Ping G400 Max - Question about Tour 65 shaft stiffness

[ironmikey12]

Hi, all. I found what looks like a pretty killer deal on a Ping G400 Max preowned. It comes with the Tour 65 shaft in X-stiff. My driver SS is usually around 105, but I was swinging the G400max about 108-110 yesterday when I demo'd the club. No clue why there was a slight increase, as I felt like I was taking it pretty easy. I also had my typical 105ish SS when I was hitting a few different drivers. (Insert shoulder shrug emoji here). Edit: I'm also pretty quick throughout the swing, especially at the top when I transition to downswing.

 

Any feedback from long-time owners of the club for how that shaft plays to flex? I am in preseason mode here in the Northeast and beyond hitting on a store launch monitor for 5 mins, I won't have the chance to really demo the club prior to buying it. I'm also rusty as all heck and can't really draw conclusions based on a few monitor sessions.

 

I've read good things about the shaft, in general, and could probably sell it here for about what I paid if the club doesn't work out. Still, I'd like to avoid the hassle. Thanks!

[bcsquare]

I played the G400 LST with the Tour 65S for 2018; my SS is between 102-105 MPH. I personally felt it played to flex and helped keep the ball flight down.

 

However I'd check out what store and LM that you were hitting on. Most big box stores only measure the ball speed and club speed is calculated. So it's possible you've found a great combo where the strike is consistently better.

[BWTgolfer]

I play the G400 MAX with the Alta shaft. Thought I would try the Tour 65 in R and while it lowered my flight, I did need to swing more aggressively to get the most out of it. When I did, I didn't find the fairway as much as I did with the Alta. So back went the Alta. For me al least the Alta was a better fit even though I get a higher ball flight.

[jimb6golf]

My transition was pretty quick and I found the Alta shaft to be a bit 'whippy' and switched to the Tour 65 that I had played my previous Ping driver and it seems to be working pretty nicely (when I actually hit the sweetspot - a completely different problem). The Tour shafts are pretty highly regarded and worth a try. Worst case you'd have to switch to another shaft but you'd still have the Max driver head which is terrific.

[kftgolfer]

I have always found the Tour 65 to be a fairly stout shaft. I am about the same SS as you and the Stiff fits perfect.

 

If its a great deal go for it. You can always sell the X-stiff on BST and buy a Stiff flex or some other shaft you prefer.

[Lancj1]

I've a 65 and a 75 stiff which I am experimenting with in the GMax head. They are lovely shafts - crisp is how I have described them. I found the alta reg far too whippy despite a relatively slow swing speed but gain distance and accuracy with the tours. I suspect the 65 will be the keeper, with the 75 and its lower flight rotated in now and again when i fancy

[MtlJeff]

I have always found the Tour 65 to be a fairly stout shaft. I am about the same SS as you and the Stiff fits perfect.

 

If its a great deal go for it. You can always sell the X-stiff on BST and buy a Stiff flex or some other shaft you prefer.

 

Yeah i agree, it's all relative to what else you play but i've never felt the Ping shafts were "soft" that's for sure. I have a 110+ swing speed and i could easily play the 65 stiff. It's a nice shaft

 

Ping really are dinosaurs for sticking with the whole "made for" thing, but doggone it if the Tour shaft isn't pretty darn good

[ironmikey12]

Thanks, all. I picked it up today at my local GG. Looks darn near mint. GG has a $50 off $250 that made it $100 less than similar setups are going for on eBay.

 

I think the shaft might be a little stiff for me but we will see. I could have asked them to swap it out for a stiff version of the tour shaft w the old graphics. I stuck w the current version bc I’ve read a lot of good things about it. It’s probably the exact same shaft, of course. Ha.

[Ryan5508]

I feel the ping plays a hair stiffer then other shafts in the same flex. The 65x felt stiffer then a rouge silver 70x to me.

[ironmikey12]

It felt it was stiff, too.

 

One lesson I learned a while back was to stick w what worked during testing. Years back, I bought a “real deal” rip phenom bc I crushed the made-for TM version. The real version has always been very average for me.

[chadly643]

I did a fitting last summer. Came down to TM M4 with a PX Hzdrus yellow 6.0 and G400Max with tour 65 stiff. I felt that the two shafts swung pretty similar in terms of flex. Hopefully that gives you a little perspective.

[BCULAW]

I have always found the Tour 65 to be a fairly stout shaft. I am about the same SS as you and the Stiff fits perfect.

 

If its a great deal go for it. You can always sell the X-stiff on BST and buy a Stiff flex or some other shaft you prefer.

 

Yeah i agree, it's all relative to what else you play but i've never felt the Ping shafts were "soft" that's for sure. I have a 110+ swing speed and i could easily play the 65 stiff. It's a nice shaft

 

Ping really are dinosaurs for sticking with the whole "made for" thing, but doggone it if the Tour shaft isn't pretty darn good

 

I'd echo these comments. I am 110-112 with the driver and absolutely love the Tour 65 stiff. It's as stable a stiff flex as I've hit, but offers tremendous feel and dispersion. Keep in mind I'm coming from an 80g Red Tie X-stiff that I thought was fantastic. The Tour 65 stiff has made a huge difference, though. All of the same dispersion benefits but with added distance.

 

 

The proof for you is in the numbers, but I'd likely steer you away from the X-stiff in the Tour unless the numbers were clearly better. Beware of the perfect drive with the X. It's better, IMO, to look at the body of work in a fitting g to see if you can actually handle the shaft over the course of a round.

[Jacob37]

Thanks, all. I picked it up today at my local GG. Looks darn near mint. GG has a $50 off $250 that made it $100 less than similar setups are going for on eBay.

 

I think the shaft might be a little stiff for me but we will see. I could have asked them to swap it out for a stiff version of the tour shaft w the old graphics. I stuck w the current version bc I’ve read a lot of good things about it. It’s probably the exact same shaft, of course. Ha.

 

I have a Alta 55 with about 20 swings on it, I’m about to take out of my G400 max. If you’re interested in it let me know