Seven yards.
PING is in the distance game these days and is promising its new low-spin G430 3-wood will fly further for those seeking some extra distance off the tee, or perhaps into a long par-5.
“The lightweight properties of titanium and the density of tungsten open a lot of possibilities to improve performance,” said John K. Solheim, PING’s chief executive. “The results are phenomenal. The G430 LST 3-wood goes forever and sounds amazing.”
If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll note a change in tone from PING. For years the company discussed its forgiveness ahead of distance gains. But with the G430, distance is at the forefront and is certainly a key to the new LST version of the 3-wood.
Key Technologies
Ti-Facewrap
The face on the G430 LST uses variable-thickness titanium that wraps the crown and the sole of the body. The face, in turn, flexes more for better ball speeds and higher launch. That adds up to more distance. There’s also an 80-gram tungsten sole plate that places the center of gravity lower towards the back of the club, limiting spin while increasing launch.
Face Curvature
The head on the G430 LST is more low-profile (and 169 cubic centimetres) with a variable roll radius that improves performance on shots low on the face. A tight bulge radius helps with off-line shots.
Carbonfly Wrap
The Carbonfly Wrap crown delivers more distance by positioning the center of gravity closer to the force line to maximize ball speed. That means longer carries. The 8-layer composite crown, which saves approximately 5.5 grams compared to a titanium crown, wraps into the heel and toe sections of the skirt, allowing PING engineers to move the CG lower, once again increasing speed, while the composite head is a significant factor in the sound.
Is It For Me?
PING’s G430 LST 3-wood was already successful in limiting spin and offered significant distance gains. That said, if you’re being fit for a fairway wood and simply can’t cut enough spin off with changes to the shaft, the LST is a great option.