Equipment
First Look: Ping’s new G Driver
Update (Jan. 5, 9:30 a.m.) Photos of Bubba’s driver, as well as an all-black Ping G driver provided by Ping.
Update (Jan 4, 10:30 a.m.) Three new Ping drivers have been added to the USGA’s List of Conforming Driver Heads. The G30 drivers were available in the same three models (Standard, LS Tec and SF Tec). LS Tec denotes Ping’s “Low Spin Technology,” while SF Tec stands for “Straight Flight Technology,” which encourages a draw bias.
Ping G (9, 10.5 degrees)
Ping G LS Tec (9, 10.5 degrees)
Ping G SF Tec (10, 12)
GolfWRXers have been talking about the follow-up to Ping’s G30 driver since September. Thanks to Bubba Watson’s video from Kapalua, we now know its name and a little bit about what it looks like.
The new driver, called G, has a pattern on its crown that appears to be weight-reducing “Dragonfly” technology that leaked in our forum.
Photo posted in our forum by _AM_
#GDriver #Stance pic.twitter.com/a7bV9nH2eR
— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) January 4, 2016
Other things to notice about Bubba’s new big stick, which we’re assuming he’ll use in this week’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions based on his excitement about it, is that it carries over the Turbulators from the G30 design. As evidenced from the rear weight port, the G driver also appears to continue Ping’s rear-CG design.
The pink-and-black color scheme… that’s likely a Bubba thing. Expect the G driver to be mostly black, like previous Ping drivers, when we get our first official photos of the retail version.
Check back soon. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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- Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
6-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X
Irons: TaylorMade P770 (3), TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2011 (4-PW)
Shafts: Project X Denali Blue 105 TX (3), Project X 6.5 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F), Callaway Jaws Raw (60-08C)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Mini DB
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy PistolLock 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Daniel Berger’s clubs in the forums.
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What are the driver and shaft combinations of the best golfers in the world? For gearheads, it’s an endlessly interesting question — even if we can only ever aspire to play LS heads and 7 TX shafts.
At this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, GolfWRX got in-hand looks at the driver setups of a wealth of players.
Check out some of the most interesting combos below, then head to the GolfWRX forums for the rest, as well as the rest of our galleries from New Orleans.
Rory McIlroy
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees @8.25)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alex Fitzpatrick
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Daniel Berger
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees @9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Wrap
Rasmus Hojgaard
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
Grip: Golf Pride MCC
Alejandro Tosti
Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75 6.5
Grip: Golf Pride MCC Plus4
James Nicholas
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (8 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Kevin Streelman
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Sang-moon Bae
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9+ @8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X
Grip: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Russ Cochran
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke (9 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD TP 6 X
Grip: Golf pride MCC Align 
MJ Daffue
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (10.5 degrees @9.5)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Green RDX 65 TX
Grip: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord Align
Check our more photos from the Zurich Classic here.
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- Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic.
Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond Prototype (16.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Utility: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White 85 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro (3), Callaway X Forged (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 130
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (52-10S, 56-10S, 60-06C)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X
Putter: Odyssey Ai One Milled Eight T DB
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Hojgaard in the forums.
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Daniel Berger WITB 2024 (April)
Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Rasmus Højgaard WITB 2024 (April)
Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)...
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Rory McIlroy what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus...
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Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage. Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees...
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19th Hole2 weeks agoDave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
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19th Hole3 days agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
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19th Hole2 weeks agoTiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
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19th Hole3 days ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
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Glenn kirk
Feb 16, 2016 at 3:32 am
Ping are the bomb
M-Herd4
Jan 23, 2016 at 9:47 am
From my own personal experience you benefit more from a properly fitted premium shaft than some new radical clubhead design.
Slowhand
Jan 8, 2016 at 1:47 pm
I really enjoy Ping drivers but I was a long time TM driver buyer until a club fitting showed I hit the G30 LS more accurate with consistent distance than any other driver. I’ve used it now for almost a year and can’t see changing. Sure, all these drivers have to conform to the same standards but there are ways to push the envelope and I”m glad they do, else we’d probably be hitting persimmon right about now. If you swing the club 130mph you might see some increase due to less wind resistance but the average golfer I doubt you see much of anything, but I can feel a big difference in old drivers I kept that are 10 years old and today’s drivers, especially in the forgiveness arena.
But for me its more about having fun, getting something new and talking smack too. I mean if we all conformed and liked the exact same thing it would be pretty boring. And most of us are not gullible and actually don’t fall for all the hype, but then again some are naive and take the bait. To each his own, as long as they feel confident in their choice.
Wind tunnel approved?!?
Jan 7, 2016 at 7:47 pm
Ideas are running low? I guess from a marketing standpoint as those have mentioned technology is maxed, unless you stand behind claims of 15 yards further every 6 months, I should be driving the ball a 1/4 mile at that rate, so do what Nike did with jumpman (airjordan)….start re-releasing retros’s from the first pair of Jordan’s in odd colors and charge double, we see eye2’s, maybe zings next? Ha….then I’ll get sucked into a Sunday “retro-bag”…(hickory would be too hipster for my taste:)
Milo
Jan 7, 2016 at 12:36 am
I hope they come out with the pink, I would buy it in a heartbeat.
KK
Jan 6, 2016 at 8:07 pm
Hmm, more forgiving, aerodynamic and hopefully lower spin. Can’t wait.
Mark
Jan 6, 2016 at 12:09 pm
No low or high loft versions at launch? I like the simple look of my G25. These new heads with even more ridges will be even more decisive among potential buyers. And Bubba. Drop the whole Pink thing and leave it to Paula.
maatchka
Jan 6, 2016 at 9:39 am
yuck!!
Chris Keena
Jan 6, 2016 at 6:11 am
Typo Schmypo. GLENN, FROM THE MAIL ROOM!
SB
Jan 6, 2016 at 12:31 am
Darth Vador’s driver!
fp
Jan 6, 2016 at 12:13 pm
No, that’s Emo Kylo Ren to you
Jeff*
Jan 5, 2016 at 10:53 pm
I love the graphics on the crown. Perfect, that’s the line you swing on to cut it, that’s the line to draw it . I might draw those lines on my driver, that’s great.
fp
Jan 6, 2016 at 12:13 pm
No Jeff, that’s not what they are for. lmao
Mike Hannigan
Jan 5, 2016 at 4:54 pm
To all the NIKEGOLF haters complaining about their choice of red, vapor or photo blue…you can stop now.
Chuck
Jan 5, 2016 at 3:21 pm
Another interesting release by Ping. A great, innovative company for a whole generation now.
But honestly, if I were Ping, I think I’d find another way to introduce it other than showing Bubba’s personalized one-off pink paint job. Only one chance to make a first impression and all that…
jc
Jan 5, 2016 at 12:21 pm
is there ever going to be a time when the designers say “Wow, that is the best we can ever do. We don’t need to make any more new models because we have reached the limit of what we can design. Now it is up to the golfer to actually learn to play better”.
meanwhile over at taylormade, they are going to add a new decal to the head and proclaim it addes another 30 yards to the model that came out last month.
SS
Jan 5, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Agreed. It’s all marketing after a certain point. Business dies if they don’t reinvent the wheel.
Dave
Jan 5, 2016 at 11:21 pm
Agreed. Like fashion, club design is a wheel. Can’t wait til eye 2 comes back…irons that is, wedges already done.
KCCO
Jan 7, 2016 at 7:32 pm
It will soon be like the Jordan shoe game…..recycle everything from the first airjordan release, charge double, seems to work….i.e. Eye2….ha…..ill take some zings for shitz and gigz
David
Jan 5, 2016 at 1:38 am
Let’s not forget when Bubba did that exact shot on the same hole in a tournament!!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8owVDXOk6H4
Dj
Jan 4, 2016 at 6:00 pm
Can’t get over the look and shape of ping drivers but always hear good things. I’m sure this will sell well
Emb
Jan 4, 2016 at 5:09 pm
Sweet Jesus those socks! Makes the driver look gorgeous next to those monstrosities
Leon
Jan 5, 2016 at 11:19 am
The same feeling. I even didn’t notice that he was swinging a club
B Wizzle
Jan 4, 2016 at 4:20 pm
Your welcome
G G
Jan 4, 2016 at 1:39 pm
Yo G!
You’re so OG.
RH
Jan 4, 2016 at 12:48 pm
These Bubba videos with him trying to be funny are so cringe worthy.
Reeves
Jan 4, 2016 at 12:41 pm
when we get our first official photos of the retail version…most important line in story, did anyone thinl they were buying the same head Bubba is????
Mark Bainbridge
Jan 4, 2016 at 11:52 am
“Thanks for pointing out our typo!”?
Forgive for being blunt but the article has only your name against it. It is your typo and yours alone.
Zak Kozuchowski
Jan 4, 2016 at 12:12 pm
That’s fair, Mark.
Max
Jan 4, 2016 at 2:19 pm
Why so serious?
Matt
Jan 4, 2016 at 11:54 pm
@Mark. Don’t you mean, “forgive ME for being blunt…”? Please proof read your own comments.
Mat
Jan 5, 2016 at 2:20 am
Pot, meet kettle.
MTB
Jan 4, 2016 at 11:44 am
Zak –
Do you think that bimatrix shaft is really the best fit for him? That has to be just a personal preference thing, right? There has to be something better out there he could be using…do you think he’s just ignoring the launch monitors at PING?
Zak Kozuchowski
Jan 4, 2016 at 11:45 am
Because Bubba’s driver shots are so variable, he’s rarely “optimized.” But when he does hit a high draw, his Trackman numbers are basically perfect from what I’ve been told and what I’ve seen.
MTB
Jan 4, 2016 at 11:53 am
Thanks for the reply! Crazy. I’m sure a lot has been updated since they first came out, but I just always think of them as peers to the Taylormade Bubble and Carbite Putters and The Perfect Club! Ha.
Mat
Jan 4, 2016 at 11:11 am
Minor thing, but the SFTec will be 10 and 12, not 10.5 – if it’s the same.
Zak Kozuchowski
Jan 4, 2016 at 11:19 am
Thanks for pointing that out, Mat. The USGA Conforming Club List has approved the G SF Tec driver approved in 10 and 12 degrees.
ph00ny
Jan 4, 2016 at 10:25 am
Hyundai not hyundia
Zak Kozuchowski
Jan 4, 2016 at 10:36 am
Thanks for pointing out our typo!