This year is turning out to be the year of the forgiving driver, with moment of inertia unlike anything golfers have seen previously. The catch—this level of forgiveness isn’t impacting spin and decreasing distance. In fact, the G430 Max 10K actually spins less than G430 Max, which was considered a very forgiving driver.
The key moment of inertia measurement has been 10,000 g-cm2, but the problem has always been increasing spin and decreasing distance in a forgiving driver. With G430 Max 10K , Ping has found a way of providing forgiveness without sacrificing distance.
Key Technology Advances
Weighting
Unlike G430 Max, the 10K version has a fixed back weight, and a larger head profile, as well as Carbonfly Wrap on the crown, which allowed for discretionary weight to be repositioned. The fixed back weight allows for the record-setting MOI as it drives mass down and back to increase forgiveness and optimize the center of gravity position, lowering spin and ensuring ball speed preservation across the clubface for added distance. The heavier backweight, at 28 grams, is offset by the lighter carbon.
Forged Face
A shallower and thinner face allows for more flexing and increases ball speeds. Like past Ping drivers, it relies on Ping’s Spinsistency technology, a variable roll radius innovation, to optimize spin across the face for added distance.
Size
While staying at the USGA limit of 460 cc, the driver head feels enormous and increases confidence. By maximizing the heel-toe and front to back dimensions, golfers are more able to square the face to the target.
Carbonfly Wrap
The carbon crown only weighs 13 grams and helps lower the center of gravity and increase forgiveness. fully installed and saves 5g of weight to help lower the CG and increase MOI
Sound
The sound is different from the G430 Max—more muted and slightly louder—offering a sense of power and distance.