LS Driver Forgiveness - Darkspeed LS vs Ping G430 LST

[DM1983]

Hearing the Ping LST is the most forgiving but can't one play with the adjustable weights of the Darkspeed LS?  Anyone get great results with putting the heavier weight in the back of DS LS?

 

 

[TyNiles]

3 hours ago, DM1983 said:

Hearing the Ping LST is the most forgiving but can't one play with the adjustable weights of the Darkspeed LS?  Anyone get great results with putting the heavier weight in the back of DS LS?

 

 

As always, your results may vary: but during my fit, the Darkspeed LS was all over the place and felt uncontrollable. Incredibly low spin at stock. We did have some success with the weight in the back, but I wasn’t sold. I ended up picking up the G430 LST and it’s easily the best driver I’ve ever hit; I feel like I can hit it all over the face and the ball still goes straight. Paired it with the new Ventus + and I’m even more in love.
From what others have said, the DS LS really shines if you’re on the faster side, but I’m definitely not at 102/105 SS. Ultimately, I needed to hit more fairways and the LST has helped me do that. 

Edited May 5 by TyNiles

[MiloMalt]

19 minutes ago, TyNiles said:

As always, your results may vary: but during my fit, the Darkspeed LS was all over the place and felt uncontrollable. Incredibly low spin at stock. We did have some success with the weight in the back, but I wasn’t sold. I ended up picking up the G430 LST and it’s easily the best driver I’ve ever hit; I feel like I can hit it all over the face and the ball still goes straight. Paired it with the new Ventus + and I’m even more in love.
From what others have said, the DS LS really shines if you’re on the faster side, but I’m definitely not at 102/105 SS. Ultimately, I needed to hit more fairways and the LST has helped me do that. 

I'm the complete opposite. I've got a G430 LST, Darkspeed X and Darkspeed LS I've been testing the past 2 months. Average ball speeds and spin are as follows: 

G430 LST 9 degree set neutral with weight in the heel - 158mph - 2600rpm

Darkspeed X  9 degree set neutral with heavy weight forward Plus 4g of lead tape in the heel - 160mph - 2400rpm

Darkspeed LS 10.5 degree set to -1 degree with 12g weight back, 8g weight heel and 3g weight toe - 162mph - 2400rpm

 

The Darkspeed LS is by far the best for me, it just wants to go straight. The G430LST and Darkspeed X dispersion is very similar but the Ping is shorter so I'm in the process of selling that. The only reason I am still giving the Darkspeed X a shot is because it should be more forgiving and straighter than the LS. I'm giving the X one more chance on course  and if it doesn't show me any reason why it is better than the LS for me then I'm selling it and gaming the LS.

 

 

[03trdblack]

Just some MOI numbers. 

 

Cobra Darkspeed LS - 4300 g/cm^2

Ping G430 LST - 5373 g/cm^2

 

Pretty large difference in the Ping's favor. 

[Cactus Jack]

3 hours ago, 03trdblack said:

Just some MOI numbers. 

 

Cobra Darkspeed LS - 4300 g/cm^2

Ping G430 LST - 5373 g/cm^2

 

Pretty large difference in the Ping's favor. 

 

For what it's worth, I don't have either of these drivers. However, I could be wrong, but I believe those numbers are measured differently. Cobra measures MOI on the horizontal axis only, while Ping measures and combines both horizontal and vertical making their MOI numbers appear larger. The Cool Club guys break it down down the video around the 24 minute mark.

 

Side note, pretty cool Cobra MOI & CG chart below demonstrating the impact of moving the weights around. I wish other manufacturers would publish something similar. We're talking small amounts of change, but still neat. The LS models seem to be especially flexible. 

 

 

 

[DM1983]

3 hours ago, 03trdblack said:

Just some MOI numbers. 

 

Cobra Darkspeed LS - 4300 g/cm^2

Ping G430 LST - 5373 g/cm^2

 

Pretty large difference in the Ping's favor. 

Very helpful. Is there a place where all the driver moi’s are listed or did you look up individually?

[03trdblack]

9 minutes ago, DM1983 said:

Very helpful. Is there a place where all the driver moi’s are listed or did you look up individually?

 

They were measured. 

[KGolfCT]

3 hours ago, 03trdblack said:

Just some MOI numbers. 

 

Cobra Darkspeed LS - 4300 g/cm^2

Ping G430 LST - 5373 g/cm^2

 

Pretty large difference in the Ping's favor. 

 

What is the MOI on the Darkspeed X driver?

 

[mason82]

I had the 430 and got fit for the DS (same Ventus blue 6x shaft). Loved the 430 but the DS LS is the best driver I’ve ever hit. My fitter played around a lot with the weights and loft and ended up at 11.5*. 
 

it feels like a sledgehammer and sound ls perfect. I can miss all over the face and still get a really good result. When struck well it was 20 yards further than the 430 LST and anything else I tested. 

[Wooderson]

On 5/5/2024 at 9:47 AM, Cactus Jack said:

 

For what it's worth, I don't have either of these drivers. However, I could be wrong, but I believe those numbers are measured differently. Cobra measures MOI on the horizontal axis only, while Ping measures and combines both horizontal and vertical making their MOI numbers appear larger. The Cool Club guys break it down down the video around the 24 minute mark.

 

Side note, pretty cool Cobra MOI & CG chart below demonstrating the impact of moving the weights around. I wish other manufacturers would publish something similar. We're talking small amounts of change, but still neat. The LS models seem to be especially flexible. 

 

 

 

 

This is not correct. The g430 LST horizontal MOI is around 5200 MOI. The combined will be 8500-9000 MOI. 

[B_of_H]

Forgive me if i'm wrong but i'm assuming that the MOI comparison mentioned earlier is with the LS's weight forward/heel.  If so i'd say that putting it in the back and adding weight in the 'neutral' position to match the head weight of the ping would yield at least somewhat similar numbers and performance.  just a guess though.  

[wam78]

Also curious what DS LS MOI would be with heavier weights all around.  Say 16 gr back and 8gr on the other 2 sides?…. It’s all very interesting would be a really fun test.

[tyorke1]

Is the Darkspeed ls low launch, what loft would be similar to 10 tsr3

[wobgon]

I Personally did on course testing with just about every driver out this year and last.....G430 lst at the top of my list and cobra Dark Speed LS very near the bottom......I play a very tight course where just about every drive needs to be slightly worked and only  a couple holes where you can just tee it up and hit it straight....For me on this type of course,the LST is the clear winner.

[B_of_H]

13 hours ago, tyorke1 said:

Is the Darkspeed ls low launch, what loft would be similar to 10 tsr3

If you add some weight to the back they launch similar for me loft for loft.  I don't know the exact head weights but the LS was really light when I tested it compared to the tsr3 with the same shaft/length.  I ended up adding 8 grams (+5 over stock) to the neutral (heel) spot and put the 12 in the back.  The 10.5 would give you similar launch probably, you might need to move it down to 9.5 if the heavy weight is in the back even.  Everyone is different though.