Equipment
Ping claims smaller is better with its new G400 drivers
In general, the larger a driver measures in size, the more forgiving it will be. On the flip side, the smaller it measures, the faster you’ll be able to swing it because it will have less drag through space. For golf club engineers, the puzzle is to design a driver that has the ultimate forgiveness, but it also needs to reduce drag, or air friction, to produce the maximum speed possible.
Speed and forgiveness often oppose each other, but Ping believes it has engineered a driver that reduces the tradeoff between them.
Ping’s new G400 drivers measure only 445 cubic centimeters — 15 cubic centimeters smaller than the now-standard 460-cubic-centimeter driver — but they’re even more forgiving than their predecessors, the G30 and G, both of which were industry leaders in forgiveness among their contemporaries. According to Ping, the company has managed 0.75 mph more club head speed and a 3 percent increase in MOI (a measure of forgiveness) with its new G400 drivers compared to its predecessors.
“We didn’t feel pressure to hit 460,” a Ping representative said. “Volume was a free variable for us… and we made it even more forgiving than the G. To be clear, this is not a Tour-only driver; it’s for everyone.”
To boost forgiveness, Ping looked to improve its Dragonfly technology, which it introduced with the G drivers. As you might remember, the Dragonfly design is highlighted by raised portions on the rear of the crown that look something like bear claws. Their overall goal is to remove weight from unwanted areas. In the G400, Ping engineers were able to eliminate even more weight from the Ti-8-1-1 crowns, and the soles, too. The result was a smaller club head that created a 15 percent reduction in drag, according to Ping, leading to the increase in club head speed.
“we’re continuing to reduce drag, which is becoming harder to do.”
You may ask: “Instead of using Ti-8-1-1 titanium, why doesn’t Ping simply use carbon fiber like everyone else if they want to lower CG?”
According to Ping, the titanium material it uses is much better for casting, and it allows the crowns to be made as thin as Ping feels is necessary. Company representatives also say that carbon fiber crowns don’t save weight as efficiently as some may think due to the welding, epoxy, and other accomodations that are necessary when using the material. Ping prides itself on the casting process — Karsten Solheim, the founder of the company, was a pioneer in casting in the golf industry — and says it has created the thinnest crown in company history with the G400 drivers.
By removing weight from where it’s not needed, Ping engineers were able to relocate it into the condensed back weight on the sole. Its copper-colored, and made of both elastomer and stainless steel. There are also tungsten weights — made of nearly pure Tungsten, according to Ping — in the driver soles that are located in different spots on the three different models for the three different trajectories they produce.
- SF Tec (10, 12 degrees): Tungsten is placed in the heel for 10-12 yards of draw bias, according to Ping.
- Standard G400 (9 and 10.5 degrees): Tungsten is placed at the extreme rearward of the sole for maximum forgiveness and wide-spread appeal.
- LS Tec (8.5 and 10 degrees): Tungtsen is placed more forward than the standard model, shifting center of gravity (CG) toward the face. This reduces spin, and encourages a penetrating flight. It also adds about 3 yards of fade bias. Ping says the G400 LS Tec is about 300 rpm lower spinning than the G LS Tec with the stock Alta CB shaft, and up to 500 rpm less spin with the Tour shaft, which 0.5 inches shorter.
The faces of the new Ping drivers are now made from T9S+ instead of the T9S material of its predecessors, they and have variable face thickness (VFT) to boost ball speeds on off-center hits. The new material is stronger and has 20 percent greater stretch, therefore, it can be made thinner and produce more ball speed at impact.
Along with performance improvements, the company has also addressed concerns about the sound of its predecessors, which produced a higher-pitched sound than golfers wanted, especially the LS Tec. With a new virtual analysis system, Ping simulated sound frequencies without actually building a prototype. Using the new tool, Ping was able to dial in the exact sound it was looking to produce with each of the driver heads. This process is revolutionary for the company, it says, which used to build prototypes and test sound on the range via headphones. Ping engineers describe the sound of the new G400 drivers as “powerful, but muted.”
Further enhancing the overall experience of the drivers, Ping engineers also worked on visual aspects of the club head to better appeal to the eye of golfers. You’ll notice Ping’s Dragonfly technology on the crown now wraps around the back edge. Ping calls this an “infinity edge.” According to Ping, this aesthetic softens the edge and is more appealing to golfers at address. The G400 drivers also have Turbulators, or raised portions on their crowns, that sit directly behind the face. They have been thickened up, and dots have been added to the back of the crown. Neither of these changes have any aerodynamic qualities, but improve the look of the drivers, according to Ping.
Another interesting aesthetic change to the Ping G400 drivers is their stock shafts, which use a special paint application that looks different at address than it does on the shelf. By using paint that refracts light in different ways, the Ping Alta CB (counter-balance) shafts have a copper color when they’re looked at fro face on, but they appear to be all black at address. Ping also offers a Tour shaft as a stock offering, which comes in two weights (65 and 80 grams) and has stiffer profile for high-speed golfers. Aftermarket shaft offerings, which carry a $75 upcharge, include the Project X HZRDUS 75 (5.5, 6.0 and 6.5-Flex), Aldila X-Torsion (R and S Flex), and Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 60. Ping’s G400 drivers will sell for $435 per club with stock shafts, and they become available on July 27.
Related
- Ping introduces new face material with its G400 fairways, hybrids and Crossover
- Ping aims to make golf “more fun” with its new G400 irons
Discussion: See what GolfWRX members are saying about Ping’s G400 drivers
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
From the seller: (@lasallen): “For sale is a BRNR mini 11.5 deg head only in brand new condition. $325 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.
From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.
Specs/ Additional Details
-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)
-Original Anser Design
-PING PP58 Grip
-Putter is built to standard specs.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.
The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.
On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.
Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.
At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.
“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.
Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.
“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.
“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.”
In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.
Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.
On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.
According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.
“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.”
See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here.
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AlbuquerqueDan
Aug 4, 2017 at 9:12 am
I hit the G400 on two different launch monitors over the last two weeks. I was very, very impressed both times. I am sure there is a lot of truth in the statements saying that driver head technology has maxed out, given the rules restrictions. However, different drivers have different looks, feels, and sounds. For me, the G400 looks great at address (very compact, muted black), feels tight and solid, and the low thud sounds better than any driver I’ve ever hit. As for launch monitor numbers, the G400 with the Tour 65 shaft easily beat the Epic and M2 and was marginally better than the M2 Draw. The G400 (for me) beat all the other drivers hands-down in the subjective categories (look, feel, sound) and performed equally well or better in the objective categories (spin, carry, accuracy).
BrianM
Jul 13, 2017 at 2:21 am
p.s. The dragonfly design reminds me of the organic spaceship the “LEXX”
BrianM
Jul 13, 2017 at 2:16 am
It’s a fine looking club and I like the idea of a smaller head. No hope for me though, as I’m a long way behind and still gaming a TM r7 425cc and W/S Ti Td5 385cc
The Drop Zone
Jul 11, 2017 at 9:48 am
If this thing sells, hopefully Call or TM will go even lower with the cc (400ish)
Matt
Jul 11, 2017 at 4:57 am
Looks nice but can’t picture it performing better on course than their last couple drivers. After drinking the marketing koolaid for the first time in years and bagging a gbb epic (best of the bunch for me), the penny dropped that these 2017 drivers are only slightly better than the early 460cc heads. A farkled out 2007 driver w/ nice shaft, shortened to 44″ and correctly lead taped swing weight will still be damn nice.
McPickens
Jul 11, 2017 at 2:03 pm
nailed it, I love blowing it by guys at my club with M1’s, M2’s, GBB’s, 917’s etc, and I’m using a TM R7 quad TP.
Double J
Jul 11, 2017 at 2:27 pm
Maybe try playing with guys at your skill level….
Matt
Jul 11, 2017 at 6:43 pm
Hey McPickens, yep took an old 9.5deg, 45″ R5 that I replaced two drivers ago (never dawned on me back then to modify it), down to the practice fairway recently. Hit it not far off the professionally fit 10.5deg Epic which is in turn about as easy to hit as my 3w. Shortened and lead weighted, the r5 would probably be a better club than I thought at the time; will be a little careful next time I’m tempted by the marketing brigade.
TheCityGame
Jul 14, 2017 at 8:26 am
Maybe try not drinking the Kool Aid.
Rich Douglas
Jul 11, 2017 at 12:41 am
There’s nothing wrong with this. But there also is no discernable improvement over previous versions. The numbers claimed are tiny. There’s more variability in your swing than is found in this driver.
How does this driver compel people to leave their current drivers (from Ping or other manufacturers)? How does this driver exceed its current-year competitors?
Real advances in drivers:
— Taylormade introduces the metal driver
— Callaway Big Bertha pushes larger designs with bigger sweet spots
— Titanium drivers
— Adjustable weights
— Adjustable everything else
Because the USGA limited COR to .830 and the clubhead to 460cc, there’s not much room for manufacturers to innovate. Movable weights have added some potential distance gains, but even those are maxed out.
The key to success with drivers–just as it is so with irons–is not in the latest version of the same technology. Rather, it is the fitting of the right clubs (and specs) for each player. Buying these Pings off the rack will not help you get there–beyond the help of the dot.
TJ Smithers
Jul 12, 2017 at 1:23 am
I agree, especially with the Ping line. They are all pressured to come up with the next greatest, longest, straightest clubs or no one will upgrade.. and to be clear, I dig the Ping line.
But, not adjustable like the other brands and not that much different than the G line. Not offering adjustability isn’t betraying some golf trust… it’s just not wanting to spend the money to upgrade your current offering.
Knowing these are 2 year product cycles, I wonder if this line up is strong enough to pull from what Callaway and Taylormade are offering. If not, it could be a long 2 years for Ping.
Boyo
Jul 24, 2017 at 9:19 am
Lot of club ho’s out there…..
Dave R
Jul 10, 2017 at 11:35 pm
Still playing the g25 really like it,will have to try one when they arrive at the club I play. If it’s as good as the g25 or better then they have a winner.
P Healey
Jul 10, 2017 at 9:25 pm
I think it looks great. And on another note, why so many negative comments about new golf equipment? Strange that people come to a site based around golf equipment just to say how they do not believe it makes a difference.
Tom Duckworth
Jul 10, 2017 at 7:44 pm
Read some good reviews by people that have had the club for a few weeks now. I know I read somewhere that the small dots helped air to flow tighter to the head and have less turbulence.
I like that the head is smaller love the understated looks. I don’t need a new driver right now but I will check these out. Ping makes honest equipment.
ron
Jul 10, 2017 at 5:59 pm
Well, it’s not.
Ude
Jul 10, 2017 at 3:44 pm
a copper colored shaft changes into a potent black shaft to match the big black head = big man performance where it counts
Ude
Jul 10, 2017 at 3:58 pm
JESUS – new brand clubs that have great forgiveness for your sinfully bad golf shots
The Drop Zone
Jul 11, 2017 at 9:49 am
You like that big black head don’t cha
Boyo
Jul 24, 2017 at 9:25 am
It’s all about the shaft.
“You see this cat Shaft is a bad mother (Shut your mouth)”
Jim
Jul 10, 2017 at 2:05 pm
So-called improvements in golf gear are really not needed every year. It’s all about marketing and driving sales. Golf course sizes and dimensions were pretty much standardized in the last century (and before). If manufacturers want to make the game easier for the common man (like me), fine, just make the clubs easier to hit. Don’t “improve” clubs and the ball to the extent that courses have to continually be re-designed and stretched to accommodate the latest technology.
Logan
Jul 11, 2017 at 5:08 pm
“It’s all about marketing and driving sales.” Well duh…These companies must sell their products and make a profit to survive. They don’t make the clubs out of the goodness of their hearts. It’s a business.
Chris
Jul 11, 2017 at 7:39 pm
Wow, that’s a real eye opener! Not. Companies need to drive sales and so they develop products and market it as new and improved, what a shocker.
Cons
Jul 10, 2017 at 1:12 pm
These are clean! Best offering in years from Ping, IMO.
Norm
Jul 10, 2017 at 5:23 pm
Strategic location of tungsten weights will make these G400s the best in the business.
FFS
Jul 11, 2017 at 2:54 am
What, you mean just moving the weights around a couple of millimeters every year just for the F of it? FFS!
Jack Nash
Jul 10, 2017 at 12:47 pm
I’ve got a better idea. I’m gonna bring out my Chicago Classic Perssimon out of hibernation. It’s like 300cc’s. Outta be able to swing even faster as I watch the ball fly into the rough. Why don’t these OEM’s bother mentioning how long the driver shafts are? Momentum is really built up by length of shaft and swing arc. The club head is just merely a passenger in the swing.
FFS
Jul 11, 2017 at 2:57 am
No, you have to have mass at the end of the stick too, to have any effect on momentum. You can continuously lengthen the clubs all you want, there’s going to be a point of diminishing returns when you can’t swing it around on time. It’s better to have the proper balance of head weight and shaft length than just going lightheaded and light swing arcing with longer lengths, as long you can handle the heavier head set up
Chuck
Jul 10, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Count me as excited and intrigued. The only redeeming thing to me about a 460cc driver is that science tells me that it is straighter/more forgiving than a smaller head. I would love to swing a smaller head.
First thing I will want to hear about, however, is the sound. Current Ping drivers are indeed notoriously straight. But they sound like garbage cans. I hope these sound different.
Clay
Jul 10, 2017 at 12:06 pm
Why so many negative comments every time a new driver comes out? And Ping only releases them every two years, it’s not like they just dropped a new driver on us last quarter. Maybe sitting behind a keyboard creates a road rage effect for some people.
I personally think it looks fantastic and am looking forward to a sound/feel improvement. Not a Ping homer, my only Ping club is a Ketsch putter, but I have hit the G and my only complaint was sound and feel. Performance was outstanding.
EEEHaun
Jul 10, 2017 at 11:55 am
Maybe try reading all the way through the article to glean this information….
Doug A
Jul 10, 2017 at 11:48 am
Oh Boy are golf companies running out of things to market lol
TK
Jul 10, 2017 at 11:22 am
Can’t wait to see GolfWrx post the numbers on a head2head combat between the G400 / Epic + M1/M2.
That’s when the truth will come out.
LDiamond
Jul 10, 2017 at 11:43 am
The truth? You mean the launch monitor champion? Is this also part of the “race to tour dominance”? Are you sitting at your keyboard with a little Epic/M1 jersey on and waving your banner cheering on your “team”?
Boyo
Jul 24, 2017 at 9:21 am
LMFAO
Big Richard Cox
Jul 10, 2017 at 10:48 am
0.75 mph more clubhead speed! Can’t wait!!!!! I will be purchasing this driver with an extended warranty.
Robert Parsons
Jul 11, 2017 at 11:43 am
And that is so worth $399 or whatever they price it at! Hahaha
ROY
Jul 10, 2017 at 10:45 am
Any word on release dates??
The Drop Zone
Jul 10, 2017 at 4:18 pm
July 27th is what I heard
Regis
Jul 10, 2017 at 10:33 am
Ping fans will gravitate towards it. Non Ping lovers-not so sure. To me that’s the measure of probability of success. The Epic and the M1/M2 before it got non brand fans to at least get out and try their ” revolutionary ” new technology
kel meyler
Jul 10, 2017 at 10:24 am
Very much doubt it will be an affordable price for the average club golfer
Clubber Lover
Jul 10, 2017 at 10:13 am
It pings… it zings… it dings… it wings… it rings… it sings… it tings… and it yings and yangs your balls all over the place …. G400 ….!!!
(I’ll wait for the G800… which will talk to you and tell you how great you are… a macho brute … >:-(
DaveyD
Jul 10, 2017 at 10:01 am
Will be interesting to see the tests comparing these to the previous model line-up. I doubt any improvements will be earth-shattering, but who knows? Ping seems to be sitting behind TM and Callaway in the race to tour dominance.
Philip
Jul 10, 2017 at 9:43 am
So now the beginning of tech going in circles truly begins. It will be interesting if this is just Ping (with truly unique advances) or everyone else reduces the sizes only to increase them 2-3 years in the future with a new claim for going back to 460cc …
mr b
Jul 10, 2017 at 9:07 am
looks real solid. still gaming the g30 ls as i didn’t see enough improvement #’s wise to justify switching to the G Ls. maybe this one will finally kick out the g30!
EricM
Jul 10, 2017 at 10:45 am
Same here mr b. May sound strange to some, but I’m not looking for more forgiveness than I get with the G30 LS, so I didn’t go to the G series, still want a driver I can work at least a little. Of course the G400 does look interesting, could always use the three wood when I need to work the ball.