Time to update the hybrid. Ping G430 looks to be well reviewed - why do you play it?

[anth]

Looking to replace the Srixon Z H45 19 degree hybrid in my bag just because...

 

Everyone seems to love the Ping G430 but geez that price... 😲

 

So why did you choose to play it?  Or if you chose something else, tell me why.

 

Looking for something that is forgiving on off centre strikes without being draw biased and versatile from different lies.  Distance not really important as it needs to fill a gap rather than max out...

[mantan]

I dunno. I wanted to love the G430. I've loved PING hybrids in the past. I had a PIng hybrid in the bag probably 9 of the previous 10 years before last year.  

 

When the head flew off my G410, I thought the G430 would be a no brainer. But I didn't like it as much. It just felt dead to me. Then hit the Cleveland Halo Launcher Hybrid and was sold.  Best hybrid I've ever owned.  Just long high straight shots....

[doctor220]

Honestly the 430 was too low spin for me. I hit the 19 degree one almost as far as 3 wood. I also did the 410 to 430 move and preferred the 410. 410 was a bit more controlled too IMO but that may relate to the spin differences. 
 

have since swapped to an icrossover and like it and appears to be more of a traditional long iron replacement instead of max distance option. 

[PARETO]

I’m a lover of all things PING but the 430Hy was a no go for me. Too hot. 3hy was keeping up with 3w and low spin. Didn’t fill the gap I needed. I’m looking to fill that void right now but haven’t settled just yet. It’s -1,000,000C here in Calgary so I’m in no rush😂🇨🇦

[Golfcrzy]

I absolutely love my 425 5h and 6h (I’ve got the 7h on the rack, never used, just waiting), and I wasn’t getting along as well with my Super Epic 4h, so I wanted another Ping. Got some great deals on 2ndswing and GlobalGolf on BF/Xmas and grabbed 430 3h and 4h, and a beat up 425 4h. I swapped the 430 4h shaft for the 425’s, to match the 5 and 6, and banked the 425 4h head w 430 shaft for a trade in/sale, which saved a few more bucks. 
 

It is stupid easy to hit out of most any lie, flies mid/high and true, and doesn’t turn over on me. I gain confidence every time I use it, and find it to be a big upgrade from the Super Epic. I haven’t had the opportunity to try out the 430 3h, but it was too good to pass up and I grabbed that as well to compare with a Wilson 3h. 
 

I contemplate going back to a 6 iron from time to time, but I’m not consistent enough with the mid to long irons where a 6 iron is going to gap well w my 7 iron, or be competitive with the 6 hybrid. 

[hammergolf]

It’s simple: very forgiving, lots of fitting options, feels good, and does everything I want a hybrid to do. 

[third-times-a-charm]

Very forgiving and very popular on the LPGA, but also low spin compared to the G425 and very hot. The 5h is a 4 iron ++ for me.

[golfer881]

I’d definitely give a look at the cobra king tec.. awesome reviews.. adjustable weights. I loved my g425’s but these are a no brainer for me. Watch some reviews on YouTube for yourself! 

[LCP]

Because they're super-forgiving, lacking a left-bias, feels good and goes a long way.  They are low launching (and spinning) though.  Just keep that in mind when selecting loft or shaft. About 8 years ago I went away from hybrids, now I'm back.  I just had G425's that were stolen, and the G430's are a slight improvement, I can tell. I have a 3 hybrid and 4 hybrid.  I've played a 2 hybrid in the past, but these are so low-launching I can't imagine doing that with loft selection with a G430, unless your only purpose for it was truly like a driving iron substitute.

[ad_l1b]

I have a G430 4 hybrid that I smash long and straight, but I also swap in and out a g430max 7 wood and 3 hybrid depending on wind etc. Have the hybrids reshafted in KBS tour prototype hybrid 75r and I love them. These do tend to launch and spin a little lower, but has excellent penetrating ball flight even out of the rough.

[davbrucas]

I just bought the 430 3H with the AD DI shaft. It's definitely different than the g425 version. Longer and lower with less spin. I am going to change to 4H for this reason. 

[anth]

Hmmmm.  Not sure low launch and low spin is a good recipe for me in a hybrid. 
 

How do the Stealth 2 hybrids play compared to the Ping?

[MattM97]

The G430 hybrid reviews seem mixed either it works awesome or too long and low spin. 

 

I'd say look at the G425 it can be had really cheap and a great hybrid. I went from the G410 to the G425 and saw a much nicer flight on it vs the G410. 

[Golfcrzy]

3 hours ago, anth said:

Hmmmm.  Not sure low launch and low spin is a good recipe for me in a hybrid. 
 

How do the Stealth 2 hybrids play compared to the Ping?

The thing can launch and get height, while still getting you your distance. I’d recommend trying it before accepting everyone’s anecdotes as they’re mixed at best. 
 

Are you trying to get close or hit greens? I think would help you to decide…for me, if I’m going for the green in two with this club, I’ll try to get the run out to run up the green and hopefully catch a back fringe if too hot. The 425s have a bit more stopping power with the higher lofts and a touch more spin. 
 

I do like the 425s I have, and I’m keeping the Franken 425 4H with 430 shaft for trade. It’s actually on the bst board if you’re looking for a deal before I send it off to 2ndswing. 

[TonyRo]

The G425 hybrids I own are all fantastic. Very forgiving, good ball speed, super adjustable, and I really like the Ping Tour shafts. 

[Jmccas]

14 hours ago, golfer881 said:

I’d definitely give a look at the cobra king tec.. awesome reviews.. adjustable weights. I loved my g425’s but these are a no brainer for me. Watch some reviews on YouTube for yourself! 

This is the way. I tried the G430 but it didn’t take. Bought the prior gen King Tec for less than $100 on eBay. Great adjustability. 

[optimator]

15 hours ago, golfer881 said:

I’d definitely give a look at the cobra king tec.. awesome reviews.. adjustable weights. I loved my g425’s but these are a no brainer for me. Watch some reviews on YouTube for yourself! 

 

44 minutes ago, Jmccas said:

This is the way. I tried the G430 but it didn’t take. Bought the prior gen King Tec for less than $100 on eBay. Great adjustability. 

I'll be the 3rd to suggest trying the King Tec's before making a decision. 

[GoBlueGolf]

G430 is the most consistent hybrid (4H) I've ever played. 210 carry pretty much guaranteed on every swing and it feels great. However I didn't get along with the 2H and recently switched into a G430 5 wood which has been perfect 

[PINGRebel]

G430 hybrid #4 is my dead-nuts 225 club.  I have it tuned up .5 degrees for higher loft.  I also have two par-3’s at my club that it’s basically in my bag for. Love the sound and feel of this one coming in from a few generations of old “G” hybrids. 

[GolfTurkey]

I've played G410 and G425 and never got on with them, or any other hybrids until now. I didn't like the head shape of the Pings and I could still miss them left even on flat / minus settings, probably due to gear effect.

 

I tried the PXG 0311 XF Gen 6 and it has all the hosel adjustability of the Pings plus it has movable weights. As soon as I moved the heavier weight to the toe, the big left miss was gone. It launches substantially higher for me than the Pings, my guess is a lower CG location combined with extra confidence leading to a better strike.

 

It also has a deeper and squarer face than the Pings so it is more iron-like.

[POKeefe]

I play the ZX Hybrids, a successor from yours a few years later. They are quite cheap on 2nd Swing and Ebay. I bought one on a whim and liked it so much, I bought a 2nd. Don't feel like it has the same go left tendencies as the Callaways I had played before. Might be worth a shot since you already like Srixon.

[MagicMan79]

G430 2h -17* is my first Ping hybrid and I LOVE it.

 

I hit down on the ball 3-4* with hybrid and I can keep the 2h in the 3000-3500 rpm backspin which is great for me. Ball speed 155-160mph. I can fly it 250-255 and it stops like a 7i. LOVE this thing, and it is WAYYY more forgiving and easier to hit than Callaway UW

 

If you are looking to cut spin, the g430 is awesome. 

Edited January 19 by MagicMan79

[CUBuffaloes]

I replaced a TSi2 3 wood and 5 wood with a G430 3 wood and 19* hybrid. I wanted the versatility of a hybrid over the 5 wood but didn't want to give up the distance. My 19* G430 Hybrid is as long as the 18* 5 wood that I used to carry. I also like the flat lie setting of the Ping clubs. Much flatter than the flat setting on the Titleist. 

[shoeshine]

I’d say definitely give them a try. I demoed the 19hy and 3w and I definitely experienced what others have mentioned. Easy to hit/get up in the air and were really forgiving 

[SC-TX 88]

Already been said a few times in here but I went with the Ping for the flat setting on the adapter. 

[@_the_crook]

I had the opportunity to try the G430 with the Tour S shaft this morning at the range.

I'd already warmed up, and my iron shots were pretty good, straight or some fade, which is normal.

the G was really smooth feeling and all shots went dead straight.

monitor showed avg 86mph swing speed. (I'm kinda old)

 

been playing Cally FT5 hybrids with the Aldila NV5 85R shafts since they came out.

not real issues with them, other than sometimes they feel a bit light.

 

the G is a really nice club. so it's got me thinking about a change.

 

[Feelingofgreatness]

I tried both the G425 and G430 in 4h and much preferred the spin and flight of the 425. Front to back distance control not as consistent (for me) with the 430, but amazing with the 425.

[hook_or_slice]

3 hours ago, Feelingofgreatness said:

I tried both the G425 and G430 in 4h and much preferred the spin and flight of the 425. Front to back distance control not as consistent (for me) with the 430, but amazing with the 425.

 

The G425 hybrids are still available through some online retailers for $80 less than the G430.

[vamosjackets]

I have gone back and forth between the Ping G410 3-hybrid and my set 3-iron (Rogue ST Pro).  G410 is easier to make good contact and get a good lick on the ball, but my control with the 3-iron is better (more predictable).  I think part of it is that I haven't gotten fit for the G410 shaft-wise.  I think I could dial in some control with it if I did drop the money to get it properly fit.  I do find that I can work it better (re: curve it more) with the G410 than with my 3-iron, which can definitely be useful sometimes when you need to hit the curve, but it can also be detrimental to the dispersion/predictability on a standard shot.  I just ordered a used Ping i-crossover with a shaft that matches my iron set (Axiom 105X) to see if it can give me a little bit of the best of both.  We'll see.  

 

I tried G425 and 430 (along with my 410) in a hitting bay at PGASS and didn't see much difference, albeit all 3 had different shafts.  I might say the 410 is more workable, with the other 2 being more stable.  All 3 had nice, easy distance.

[Fairways_and_Greens]

I just got fit for a G430 hybrito. I was looking for a 4i replacement and was shocked the 430h was carrying 247 (5i carry is 205). I had to go with a 5H to get the 225-235 I was looking for.