Equipment
Ping G25 Driver, Fairways and Hybrids
G25 Driver
Ping’s new G25 driver will help golfers do what the pros do to get more distance – launch the ball higher and faster with less spin.
Marty Jertson, senior design engineer for Ping, said that engineers moved the center of gravity (CG) substantially lower and further back than the company’s previous model, the G20.
Moving the CG lower and further back helps a golfer in two ways: it increases perimeter weighting, which adds forgiveness to shots hit off-center, and it works to deliver the club at impact with more dynamic loft, creating a higher launch angle.
As a result, most testers went down in loft and saw a 1-mph increase in ball speed with the new model, Jertson said.
Ping’s decision to move the CG lower and further back on the G25 driver is different than the approach of TaylorMade, which has touted moving CG lower and more forward for faster ball speeds and reduced spin.
“The negative of [moving CG] forward is that now your movement of inertia, which is so important in a driver, starts to go down,” Jertson said. “Any time you can pull CG away from the face you’re getting a lot more perimeter weighting.”
Jertson said that the face of the G25 is 2 percent larger than the G20, and has a 10 percent higher heel-to-toe inertia and a 17 percent higher top-to-bottom inertia than its predecessor, making it more forgiving. The G25 will come stock with Ping’s 45.75-inch TFC 189D shaft, a high-balance point model that has allowed engineers to add 1 gram of weight to the head and still maintain the company’s desired swing weight of D3. Jertson used the example of two car crashes to explain why a driver with more head weight can be a good thing for distance.
Charcoal, non-glare matte finish helps with alignment and inspires confidence
“If you got hit by a big truck that’s going 60 mph, it’s going to do a lot more damage than a little car going 62 mph,” he said. “It’s basically the same thing with a driver. We’re trying to maximize momentum, even if it means sacrificing a minor amount of speed.”
Trajectory Tuning allows golfers to add or subtract ½ degree of loft beyond the standard setting
The slightly heavier driver head will be good for golfers who prefer aftermarket shafts as well. Most golfers prefer to have their aftermarket-installed shafts trimmed to a length between 45 and 45.25 inches, which means the increased head weight of the G25 will help them maintain a swing weight closer to D3 with shorter shafts.
Variable-thickness face design delivers a powerful energy transfer for faster ball speeds and greater distances
The G25 drivers will be available in 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 12-degree lofts, and are adjustable by 0.5 degrees up or down through the company’s adjustable hosel, which is the same weight and size as the company’s fixed hosels.
Above: Comparison photos of the 2013 Ping G25 Driver and the 2011 Ping G20 Driver.
Above: Comparison photos of the 2013 Ping G25 Driver and the 2011 Ping G20 Driver.
The TFC 189D stock shafts will be offered in Soft R, R, S, Tour Stiff and Tour X-Stiff flexes. The MSRP will be $385. The G25 Driver and the rest of the G25 lineup will hit shelves Feb. 14, with pre-ordering starting today.
Above: Comparison photos of the 2013 Ping G25 Driver and the 2011 Ping G20 Driver.
G25 Fairway Woods
For the Ping’s newest fairway wood, the G25, the company wanted to create a club with a higher launch, higher ball speed and more forgiveness than the G20.
To do this, engineers removed weight from the perimeter of the faces, creating a higher-rebound area that results in faster ball speeds on all hits. The trimmed weight was then moved low and deep in the head, increasing launch angle and providing more forgiveness, especially on shots hit low on the face where most mishits with fairway woods occur.
The new fairway woods will offer a similar amount of spin as the G20 fairway woods, keeping the clubs playable from a variety of surfaces. Jertson said golfers upgrading to the new model should expect to see between 0.5 and 1 mph of increased ball speed.
Comparison photos of the 2013 Ping G25 fw and the 2011 Ping G20 fw
Comparison photos of the 2013 Ping G25 fw and the 2011 Ping G20 fw
G25 fairway woods will be available in 3 (15 degrees), 4 (16.5 degrees), 5 (18 degrees) and 7 (21 degrees) with Ping’s TFC 189F stock shaft. Unlike the 189D shaft in the G25 driver, the 189F shaft has a standard balance point. It will come in Soft R, R, S, Tour-Stiff and Tour X-Stiff flexes). The MSRP is $255. Additional specs are available below:
G25 Hybrids
Above: The G25 hybrids have a traditional hybrid look that is much more on trend in the market place than the G20, which looked more like a driving iron.
Each of the new hybrids, which are available is 17, 20, 23, 27 and 31 degrees, was engineered to have a specific center of gravity that helps to create the ideal ball flight. In the low-lofted hybrids, the CG is positioned low and deep to help golfers launch the ball higher and with more spin than their iron equivalents, resulting in more playability and a greater carry distances.
But Ping’s higher-lofted hybrids (23 degrees or more) had a tendency to spin too much for most players in the past, leading to shorter carry distances and less control in windy conditions. That’s why the CG of the 23, 27 and 30-degree hybrids creep forward to help golfers reduce spin.
The G25 hybrids also feature a generous amount of camber and sole relief for playability from different surfaces. They’re available with Ping’s TFC 189H stock shaft in Soft R, R, S, Tour-Stiff and Tour X-Stiff flexes. The MSRP is $220.
Additional specs are available below:
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Ping Tool
Sep 23, 2016 at 1:31 am
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gbyrd12
Jun 17, 2013 at 8:24 pm
I just recently completed a “driver fitting”. Going in I had no particular brand name as a preference. I tried all of the top brands and even some of the lesser known brands. During the process of elimination I kept coming back to the Ping G25. The G25 felt good, looked great, and performed amazingly! I almost had to try to hit a bad drive. The balance of the driver (stiff shaft option) was just perfect. I could “feel” the head of the club throughout the swing. The lower portion of the shaft and the club head felt like butter going through the ball. I increased my club head speed by 2-5mph because I was able to go at the ball without fear of missing (my normal miss is a hook, which is what brought me to the driver fitting).
To confirm my choice I asked my fitting instructor to let me borrow the driver for a round of golf I had planned for the next day. I took the driver out on the course and was more impressed. I was hitting the ball straight with a mid trajectory and plenty of carry. I reached one par 5 in two and had a putt for eagle, on a hole that I would previously never hit a driver because it is so narrow. I can’t wait until my driver comes in next week! BTW – I am replacing the Callaway XHOT.
My last experience with any of the PING products was many years ago when they had the various colored dots on their irons. I couldn’t hit any of the dots and as a result never looked at their products again. I am really glad I tried PING this time.
Garry…
Frank Garrett
Nov 4, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Yea playin those front tees really help to reach in two also what helps is when you don’t count the penalty strokes and play don’t count till you like it
metrybill
Jun 10, 2013 at 6:00 pm
Hybrids:
I play and love the earlier model Adams Idea Pro hybrids, Aldila blue ByYou Proto S shafts. Looking to upgrade but not “bound and determined.” Looking at the two new Adams hybrids (9031 and DHY(not sure of the model name)) and the Ping Anser and G25. I like the iron-hybrid, low to none-offset style. Any suggestions or comparisons?
Thanks, metrybill
karl
May 15, 2013 at 1:56 pm
The biggest change that I noticed for ping’s g25 series is a reduction in shaft choices.
In the g25 the standard shaft is a # 189 in a stiff flex it is 4.8* torque and 58 grams. The only optional “stock” shaft is a #80 for ladies and seniors.
In the g20 series the stock shaft was a #169 4.9* torque in stiff flex and 52 grams of weight. But, there was also the “stock” no extra cost # 169 tour shaft with only 3.9* of torque in a stiff flex and weight of 63 grams.
I have been quite happy with a g20 Driver, 4 wood and 7 wood in the 169 tour regular flex shaft. The 4.6* of torque in my regular flex driver is les than the torque of a stiff flex g25.
randyeagle
May 24, 2014 at 9:16 am
So I purchased the g25 driver, with a stock x-stiff shaft(I have a 112mph C.H. speed on my driver). I have about 10 games played and already broke 2 shafts, I have never broken a shaft before. I am a 4 hdc, and do not take a divot with my driver lol. Has anybody else had this problem. I ordered a Aldila shaft and can’t wait to see If I got a good match. Any suggestions on shaft specs for it?
qpaovpkabcve
Mar 28, 2013 at 7:19 pm
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rahrah
Jan 28, 2013 at 11:39 pm
I’m so tired of all these ” Adjustable lie” Adjustable face angle ” blah blah blah,,,Just practice , practice,practice, get a couple lessons and use a “normal ” driver!!!!! works for me>>>>>
Frank Garrett
Nov 4, 2013 at 8:46 pm
It’s funny that you’re sick of it but yet you still seek it out by looking at this stuff when YOU should be practicing practicing practicing
Larry testa
Aug 25, 2014 at 12:33 pm
Frank, why the negativity? You need a hug dude.
GolfDose
Jan 15, 2013 at 8:25 am
The G25s are going to be quite something in 2013. I really want to compare the driver to my RBZ Tour.
FCM
Jan 13, 2013 at 5:51 pm
It looks sweet! I have the Anser and I can’t wait to compare the two. Good observation on the face angle Joe G. I was wondering the same thing when I saw some online videos and nobody commented on it. I have to assume it will be same as the Anser.
Enno
Jan 9, 2013 at 8:03 am
Decreasing loft => opens face and vice versa. See the G25 driver video where that is stated by the presenter.
dj
Jan 4, 2013 at 11:45 am
I’ve been a TM guy for 10 years and for the first time, I’m more interested in another OEM driver setup. I buy into the technical explanations by the engineers at PING and can’t wait to have this compete for a spot in my golf bag. And let me add that this driver looks great.
Johnny D
Jan 3, 2013 at 3:11 pm
I’m looking forward to seeing and swinging this new G25 line. I liked the G20 but prefered the I20 over the G series. That said there might be enough change between the G20 and the G25 to make a real difference.
Joe Golfer
Jan 2, 2013 at 11:49 pm
I like the counterbalanced shaft, as I’ve used a Harmon Tour Design counterbalanced shaft in driver and liked it. Ping’s stock shafts are often better than some of those aftermarket shafts that say “designed exclusively for ‘fill in brandname here'”. Also, making the new hosel about the same weight as standard is a big plus, as earlier adjustable hosels on other brands are much heavier, causing problems.
The loft adjustability is minimal, as one can change it only 1/2 degree up or down. And no statement as to how this affects the face angle, closed or open when a change is made.
I’ve seen other photos than these, and the crown seems to slope downwards from front to back much more than the prior model, so I’m guessing you’re likely to get a higher ball flight than you’d expect.
Troy
Jan 2, 2013 at 10:13 am
Wow, the woods look awesome! Clean looks, not too deep a face. I wonder how hte ball flight is?