Seven yards. That’s the added distance PING says you’ll get from its new G430 LST driver, while other versions are offering four to five yards of extra distance. When you start adding up the distance gains from across the G430 offering, the company is promising startling results, especially if you’re playing everything from the driver through to the irons. It is a change from the standard PING messaging over recent years that have highlighted forgiveness ahead of distance. “There are measurable distance gains on every single part of the G430 line,” says Ryan Stokke, PING’s Director of Product Development.

Early indications—including 100 drivers in play on pro tours immediately after offering them—show PING staffers are super enthusiastic about the G430.

G430 Driver

Face optimization:

One of the keys with the G430 driver is the new face optimization. The goal here is to create more flexing of the face for greater energy transfer and more distance. The face is also shallower, with variable thickness.

Carbonfly Wrap:

Carbon has been a significant factor for several drivers built by different equipment makers in recent years.

Spinsistency:

A technology that first appeared in PING’s fairway woods, Spinsistency is a variable roll radius that improves performance across the forged face of the G430. It also creates more consistency and helps with accuracy.

CG Shifters:

The G430 driver can really be tweaked to help dial in the amount of draw or cut you’ll have in your tee ball. In the Max, the 25-gram weight can lead to eight yards of draw or fade, while the LST model offers seven yards.

Forgiveness:

Yes, distance is the key with G430, but that’s not to suggest PING has walked back any of its commitment to creating a high MOI driver. The Max offers the highest MOI.

Best of the rest:

PING is keeping a lot of what made its previous drivers so successful. “Ultimately, we don’t want to sacrifice the things that have really worked with PING drivers,” says Stokke. You’ll still see Turbulators that are designed for better aerodynamics and other components that have gone into previous PING drivers.

G430 Max:

Is it for me?

This is the version that fits most players. With a 460cc head, this is a driver that instills confidence. The perfect driver for those seeking distance and forgiveness.

G430 SFT

Is it for me?

Let’s be honest—do you play a bit of a slice, attacking the ball from the outside? If that’s the case—and a quick visit to a fitter will confirm it—the G430 SFT offers a lot of technology to help straighten up that shot that is no longer a cut, but a slice.

G430 LST

Is it for me?

Do you have a higher swing speed but tend to spin the ball too much, costing you distance? If that’s the case, the LST model will be a spin killer. But with a 440cc head, it is for the player who is consistent in their strike.

G430HL:

Is it for me?

As opposed to creating a driver head that’s specifically lightweight, PING spent time looking at the components that would bring down the weight for those swinging around 80 miles per hour. This is a great option for those seeking to add swing speed but looking for the latest driver head from PING.

G430 Fairways and Hybrids:

Using Carbonfly technology to offer more distance and moving the centre of gravity to maximize ball speed, all the while still utilizing Spinsistency and Facewrap, PING has created fairway woods that lead to distance gains and consistency.

Key technologies:

Carbonfly Wrap:

Essentially a lightweight carbon crown, this technology allows PING engineers to move discretionary weight to other parts of the club. The new lower center of gravity helps assist in ball speed gains.

Facewrap and Spinsistency:

The variable thickness face, which wraps into the sole and crown, and Spinsistency, which helps greatly on thin shots, adds forgiveness and speed.

Backweight:

A 5.5-gram backweight helps with higher launch conditions in both versions of the fairway.

Is it for me?

Two versions of the G430 fairway wood—and hybrids ranging from 2 to 7—offer a wide range of possibilities for golfers. In the fairway wood, the G430 Max will appeal to most golfers, while the SFT is designed to be draw-bias and straighten out those slices.

G430 Irons

Perhaps one of the most compelling stories in the G430 line is the new game improvement irons that will ask players to reconsider the makeup of their traditional iron set. In recent years, game improvement irons have travelled greater distances, which comes, at least to some degree, from increasing the lofts. However, it isn’t enough to just increase the lofts if the ball comes out low and can’t hold the green.

PING realizes this and has made adjustments to ensure shots fly in the right “window” with the G430. However, research has shown the improvements in the irons have led to overall gapping issues, especially in key scoring yardages. Through its involvement with Arccos, as well as its network of fitters, PING has recognized there’s a need for an additional club to create the right makeup in the set.

“We’ve learned a majority of shots are hit in certain yardages and that leads to poor gapping,” Stokke said. “With that in mind, we’re trying to make this the most functional distance club on the market.”

Key technologies:

Thinner face:

The thinner face on the G430 iron offers 2 miles per hour more ball speed. But it isn’t just faster—PING says the change doesn’t compromise the forgiveness of the club, even if that isn’t the main focus of the design. You’ll also find a cleaner look in these irons.

Sound and feel:

Astute players will recognize that sound and feel go hand-in-hand. In the case of the G430, PING has worked hard to make a game-improvement iron that not only looks good but feels and sounds good as well. Using the PURFlex cavity badge, which adds to distance, PING has found a way to make these irons offer a solid feel and great sound at impact.

Gapping:

The pitching wedge in the G430 set is now 41 degrees—four degrees stronger than you’ll find in a traditional pitching wedge. To compensate for that—and recognizing there were gaps in scoring yardages—PING is offering something similar to a utility wedge at 45.5 degrees. That means a player may now carry five wedges—PW through to 58 degrees.

Who are they for?

With a clean look, a great sound, and impressive distances that still allow players to hold greens, the G430 is a club that will be played by mid-handicappers. However, given all the winning factors at play, this is a game-improvement club that might well sneak into some of the bags of players who wouldn’t typically gravitate to this type of iron.

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