Driver advise: Callaway Epic Max or Ping G425 Max

[Forrestx]

 

Let me start by mentioning I have a Ping filled bag…

 

Now the time has come to replace the good ol’ G25 driver.

 

Swing speed 95mph with the driver.

 

Last weekend I tested the G425 Max on Alta CB 55 stiff and the Callaway Epic Max (2021) with the ProjectX Even Flow Riptide stiff and Hzrdus Smoke iM10 60 stiff.

 

Ping felt heavy at the head…more lumpy…Callaway increased clubhead speed to 103mph and still hit damn nice shots…

 

Epic Max felt smoother then the Ping, longer as well…

 

But…I only tried the Ping with 1 setting and 1 shaft…

 

Question is, is the Ping heavy indeed and lumpy…should I move away from Ping and grab the Callaway??

 

I will do some more testing this week as well, but was wondering if anyone here had some views on it.

 

In reviews, the Ping G425 Max is only tested against the Epic Speed strangely enough…

 

 

[Oknows]

2 hours ago, Forrestx said:

 

Let me start by mentioning I have a Ping filled bag…

 

Now the time has come to replace the good ol’ G25 driver.

 

Swing speed 95mph with the driver.

 

Last weekend I tested the G425 Max on Alta CB 55 stiff and the Callaway Epic Max (2021) with the ProjectX Even Flow Riptide stiff and Hzrdus Smoke iM10 60 stiff.

 

Ping felt heavy at the head…more lumpy…Callaway increased clubhead speed to 103mph and still hit damn nice shots…

 

Epic Max felt smoother then the Ping, longer as well…

 

But…I only tried the Ping with 1 setting and 1 shaft…

 

Question is, is the Ping heavy indeed and lumpy…should I move away from Ping and grab the Callaway??

 

I will do some more testing this week as well, but was wondering if anyone here had some views on it.

 

In reviews, the Ping G425 Max is only tested against the Epic Speed strangely enough…

 

 

Callaway head is roughly 10 grams lighter than the Ping. Both good drivers. Seems like you liked the Callaway. If you hit the Ping again, try it with the Tensei Orange. Might come to life for you. 

[me05501]

Epic Max is quite forgiving. But the shaft makes a big difference. Might as well try some out. 

[rondre3000]

What is the world does a lumpy driver feel like?!?! 🤣🤣🤣

 

You're overthinking this. You said the Callaway felt smoother, increased swing speed and hit some "damn nice shots...". Unless I'm missing something, the Callaway is the clear winner between the 2 options you tried. Unless you're going to do a full fitting with both heads, no one can tell you any different.

[averysdad]

I had a g400max and loved it. Thought the g425 max would be longer and more forgiving. Nope…not for me and my swing. It felt heavy and dead to me. Traded in for TM Sim max 2 and couldn’t be happier. If the cally felt better in initial testing…get fitted and roll with it!

Edited July 5, 2021 by averysdad

[Forrestx]

Thanks all! Nice to hear that I’m not the only one who feels the praised G425 is heavy…saying as a devoted Ping player…

 

scheduled another fitting for this Friday…

[C_rad]

Not a lot to add but had a fitting a month ago sure i was going with the ping. 
 

took 10 swings and i knew it wasnt for me. 
 

took 2 swing with the cally speed and the fitter took all the other drivers away. And took 45 min to dial the shaft, loft and length. The speed was the clear winner for me. 
 

go with what works! 

[rondre3000]

Unless someone is paying you to play their sticks, go with what is working for your game and not what brand they are. Most of us are NOT playing a bag with only one brand in it. Wasn't too long ago I counted 5 different brands in the bag, including the ball.  🙂

[gsrjc]

2 hours ago, rondre3000 said:

Unless someone is paying you to play their sticks, go with what is working for your game and not what brand they are. Most of us are NOT playing a bag with only one brand in it. Wasn't too long ago I counted 5 different brands in the bag, including the ball.  🙂

Agreed. I have the following. 
 

Ping G425 max

Cobra F9 3/4 wood

Titleist 816 H2 hybrid

Srixon ZX7 irons

Edel wedges

Bettinardi BB8 putter

Prov1X ball 

[timmy8151]

I’ve gamed a 425 max for a month and while it’s the most accurate driver I’ve used since the k15 I’d agree with others that the head feels heavy and balls don’t pop compared to my 400 max.  While the 26g weight probably helps with MOI I’m thinking I might go with a 10g lower weight 

[Hollywoodtlb]

Don't kill the newb here but can 10G in head weight really slow down a swing all that much?

[rondre3000]

1 hour ago, Hollywoodtlb said:

Don't kill the newb here but can 10G in head weight really slow down a swing all that much?

Possibly, if it kills your timing and you lose confidence and can't find your swing.

[SCOTT4099]

If any driver gave me 8 mph more swing speed than my recently bought gamer, I would buy it on the spot and run out the door.

 

 

Generally speaking, of course.

Edited July 7, 2021 by SCOTT4099

[schaperb90]

4 hours ago, rondre3000 said:

Possibly, if it kills your timing and you lose confidence and can't find your swing.

Small weight differences in the head make a big difference in feel when it's at the end of a 45" + long driver. Think about holding a sledge hammer right behind the head, doesn't feel that heavy right? You could move it around without a crazy amount of effort. Now hold the sledge hammer at the very end. All the sudden the head feels super heavy. Basically, because a driver is long, small weight changes change it's feel very easily, like everything else when the weight is far away from you. If you add or remove 10 grams, without changing anything else, the club will feel like an entirely different club. Ping does use counterbalanced shafts to counter act this, but the clubs do feel slightly heavy. But ping is doing this for a reason. Heavier heads, at least in theory, should get people more ball speed, if you can swing said heavy head at the same speed. Hope this all made sense. Not the best analogy, but I feel like it gets the point across.

[Rbsiedsc]

1 hour ago, schaperb90 said:

Small weight differences in the head make a big difference in feel when it's at the end of a 45" + long driver. Think about holding a sledge hammer right behind the head, doesn't feel that heavy right? You could move it around without a crazy amount of effort. Now hold the sledge hammer at the very end. All the sudden the head feels super heavy. Basically, because a driver is long, small weight changes change it's feel very easily, like everything else when the weight is far away from you. If you add or remove 10 grams, without changing anything else, the club will feel like an entirely different club. Ping does use counterbalanced shafts to counter act this, but the clubs do feel slightly heavy. But ping is doing this for a reason. Heavier heads, at least in theory, should get people more ball speed, if you can swing said heavy head at the same speed. Hope this all made sense. Not the best analogy, but I feel like it gets the point across.

Along those lines I had to do the same with my EF SZ. Tensei pro orange at 44.5”. Had to bulk up the head making the back 26g and the front 4g. Can now feel the head actually 

[Elee913]

Definitely G425 Max for me.  I like the heavier head, and the counterbalanced shafts really work for me.  My swing speed is around 100mph, and I use the CB Alta Slate regular flex.  Last few weeks I’ve been hitting straight bombs with it.  And mishits are incredibly forgiving.  I’d try a regular flex at 95 mph. 

[Hollywoodtlb]

9 hours ago, Elee913 said:

Definitely G425 Max for me.  I like the heavier head, and the counterbalanced shafts really work for me.  My swing speed is around 100mph, and I use the CB Alta Slate regular flex.  Last few weeks I’ve been hitting straight bombs with it.  And mishits are incredibly forgiving.  I’d try a regular flex at 95 mph. 

Very surprised you're in the regular flex at that swing speed. Would think you might be more well suited for the stiff or possibly extra stiff. I don't think I have a fast swing by any means but got fitted into the G425 LST with Tour 65 x-stiff.

[sshadow2]

Had the G425 Max. The head was too heavy stock so I got the aftermarket weight to lighten it. Worked better for me but I  couldn't deal with the sound (even coming from G410 Plus). After a fitting learned that I also was having a hard time hitting the center of the face consistently. Spin was also high when I did hit to middle. Tried the Cally. Better for me on every metric.

 

They are comparable on paper though so it's best to try them both yourself to see what you hit and like better.

[nostatic]

8 hours ago, Hollywoodtlb said:

Very surprised you're in the regular flex at that swing speed. Would think you might be more well suited for the stiff or possibly extra stiff. I don't think I have a fast swing by any means but got fitted into the G425 LST with Tour 65 x-stiff.

 

I find flex is more about feel and timing than swing speed. More how you swing the shaft rather than how fast you swing the shaft. But ymmv, and conventional wisdom would likely put a 100mph ss into a stiff shaft. There are more factors at play though...

[Forrestx]

Had another session this weekend and ended up with G425 at 9,5* with Alta Red CB 55 Stiff as best set up.

Felt better than the Slate.

 

In addition, the guy who fit me will order the Tensei CK Red and Pro Red both 60 Stiff. He did not have them in stock but either one could fit my swing even better…

 

This time the Ping felt way better compared to last time. Slightly shorter than the Callaway Epic Max, but much more constant and stable.

 

Ordered the Ping and will decide on the shaft at delivery…

 

 

[Davidv]

I would go with the Callaway  driver as you are correct on the Ping driver head weight being heavier and for me at least you really start to feel it more as the round progresses. I do like the driver but find it eventually starts to impact my swing speed during the round. 

[uglande]

The 425 is heavy. It's my current gamer and it's functional. I play a shorter shaft (44.50") so the heavier head actually works for me. But honestly it just sounds like trash, so there is little chance it will be in my bag in 2022.

 

This was a step backward for Ping, IMO. Still functionally just fine, but definitely NOT among the best 2021 releases. (Although I am liking the 425 fairway woods). 

 

I would go with the Callaway or wait until the next release window. 

[SylvesterLundgren]

On 7/5/2021 at 3:00 PM, rondre3000 said:

What is the world does a lumpy driver feel like?!?! 🤣🤣🤣

 

You're overthinking this. You said the Callaway felt smoother, increased swing speed and hit some "damn nice shots...". Unless I'm missing something, the Callaway is the clear winner between the 2 options you tried. Unless you're going to do a full fitting with both heads, no one can tell you any different.

Some people be trying to sell themselves with the theoretical improvement of what the club is bringing and how it should work for their game. My friend does this with the pings in general when it comes to MOI and how the club should help. Like it’ll completely negate slice/hook swings because the “MOi” lol like just play what plays good for you damn

[Tiptx1122]

I tried the LST and the Max G425, the LST sounded much better but I really never generated enough swing speed to get the best results with it. The Max didn't care for the sound and the distance was just Ok. I playing driver 3W and 5W Callaway Epic Max as I'm finding more fairways with it as it feels better, sounds better and the ball jumps off the face with the distance that helps me reach more par 5's in 2 now.