What Is Ping Co-Pilot?

Custom fittings are more accessible than ever before – and if you’re serious about your golf, you should be getting fitted every time you buy new clubs. Golf equipment is an expensive investment, and the right gear can help improve your scoring and increase your enjoyment of the game. But not all fittings are created equal, and Ping has developed Co-Pilot to help fitters identify the best clubs for you more quickly and easily, with insights, recommendations and club options based on tens of thousands of shots and extensive testing.

In this article and video, Paul Rymer, a supervisor at Ping’s state-of-the-art European Fitting Centre in Gainsborough, and an experienced fitter who has spent years working on Tour and fitting handicap golfers, explains exactly what Co-Pilot is and how it can help you the next time you purchase new clubs.

What is Ping Co-Pilot?

“Ping Co-Pilot is a suite of apps that’s available to pros with an account with Ping that’s really going to help them when doing a fitting, whether they’re new to it or very experienced. It guides you through the fitting from start to finish, whether it’s irons, woods, wedges, or putters.”

How does it help the fitter and golfer?

Every possible scenario has been thought about and implemented, so whatever type of golfer you are, whatever issues you’re having, questions you have, or clubs you’re looking for, Co-Pilot has the answers. As Rymer explains: “It helps you understand what irons you should be using, whether you want hybrids at the long end of the bag, what bounce and grind configuration you need on your wedges, why you might need to play a more lofted driver, what shafts you’re going to need, and so on. It’s a comprehensive fitting tool that helps the fitter get the player playing their best.”

How much information does Co-Pilot need?

It works based on a combination of answering simple questions and analysing data from fewer shots than has previously been the case. “It’s very minimal. Usually with drivers it’s ball speed, launch angle and spin rates. With wedges, it’s more of a Q&A around what you do around the greens, and how you play certain shots. The best thing it does is it stops people hitting too many shots, to the point where they get worn out and aren’t being their best. It cuts down a lot of wasted shots.”

Where does it help the most?

“Definitely the gapping app for the irons, launch efficiency for driver, and strokes gained for driver as, well. They’re probably the three we would use the most, along with the wedge app and the new iPing putting app. That’s really good.”

How does it benefit the consumer?

“It just makes life a lot easier. When someone comes for a fitting, we want them to enjoy that experience. A lot of people are new to fitting and not quite sure what to expect. Co-Pilot gives them clarity as to why we’re fitting them into a particular product to get them playing their best.”