Titleist TSR 3 versus Ping G430 LST

[cyr67]

As the title states. Who has hit both and what are the pros/cons of each?

I'm currently gaming a Cally Epic Max LS. No complaints. FYI SS is about 110. The Titleist has supermodel good looks, but I've got a feeling that the LST could be the holy grail of low spin and forgiveness. So if you've spent some with each, how did it go and which one was the winner for you and why? Thanks! (Yes, I will eventually hit them.)

[jdemocko]

I have not hit the Ping, but my previous gamer was the same club you are hitting.   The Titleist TSR3 knocked it out of the bag.  Distance was very similar, I saw no gains either way.  However, I seem to find the fairway more often with the TSR than I did with the Cally.   Same shaft.

[cyr67]

10 hours ago, jdemocko said:

I have not hit the Ping, but my previous gamer was the same club you are hitting.   The Titleist TSR3 knocked it out of the bag.  Distance was very similar, I saw no gains either way.  However, I seem to find the fairway more often with the TSR than I did with the Cally.   Same shaft.

Thanks. True, I have no issue with the Max LS, but like a true golfwrxer, I'm always looking for the newest thing. I don't want to replace the Max LS if there are no performance gains with the TSR3, and I'm looking at ball speed and distance gains specifically. With Ping, I could never get past the sound on the 425, but I hear the 430 LST is muted. 

[Celeras]

G430 isn't out in my area yet but based on reviews I have seen, 2-3MPH slower than the TSR3 should be expected.

 

Always hard to make that comparison though and I'm sure some of that can be attributed to weight (and slower CHS) as the spec sheet has the LST head at 208g. But it's also 440cc vs 460cc, and history is on the side of Ping being a tad slower. I definitely give up a little with my 425 Max.

[cyr67]

49 minutes ago, Celeras said:

G430 isn't out in my area yet but based on reviews I have seen, 2-3MPH slower than the TSR3 should be expected.

 

Always hard to make that comparison though and I'm sure some of that can be attributed to weight (and slower CHS) as the spec sheet has the LST head at 208g. But it's also 440cc vs 460cc, and history is on the side of Ping being a tad slower. I definitely give up a little with my 425 Max.

Can you link those reviews? We’re they head to head?

[Celeras]

 

34 minutes ago, cyr67 said:

Can you link those reviews? We’re they head to head?

 

I don't recall any head-to-heads. Just pick any aussie fella and they're likely to have reviews for both clubs. I just checked Alex Etches and he had 183 on the TSR3 and 179 on the 430 LST.

[cyr67]

Thanks. I’ll check his videos.

[cyr67]

Anybody else? Anyone with any head to head experience with these two?

[beluga99]

I have hit both G430 Max and LST.  Have also hit both the TSR heads,  but preferred the TSR2 over the 3.  Both TSR heads were best with the 1K black shaft for me.

 

Came from a TSi3 which on its day was a bomber, but I did get a little inconsistent with it.  Went back to my G400 Max with the Tour x shaft which spun a bit more than the Titleist but was much straighter.

 

I then hit the G430 LST and it was noticeably straighter ans more consistent than both the TSR heads, especially when I give it a bit more effort i.e trying to beat the absolute p*ss out of the ball.

 

I agree with above, I tended to get slightly higher CHS out of the two Titleist heads.  Say 110mph vs 108mph with the LST.  However the heavier head of the LST is so much more satisfying when you flush it.  It feels like a hammer, and I prefer the slightly heavier head of the LST.  The LST also spins optimally for me, even on mishits.  I may be able to pump up my CHS on the LST if I used one of the counterbalanced shafts.  The difference wasn't a deal breaker for me.

 

Best versus best the TSR is longer, but the LST is no slouch, plus after six rounds with it, I am where I expect to be on the course, and often slightly further up the fairway.  Plus, I found it more forgiving than the G400, mishits feel better, it sounds and feels better overall, love the 440cc head, and the matte finish is my preferred look.

 

Absolutely no regrets on the G430 purchase.  I went with the Kai'li shaft which is a great pairing for the head and my swing.  When I look down on the head, it gives me confidence knowing a less than stellar swing on my behalf is still going to give a playable result, which wasn't always the case with the TSi which was a fine head in its own right.

[03trdblack]

On 12/17/2022 at 2:11 AM, Celeras said:

 

 

I don't recall any head-to-heads. Just pick any aussie fella and they're likely to have reviews for both clubs. I just checked Alex Etches and he had 183 on the TSR3 and 179 on the 430 LST.

 

You can't really compare reviews of clubs done on different days. He may have been swinging slower or different (which most of us do). 

[Cstobaugh]

On 12/16/2022 at 9:47 PM, cyr67 said:

Thanks. True, I have no issue with the Max LS, but like a true golfwrxer, I'm always looking for the newest thing. I don't want to replace the Max LS if there are no performance gains with the TSR3, and I'm looking at ball speed and distance gains specifically. With Ping, I could never get past the sound on the 425, but I hear the 430 LST is muted. 

Currently gaming the TSR3. Came from G425. Had both Max and LST (becoming a WXR!). Couldn’t stand the sound of the PING. Very happy with TSR, checks a lot of boxes for me. 

[halfsumo]

So I have/had both and hit them head to head outdoors on the range. I was fitted for the tsr3 and bought a stock g430 LST. Both 9*. Long story short, I ended up keeping the TSR3 because it was fitted and I liked the sound and feel better. The non fitted g430 was almost as good as the tsr, maybe a little straighter and more forgiving. Good for good, the tsr was better and I enjoyed hitting it a bit more. A fitted g430 I’m very confident would be every bit as good and potentially better performing, I just didn’t want to spend the time and money to get it dialed in with all the other new drivers coming out soon. Also, the sound and feel just didn’t do it for me, which I know is totally subjective, but very important to me since most drivers perform pretty similarly for me. Not bad, just not super satisfying for me on good strikes as I’d like. Really, this is just me being super picky. Im sure others will love it and love seeing their drives sail down the middle. I’m actually interested in giving the g430 max a try in a few months. I don’t necessarily need a low spin driver.

[cyr67]

I appreciate the replies. It’s down to these two at present, but I’ll likely hold off until the Paradym and Aerojet drop. 

[GSPeltSlinger]

I have both. I think the 430LST is better. They are about the same speed but the Ping is noticeably more forgiving. I’ve never been a Ping guy either. I’m normally TM or Titleist in the drivers. 

[hackeraz]

Hit both the 430LST and TSR3 a couple weeks ago during a driver fitting. In the end it came down to those two clubs performing the best for me. The TSR3 felt great and the dispersion was non existent, I just couldn't miss the center of a fairway with the thing. The 430LST was a bit less accurate in my hands but I averaged about 14 more yards in carry with it. Ultimately, between the extra distance (at not too great a penalty) and cheaper sticker meant the 430LST went into my bag. Just not sure how the carry distances were so different between the two because if the TSR3 was within a few more yards I would have put it in my bag instead. Averages were (from memory so maybe off) around 111 club speed, 162 ball speed, spin rate around 2250. Shaft is a Tensei AV Orange. 

[cyr67]

8 hours ago, hackeraz said:

Hit both the 430LST and TSR3 a couple weeks ago during a driver fitting. In the end it came down to those two clubs performing the best for me. The TSR3 felt great and the dispersion was non existent, I just couldn't miss the center of a fairway with the thing. The 430LST was a bit less accurate in my hands but I averaged about 14 more yards in carry with it. Ultimately, between the extra distance (at not too great a penalty) and cheaper sticker meant the 430LST went into my bag. Just not sure how the carry distances were so different between the two because if the TSR3 was within a few more yards I would have put it in my bag instead. Averages were (from memory so maybe off) around 111 club speed, 162 ball speed, spin rate around 2250. Shaft is a Tensei AV Orange. 

14 more yards with the LST! Were you testing in the same shaft/loft for both drivers...apples to apples? 

[oneaugusta]

I agree 14 yards doesn’t sound right. They were both within 5 yards for me with the difference being sound and feel. 

[hackeraz]

14 hours ago, cyr67 said:

14 more yards with the LST! Were you testing in the same shaft/loft for both drivers...apples to apples? 

Same loft of 9 turned down...pretty sure we were in the same Tensei but I'm honestly not 100% sure at this time. I was quite surprised at the difference as well. 

[WeritoK2]

any more comparisons between these two? 

[golfer881]

Hit both on the course. TSR3 looked and felt amazing, g430 not quite as long on perfect strikes, but crazy accurate.. g430 is a no brainer for me. Also sounds waaaaaaaay better than the g425. If I gamed a titleist it would be the TRS2.  

[beluga99]

24 minutes ago, golfer881 said:

Hit both on the course. TSR3 looked and felt amazing, g430 not quite as long on perfect strikes, but crazy accurate.. g430 is a no brainer for me. Also sounds waaaaaaaay better than the g425. If I gamed a titleist it would be the TRS2.  

My experience exactly.

[WeritoK2]

check this out, it just came out. God sent!

 

 

[Albatross Dreamer]

2 hours ago, WeritoK2 said:

check this out, it just came out. God sent!

 

 

Saw this, always fun how tinkering can optimize for each person. Also thought it was interesting that he hit the TSR3 ~10 times whereas he hit the Ping ~25 times. Would love to know what all the swings they don't show look like.

Edited February 8, 2023 by Albatross Dreamer

[Celeras]

Even though the thread was about LST and the video is the MAX, reread my comment at the beginning and then ask yourself "Why is Ian swinging the G430 slightly faster than the TSR3?"

 

Because he replaced the weight in the back and used a different shaft profile. This is what you have to do to speed up Ping drivers and it'll always come down to how the head reacts to those changes. I'm not quite sure most people who play a MAX would benefit from making it lighter to find a little more speed, but good for him for finding something that suits him. Get fit.

[mosesgolf]

I’ve hit both.  The LST and TSR3 are about the same in length. Dispersion is so much better with the Ping.  TSR horrible on toe hits.  The LST is surprisingly very forgiving.  It is much better than previous gen LST’s.

[awtryau89]

I own them both and my observations are in the main thread. I’ve only played 2 rounds with the LST but it is so much more stable than the TSR. It’s just so hard to get wild with it. The TSR is much more workable and I find it very forgiving for what it is. If you stray all over the face then by all means the LST is a much better driver. If you have a normal Miss strike pattern like I do, the TSR is fine and can be tuned to help with it. 
 

As far as distance I can’t say for sure yet because the flights are different and the weather hasn’t been conducive. I think the TSR will be longer due to a more penetrating ball flight. I will say the Ping has caught up with everyone on ball speed with this model. 

[Honman]

Played about on the range today with TS3, G430 LST, G430 Max, and the Dynapwr Carbon. Shafts were not the same although all lower launch and spin. 

 

Dynapwr felt best. Looks pretty good behind the ball as well. 

TSR is a great driver. Its pretty forgiving for such a classic look.  

MAX the ballflight was noticibly higher than everything else. Felt pretty good especially compared to G425.

LST seemed to have the best combination of feel, flight, and forgivness.

 

I'm going for a proper fitting soon and wouldnt be surprised if the LST is my driver for the year. 

[animalgolfs]

15 hours ago, Celeras said:

Even though the thread was about LST and the video is the MAX, reread my comment at the beginning and then ask yourself "Why is Ian swinging the G430 slightly faster than the TSR3?"

 

Because he replaced the weight in the back and used a different shaft profile. This is what you have to do to speed up Ping drivers and it'll always come down to how the head reacts to those changes. I'm not quite sure most people who play a MAX would benefit from making it lighter to find a little more speed, but good for him for finding something that suits him. Get fit.

I've done just this...ordered a 17g weight to try in the 430 LST - which was stock set up in the 425 LST.

[WeritoK2]

Anyone else? More feedback please! 

[beluga99]

On 2/12/2023 at 8:03 AM, animalgolfs said:

I've done just this...ordered a 17g weight to try in the 430 LST - which was stock set up in the 425 LST.

Be interested to see if you see much of a difference.