This is our review of the best
I’m an avid golfer, an 8ish handicap on my way to a 2 (been a 5.6), and frequent tester of golf clubs and equipment since 2015.
I’ve had the pleasure of playing and testing each of the Ping drivers on this page.
Summary: Mid and high handicaps (and most single-digit handicaps) should stick to the Max & SFT version of the drivers on this page. Leave the LST to the big boys.
In this best
Best Ping Drivers in 2024
- Ping G430 Max (Best for High & Mid Handicaps)
- Ping G430 SFT (Best For High & Mid Handicaps – Most Draw-bias)
- Ping G430 LST (Best For Low Handicaps)
- Ping G425 Max (Runner-up High & Mid Handicaps)
Best Ping Drivers Reviewed
Ping G430 Max Driver
- Long & Forgiving
- Premium Looks
- Improved Sound & Feel
- Improved shaft selection
- Nada
The Ping G430 Max driver leads our list of best Ping drivers.
What we like:
- Packed with forgiveness & distance.
- Premium looks, feel, and sound (A nice improvement over the G425s)
- Much improved shaft selection
What we don’t like:
- Nada
It’s as forgiving as the G425 Max we tested in June of 2022, but with improved sound and feel and a better shaft selection. Oh, it looks a lot better too.
We have it listed as our favorite high-handicap driver. Well, I’m a low handicap and I’d play this thing in a heartbeat. It’ll fit you just fine unless you have elite swing speed and need help keeping the ball down.
Time and again, the G430 Max converted my mediocre swings into drives either in the fairway or just off the fairway with a good or reasonable shot into the green.
This is ALL I want from my driver. Especially early in the year. The G430 is a driver I would own if I was in the market.
Looks (A) The G430 Max looks premium, unlike the G425 Max. Ping went with highlighter-yellow accents on the sole and the tiniest bit on the crown. It was just enough to do the trick.
Sound/ Feel (A) More solid sound and feel than the G425 Max – which had a hollow sound with center contact. Not so with the G430. Ping worked to improve sound and feel and they succeeded.
Forgiveness: (A+) Excellent.
Flight / Playability: (A) My better swings gave me medium-high draws to slight pushes.
Distance: (A) My swing isn’t great right now and my swing speed isn’t where it normally is. My launch monitor numbers on the range aren’t great. But, I averaged ~272 yards on the course during my round. (Which counts more)
| Carry Yards | Swing Speed | Ball Speed | Smash Factor | |
| Ping G430 Max | 235 | 101 | 152 | 1.43 |
Customer Reviews: Early days, but all 5 reviews at pinggolf.com are 5 stars for the G430 Max.
Verdict: The most forgiving of the G430 lineup over the SFT by a hair. It works hard to keep you playable with a nice boost in distance.
Ping G430 SFT
- Long & Forgiving
- Effective Anti-Slice help
- Premium Sound & Feel
- Premium Looks
- Little pricey
The G430 SFT is first on our list of best Ping drivers for draw-bias/anti-slice help.
What we like:
- Superb distance & forgiveness.
- Fights to keep you in play.
- Good feel & sound.
What we don’t like:
- Nada
It also packs a lot of forgiveness and help with distance.
- The G430 SFT & Max are 1 and 1a in forgiveness…and I don’t know which is which.
They both salvaged many of my bad swings, giving me shots into the green I probably didn’t deserve. They took my 14-handicap driving down to about an 11 and gave me a chance to score.
The SFT also has much-improved sound and feel compared to the G425s.
Looks (A) The New G430s have premium looks and I’m a fan. Much more so than the G425s.
Sound/ Feel (A) The G430 maintains the springy feel of the G425 but has improved sound (less hollow) and feel (more solid).
Forgiveness: (A+) Excellent. Exactly why you this club. Saved many an errant swing.
Flight / Playability: (A) I played my 9 holes and 95% of my range sessions with the weight in the Draw+ position. My good drives were medium height and straight or with a slight draw. My bad shots – 100% due to terrible swings – hooked off the planet.
I hit about 10 shots on the range with the weight moved to the Draw position. My results were basically the same.
Distance: (A) I am completely satisfied with the distance I got on the course during my round. I averaged 267 and had faaar from my best stuff.
| Carry Yards | Swing Speed | Ball Speed | Smash Factor | |
| Ping G430 SFT | 239 | 101.7 | 149 | 1.47 |
Customer reviews: There’s only 1 review on the G430 SFT and it’s a 5-star at pinggolf.com.
Verdict: Packed with forgiveness, distance, and a little extra anti-slice help. Playable by golfers of any handicap.
Ping G430 LST
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- Long & Reasonably Forgiving
- Great Sound & Feel
- Premium Looks
- Nada
Though the G430 LST is forgiving for a “player” driver, you better have your big-boy pants on to play it.
What we like:
- Superb distance & forgiveness.
- Fights to keep you in play.
- Good feel & sound.
What we don’t like:
- Nada
It’s not that it has no forgiveness, just not on par with the G430 Max & SFT. My swing had to be much tighter to remain playable, but, I was able to pull it off for the most part.
I just don’t like having to work hard to hit a driver well. I prefer more leeway.
This is not the LST’s fault. It’s made for elite drivers of the golf ball or at least good drivers with swing speeds consistently above 105.
Looks (A) Premium. I’m a fan of the highlighter-yellow accents on the sole, headcover, and small splash on the crown.
Sound/ Feel (A)Premium sound and feel, unlike the G425. Nice and solid.
Forgiveness: (B+) The LST is the “player” driver in the G430 lineup, but it has enough forgiveness to keep slightly marginal swings in play.
Flight / Playability: (A) The majority of my drives with the LST were lower trajectory than I’m used to. But, they were in the fairway or playable push for my round. I prefer a medium-high trajectory. Can’t blame the LST. My swing isn’t good enough for the LST yet.
Distance: (A) Plenty long if you’ve got the swing speed to get the ball elevated.
| Carry Yards | Swing Speed | Ball Speed | Smash Factor | |
| Ping G425 LST | 237 | 100 | 147 | 1.47 |
Customer Reviews: There are 7 reviews on the G430 LST, all 5-star at pinggolf.com.
- The one thing that stands out from each review is how long the G430 LST is compared to whatever they were playing before – even last year’s models.
Verdict: I recommend the LST for strong drivers only. The rest of us could make-do, but why would you. Pick something easier to hit.
Ping G425 Max
New & Used Clubs Available
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- Great for mediocre drivers (like me)
- Long & Forgiving
- Med-high penetrating ball flight
- Not the best-looking driver of 2022
The G425 Max driver is our next choice of best Ping drivers for high and mid handicaps, especially.
What we like:
- Plenty forgiveness & distance.
- Fights to keep you in play.
- Good feel & sound.
What we don’t like:
- Non-premium looks.
- Not the best shaft selection.
Ping’s been making great drivers for a while, but I hadn’t put my hands on one in years. The G400 & G410 are well-known to be great drivers and I’d heard and read nothing but good things about the G425 Max.
All the great things were validated on the first swing. Long high draw down the middle and it felt great coming off the face. I hit a bunch of good drivers during my round and I could see myself owning the G425 Max, no problem.
My biggest gripe is the looks are pretty plain for a premium driver and I couldn’t get a shaft close to my specs.
It plays much the same as the G430 Max, but the G430 sounds and feels better.
Customer Reviews: 96% of reviewers would recommend the G425 Max. It has 225 reviews and an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: If you need help with your driving (like me), you gotta give the Ping G425 Max driver a try.
FAQs
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Verdict on the Best Ping Drivers in 2024
Beginners, high handicaps, and mid handicaps should test the G430 Max & SFT models. You’re bound to find something you like and that fits you.
Strong drivers with higher swing speeds could likely play the G430 Max & SFT too, but you should test the LST.
My #1 suggestion is to test before you buy. Either at your local golf store or take advantage of Global Golf’s Utry trial program. I use it and recommend it.
Thanks for checking out my review of the best
- Long & Forgiving
- Premium Looks
- Improved Sound & Feel
- Nada
- Long & Forgiving
- Effective Anti-Slice help
- Premium Sound & Feel
- Premium Looks
- Little pricey
- Long & Reasonably Forgiving
- Great Sound & Feel
- Premium Looks
- Nada
- Great for mediocre drivers (like me)
- Long & Forgiving
- Med-high penetrating ball flight
- Not the best-looking driver of 2022
