PING G430 - Are They Finally Going Back to a Carbon Fiber Crown?

[bopper53]

On 7/24/2022 at 11:44 AM, Notashank said:

G425 are right up your ally. Not small. 

Had them and hated them.

 

Not near the club that the G400 was or the I210's

[joeymack14]

15 hours ago, Ghostwedge said:

Turbs frame the ball nicely. Shouldn't be a deal breaker, the sound, maybe.

I totally agree about the turbulators framing the ball. I was struggling with a heel strike on my drives before I put the G410 LST in the bag and the turbulators really helped me focus on where I had the ball aligned on the face at address. Now I find the center of the face way more often and man that thing flies. Personally I really hope they don't get rid of them moving forward.

[ShortSticks]

My hope is they take the left bias out of the MAX version this time. I really struggled with a big left miss with the G425 MAX before giving up on it after a year of struggles. I have thought about trying a G410 PLUS as I have heard it does not have a left bias, but never tried one.

[Brooks_Cupcake]

1 minute ago, ShortSticks said:

My hope is they take the left bias out of the MAX version this time. I really struggled with a big left miss with the G425 MAX before giving up on it after a year of struggles. I have thought about trying a G410 PLUS as I have heard it does not have a left bias, but never tried one.

Or….flat setting and a massive CG move to the toe may have helped.

FWIW I didn’t find the Max left biased and that’s my miss is the extra 10 yard draw 

[Ghostwedge]

12 minutes ago, joeymack14 said:

I totally agree about the turbulators framing the ball. I was struggling with a heel strike on my drives before I put the G410 LST in the bag and the turbulators really helped me focus on where I had the ball aligned on the face at address. Now I find the center of the face way more often and man that thing flies. Personally I really hope they don't get rid of them moving forward.

Ping doesn't do pretty first, the Turbs are on there because they actually work.

It might only be for one mph more ball speed and two yards of distance but its still a benefit. 

Looking forward to the next driver roll out. I'm still with the G400 as I like the smaller profile head. The G400 Max was the first driver to kick Titleist  out of my son's bag in years. 

 

[ShortSticks]

Just now, Brooks_Cupcake said:

Or….flat setting and a massive CG move to the toe may have helped.

FWIW I didn’t find the Max left biased and that’s my miss is the extra 10 yard draw 

Oh believe me I tried that and every other setting I could think of to get it under control. 

[Rory4Pres]

I have to think, if they are going to a carbon fiber top, that the turbulators will be be gone.

 

If they offer the same adapter, no turbulators and a couple more yards, I'd be very tempted to make the jump from my G410 LST, which i am in love with. 

 

Then again, maybe not.  This G410 LST is really all I was ever looking for (out of a driver) once I got the right shaft and head weight dialed in. 

[Morry]

1 hour ago, Brooks_Cupcake said:

Or….flat setting and a massive CG move to the toe may have helped.

FWIW I didn’t find the Max left biased and that’s my miss is the extra 10 yard draw 

I tried flat and big weight in toe and some hot melt and it STILL wants to hook

so could NOT agree more with you 

remove the draw bias PLEASE

 

400 had very little, 410 bit more and 425 was brutal 

reverse Course please

thanks

 

 

[Booker60]

I’m in

[wheelergj2003]

Doesn't matter if if it performs better - hopefully it just sounds better.  The 425 is the worst sounding driver ever produced

[WristySwing]

43 minutes ago, wheelergj2003 said:

Doesn't matter if if it performs better - hopefully it just sounds better.  The 425 is the worst sounding driver ever produced

 

I'll raise you the Nike SQ Sumo2.  Scroll to 3:40.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY5VEzHbAks&ab_channel=GolfMates

 

 

When I worked Big Box golf retail I had a box of these fall on a box of Nickent Square drivers in the cement floored storage room.  I think I still have lingering tinnitus from that.

[The Ultimate Hack]

Release the pictures!

[Strategery]

1 hour ago, wheelergj2003 said:

Doesn't matter if if it performs better - hopefully it just sounds better.  The 425 is the worst sounding driver ever produced

 

Not the worst sounding driver ever (enter Nike Sumo). The real pain point here, particularly for the Ping faithful, is that it surely must be the worst sounding great driver ever. Ping engineers are super crafty though, so expect a major improvement in this area for the G430.

[Bdck]

On 7/26/2022 at 6:51 PM, bopper53 said:

Had them and hated them.

 

Not near the club that the G400 was or the I210's

A shovel is a shovel

[Valtiel]

19 hours ago, Morry said:

I tried flat and big weight in toe and some hot melt and it STILL wants to hook

so could NOT agree more with you 

remove the draw bias PLEASE

 

400 had very little, 410 bit more and 425 was brutal 

reverse Course please

thanks

 

 

The G410 (Plus and LST) were two of the most fade biased modern drivers ever made with the weights in the toe. The G400 MAX was slightly fade biased (similar to the G410's set neutral) and the G400 standard was basically neutral biased. Only the SFT models have had an actual draw bias built in. Any of the G425 models with the weight in the toe is going to be fade biased, so if you're hooking them then it's a different problem. 

[RacineBoxer]

On 7/26/2022 at 6:51 PM, bopper53 said:

Had them and hated them.

 

Not near the club that the G400 was or the I210's

 

I played all 3 of those irons. The G400 definitely stands out for being bigger, bulkier, more offset. I was surprised at how much the G425's were slimmed down, shortened heel to toe when I had them both in my hands at the same time (I skipped the G410's, never really even looked at them). I do think the G425's were a little more clicky and I didn't love that about them. 

[J13]

20 hours ago, wheelergj2003 said:

Doesn't matter if if it performs better - hopefully it just sounds better.  The 425 is the worst sounding driver ever produced

I hotmelt more Ping heads in my shop in 1 year than all other manufactures combined in the last 5 years lol.  Not kidding.

[bcflyguy1]

21 hours ago, wheelergj2003 said:

Doesn't matter if if it performs better - hopefully it just sounds better.  The 425 is the worst sounding driver ever produced

True that you don't buy a Ping 425 driver for the way it sounds at impact without melt, unless you're in the "it's louder so it must be longer" crowd. (Trust me, they're still out there in droves; see them at every fitting event.)

 

However, anybody old enough to remember the Nike SQ Square would rightly disagree. That abomination caused more hearing loss in the golf community than we'll ever fully know.

Edited July 28, 2022 by bcflyguy1

[CynicalFly27]

Meh, too busy. I will stick with my G425. 

[halfsumo]

I had a G425 Max and had it hotmelted and still didn't like the sound. Got rid of it after 2 rounds. Had the G, G25, G400 and G410 so I am a PING driver fan. Just couldn't do the 425 with so many great options from other OEMs. I will definitely give the next a try, though. 

[Cpt. Kirk]

On 7/27/2022 at 5:02 PM, Morry said:

I tried flat and big weight in toe and some hot melt and it STILL wants to hook

so could NOT agree more with you 

remove the draw bias PLEASE

 

400 had very little, 410 bit more and 425 was brutal 

reverse Course please

thanks

 

 

Hmm, maybe it’s your swing?

[WristySwing]

As a fitter I would love for them to please introduce a SFT 9*.  A 10.5* lofted down and opening the face 1.5* does not help a slicer, Ping.  Also, the adjustable weight is not as heavy as the heel weight in the SFT to correct this.  A 9* SFT would be a dream come true for all the high-spin slicers out there.

[thigos]

I play the 425 and love everything about it but the sound.  Feeding around an 8" piece of yarn into the head does a nice job of muffling the sound.  A bit ghetto, and non compliant but it works.  Its easy to remove with some wire if you need to.  Did the same to my 400 max and it was a big improvement.

 

That said, if the 430 performs the same and sounds better, I'm buying it.  Who am I kidding, I'll end up buying it no matter what.

[Danielson]

22 hours ago, WristySwing said:

 

I'll raise you the Nike SQ Sumo2.  Scroll to 3:40.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY5VEzHbAks&ab_channel=GolfMates

 

 

When I worked Big Box golf retail I had a box of these fall on a box of Nickent Square drivers in the cement floored storage room.  I think I still have lingering tinnitus from that.

 

I used to have the square sumo, the G425 is far and away worse. It sounds like a little league bat.

[Strategery]

5 hours ago, RacineBoxer said:

 

I played all 3 of those irons. The G400 definitely stands out for being bigger, bulkier, more offset. I was surprised at how much the G425's were slimmed down, shortened heel to toe when I had them both in my hands at the same time (I skipped the G410's, never really even looked at them). I do think the G425's were a little more clicky and I didn't love that about them. 

 

Irons, meh. We are talking woods here.

[Strategery]

2 hours ago, Danielson said:

 

I used to have the square sumo, the G425 is far and away worse. It sounds like a little league bat.

[FletchJoy]

7 hours ago, WristySwing said:

As a fitter I would love for them to please introduce a SFT 9*.  A 10.5* lofted down and opening the face 1.5* does not help a slicer, Ping.  Also, the adjustable weight is not as heavy as the heel weight in the SFT to correct this.  A 9* SFT would be a dream come true for all the high-spin slicers out there.

You can order heavier heel weights, and face angle does not influence ball flight at only -1.5 degrees open (from standard position, which is often more closed by default). Centre of Gravity does nearly all of the heavy lifting in the SFT to make it draw-biased (somewhere between 15-20 yards). You could also ask for head with the most closed face angle (digitally loft request), so you could keep the loft as low as possible. I'd also recommend a shorter shaft for less spin, ability to 'clear' the club face better, if a SFT is still not eliminating the most severe slices. The market for a low lofted 'super' draw-biased is likely too small to justify a lower lofted head. Especially, when you can bring it down to 9 degrees and only maybe give up a slight yard or two back because of a slightly open face angle. 

If you're really crazy, you could get a MAX 9 degree, put the weight in the lowest setting and request production to add 5-6 grams of hot melt in the heel, effectively making it a low lofted SFT. A good fitter could make a solid recommendation to tailor a driver to nearly everyone. 

 

As a fitter, i've seen golfers that are such high spin slicers from an obscene over the top, downward attack angle, open face to path move. You could give them an SFT or an LST and they would still probably slice them the same amount. That's when you call your local PGA professional... 

[WristySwing]

11 hours ago, FletchJoy said:

You can order heavier heel weights, and face angle does not influence ball flight at only -1.5 degrees open (from standard position, which is often more closed by default). Centre of Gravity does nearly all of the heavy lifting in the SFT to make it draw-biased (somewhere between 15-20 yards). You could also ask for head with the most closed face angle (digitally loft request), so you could keep the loft as low as possible. I'd also recommend a shorter shaft for less spin, ability to 'clear' the club face better, if a SFT is still not eliminating the most severe slices. The market for a low lofted 'super' draw-biased is likely too small to justify a lower lofted head. Especially, when you can bring it down to 9 degrees and only maybe give up a slight yard or two back because of a slightly open face angle. 

If you're really crazy, you could get a MAX 9 degree, put the weight in the lowest setting and request production to add 5-6 grams of hot melt in the heel, effectively making it a low lofted SFT. A good fitter could make a solid recommendation to tailor a driver to nearly everyone. 

 

As a fitter, i've seen golfers that are such high spin slicers from an obscene over the top, downward attack angle, open face to path move. You could give them an SFT or an LST and they would still probably slice them the same amount. That's when you call your local PGA professional... 

 

I'm a fitter as well.  I've seen stuff like the Stealth HD, Rogue ST Max D, and LTDx Max work wonders for someone who is OTT/Out-In, face open, and heel smash it.  The key is to find something that matches with their timing better.  Heavier shafts tend to work a lot better and something that has a much more pronounced release sensation for them as well.  For instance, I do extremely well with the Diamana ZF, it has a very discernable loading and unloading sensation for a lot of players.  I agree though, there is a threshold where a club can only do so much and you need to say it's probably time to call 1-800-GOLFTIPS.

 

If we are being really truthful though, nothing beats a straight up offset driver.  I bet Ping sold boatloads of the G2 and G5 offset heads.  I had a G5 back in the day when I was a teen and it was a game changer for me off the tee until I improved my mechanics.

[Morry]

On 7/28/2022 at 12:09 PM, Cpt. Kirk said:

Hmm, maybe it’s your swing?

Laughing

thanks Captain….

 

explains why 2 buddies who both slice LOVE and swear by the 425 max

it is far from neutral as are 80% of golfers

maybe you are as well…

 

 

[Valtiel]

On 7/28/2022 at 5:34 PM, FletchJoy said:

You can order heavier heel weights, and face angle does not influence ball flight at only -1.5 degrees open (from standard position, which is often more closed by default). Centre of Gravity does nearly all of the heavy lifting in the SFT to make it draw-biased (somewhere between 15-20 yards). You could also ask for head with the most closed face angle (digitally loft request), so you could keep the loft as low as possible. I'd also recommend a shorter shaft for less spin, ability to 'clear' the club face better, if a SFT is still not eliminating the most severe slices. The market for a low lofted 'super' draw-biased is likely too small to justify a lower lofted head. Especially, when you can bring it down to 9 degrees and only maybe give up a slight yard or two back because of a slightly open face angle. 

If you're really crazy, you could get a MAX 9 degree, put the weight in the lowest setting and request production to add 5-6 grams of hot melt in the heel, effectively making it a low lofted SFT. A good fitter could make a solid recommendation to tailor a driver to nearly everyone. 

 

As a fitter, i've seen golfers that are such high spin slicers from an obscene over the top, downward attack angle, open face to path move. You could give them an SFT or an LST and they would still probably slice them the same amount. That's when you call your local PGA professional... 

I think that is part of the point of his request though as that those severe over the top slicers tend to deliver very high dynamic loft and obviously trends towards have an open face, so you're always working against the problem if you're having to open the face in an effort to decrease their dynamic loft. And regarding face angle, I disagree that it doesn't influence ball flight. If they resquare the face up manually by gripping the club slightly different then sure, but when you're trying to get as much help with face closure as possible for those over the top slicers then you'll take any degrees you can get. Not to mention the undeniable psychological impact that face angle at address has on many people.