Golfalot
Independent UK equipment reviews
“It performed incredibly well in every single area”
His number one ranked driver of 2024 justified its £599 price by being consistent and forgiving everywhere the cheap Benross wasn't, even if the budget club edged it on raw distance.
+ the facts · 3 pros · 3 cons− the facts
- +Performed incredibly well in every single area of his testing
- +Outstanding forgiveness, an off-line miss still finished level with his good drives for distance
- +Very consistent carry and total distances shot to shot
- −£599 RRP, nearly three times the price of the Benross
- −He doesn't like the lime green detailing
- −Ben Ross actually averaged slightly more ball speed and carry against it
For: Golfers who will pay a premium for forgiveness and consistency above all
National Club Golfer
UK magazine, hands-on club testing
“I think this is really going to rival a lot of people this year”
A hugely forgiving 10,000-MOI driver that surprisingly also gained ball speed, distance and height over the standard G430 Max.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 1 cons− the facts
- +Extremely forgiving on off-center strikes
- +Higher launch and ~10 yards more carry than standard Max
- +2mph faster ball speed and clubhead speed despite oversized shape
- −Club heads are difficult to swap on and off the hosel
For: Golfers who want maximum forgiveness on bad shots to play more consistent golf
2nd Swing Golf
Master fitters, Trackman-heavy testing
“The ball dispersion was pretty dang solid”
Still in the line and still the straightest reputation of the 10K class; surprisingly it was the lowest spinning of the three in this test with rock-steady spin on wild face angles.
+ the facts · 4 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Only 150 rpm of spin variation despite 2.5 degrees of face-angle variation across swings
- +Surprisingly the lowest spinning of the three drivers tested, around 2,000 rpm
- +All five shots in play on TrackMan's narrowest fairway
- −Shallow, flat crown profile from stretching the head wide
- −The fitter, who gamed it last year, noted an occasional miss-left tendency
For: Any speed of player who just wants the ball to go straighter off the tee
SAS Golf
UK coach, honest equipment takes
“the only drivers I'm actually excited to test”
Anticipated as potentially the most forgiving driver yet thanks to its 10,000 MOI and composite crown, though he hadn't tested it and expects it to feel and sound better than the old G400 Max.
+ the facts · 2 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +10,000 MOI, likely the highest forgiveness available
- +Composite crown should improve sound and feel over old Ping drivers
- −Not tested on camera
- −Raises questions over where the standard G430 Max now fits
For: Golfers who simply want the most forgiving driver available
The Average Golfer
Real-world gear for regular golfers
“it's not huge and it's not measurable”
A very good, easy-to-play forgiving driver, but the 10K gain over the existing G430 Max is not measurable in his testing.
+ the facts · 3 pros · 4 cons− the facts
- +Very forgiving and easy to play
- +Extremely good spin numbers
- +High launch, low spin balance
- −Fixed rear weight loses adjustability versus the standard Max
- −No noticeable performance leap over the older G430 Max
- −Poorly fitting head cover
For: Average golfers wanting the latest, most forgiving Ping driver
Peter Finch Golf
Long-term on-course testing
“The Ping from last year was set up for forgiveness and finding fairways.”
Last year's gamer, set up for forgiveness and finding fairways, which he is replacing because he wants more distance from the same forgiveness.
+ the facts · 1 pros · 2 cons− the facts
- +Set up for forgiveness and finding fairways
- −Not long enough for his swing speed
- −He was certain a fitted Titleist would go further, and it did by around 40 yards
