What’s Replacing Your Ping G400 Max for 2019?

[RichieHunt]

I don't have any plans on changing anytime, soon. I will hit some drivers further. I hit the Callaway Rogue SZ about 15 yards further when I hit both of them as well as I can. But, the CoG on those Callaways is slightly towards the heel and my miss is more towards the toe and in the end, I found it very easy to hook the Rogue SZ. I have to make a terrible swing to hook the G400 Max.

 

The only issue I have is that it launches a little high. Even the spin rate isn't bad at all. And for any lost distance I can make up for it on holes where everybody is laying up off the tee and I'm confidently hitting driver in the fairway.

 

To me, the G400 Max is about as close as one has come to a club that answers the question _would you rather hit the fairway all of the time and lose 10 yards?_ The question is not very realistic, but you get the point. And with the G400 Max, the answer is a resounding yes.

 

I have hit other drivers that have recently hit the market and there's nothing to make me want to switch. I can hit some about 10-15 yards further, but the consistency and accuracy is well short of the G400 Max.

 

 

 

RH

[swizbeatz]

> @G-Bone said:

> > @toc said:

> > M5 for me, longer and way better feel/sound

>

> Sound and feel are the main reason I wanted F9 or M5 to work for me lol... two of the best sounding/feeling drivers I have hit in a long time.

 

Same, we have a really good TM fitting cart and I played the M5 for first few rounds this year. It’s just not any longer by the looks of things and I’m really comfortable with the Max. Maybe I’ll just wait until fall when the LS comes out, as is I’m not going to get much better numbers with anything. The two fitters I play with are in a g410 and a Flash sub zero.

 

[MattM97]

> @G-Bone said:

> > @swizbeatz said:

> > Probably the 410 if anything. I’ve been messing around with an M5 and I like the Max more.

>

> G410 didn't perform for me. Good news is everything I hear about G410 LST coming at the end of June is great; supposedly the lowest spinning most forgiving driver head combo Ping has ever made... look forward to giving it a go.

>

> Looks like we will see a G410 Max in the fall too... so that could be interesting.

>

>

 

Source on the G410 Max? I really don't see this happening when the Plus is 455cc's to begin with, going up 5cc's and calling it the Max is pretty odd unless Ping knows people will buy them. With that said I just ordered the Plus and can't wait for it to arrive.

[G-Bone]

> @MattM97 said:

> > @G-Bone said:

> > > @swizbeatz said:

> > > Probably the 410 if anything. I’ve been messing around with an M5 and I like the Max more.

> >

> > G410 didn't perform for me. Good news is everything I hear about G410 LST coming at the end of June is great; supposedly the lowest spinning most forgiving driver head combo Ping has ever made... look forward to giving it a go.

> >

> > Looks like we will see a G410 Max in the fall too... so that could be interesting.

> >

> >

>

> Source on the G410 Max? I really don't see this happening when the Plus is 455cc's to begin with, going up 5cc's and calling it the Max is pretty odd unless Ping knows people will buy them. With that said I just ordered the Plus and can't wait for it to arrive.

 

Can't divulge my source, but trust they are solid. Also, the Max isn't all about size, it's also MOI, which can vary in a head regardless of size. The G400 Max wasn't supposed to be as low spin as it is, it was a bit of a fluke. Likely if the 410 Max makes it to market it will target lower swing speeds and have more spin... that was the original idea behind 400 Max.

[MattM97]

> @G-Bone said:

> > @MattM97 said:

> > > @G-Bone said:

> > > > @swizbeatz said:

> > > > Probably the 410 if anything. I’ve been messing around with an M5 and I like the Max more.

> > >

> > > G410 didn't perform for me. Good news is everything I hear about G410 LST coming at the end of June is great; supposedly the lowest spinning most forgiving driver head combo Ping has ever made... look forward to giving it a go.

> > >

> > > Looks like we will see a G410 Max in the fall too... so that could be interesting.

> > >

> > >

> >

> > Source on the G410 Max? I really don't see this happening when the Plus is 455cc's to begin with, going up 5cc's and calling it the Max is pretty odd unless Ping knows people will buy them. With that said I just ordered the Plus and can't wait for it to arrive.

>

> Can't divulge my source, but trust they are solid. Also, the Max isn't all about size, it's also MOI, which can vary in a head regardless of size. The G400 Max wasn't supposed to be as low spin as it is, it was a bit of a fluke. Likely if the 410 Max makes it to market it will target lower swing speeds and have more spin... that was the original idea behind 400 Max.

 

I'll come back to this thread if/when it happens and give you credit.

 

I'm not sure if the 410 Max would fit me well. From my fitting I was quite happy with the Plus and I hope it suits me well for many years. Or until I'm bored and want a new driver.

[CaymanS]

Nothing. Can't imagine anything that is better, maybe different in some way(s), but not better overall.

[LowAndLeft32]

What about the PXG gen2? Haven’t seen that mentioned by anyone. It’s was ranked by Not allowed because of spam as the most forgiving.

[Troutfly]

Gmax lost to my 16' M2- twice. Wait- what was the question?

[Wolf4birdie]

> @phil6380 said:

> Nothing. I'm driving it straighter and hitting more fairways than I ever have. The more confident I get with it, the harder I'm hitting and the further it's going all while being just dumb consistent and dependable. I wish I could change the sound of it to sound like the dull thud of the old M2 but that's a small thing to me.

 

100% agree on confidence.. I'm hitting it longer because I have so much confidence in the club.

[wchahn]

I tried the F9. Loved the sound but the G400 Max was more consistent. Best driver I have had in a while.

[Ghostwedge]

The only driver replacing the G400 Max would be the G410 ( if it’s as forgiving and alittle quieter )

..... wait.... i hit the G400, and still give it the “ you betrayed me “ look when i miss a fairway maybe once a round. The G400 Max came in 2nd for bag honors last year.

 

 

 

[Norboo]

G400 Max with stock shaft spins too much for me. Might have to try G400 LST or get a shaft that fits me. My G20 is about 20 yards longer.

[Morry]

> @LowAndLeft32 said:

> What about the PXG gen2? Haven’t seen that mentioned by anyone. It’s was ranked by **** as the most forgiving.

 

any comment on this ?

thanks

 

[Spederman]

G410 SFT replaced my Max. Hitting it straighter and longer for some reason

[Bamicus]

Does anyone know if the max spins more than the g 400?

[dmeeksDC]

> @Bamicus said:

> Does anyone know if the max spins more than the g 400?

 

Varies by players. Some guys say the MAX is surprisingly lower spin than they expected. For me the standard 9 degree G400 had lower spin and I can swing it slightly faster. There is only 15 cc difference in head size but to me the MAX looks a lot larger.

[G-Bone]

> @dmeeksDC said:

> > @Bamicus said:

> > Does anyone know if the max spins more than the g 400?

>

> Varies by players. Some guys say the MAX is surprisingly lower spin than they expected. For me the standard 9 degree G400 had lower spin and I can swing it slightly faster. There is only 15 cc difference in head size but to me the MAX looks a lot larger.

 

Like @dmeeksDC I had more clubhead speed with G400, about 1-2 mph. However, I also had more backspin, about 400-500 revolutions. For the most part, those two canceled each other out and my total distance was about the same. The big difference for me is my miss tends to be off the toe, and Max retains an amazing amount of ball speed and accuracy with toe strikes. For my swing, Max was a better choice.

[awtryau89]

Owned the Max 9*, LST 8.5* and now the 410 9*. It was an interesting fight between all of them and definitely proved some of Ping's hype was true. I love the Max but could never get spin in the right window. I had to turn it down to 8* and with that setting and the larger head size, I had trouble keeping the ball straight. Had to play a fade. The LST was the sweet spot. I could play it neutral or even small plus depending on shaft. I could also work it both ways. Very very good club but it was not as forgiving for my toe side strikes, where I live. I had no intentions of trying the 410. I didn't think there was a reason. I was just going to wait on the LST version. Demo day came around and I tried it through. Fitter put me in the 9* head turned down to 8* with weight in the heel. The club launched as low as the LS 400, spun less as well due to being able to turn it over easier. Definitely more forgiving too. The fitter also show me that if I just wanted to play a power fade, I could put the weight in the toe and get super balls speeds due to the weight being behind where the majority of my strikes were. We never tried the flat settings. Maybe I will play with that on the range. This club is a fitters dream. Ping once again just makes things that work and work better than most all other oems. I had about $300 in credit from winning a few tournaments and I went home with it.

[bandonman91]

It was an easy choice. Gained 4-6 mph of ball speed with my epic flash sz. Plus it looks so much better than the ping. ping was a fairway finder but I struggled to get it out there. Great driver though.

[MtlJeff]

My F8+ is a better driver in the LM than the MAX. Will see on the real course when the season begins....but i'm 5-10 yards longer with an F8+

[driveandputtmachine]

I am longer with the F9, F8+ was a wash.

 

The 400MAX for me and my screwy swing is just far and away the best combo of distance and accuracy I have ever had since I was in college. Sure, I can eek out 5-10 yards on good hits with a different club, but I will also find myself in the trees or penalty area more often with these longer drivers. My average drive(on course) is probably longer with the 400 Max as well, since I hit more fairways/treelines with it and spend less time in the trees.

[MNoonan]

Can’t see anything replacing the MAX anytime soon. Have been thinking about getting fit for a shaft but the Tour65 is just a great shaft.

[G-Bone]

A quick note on some more Trackman battles with G400 Max:

 

M5 Tour: Long story short, incredibly stable for a small head. Also, swing it a touch faster and it looks SMALL! For me, it came close to the Max numbers but overall it was a touch shorter on the best hit shots and the pattern was not as tight.

 

F9: Every time I hit this thing I seem to swing it better than the last session. Today it almost kept up with the Max... ball speed, spin, launch... and on my best drives with bost they were literally identical in distance. F9 still lacked in one area... grouping, Max was still tighter. The one place F9 absolutely murders Max is sound and feel. For that reason alone I want to put it in the bag... but feel does not trump performance, for me.

[9ironiscash]

I want to take advantage of a limited time trade in bonus and get rid of all my clubs that are collecting dust, but none of the 2019 offerings seem to beat the max in a sim fitting and during informal outdoor testing. The only one I found I loved the feel of, but didn’t get numbers on, was the rogue SZ with the stock evenflow. Love the muted feel that the flash doesn’t have. Also can’t trade my stuff for it, so still might just buy one on the cheap and continue accumulating clubs like a ho lol.

[Kale_m]

Putting together a 9* gmax head that wil be turned down to 8* and going to plug in a 65gr 6.5 Hzrdus t1100. Put this up against the m4 am and PO70TX combo

[Stanks]

M6 is working just as well for me as my G400 LST did. A lot more stable flight and predictable. G400 max was a fun one to use but, I got wind of it too late.

[Ripken08]

Looking at G410 but haven't hit one yet

[roxald]

> @Kale_m said:

> Putting together a 9* gmax head that wil be turned down to 8* and going to plug in a 65gr 6.5 Hzrdus t1100. Put this up against the m4 am and PO70TX combo

 

I did this exact same setup and it was powerful, but dropping the loft opened the face up too much for me and I had too many right misses. When I went back to neutral it simply launch too high.

Hopefully it works out for you.

If I could get a lower loft, square faced Gmax, I might be inclined to go back to it.

Rox

 

 

 

 

[The Real Pacman]

I think I’m sticking with my GMax...at least for now

[swizbeatz]

> @swizbeatz said:

> Probably the 410 if anything. I’ve been messing around with an M5 and I like the Max more.

 

 

 

Sticking with Max, I haven’t seen anything with better numbers and it’s easy to hit.