional tours and elite events. In casual golf, handicap rounds and most club events, any Eye2 is fine. Our history of the golf wedge explains the groove rule in more detail.
Telling a pre-April 1990 Eye2 from a later one just by looking isn't reliable, so if it ever matters for an elite event, ask the committee before you play.
Are Ping Eye2 irons worth buying today?
They are an inexpensive way to get forgiving, well-made irons, and the wedges still have fans. What matters more than the year is the condition: check groove wear on the scoring clubs, the grips and the shafts. Our checklist on how to judge the condition of used golf clubs walks through it.
Shop used Ping Eye 2 irons, all used Ping iron sets or used Ping wedges. Every listing shows the exact specs and a 1 to 10 condition grade.
FAQ
Why did Ping sue the USGA?
Because the USGA ruled in 1987 that the square grooves on Ping Eye2 irons were too close together under its measuring method, and with the PGA Tour moved to bar them from competition. Ping argued the clubs were legal and sued in 1989.
Who won the Ping Eye2 lawsuit?
Both cases settled rather than going to a final verdict. The USGA settlement in 1990 grandfathered existing Eye2s and changed how grooves are measured, and the 1993 PGA Tour settlement kept square grooves legal on tour. Most people see it as a win for Ping.
Are Ping Eye2 wedges legal?
Yes, for casual golf and most competitions. They are not allowed in events that use the groove Local Rule, including the PGA Tour since March 2010.
When did the Eye2 grandfather clause end on the PGA Tour?
March 29, 2010, when Ping waived its rights under the 1993 settlement.
