Equipment
WRX Spotlight: Ping G410 hybrid
Product: Ping G410 hybrid
Pitch: Per Ping: “Our first-ever adjustable hybrid allows you to customize your ball flight eight different ways through more loft (+/- 1.5 degrees) and lie combinations for consistently better results. Thinner and more flexible, the maraging-steel face generates faster ball speeds and higher launch so you carry trouble while hitting (and holding) more greens. A larger profile provides added stability and helps elevate MOI heel to toe.”
Our take on the Ping G410 hybrid
We all want the same thing from a hybrid — forgiveness, green stopping power, extra ball speed, adjustability (fitting options), and consistency. For the longest time, it seemed that for any particular hybrid, you could you pick four of the five but with the Ping G410, there is no sacrifice to be made: you get all five.
When designing the G410 hybrid, the team at Ping pulled out all the stops and finally included the option of adjustability on the consumer level for dialing in both loft and lie angle — something the company famously popularized with the color coding system. It should be noted in BIG BOLD LETTERS that Ping has ALWAYS given accounts the option of ordering hybrids either digitally lofted and bent for lie within a couple of degrees through the WRX Department (hey that has a nice ring to it) for a few extra bucks, but it was never really advertised, and I would guess, underused.
With the new adjustable hosel, the ability to fine tune and dial in has never been easier. Just like with the entire G410 metals lineup, it’s all about increasing the ability to fit better, decrease dispersion, and help golfers score better.
SO… about this hybrid. I was recently given the opportunity to go through a long game fitting at Ping (Canada), which included getting me dialed into a G410 17-degree hybrid to gap in between my longest iron and my 3-wood. I have played a 5-wood in the past but recently have been much keener on a hybrid because of the versatility and shorter length to help with dispersion.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the fitting
- The Ping G410 hybrid is FAST — compared to my current hybrid, which has 16 degrees of loft and is a full inch longer than the 17-degree G410 (tested at 17 degrees), I was getting faster balls speed (2-3 MPH) even though I was swinging my own club faster on average 1.5 mph. That’s a noticeable gain in ball speed, and it’s all thanks to the maraging-steel face that, along with other design aspects of the head, produces consistently faster ball speeds across a larger area of the face.
- The shape at address, for me, is another reason this hybrid sets up so well to the eye. It’s deep enough to give you confidence from a lie in the rough yet shallow enough that from a tight lie, it’s easy to elevate. Sure the “ease to elevate” might not apply to someone fitting into a 17 degree, but for the slower speed players that will fit into the higher lofts (up to 30 degrees in the standard setting), it’s a huge factor for players and fitters alike. I can’t count the number of combo sets I built in a previous life that involved Ping hybrids down to the 6-iron for players with less speed.
- The “wood-like” rounded shape, compared to a compact driving iron style hybrid (think Crossover), did wonders to help get my launch window up, even though spin was in a very controllable range. This increased carry distance and decent angle — more parameters that measurably help hold greens. Distance was comparable to my 5-wood, but with a tighter dispersion and at a shorter length.
- Now to that adjustability. Oh, how I (along with many fitters and builders) have longed for an adjustable Ping hybrid. Getting the distance and launch window dialed in exactly to the player helps deliver confidence that you aren’t making any sacrifices during a fitting or in your bag as a player. As I mentioned off the top, Ping has offered bending hybrids in the past, but since it was never an actual option to test, there was a lot of guesswork for the fitters. The adjustable hosel puts an end to that with lie angle adjustments totaling three degrees to help golfers are both ends of the lie angle spectrum & those looking to help prevent misses one way or the other.
At the end of the day (or start to your season), when it comes down to finding the right clubs to properly gap the higher end of your set, there will always be a lot of options depending on a number of factors including clubhead speed, impact dynamics, usual course conditions, and personal preference. If you play in dry, windy Texas, for example, the hybrid or even Crossover, might be the better option than the 5-wood, and vice versa if you play anywhere in the North East. No matter how you end up gapping the clubs through your set, make sure to get fit to play your best (you knew it would be in there somewhere), and give the G410 a shot.
- LIKE84
- LEGIT4
- WOW0
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP1
- OB1
- SHANK3
Whats in the Bag
Matthieu Pavon WITB 2024 (May)
- Pavon’s WITB accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 Max (9 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 6 X
3-wood: Ping G430 LST (15 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X
Hybrid: Ping G430 (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Ping i230 (3-PW)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Wedges: Ping Si59 (52-12S, 58-8B)
Shafts: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Ping Cadence TR Tomcat C
Grip: SuperStroke Claw 1.0P
Grips: Golf Pride MCC Align
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Check out more in-hand photos of Pavon’s gear here.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Equipment
Spotted: Tommy Fleetwood’s TaylorMade Spider Tour X Prototype putter
Tommy Fleetwood has been attached to his Odyssey White Hot Pro #3 putter for years now. However, this week at the Wells Fargo Championship, we did spot him testing a new putter that is very different, yet somewhat similar, to his current gamer.
This new putter is a TaylorMade Spider Tour X head but with a brand new neck we haven’t seen on a Spider before. A flow neck is attached to the Spider head and gives the putter about a 1/2 shaft offset. This style neck will usually increase the toe hang of the putter and we can guess it gets the putter close to his White Hot Pro #3.
Another interesting design is that lack of TaylorMade’s True Path alignment on the top of the putter. Instead of the large white center stripe, Tommy’s Spider just has a very short white site line milled into it. As with his Odyssey, Tommy seems to be a fan of soft inserts and this Spider prototype looks to have the TPU Pure Roll insert with 45° grooves for immediate topspin and less hopping and skidding.
The sole is interesting as well in that the rear weights don’t look to be interchangeable and are recessed deep into the ports. This setup could be used to push the CG forward in the putter for a more blade-like feel during the stroke, like TaylorMade did with the Spider X Proto Scottie Scheffler tested out.
Tommy’s putter is finished off with an older Super Stroke Mid Slim 2.0 grip in blue and white. The Mid Slim was designed to fit in between the Ultra Slim 1.0 and the Slim 3.0 that was a popular grip on tour.
- Check out the rest of our photos from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship
- LIKE1
- LEGIT1
- WOW1
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Equipment
Club Junkie WITB, league night week 4: Some old, some new
We enter week 4 of Thursday night men’s league feeling a little more confident in the game. BK is hoping to go a little lower and reduce the mistakes out there with these clubs in the bag. Watch the video for the full breakdown of why these clubs are getting the starting nod this week!
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (10 degrees, neutral setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana WB 63 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Lin-Q M40X TSPX Blue 7F5
7-wood: Ping G430 Max (-1 degree, flat Ssetting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 S
Iron: Mizuno Pro Fli-Hi 4
Shaft: Aerotech Steelfiber hls880 S
Irons: PXG 0317 Tour (5-PW)
Shaft: LA Golf A-Series 105 Low (4)
Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM10 (50-08F)
Shaft: UST Mamiya Dart V 105 F4 Wedge
Wedge: Ping S159 (56-10H)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115
Wedge: Ping S159 (60-08B)
Shaft: Ping Z-Z115
Putter: PXG Battle Ready II Brandon
Shaft: BGT Stability Tour Spec One
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
- LIKE2
- LEGIT2
- WOW2
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks ago
LET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
-
19th Hole2 days ago
Report: LIV star turns down PGA Championship invite due to ‘personal commitments’
-
19th Hole1 week ago
Gary Player claims this is what ‘completely ruined’ Tiger Woods’ career
-
Whats in the Bag2 weeks ago
Team McIlowry (Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry) winning WITBs: 2024 Zurich Classic
-
19th Hole3 weeks ago
TaylorMade signs 15-year-old AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year to an NIL contract
-
Equipment1 week ago
Golf fans left surprised by LIV’s choice of course for its 2024 individual championship event
RL
Mar 27, 2019 at 9:02 am
These hybrids are off the charts great. I have the 17 (dialed down to 15.5) the 19 and the 22. They have replaced my 3 wood, 5 wood and 4 iron. Easy to hit and long. I’m 64 and play to a 5 handicap. Best hybrids ever.
RJL
Mar 26, 2019 at 9:10 pm
Best Hybrids I have ever hit. I have tried for years to gap with them but never able to. Completely takes the hook ability I have always experienced out of them. Even went and got a second one and took out my 4i for the first time in my life.D-4w-3h-4h-5i thru 58° now. Loving the confidence on long par 3s being smooth now instead of forcing something or dialing something back.
D
Mar 26, 2019 at 9:42 pm
You couldn’t find a single club out there over the last decade to work that gap? Wow may be golf’s not ur thing
RJL
Mar 27, 2019 at 1:48 pm
“I’ve tried for years to gap with them” referring to hybrids.
I have gapped fine with 3w 5w Driving irons just fine. These are stupid easy to hit was my point.
Speaking of stupid, reading comprehension isn’t your thing I guess.