Equipment

Spotted: Ping G400 Driver

Published

7 years ago

Jun 12, 2017

Update: We captured in-hand photos of the Ping G400 driver at the U.S. Open at Erin Hills. We also captured photos of Ping’s new G400 Fairway Woods, Hybrids and Crossover, as well as Bubba’s custom G400 driver (see end of the story).

A new driver from Ping, the G400, has landed on the USGA’s Conforming Club List and is on the range at the U.S. Open. As in previous Ping driver releases, the driver is listed on the USGA Conforming Club List in three different models:

G400: 9 and 10.5 degrees (RH and LH)
G400 LST: 8.5 and 10 degrees (RH and LH)
G400 SFT: 10 and 12 degrees (RH and LH)

In previous Ping launches, LST stood for “Low Spin Technology,” while SFT stood for “Straight Flight Technology.” Those two specialty driver models from Ping have served to meet the needs of a minority golfers who need to reduce spin (LST) or add additional draw bias (SFT) to their tee shots, while the standard model (G400) meets the needs of the majority.

USGA Photo: Ping G400 Driver

USGA Photo: Ping G400 LST Driver

USGA Photo: Ping G400 SFT Driver

Ping isn’t commenting on the new drivers at this time, but it’s clear that the company has made several important changes compared to its current driver line, the Ping G.

Each of the three G400 drivers appear to have a tungsten weight on their soles, a design that was last seen in a Ping driver in its i25 driver. The addition of the weights to the back of the driver’s sole in previous models helped push weight lower and deeper in the club head, improving moment of inertia (MOI), a measure of forgiveness that’s predictive of a driver’s ability to retain ball speed on mishits.

It’s also clear from that photos that Ping will carry on its “Vortec” aerodynamics package on the back of the driver, which in the G drivers worked synergistically with the company’s Turbulators, or “speed humps,” on the driver crown that helped reduce drag to improve swing speed.

The G400 drivers also appear to use dimples on the back portion of their crowns, which are equipped with ribbed structures known in the G drivers as “Dragonfly Technology.” Ping says Dragonfly improves structural stability and enhances weighting properties for more distance. As in golf balls, dimples on golf clubs can be used to improve aerodynamics.

: A custom Ping G400 driver for Bubba Watson.

We also captured photos of a G400 driver that could be used by Bubba Watson this week at Erin Hills.

Your Reaction?

LIKE510
LEGIT46
WOW46
LOL18
IDHT10
FLOP16
OB11
SHANK88

Related Topics:drivers Ping

Up Next

Spotted: Ping G400 Fairway Woods, Hybrids and Crossover

Don't Miss

Spotted: True Temper Dynamic Gold 115 wedge shafts

Zak Kozuchowski

34 Comments

Jose Pro Se

Jun 22, 2017 at 12:19 am

Ok Zak, Bubba is playing a practical joke on you.

That’s pan dulce. Good one Bubba.

I’m not buying the pink jaw breaker trick either.

Reply Report comment
SoonerSlim

Jun 20, 2017 at 2:23 pm

I’ve always liked Ping clubs, but won’t be buying any new metal woods anytime soon. Clubhead is way too busy for me. I like an clean looking driver head. I seriously doubt that all that fancy technology makes that much difference in distance if you hit the middle of the clubface. Sorry Ping. If I buy one of your drivers, it will be a previous version with a clean looking clubhead.

Reply Report comment
Orvill

Jun 14, 2017 at 10:36 pm

Pinky Pingy Pimpy

Reply Report comment
Ill take the other

Jun 13, 2017 at 9:36 pm

PingXG 0811X!!!!!

Reply Report comment
KCCO

Jun 13, 2017 at 9:28 pm

busy……i like the head cover;)

Reply Report comment
BigBoy

Jun 13, 2017 at 2:00 am

If it comes with a blow off valve, I’ll buy it.

Reply Report comment
CrashTestDummy

Jun 12, 2017 at 7:08 pm

It is really ugly but if it hits quality golf shots over and over again, then it doesn’t matter. Function over fashion.

Reply Report comment
- Fang
  
  Jun 13, 2017 at 6:22 am
  
  Ugly? It looks like any modern driver.
  
  Reply Report comment
Anthony

Jun 12, 2017 at 6:14 pm

If you made that in your garage, you would be a very wealthy person….

Reply Report comment
Deegee

Jun 12, 2017 at 5:40 pm

It will be 1/2 % faster, have better dragon flies, turbulence turbulators…and mugs will spend spend spend on a product that’s no friggin different to last year. These manufacturers are B.S.

Reply Report comment
Old Putter

Jun 12, 2017 at 5:35 pm

I know this will never happen but….
How bout a lie a lil flatter than 58*

Reply Report comment
- Ude
  
  Jun 20, 2017 at 10:02 am
  
  what are you a fat dwarf?
  
  Reply Report comment
ooffa

Jun 12, 2017 at 5:06 pm

No, you are taking it the wrong way. I think you are great. I love your posts. It’s very rare to get to watch someone spiral downward so quickly. I wish i could help you get past this obvious tragic portion of your life. Unfortunately I cannot, so I am just observing your decline into delusion.

Reply Report comment
Prut

Jun 12, 2017 at 4:48 pm

Are the turbulators bigger?

Reply Report comment
The Dude

Jun 12, 2017 at 4:48 pm

let’s get some numbers…….with the Volvik please..

Reply Report comment
Egor

Jun 12, 2017 at 2:55 pm

My TaylorMade rep and I spent the day sipping mimosas and laughing at how hard Ping is trying to play catch up to the best club manufacturer in the world. Wild clubhead graphics are so 2014. If Ping would just get with the times, they might have a small chance of getting close to the greatness that is TaylorMade.

Reply Report comment
- Alec
  
  Jun 12, 2017 at 3:55 pm
  
  Ummmmmmmmmmm ok
  
  Reply Report comment
- Barry
  
  Jun 12, 2017 at 8:57 pm
  
  Yea so that’s a complete lie. Taylormade is not a great company… they screwed themselves by having such a short product release cycle and ruined their reputation with green grass facilities. I know many courses that don’t carry Taylormade because it is a waste of money on inventory when they know they will have to discount it to sell it. They make decent clubs but throw money at the tour pros to play it. That’s the only reason that they are so “popular”
  
  Reply Report comment
- Desmond
  
  Jun 12, 2017 at 11:16 pm
  
  I think you drank a few too many…
  
  Reply Report comment
- LC
  
  Jun 13, 2017 at 9:27 am
  
  Egor, for one you were “sipping” mimosas (lose credibility there)… I am not against TM but Ping is up TM’s you know what as far as technology goes.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Count Dracula
  
  Jun 13, 2017 at 11:11 am
  
  Well said, my humble servant
  
  Reply Report comment
  - SlapMyForehead
    
    Jun 13, 2017 at 9:21 pm
    
    ….. LC, Desmond, Barry have drunk too many… of each other’s Koolaids. You guys would be a hoot at a party not.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Boyo
  
  Jul 14, 2017 at 12:44 pm
  
  TM hahahaahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
  How long till they go under?
  The biggest bunch of bullshirt artists out of all of them….
  
  Reply Report comment
SH

Jun 12, 2017 at 2:29 pm

Pretty soon somebody will bring out a driver with a cover that has the dimples from a golf ball. After all, we all know the ball is the most aerodynamically efficient design there is. Why tease us like this, Ping?

Reply Report comment
xjohnx

Jun 12, 2017 at 1:49 pm

MOI is a measurement of the ability to resist twisting. Does it also have an effect on ball speeds or is that a mistake? Not calling you out, just asking.

Reply Report comment
- Zak Kozuchowski
  
  Jun 12, 2017 at 2:30 pm
  
  Thanks for the question, xjohnx. Yes, there is a direct correlation between the amount of twisting and ball speed retention. The less twisting, generally, the more ball speed.
  
  Reply Report comment
Tom1

Jun 12, 2017 at 1:20 pm

awww the co0lor pink, it brings out the best in all of us……

Reply Report comment
Phil

Jun 12, 2017 at 1:06 pm

Sweet Nike Vapor Flex 2017!

Reply Report comment
LOLyoucantbereal

Jun 12, 2017 at 12:33 pm

I would like to think you are kidding, but there are people in life that do not get it, that is why others succeed.

Reply Report comment
- JeffSessionsisEvil
  
  Jun 12, 2017 at 12:46 pm
  
  I was only kidding about the last two sentences.
  
  Reply Report comment
ND Hickman

Jun 12, 2017 at 12:20 pm

Now if they could sell the Bubba version at a reasonable price I’ll upgrade from my G30. Stick to pricing it higher than Callaway charge for the already ridiculous priced Epic’s then you’ve lost a sale.

Reply Report comment
KC

Jun 12, 2017 at 11:20 am

That pink driver will look great in Bubba’s den as he watches the 3rd and 4th rounds of the US Open from home.

Reply Report comment
- BMF
  
  Jun 13, 2017 at 8:08 am
  
  Belive it or not, i had a dream of bubba sending missiles all over the place after i read your comment. Even duffed afew shots. Lmao!
  
  Reply Report comment
drkviol801

Jun 12, 2017 at 10:37 am

Those turbulators are sick though

Reply Report comment

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

2 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

Your Reaction?