Hello golfers, and what a bang PING has made this year in the Driver, Fairway and Hybrid market!
I have often referred PING as one of the best engineered golf manufacturers when it comes to equipment, so when a new range of Drivers, Fairway Woods and Hybrids come out to market it’s an exciting time! PING for as long as I can remember has been one of the market leaders in innovation and design so it felt like Christmas Eve when I was invited to join them at Royal Melbourne for their release of the new G440 range.
Looking into the new technology, PING have launched the G440 driver range with three head designs like they have in the past. The G440 MAX, available in 9°, 10.5° and 12° lofts, is the most forgiving model and fits most golfers, als coming equipped with a three-position adjustable back weight. The G440 LST (Low Spin) design ,appeals to players with faster swing speeds, providing lower spin and more control, also featuring the three-position back weight. While golfers in need of slice-correction technology fit best in the G440 SFT (Straight Flight) option, which features a two-position (Draw and Draw+), adjustable 23-gram back weight. Offered in 9° and 10.5° lofts.
My initial thoughts before hitting the G440 driver were that the head shape was brilliant. Gently rounded, which I prefer, along with the matte black head was really appealing. I know this isn’t a performance benefit however the ability to stand over a club that looks great is certainly a nice bonus.
The other pleasing aspect to the aesthetics that does influence performance is the carbon crown. Common to all three models (MAX, LST, SFT), the CarbonFly Wrap crown saves weight, which is re-allocated to help lower the CG, ensuring forgiveness and contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound at impact.
The gentle print of the black and what seems to be a grey, really looks good as you set the club behind the ball. Something else I noticed was the weight to the club head. It felt heavier – because it is heavier.
G440 SFT – Head Weight: 99g & Back Weight: 23g
G440 MAX – Head Weight: 203g Back Weight: 29g
G440 LST – Head Weight: 205g & Back Weight: 29g
Now for the results! Wow what a club. This driver is unbelievable. I felt like I could flight the ball higher, which for me is something I have trouble with, so to see the ball launch higher and spin less is a massive tick. When I wanted to flight it down gently and launch it lower, I was able to. Something else I found which was awesome, is that my miss hits were far closer to my good hits. Striking the ball all over the face the spin and launch numbers were as tight as I have seen. I certainly want a driver that when I am not striking in the middle as I would like, that the spin and launch conditions are very similar. And they were.
Something that I also noticed were the acoustics. Typically, in the past the PING driver has made a very loud sound off the face, but this driver made a distinctly different sound, and I loved it.
Now something that should not be overshadowed and can easily be when a new driver hits the market, is the PING G440 fairway wood. Like the driver range the fairway woods (MAX, LST, SFT) advance PING’s reputation as a Tour-preferred model of choice through a re-designed face structure and low CG system. I tried all of the fairway wood range, and the club of choice was the G440 MAX* 4-wood – the loft being 17° so its gently more than traditional 3-wood lofts of 15° and it just launched beautifully off the ground.
It was easier to launch and had more variety of shots, which is great when your using it into those longer holes or off the tee.
Looking at what PING have done differently in the G440 fairway wood range, they have been able to make the MAX face four percent taller than its predecessor for more confidence off the tee, while maintaining a low CG position for high-launching performance off the ground. They have slimmed down the back-weight profile, ensuring the club sits flush to the ground and the face angle remains consistent – no matter the loft or lie setting – allowing golfers to benefit from the multiple loft and lie options provided by the adjustable hosel. Lastly, something that gets overlooked if the loft gapping. PING has given us a solution to those problems. There are five lofts in the MAX (3, 4, 5, 7 & 9 woods), three in SFT (3, 5, 7) and two in LST (3, 5) ensuring multiple options to properly gap a set of woods.
In summary, the PING G440 driver and fairway woods have truly raised the bar for performance and innovation in golf equipment. The driver’s advanced design, featuring three distinct models tailored to different playing styles, ensures that every golfer can find their perfect fit.
The combination of forgiveness, adjustability, and outstanding sound and feel makes it an ideal choice for players of all levels. Meanwhile, the G440 fairway woods stand out with their re-engineered face structure, versatile loft options, and improved CG placement, offering unmatched consistency and shot-making capability. Whether launching tee shots or approaching long par-5s, the Ping G440 range delivers confidence, performance, and precision. Simply put, PING has outdone itself once again, setting a new standard for what golfers can expect from their clubs.
Driver RRP: $1,150 each with stock shaft
www.americangolf.com.au
Michael Cooney is a teaching professional at the PGA Centre for Learning and Performance at the Sandhurst Golf Club in Melbourne and is always on the hunt for the latest and greatest in golf products.
