Ping G25 Driver/ Can it get better

I am 52 and a 5 handicap and have had my Ping 9.5 degree G25 Driver set in the + setting for a couple years and am playing the T189 Tour S-Flex in it and love the way it looks and feels. When I play, the ball trajectory is pretty flat and penetrating either straight or with a slight fade, but I have never been a high ball hitter. Thinking about getting a 10.5 degree head for a little more height. Have tried other Drivers and just don't seem to hit them as solid as my G25. My Tempo is smooth backswing and aggressive transition into the ball and in balance. I average around 275 off the tee and want to know if this is the best it can be or if I can gain another 10 to 15 yards with a different shaft or a different loft head. Here are my average numbers hitting indoors on a launch monitor with my ball. Callaway Chrome Softs.

Club Head Speed 104 MPH

Launch - 11.7 - 12.1 degrees

Ball Speed 150 - 152

Spin Rate - 2775 - 2850

Any suggestions with different setups or insights from guys playing this club or saying this is as good as it gets with what you got is fine also. Just trying to maximize my distance if there is anything to gain. If I left some info out that will help you help me, please tell me as I will take no offense.

I bet you could get a few more yards here and there with a good fitting...but there is something to be said about comfort. If you are getting good distances and hitting fairways, any change would likely be out of curiosity...that wrx itch to change!

Someone with more specifics will chime in here, but i should also mention that with your SS...i think less spin will give you more distance. The G25 even at 9.5 loft is a higher spin head.

The main thing to do is improve your contact... based on the ball speed and clubhead numbers you give, your smash factor is 1.45, so you’re losing some ball speed because of inconsistent contact. Depending on where you currently make contact, it might also be possible to pick up a few yards by hitting the ball just above the center of the face since this will raise launch a bit and lower spin a bit at the same time.

The main thing to do is improve your contact... based on the ball speed and clubhead numbers you give, your smash factor is 1.45, so you’re losing some ball speed because of inconsistent contact. Depending on where you currently make contact, it might also be possible to pick up a few yards by hitting the ball just above the center of the face since this will raise launch a bit and lower spin a bit at the same time.

So put some contact tape on the head and hit it and see where it's at. From what your saying, it should be just below the crown of the head. Also what is a good smash factor? One thing I thought of but haven't done anything is change the weight for a little more loft as the club feel fairly light. Lastly what is the difference between a high spin head and a low spin head. I see that a lot but don't really understand what makes them different. Thank you for your response.

A G400 LST 10* (cranked to 11*) will be a great fit for you I feel, drop your spin to 2200 or so

The smaller head shape is more pleasing than the G25 and G400 max type shapes

I was told ystdy at PING that the 410LST will have the same shape and footprint so that may also be the ticket

The main thing to do is improve your contact... based on the ball speed and clubhead numbers you give, your smash factor is 1.45, so you’re losing some ball speed because of inconsistent contact. Depending on where you currently make contact, it might also be possible to pick up a few yards by hitting the ball just above the center of the face since this will raise launch a bit and lower spin a bit at the same time.

 

So put some contact tape on the head and hit it and see where it's at. From what your saying, it should be just below the crown of the head. Also what is a good smash factor? One thing I thought of but haven't done anything is change the weight for a little more loft as the club feel fairly light. Lastly what is the difference between a high spin head and a low spin head. I see that a lot but don't really understand what makes them different. Thank you for your response.

Contact tape or foot powder spray will let you see where you're making contact.

The theoretical max for smash factor is 1.5. But, because of the way different launch monitors measure clubhead speed, it is possible for the number to display a little bit higher than 1.5 (see Howard Jones' post here: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/909991-diy-driver-tune-up-diy-fitting/). One thing I just thought about... depending on the monitor you were using, it might not have actually been measuring clubhead speed... some measure ball speed and then use a fixed number for the smash factor to "guess" at the clubhead speed. Regardless, you should test the consistency of your impact location to see how you're doing.

As for clubheads and spin, its primarily about the location of the center of gravity... Dave Tutelman has a lot of information about the physics of golf, including this one about clubhead cg location: https://www.tutelman.com/golf/clubs/centerOfGravity1.php

The main thing to do is improve your contact... based on the ball speed and clubhead numbers you give, your smash factor is 1.45, so you’re losing some ball speed because of inconsistent contact. Depending on where you currently make contact, it might also be possible to pick up a few yards by hitting the ball just above the center of the face since this will raise launch a bit and lower spin a bit at the same time.

 

So put some contact tape on the head and hit it and see where it's at. From what your saying, it should be just below the crown of the head. Also what is a good smash factor? One thing I thought of but haven't done anything is change the weight for a little more loft as the club feel fairly light. Lastly what is the difference between a high spin head and a low spin head. I see that a lot but don't really understand what makes them different. Thank you for your response.

 

Contact tape or foot powder spray will let you see where you're making contact.

 

The theoretical max for smash factor is 1.5. But, because of the way different launch monitors measure clubhead speed, it is possible for the number to display a little bit higher than 1.5 (see Howard Jones' post here: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/909991-diy-driver-tune-up-diy-fitting/). One thing I just thought about... depending on the monitor you were using, it might not have actually been measuring clubhead speed... some measure ball speed and then use a fixed number for the smash factor to "guess" at the clubhead speed. Regardless, you should test the consistency of your impact location to see how you're doing.

 

As for clubheads and spin, its primarily about the location of the center of gravity... Dave Tutelman has a lot of information about the physics of golf, including this one about clubhead cg location: https://www.tutelman.com/golf/clubs/centerOfGravity1.php

I have no idea about shafts.

But if you really are playing that driver @ 44", it must really feel light! Stock was 45 3/4" long.

I have no idea about shafts.

But if you really are playing that driver @ 44", it must really feel light! Stock was 45 3/4" long.

G25 is the least aerodynamic head of the last 5 generations. You should be able to gain at least 1 mph clubhead speed with G400 or G410 alone (which should net 1.5-2 mph ball speed).

Also you launch is too low for that ball speed (spin is fine). A newer driver will have better CG location (further back and lower) allowing for you to get a higher launch without increasing the static loft of the driver so you will maintain or gain ball speed, not increase spin, but still increase launch.

So I went to my local Van's Pro Shop today and tried out the shafts in my driver to get some numbers. The winner was the Aldila 70g Proto By You stiff shaft. Hitting it straight or with just a little fade and happy with the way it feels. Don't think I can do better than that. I appreciate all the comments and links for info to get a good result. Love it when a plan comes together.

The Accra was just a little stiff and the launch angle was a little low and spin was a little higher so max distance suffered.

Swing Speed was 104-105

Ball Speed was 152-153

Spin was 2200-2350

Launch Angle was 12.8-13.4

Distance was 284-289

You've had the same driver for several years? I mean, who DOES that?!?

When you find a driver you like, it's hard to put it in the closet. From what I understand all drivers are the same with conforming to the rules, so gave it a better shaft for my swing and it seemed to work out. The tinkerer in all of us makes us do these silly things.

I’m still using an RBZ Tour that is hot melted and set up for me. Nutted, its as long as anything.

I miss the hell out of my G25, but I definitely added 10-15 yards average when I switched to my M1.

I played an Accra Dymatch 2.0 MT 55g shaft in the G25 and playing an Accra Tour Z CB 55g shaft in the M1, so pretty similar setups aside from driver head. SS is roughly 112mph.

That being said, by the sounds of it it isn't your driver holding your game back. I'd be reluctant to change anything if all you're looking for is 10-15 yards. At 275 average, those 10-15 yards aren't crucial to your scoring ability.

I miss the hell out of my G25, but I definitely added 10-15 yards average when I switched to my M1.

I played an Accra Dymatch 2.0 MT 55g shaft in the G25 and playing an Accra Tour Z CB 55g shaft in the M1, so pretty similar setups aside from driver head. SS is roughly 112mph.

 

That being said, by the sounds of it it isn't your driver holding your game back. I'd be reluctant to change anything if all you're looking for is 10-15 yards. At 275 average, those 10-15 yards aren't crucial to your scoring ability.

10-15 yards, just by being fit properly for new tech, is a major gain on par 4's from a SG perspective. That's absolutely worth it.