Titleist TSR 3 versus Ping G430 LST

[Tree Levino]

18 hours ago, dma315 said:

 

I played it for most of the season after doing a fitting to reduce spin. Hit it REALLY far when I hit sweet spot, but also missed a lot. Loved the sweet spot hits but really struggled to find consistency. 
 

I did a lesson to change my swing and was able to reduce spin some and make my swing more efficient. 
 

Was missing too much still, so thought I’d reconsider and did a much more comprehensive fitting.

 

Hit LST, TSR3, and Stealth2 all pretty decent. Stealth2 was longest and had an extra 2-3 mph on it, but consistently fading a bit more than the others. TSR was solid but I still missed a few left. LST was by far straightest, so I went with that. Couldn’t hit the Paradym triple diamond. 
 

Stealth had 114-116 CHS. Both LST and TSR were 112-114. Was willing to trade some yards since I have speed already.

 

Weirdly, I also did some 3 wood testing and couldn’t hit stealth or LST all that well, and ended up with a TSR 2+ at 13 deg. 

So it goes.
 

Caveat is that I haven’t played these clubs live yet on the course so excited to finally do that hopefully soon. 

 

The LST is literally so straight it’s scary. 

[davbrucas]

The 430LST and the VA Nemesys shaft is the best driver/shaft combo I have hit. Picked up 2-3mph CHS by just using this shaft compared to Ventus TR Red and CK Orange. 

 

As far as the TSR3, it's a decent driver but nothing spectacular. The TSR2 in the bomber...spin rate differences between the two are negligible but the feel and distances are better with the TSR2. 

[leftycabe]

On 12/25/2023 at 4:00 AM, davbrucas said:

The 430LST and the VA Nemesys shaft is the best driver/shaft combo I have hit. Picked up 2-3mph CHS by just using this shaft compared to Ventus TR Red and CK Orange. 

 

As far as the TSR3, it's a decent driver but nothing spectacular. The TSR2 in the bomber...spin rate differences between the two are negligible but the feel and distances are better with the TSR2. 

Just another example of “different strokes for different folks”. This is the exact opposite of my findings. G430 LST was heavy and slow, for me. TSR3 was lighter and faster and just as forgiving, for me. That being said, I do wish I would have tried a counterbalanced shaft with the Ping before parting ways with it. I have no regrets moving to the TSR3 though. 

[Mobert19]

On 12/25/2023 at 5:00 AM, davbrucas said:

As far as the TSR3, it's a decent driver but nothing spectacular. The TSR2 in the bomber...spin rate differences between the two are negligible but the feel and distances are better with the TSR2. 

I found the exact opposite to be true. Why you just need to try for yourself. 

[SBH9458]

Loved the TSR3. And bag the G430 LST. The results for me are undeniable. I did change out the weight on the back to get the SW to D5. 

[Radeon962]

On 12/26/2023 at 6:16 PM, leftycabe said:

Just another example of “different strokes for different folks”. This is the exact opposite of my findings. G430 LST was heavy and slow, for me. TSR3 was lighter and faster and just as forgiving, for me. That being said, I do wish I would have tried a counterbalanced shaft with the Ping before parting ways with it. I have no regrets moving to the TSR3 though. 

I always found Ping heads on the heavy side but found a great deal on a LST and swapped out the weight so that head weight (without the adapter) is 195g. Totally changed the head for me and getting ball speeds in line with the Paradym TD that I played for most of last year. 
 

TD was longer on perfect strikes, but LST hangs well with the TD as it is much more forgiving. 

[drbonesvt]

Still battling Titleist tsr3 vs the g430 lst

 

testing the Accra M5 ST 65 

 

have a Ventus blue 7tx but I think i pair better with something that’s has a stiffer handle 

 

Maybe try an maybe an outlier of Ventus red TR 6x or the old go to of a black TR 7/7 not sure 

[uglande]

On 12/25/2023 at 4:00 AM, davbrucas said:

The 430LST and the VA Nemesys shaft is the best driver/shaft combo I have hit. Picked up 2-3mph CHS by just using this shaft compared to Ventus TR Red and CK Orange. 

 

As far as the TSR3, it's a decent driver but nothing spectacular. The TSR2 in the bomber...spin rate differences between the two are negligible but the feel and distances are better with the TSR2. 

I own both tsr2 and 3 and the latter is consistently hotter in my experience. You won’t find many comparison videos online that contradict that either. But the two are not far apart, and of course nobody’s experience is universal, so I don’t doubt that the 2 worked better for you. 

[chasingneil]

For those with an tsr3 thinking about a g430 for the forgiveness, adding extra weight to a tsr3 really increases the forgiveness.  Increases launch and spin allowing you to lower loft to get more ball speed.  The extra mass also makes it feel better than it already does. Worth the experiment.

[Auleran87]

again personal preference -- but unless you really feel like you need to move the weight in the TSR3 I would suggest going with the TSR2. I've never had a driver give me such high ballspeed on mishits

I gamed the G430 for a while too, it was about 10 yards shorter than the TSR2. I think it's mainly due to headweights. I measured my G430 LST at 205.5g and my TSR2 at 196.5g. Having the lower headweight lets me play a longer shaft and I get more distance. I tried swapping out the back weight in my G430 from 22g to 17g and honestly the head just didn't feel right. Mishits seemed to go further offline.

YMMV but if distance is a priority i'd go TSR just for the lighter stock head weight.

[2Down]

Power = mass x velocity

 

To swing a lighter object and get the same power as a heavier object you have to go faster.

 

I swing heavier heads slower but with more stability.  So, I prefer pings heaver heads a tad slower swing and a bit more precise delivery.

 

My last driver was a Taylor made Stealth.   I could swing it and get a long ball (for me).  With my ping I’m just as long more often as I miss it a tad less.

 

I did take the shaft from the stealth and put it in the ping and added 8gm weight under the grip (thanks out to billy bobs).  So most things were kinda equal.  ie same shaft in both heads and I see the ping in the long spots more often at my course.

 

Sounds good doesn’t it but in reality your mind has to get behind it.  What you believe has a large part to play,  if you don’t like the heavy headed thing that will play a big part in what you will see.    

 

[SwooshLT]

I'm the old , slow guy....played tsr2 for nearly a year with a ton of success....LST 9 lofted up but with a lighter shaft has been an unstoppable force !!!! Haven't driven it this straight and long in years ......had to add about 12-15yds with even more confidence over a super solid TSR2 

#PING4LYFE

[sofla]

Anyone try a counterbalanced shaft in the LST to offset some of the head weight? 

[jeffrey r]

2 hours ago, sofla said:

Anyone try a counterbalanced shaft in the LST to offset some of the head weight? 

 

If the Tensei AV Orange 65 from the G425 line is CB (I believe it is), then yes. Works well for me in the G430 LST (and the G430 Max for that matter), but it is a shaft that "works" for me in general. I generally play my woods in the D2-D3 range, and with the Tour Chrome 2.0, I do a 21g weight in the G430 LST, and with the Tensei AV Orange, I do a 19g weight. I could play either shaft, but I prefer the Tour Chrome 2.0 by a bit--pairs really well with the G430 LST.

 

Anyway, as many in this thread have already said, the G430 LST is a pretty amazing driver. I love the G430 Max as well, but even as a mid HC, at the moment the G430 LST is more consistent for me, straighter, and less likely to put me in trouble with a bad swing. YMMV.

[ginrin]

In terms of sound and feel, the TR3 to me is far superior. I am not sure where on the face I hit the Ping as it all feels the same but the sweetspot of the TR3 is pretty sweet.

[davbrucas]

18 hours ago, sofla said:

Anyone try a counterbalanced shaft in the LST to offset some of the head weight? 

 

I have the VA Composites Nemesys shaft in mine. I believe this is the perfect shaft for the 430LST. I have had G400/410 and 425 all in LST and all with the Tensei CK Orange which was a great shaft for Ping drivers...but the Nemesys netted me 3mph BS and 300-400rpm less spin compared to the Tensei. You results may vary, but I highly recommend trying it. 

[maximusppl]

G430 LST is noticeably more forgiving than TSR3 (and probably TSR3 for that matter). Still keeps it somewhere near or on the fairway. The Ping is one of the most forgiving driver heads I've ever hit. 

[drbonesvt]

Anyone hotmelt a ping 430 lst head yet ?

[JJgolfwrx]

To compare I would as +4g in the titleist because the ping is a heavier head.

[NZ315]

4 hours ago, JJgolfwrx said:

To compare I would as +4g in the titleist because the ping is a heavier head.

I added weight to my TSR3 and it was a game changer. Got the 430lst which is good but I go back to the TSR a lot from look and sound. Performance is really close. 

[JJgolfwrx]

@NZ315 Defintely a different look with TSr3 being more pear shaped. 

[NZ315]

10 hours ago, JJgolfwrx said:

@NZ315 Defintely a different look with TSr3 being more pear shaped. 

Still am not ruling out the 430lst . Got some time before my season starts back up. Gonna do some more indoor testing. Such a hard choice. Distance wise they was really close for me

Edited January 21 by NZ315

[JJgolfwrx]

@NZ315 yes , and you may find you'd need a different shaft to fully optimize each head as well and you might need different settings on each head through its individual settings. 

 

Have you tested any other shafts? 

[Golfinfloridaafter40]

On 12/16/2022 at 8:33 AM, cyr67 said:

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.)

Not just hit and tested both but own or owned both and gamed them.  On my second TSR3 now as I have gained speed, went down in loft

 

Both are on the very very short list of most accurate of the low-ish spin heads.  Ping was very good for me in several ways, what ultimately won out for TSR3 was two things.

1. It looks, sounds, and feels 10x better!  Not even comparable here

2. The TSR3 is consistently faster/longer, slightly lower spin, and better on low strikes.  My miss is a groove or two low and TSR3 destroys everything on low strikes

[Golfinfloridaafter40]

On 12/17/2023 at 8:14 PM, Tree Levino said:

The LST is literally so straight it’s scary. 

This is a true statement!  I sold mine and am back in a TSR3 but,

 

The 430 LST isn't as low spin as the other low spin heads and it is heavier as well. This makes it ideal for more people in my opinion, because it is as easy to hit dead straight as anything I have hit in years.  430 LST is ESPECIALLY good with Ventus TR Blue for whatever reason, and not just for me.  Know several people playing the same setup and love it. 

[Tree Levino]

21 minutes ago, Golfinfloridaafter40 said:

This is a true statement!  I sold mine and am back in a TSR3 but,

 

The 430 LST isn't as low spin as the other low spin heads and it is heavier as well. This makes it ideal for more people in my opinion, because it is as easy to hit dead straight as anything I have hit in years.  430 LST is ESPECIALLY good with Ventus TR Blue for whatever reason, and not just for me.  Know several people playing the same setup and love it. 

It also sits in a nice 2100-2400 spin window depending on shot shape for me. It’s a very nice club. 

[NZ315]

@JJgolfwrx TSR3 has been through more testing. Played with the stock 1k black and Ventus TR Blue 6x. TR blue got the nod from those two. Thinking about trying out a TR Red 6x. Hear a lot of good things about the TR red. 
430lst I only used the 1k Blue 60TX not sure I could get a better shaft in it. 

[JJgolfwrx]

1 hour ago, NZ315 said:

@JJgolfwrx TSR3 has been through more testing. Played with the stock 1k black and Ventus TR Blue 6x. TR blue got the nod from those two. Thinking about trying out a TR Red 6x. Hear a lot of good things about the TR red. 
430lst I only used the 1k Blue 60TX not sure I could get a better shaft in it. 

What did you see with the 1k blue 60tx in the g430 lst. Do you have any data? 

[NZ315]

43 minutes ago, JJgolfwrx said:

What did you see with the 1k blue 60tx in the g430 lst. Do you have any data? 

No data just on course feedback. I hit some long balls maybe even slightly longer than the TSR3. I didn’t really give it too much of a chance since I am so use to the TSR and feel more comfortable with it 

[drbonesvt]

Love hate btw 430lst and my tsr 3 , which I favor ever so slightly, TMAG is my favorite but grew tired of some broken faces