Ping G430 Max Driver vs Ping G425 Max and Ping G400 Max Driver

[BG5]

Hi Guys,

 

I had a Ping G400 Max driver and that bad boy was sweet.  Loved it but as a club guy I upgraded to the Ping G425 Max and I thought it performed on par with the G400 MAx or even a bit better.  My only complaint is the noise issue but that really does not bother me all that much.

 

Is the Ping G430 Max Driver better than the G425 max, G400 max?  Is there much difference or in the ball park as the other two?

[UnderPar18]

5 minutes ago, BG5 said:

Hi Guys,

 

I had a Ping G400 Max driver and that bad boy was sweet.  Loved it but as a club guy I upgraded to the Ping G425 Max and I thought it performed on par with the G400 MAx or even a bit better.  My only complaint is the noise issue but that really does not bother me all that much.

 

Is the Ping G430 Max Driver better than the G425 max, G400 max?  Is there much difference or in the ball park as the other two?

G430 max is superior IMO from both based on more consistent spin windows based on their new tech. 

[animalgolfs]

1 hour ago, UnderPar18 said:

G430 max is superior IMO from both based on more consistent spin windows based on their new tech. 

Superior? If the 400 was an optimal fit....the improvements will be slight- if any.

 

[UnderPar18]

3 hours ago, animalgolfs said:

Superior? If the 400 was an optimal fit....the improvements will be slight- if any.

 

Don’t take it so literal. OEMs are making mishits more consistent and more optimal. If anyone is fit correctly into a driver they make not see staggering differences but if a driver produces better numbers even in the slightest and better numbers on mishits then imo it’s superior. 

[Dr.Potat]

5 hours ago, UnderPar18 said:

G430 max is superior IMO from both based on more consistent spin windows based on their new tech. 

The name is silly, but the “spinsistency” is major upgrade. After 8 shots at my fitting the standard deviation of spin was only 187 rpms and everything was in the fairway. 
 

The sound is also a major improvement. 
 

The answer to your question is very subjective, but for me, yes it is better than the 425 Max (no experience with the 400). Is it worth the upgrade? I think you’ll have to try it out. I didn’t go for the 425 Max because of the sound and when I hit the 430 Max I was sold very quickly. 

[slolane]

Last week I went in a test drove the 430 and put it against my 400 max. After many swings with both drivers all the numbers were better for the 430 inside on a sim. I live in Michigan where it will be at least a month before I can hit it outside here. Lucky me next week I am going to the Grand National in Opelika for 3 days of golf. The fitter put me into the 430 SFT so far playing in an indoor sim league I am very happy with the driver. Was the switch worth it?  I will let you know after next week from Alabama.

[Nixhex524]

I was just playing the G400 Max until I got my 430 LST and for me, the 430 is so much better in every way it isnt even funny.  Before that I only hit the 430 Max indoors but it is noticeably quieter than the 425 IMO.  I tend to spin the ball so I went LST this time, but if the LST is this forgiving, the 430 Max must be a total fairway finder.   This could be the driver that finally unseats the G400 Max from its cult status.  

[mantan]

I went through an extensive driver fitting today. I hit every single new every new head. I went in open minded, but the PING G430 came out the winner.  (2nd place was the TSR)  I loved the G400. Max. It was one of my favorite driver of all time. I foolishly sold it.  (Then bought 2 others that didn't have the same magic. I owned 3 different G410 Plus models.  It was OK, but I couldn't find the love with it either. I had a short dalliance with the G425. I didn't like the sound at all...and performance wise it wasn't close to the G400 Max for me.

 

The G430 gave me the same happy feeling as the G400 Max. The sound is MUCH improved.  It spun a touch high, but when the fitter put me in the LST, my results weren't as good.

[BackNine08]

Having tried both drivers - for me... the main difference was in the sound of the G425.. not great, but something I can live with. Followup question is.. if both drivers are similar for a person.. is there any future-proof tech in the G430 that would make it more appealing? 

[boggyman]

19 minutes ago, BackNine08 said:

Having tried both drivers - for me... the main difference was in the sound of the G425.. not great, but something I can live with. Followup question is.. if both drivers are similar for a person.. is there any future-proof tech in the G430 that would make it more appealing? 

No! 

[forrester_fire]

On 2/9/2023 at 3:20 PM, UnderPar18 said:

Don’t take it so literal. OEMs are making mishits more consistent and more optimal. If anyone is fit correctly into a driver they make not see staggering differences but if a driver produces better numbers even in the slightest and better numbers on mishits then imo it’s superior. 

 

The question becomes, "is it $550+ superior?"

[BackNine08]

47 minutes ago, boggyman said:

No! 

Thanks. 

[BackNine08]

20 minutes ago, forrester_fire said:

 

The question becomes, "is it $550+ superior?"

True.. but maybe more like $150 because the 425 is $150 less right now. 

[kwcsports]

I found almost no difference between them. I'm sticking with the 400.

[hammergolf]

On 2/9/2023 at 9:30 AM, BG5 said:

Hi Guys,

 

I had a Ping G400 Max driver and that bad boy was sweet.  Loved it but as a club guy I upgraded to the Ping G425 Max and I thought it performed on par with the G400 MAx or even a bit better.  My only complaint is the noise issue but that really does not bother me all that much.

 

Is the Ping G430 Max Driver better than the G425 max, G400 max?  Is there much difference or in the ball park as the other two?

Most data I’ve seen show the performance between g425 and g430 to be pretty close. However, the largest improvement is the sound and feel of the g430 is definitely better.

[UnderPar18]

1 hour ago, forrester_fire said:

 

The question becomes, "is it $550+ superior?"

What people use to warrant a purchase is their prerogative, but I was talking strictly in relation to performance gains. I agree that drivers are VERY expensive and you may only experience minimal gains (tough to say what that translates to). But then again I've never calculated how many shots it could possibly save me and divide it by the total to warrant a purchase. 

[sneaky_pete]

just replaced my G400 Max with a G430 Max and two games in the G430 just eats it.  the ability to set it up with a draw bias has tightened up my dispersion a lot as my leak off to the right has pretty much disappeared unless I put a really bad swing on it.  I don't think I've gained or lost distance but on dispersion alone the G430 is a clear winner - it sounds better, feels lighter and more balanced.  the new Tour 65 2.0 Black shaft is great - low spin, low launch.  

 

G430 is a total upgrade from my G400 no question.

[mantan]

I've played 2 rounds with the G430 since the post I made above.

 

For me, it is clearly better than my old beloved G400 Max.  It's longer, more forgiving and feels better.   I went through multiple swims with the G400 Max, multiple variations of the G410 Plus and a very short dalliance with the G425.  

 

IMO

 

G430>>>G400 Max>>>>>>>>>G425 (sound is just bad)>>>>>>>G410 Plus

 

If I had never left the G400 Max, it would be worth every penny to upgrade. If I was playing the G425 and was OK with the sound, it's probably not enough to switch. But I'd crunch the numbers if it was worth selling the G425 and getting into the G430 for a couple of hundred bucks.

[wjdpar1]

G430 has better sound and a different paint scheme than previous G4xx drivers.  That's about it IMO.

 

 

 

[bombs]

Just moved from the G425 MAX to the G430 MAX. It's a huge upgrade IMO and I absolutely love it. 

Sounds way better. Feels way better. It's a bit busier at address but I do find it easier to align.

Playing a different shaft so it's not an exact comparison, now in the Kai'li -- enjoyed hitting it more than my current AV RAW Orange. 

 

Very consistently rolling out to 285 yards at a steady 105mph club speed. Slight fade, fairway finding beauties. 

 

When I stepped on it I was able to squeeze 113mph and was having balls roll out to 315 yards. Amazing. 

 

[southpaw72]

I think I just dialed my 400 max in with a new shaft. I’ve been considering grabbing another in case this one bites the dust. I love it that much. I’ve never been attached to a driver. If the 430 is on par or better maybe I need to take it for a spin or not worry about a backup g400 max.

 

Sometimes I wonder if my 400max thinks about me the way I think about it 🥹❤️

[skraly]

I’ve had all three and currently have a G430 Max in the bag.  The G430 is everything the G400 Max is except better in every catagory.  Better sound, more forgiving across the face and about 10 yds. longer for me.  Much better feel and sound than the G425 Max.  A little more forgiving across the face than G425 so on average slightly better distance.  Best hits on G425 and G430 are equal but the G430 is a little better on mishits.  Both G425 and G430 are longer than G400 Max.  IMO G430 Max is what the G425 Max should have been.

Edited April 4, 2023 by skraly

[infinii]

7 hours ago, skraly said:

I’ve had all three and currently have a G430 Max in the bag.  The G430 is everything the G400 Max is except better in every catagory.  Better sound, more forgiving across the face and about 10 yds. longer for me.  Much better feel and sound than the G425 Max.  A little more forgiving across the face than G425 so on average slightly better distance.  Best hits on G425 and G430 are equal but the G430 is a little better on mishits.  Both G425 and G430 are longer than G400 Max.  IMO G430 Max is what the G425 Max should have been.

 

Same shaft and setup on all 3?

[jeffrey r]

9 hours ago, skraly said:

I’ve had all three and currently have a G430 Max in the bag.  The G430 is everything the G400 Max is except better in every catagory.  Better sound, more forgiving across the face and about 10 yds. longer for me.  Much better feel and sound than the G425 Max.  A little more forgiving across the face than G425 so on average slightly better distance.  Best hits on G425 and G430 are equal but the G430 is a little better on mishits.  Both G425 and G430 are longer than G400 Max.  IMO G430 Max is what the G425 Max should have been.

I echo this. 

[ThreePuttForPar]

I had been playing a Titleist ts3 driver with an evenflow white shaft, kept trying to like g425 max at the store because I wanted to switch to something more forgiving and easier to launch, the ts3 (or it’s shaft) always felt like I had to go after it.

 

I could never get along with G425, I tried all the different stock options, and just couldn’t find anything worth switching for. G430 came out, I went to the store to hit it, and I was pretty much sold on the first swing. That being said, the project x red was not offered in G425, and I am 99% sure it’s that I got along with the shaft more than it had anything to do with the head.

 

Im willing to bet if I plugged that shaft into a g425,410, or 400 head, I’d have liked it just as much. Probably better because I would’ve saved some money.
 

G430 has been great for me, or should I say project x red has been great for me. Just my experience…

 

 

[Lumberjack627]

I have played Taylormade drivers since the R15. I always wanted to get a ping driver always tried them never got along with them at all. I just came home with a 9 degree g430 max after testing all the heads and lofts. This was by far the most forgiving and best distance head for me. I had a g425 for a very short time because I wanted the forgiveness of it but it was just a bad relationship with the 2. The G430 max on the other hand is a very good stable driver. 

[bmyles]

I'd love to hear what if any differences in spin between the G400 Max and G430 Max people are seeing

[skraly]

4 hours ago, bmyles said:

I'd love to hear what if any differences in spin between the G400 Max and G430 Max people are seeing

G430 is definitely lower spinning.  By how much I can’t say exactly how much, but I can definitely see a difference in the ball flights.  Especially into the wind.

[skraly]

18 hours ago, infinii said:

 

Same shaft and setup on all 3?

Each had the standard Ping shaft at the time.  So should be very comparable.

[sociojeje]

Well, for some reason, 410 plus still works for me...