**Updated** Don't tell my gamer......G425, TSi2 in hand.

[ShankAaron]

Got both of these over the weekend and built shafts for each (I hate stock shafts, don't judge me). For now I'll let you guys drool over the pics, but later today I'll type up and post my first take's on both from a simulator session I had last night. Not a head to head driver battle, or anything. Just my takeaways on both.  

 

 

Edited November 17, 2020 by ShankAaron

[Mookieb10]

Lovely looking clubs. 425 look identical to G410 from face profile, but they made everything else sharper. I like it. Big Ping driver fan. 

[J13]

Best of luck. Two great sticks there.  Is the hotmelt port screw metal or plastic like on the 410's?

[SylvesterLundgren]

I don’t know what your previous driver(s) was but could you give some comparisons?

I have a g400 driver that I appreciate the sound of, and seeing that you have two of the hot drivers of 2021 could you share your thoughts. 
 

[Nixhex524]

What shaft in the TSi2?  Titleist has some good stock options this year so you must be really fancy!

[ShankAaron]

Ok, here goes the G425 first take review. I will post up the TSi2 review later.

 

I want to start off by making it clear that my experience as of right now with either of these is on a GC Quad, and I made it a point not to record any data. My goal in that was to make sure my first swings with these two drivers would be strictly about feel, aesthetics, sound, and an overall first impression. I will be playing both drivers for a full 18 this weekend, and will have another sim session to record data after that. So, here goes.

 

Me- 

15 handicap

110-115 mph swing speed

2020 Avg driver distance (total via Arccos sensors)- 287 yards

*NOTE*- prior to starting the testing I had already went through my full bag warm up routine, and hit about 15 drives with my Mavrik gamer. 

 

The Club-

Ping G425 LST 10.5* neutral weight, neutral adapter settings- Fujikura Atmos Tour Spec Black stiff 70 playing to 44.75" 

Ball- New, out of the sleeve Pro V1X's

 

Ping G425

Just at address I personally love the looks. Muted and subdued matte black really appeals to me in its simplicity. The first few practice swings made me notice the weight of the head. It's just heavy enough that you notice it on the release, but just light enough that I dont feel it as a chore to swing it. It's a really nice feeling club swinging at air. Time to make it rain. I spent the first 10 swings just getting used to the club and getting solid contact, roughly 75% of my usual swing. The sound is close to the same sound I got from other 400 series drivers, but the G425 is just a tad pingy. Not in a bad way, mind you. The sound is the usual muted twack you're used to from the G410, but theres just the slight hint of a soft ringing at the end. Now, up to this point everything I've written out is basically the same points of view you would expect from the 400 series drivers. Here is where the G425, at least in my opinion, take a very hard left at the fork. 

 

The feel off the face is unreal. All of you know what I'm talking about with your irons. When you hit the ball so sqaurely off the face that it feels like time has stopped, the ball melted, and you know you did it perfectly. My problem with previous 400 series drivers was that as good as they felt, and as forgiving as they were, I couldn't hit them as far as I could other drivers. I dont really trust distance readings from simulators, but if any of those numbers that popped up are true, this driver will be in every distance conversation in 2021. What impressed me the most were the feel of the mishits. Heel, toe, low, none of those strikes "felt" punishing in my hands and the balls still had nominal impact points on the sim screen. Like a guard dog begging to get off the leash and protect his turf, it just felt like it wanted to hit the ball as far as my ability would allow it. I really hope this will translate to the course and open air. If this driver gives me the proven forgiveness of a Ping AND gives me the distance I want? TAKE MY MONEY! 

 

I will get to work writing the TSi2 review later today. Apparently, they don't pay me to sit here and write club reviews. I've had my job backwards this entire time..... 

Edited November 17, 2020 by ShankAaron
Typo

[ShankAaron]

1 hour ago, Nixhex524 said:

What shaft in the TSi2?  Titleist has some good stock options this year so you must be really fancy!

It came with a Tensei CK Raw, but I built a Fuji Atmos TS Black for testing as I had a couple spares. 

[62@Oakmont]

Following.  Too bad there's not a TSi3 thrown into the mix too, then this would be really fun to follow.

[ShankAaron]

Just now, 62@Oakmont said:

Following.  Too bad there's not a TSi3 thrown into the mix too, then this would be really fun to follow.

When it gets delivered, that review will get folded into this thread weather permitting.

[jt2gt]

Looking for

52 minutes ago, ShankAaron said:

It came with a Tensei CK Raw, but I built a Fuji Atmos TS Black for testing as I had a couple spares. 

Looking forward to more...BTW, when you write, "The Club" I am assuming you meant to write G425LST not G410, correct?  Your gamer is the Cally Mav?

[62@Oakmont]

1 minute ago, ShankAaron said:

When it gets delivered, that review will get folded into this thread weather permitting.

 

You're my hero

[DREWZER300]

Looking forward to the TSi2 write up.    Currently debating on upgrading my TS3 and the extra forgiveness has me intrigued. 

Edited November 17, 2020 by DREWZER300

[Radeon962]

Curious on your thoughts on the sound and feel between the 425 and TSI2.  Ping drivers have a rather loud sound to them and have been in and out of my bag over the past several years as they are plenty forgiving but other heads just sound and feel better to me and I can't get around that.  Same problem I have had with the Ping fairway woods.  Wonder if I should just get them hot melted and be done with it but they are heavy heads to begin with.

[ShankAaron]

54 minutes ago, DREWZER300 said:

Looking forward to the TSi2 write up.    Currently debating on upgrading my TS3 and the extra forgiveness has me intrigued. 

Let me help you in your debate- pull the effing trigger on a TSi. I dont have time to write it up fully just yet, but the TSi2 I'm testing is LEGIT!

[DREWZER300]

12 minutes ago, ShankAaron said:

Let me help you in your debate- pull the effing trigger on a TSi. I dont have time to write it up fully just yet, but the TSi2 I'm testing is LEGIT!

 

I will have to go test one.   I am worried the TSi2 may be a little too high spin for me.  

[ShankAaron]

1 hour ago, DREWZER300 said:

 

I will have to go test one.   I am worried the TSi2 may be a little too high spin for me.  

I'll be doing the data review for it soon, and my first take review will be up soon. 

[ShankAaron]

3 hours ago, jt2gt said:

Looking for

Looking forward to more...BTW, when you write, "The Club" I am assuming you meant to write G425LST not G410, correct?  Your gamer is the Cally Mav?

Appreciate the catch. Yes, Cally Mavrik with an 8 gram sole weight. 

[ShankAaron]

Heres my first take on the TSi

 

Club 

Titleist TSi2 9* neutral (A1) adapter settings- Fujikura Atmos Tour Spec Black stiff 70 cut to 44.75"

Ball-

New out of the sleeve Pro V1X

 

TSi2 

So I was on the fence about the Titleist offering, well....any Titleist driver for that matter. For me, and I'm guessing a lot of you as well, every model I've ever tried has had so much spin that it hurt my game more than anything. I try my best to keep an open mind on new gear regardless of brand, but I won't lie about being wary. Ok, whining aside, let's swan dive into this. 

 

At address it's a simple look with a nice, smooth profile. You can almost forget that it's a 460 tear drop head....almost. The black crown and the small Titleist center line logo are subtle, and quiet despite the glossy paint job. Just looking at the head and it kinda slaps you in the chicken bag. The face is HUGE! Tall with a design on either side of the center that look like the milled grooves you'd find in a wedge. Seriously, I had to run my fingers across them to make sure they weren't. In my practice swings the head felt light, lighter than I'm used to, but I could feel the head flow right through my release. 

 

Like with the G425, I spent the first 10 swings getting used to the club and making solid contact at around 75% of my normal swing. The sound was a satisfying dull crack, and the feel was amazingly solid. I had to look at the sole to make sure I had the right driver, I did. It felt REALLY good. With every shot I took I looked up to see the ball flight on the screen and was kind of shocked, if I'm honest.

 

Two quick things- 1) I'm a mid-high spin, 10-20 yard low fade player (IT'S NOT A SLICE!!!). 2) While I do trust the raw data from the GC Quad, I trust the screen projections of ball flight/shot shape from any sim/launch monitor in the same way I trust a chain link fence to keep out mosquitoes.

 

Enter my surprise, more accurately- shock. Through 8 swings each one was a mid/high easy draw, none of which were more than 5 yards offline. I know I said I would refrain from reporting on data for this first look, but....I looked. The spin numbers were (for me) abnormally low. So low, in fact, that I stopped the test on swing 8 and restarted the entire system. Waste of time....swings 9,10 at 75% were more of the same. Swings 11-20 at 100% were more of the same easy fade, and weren't much higher on spin, either (and I swear I heard the ball whimper on swing 6). If this thing gives me that shot shape, with legit distance, AND low spin?

 

Having an inner debate between my beloved Mavy, the G425, and the TSi2 before Callaway and Taylormade even get close to releasing their 2021 driver offerings? Look, that's just stress I do not need in my life. If either of these drivers Simulator performances translate to being real on course I am going to have a major problem. 

 

Hoping to have another post up tomorrow night on data between the G425, TSi2, and my Mavrik. 

Edited November 17, 2020 by ShankAaron

[Myherobobhope]

Excellent work!

[jomatty]

I’m jealous!  Great write up!  

[BirdieBob]

Excellent writeup so far, but it will take alot more for me to think about moving my "Freak" out of the bag and into the backup bag.

[Wooderson]

Thanks for this review. Currently debating the same two clubs for next year's spot in the rotation. The TSi2 is low spin for me. Averaged 14 degree launch with 2200 spin today on Trackman. All smash factors were 1.49 or greater. Trying to resist buying until I test the g425s. 

[boycer]

Any updates? 

[ALIF]

Well, I just added a 2 inch extension into my G400 Max. I’m going to be able to hit it on Wednesday. It just hits the ball so straight and it is pretty long already . It’ll be interesting to see if the lower spin of the 425 LST will negate my need for the 47 inch shaft.

[ShankAaron]

I got the G425 out for 18 Saturday and plugged an Arccos sensor into it to log the data. I played a local course to me that's only 5800, and has a total of 11 driver holes. I hit 6 of the 11 fairways. Aside from me being my usual, inconsistent self on the back 9, the driver proved to me what I knew from the simulator. IT WILL LAUNCH! Outside of the drives that were very short that I obviously did not have a good swing, I was very pleased with the performance. On my really bad swings and misses I was very shocked that the ball flights were straight pushes/pulls and not the 70 yard right high slice/50 yard left low hook I'm accustomed to when I swing lazy. The feel and sound was the same that I experienced in the sim, but seeing the ball flight in the open air was what I really needed to confirm. I used new Pro V1X's for the round. 

 

November 21, 2020 G425 LST 10.5*

 

For a baseline, here is the only other time I've played this course earlier this year with my Mavrik performance. No judging. 

 

And one more from a round at my home course last month with the Mavrik

 

[sadclevelandsports]

Drooling... Just wondering why the need for turbulators when they took them away for the wood and hybrid...

[golfgirlrobin]

32 minutes ago, sadclevelandsports said:

Drooling... Just wondering why the need for turbulators when they took them away for the wood and hybrid...

Ping always said that the turbulators never added anything to the fairways or hybrid, they were there simply to have a consistent look across the line.  They do serve a function on the driver and that’s why Ping kept them.  

[sadclevelandsports]

15 minutes ago, golfgirlrobin said:

Ping always said that the turbulators never added anything to the fairways or hybrid, they were there simply to have a consistent look across the line.  They do serve a function on the driver and that’s why Ping kept them.  

Gotcha, would give up a few yards to not have them. Don't know why, they just dont suit my eye..

[DooZ]

23 hours ago, sadclevelandsports said:

Gotcha, would give up a few yards to not have them. Don't know why, they just dont suit my eye..

It's an acquired taste...lol

[iNeedMoreGolf]

I wont tell your gamer... but only for a price... that will cost you 1 whole setup please...or about $3000