By Coach Erik Schjolberg – Jan 2, 2024
Contents
Key Takeaways
- SFT stands for “Straight Flight Technology” aka slice killer
- Copious amounts of tungsten increases MOI and stabilizes the face at impact
- Tungsten weight positioned towards the heel to promote a draw
- Sleek matte black crown with aerodynamic ribs help find center strikes
- Exceptional forgiveness with heavy draw bias
Ping G425 SFT Driver Review
If the G425 Max is synonymous with forgiveness and the G425 LST a low-spin distance tool, the G425 SFT driver is essentially an “anti-right” club (for right handed golfers) designed to neutralize side spin and take away the dreaded slice out of bounds.
SFT, or “Straight Flight Technology”, is essentially a draw biased setup of the Max driver.
As with the Max, this edition utilizes an abundance of tungsten to stabilize the head of the driver through impact, but fixes the weight far in the heel to promote draws.
Ping has claimed that shots can deviate over 20 yards further left than their Max edition.
Ping G425 SFT Driver Review
Lofts Available: 10.5º
Draw Bias: Yes
Pros:
- The draw-bias works!
- Point and shoot for high sidespin players
- SFT retains the exceptional forgiveness of the Max
- Looks and sound are perfectly “normal” for a “draw biased” driver
- Ample tungsten added to this edition while keeping head weight low
Cons:
- Fixed weights reduce adjustability
- Lack of loft options even with the adjustability
- The draw-bias to this driver makes shaping shots more difficult
- Players that hit a draw to begin with may see that turn into a hook
Lofts Available
Adjustable 10.5º (check this out for more on how to select your driver loft)
Handicap Range
The Ping G425 SFT driver is designed to help counteract slices and places a premium on the draw by design.
This driver is beneficial for those seeking to correct slices, or that prefer playing a draw by design. More advanced players that are capable of shaping their shots may not appreciate the lack of adjustability and inherent draw setup. Handicap: 10 – 25
Technical Review
The Ping G425 SFT driver shares the same innovative technology as its siblings in this edition but is only available in a 10.5º loft with a fixed 23 gram tungsten weight definitively positioned in the heel.
The G425 SFT is designed to have all the forgiveness of the Max, but with a draw bias. This driver weighs in at 202g with a 460cc head size to allow for the most forgiveness on strikes, while still whipping through impact.
Curiously, Ping standardizes swing weight at D1 instead of D3-4 like the Max and LST siblings.
Performance – My Test Results
My performance test of the Ping G425 SFT driver review… the SFT shares all of the benefits of the Max but has a penchant for the left side of the fairway. For those of you looking to correct a fade or a slight slice/ push slice, this driver may just be the right fit.
Keep in mind that the G425 SFT will *reasonably* be biased towards a draw and will not fix a slice that (for right-handed golfers) starts on the left end of the fairway, and ends up on the fairway to the right of the hole you’re playing; Tiger himself can’t help you there.
However, when playing reasonable shot shapes, this club is hard pressed to find out-of-bounds on the right side.
My natural full-speed shot shape is a pull-fade which with some aiming tends to leave me towards the middle, or with a creative bounce, to the right hand side of the fairway.
If I slow down my swing to find the fairway I tend to shape towards a draw.
When swinging for distance, this club did its level best to fight the extra side spin associated with high mph and left me reasonably within the fairway, or at best, on the right fringe with a comfortable shot from the rough.
On the other hand, attempts at a more controlled draw became pronounced, and I was forced to either adjust my aim right, or end up in a grouping to the left of the fairway.
Short story, it works!
Measured side-spin bumped up in favor of the draw, validating the visible change in ball-path.
Lofts Available: 10.5º
Draw Bias: Yes
Pros:
- The draw-bias works!
- Point and shoot for high sidespin players
- SFT retains the exceptional forgiveness of the Max
- Looks and sound are perfectly “normal” for a “draw biased” driver
- Ample tungsten added to this edition while keeping head weight low
Cons:
- Fixed weights reduce adjustability
- Lack of loft options even with the adjustability
- The draw-bias to this driver makes shaping shots more difficult
- Players that hit a draw to begin with may see that turn into a hook
Looks
As with the G425 Max, this head shape is on the larger side of the series, but you would be hard-pressed to identify it as the SFT unless the LST or Max was sitting next to it.
The fixed weight system is a dead give-away at the back of the club head, but otherwise, it sits sleek at address.
Again, if you didn’t have the Max nearby for comparison, there is nothing that would suggest this driver is a draw biased design.
Sound and Feel
Sound and feel remain consistent with the G425 Max as the design elements are largely shared.
The G425 SFT driver differs most significantly from the Max in off-center contact that strays towards the toe of the club. While the Max offers variable weight positions to add mass behind a consistent contact point, the SFT is fixed towards the heel.
Players who strike towards the toe-side of the face may feel a touch of additional torque or face-twist with this model on impact.
On the other hand, shots struck towards the center or heel of the face feel powerful and solid, jumping into the air. Overall, the club inspires confidence and forgiveness, with the extra safety of the draw bias for those who don’t want to tamper with their standard setup.
Pros
- Ample tungsten added to this edition while keeping head weight low
- SFT retains the exceptional forgiveness of the Max
- Looks and sound are perfectly “normal” for a “draw biased” driver
- Point and shoot for high sidespin players
- The draw-bias works!
Cons
- The draw-bias to this driver makes shaping shots more difficult
- Lack of loft options even with the adjustability
- Players that hit a draw to begin with may see that turn into a hook
- Fixed weights reduce adjustability
The Bottom Line
The G425 SFT driver retains all the positive features of the Max driver, but adds the bonus of a draw bias.
While this won’t fix a slice that lands 70y into the next fairway, it will certainly help players reduce side spin and find the fairway more consistently with a designated shot shape.
Lofts Available: 10.5º
Draw Bias: Yes
Pros:
- The draw-bias works!
- Point and shoot for high sidespin players
- SFT retains the exceptional forgiveness of the Max
- Looks and sound are perfectly “normal” for a “draw biased” driver
- Ample tungsten added to this edition while keeping head weight low
Cons:
- Fixed weights reduce adjustability
- Lack of loft options even with the adjustability
- The draw-bias to this driver makes shaping shots more difficult
- Players that hit a draw to begin with may see that turn into a hook
Other Drivers in the Ping G425 Family
There are 2 more drivers in the G425 family… if you want to give those a read, our review of the Ping G425 MAX is here, and the Ping G425 LST review is here. The Max is the most forgiving of the series and is similar to the SFT, but without the draw bias. The LST is the low spin model for more advanced players who also have a high swing speed.
Alternative Drivers to the Ping SFT G425
TaylorMade SIM 2 Max D
TaylorMade’s similar driver to the SFT is the SIM 2 Max D… the D standing for draw. If TaylorMade is more your speed, or if you just want to check out the review, give that a read over here.
Cobra Radspeed XD
Cobra has their “Draw Biased” model as well, the Radspeed XD (Xtreme Draw). This one is still kind of in the “beginner” category in my opinion. Our full write up can be found here.
Callaway Epic Speed
Callaway has a driver with a slight draw bias, the Epic Speed. It’s a little bit more of an advanced level driver though, and the draw bias isn’t as much as on the Ping SFT. But if you want to check that out, our full review is right here.
Best Drivers For a Slice
There are plenty more options for drivers that help mitigate a slice. Some use heel weight, some use what’s called an offset. If you’re interested, check our review of those drivers out here.
More Tips for Beginner Golfers…
Golf 101
For an ultimate guide on getting started with golf, everything you need to know about the game, swing tips, rules, etc, check out our Golf 101 article.
Golf Slice Fix
If you’re struggling with a slice, and you want to change your swing to fix it, or even learn to play draw, then our golf slice fix post is a good place to start.
Stop Popping Up Your Driver
And if you’re one of those golfers who simply keeps popping up or ‘skying’ your drives, then this is the article for you.
FAQ
Note – Some of these FAQs were covered throughout the article, but I still get these questions a lot… so here are the “short and sweet” answers to the most common questions:
Does Ping G425 SFT work?
The Ping G425 SFT driver works by adding extra weight to the heel of the club, resulting in a more ‘draw-biased’ ball flight.
What is the difference between the ping G425 Max and SFT?
The difference between the Ping G425 Max and G425 SFT is the fixed weight on the SFT in the heel, specifically designed to promote a right to left ball flight (for the right handed golfer). Both drivers are very forgiving, especially compared to low spin driver models like Ping’s LST.
What’s the difference between ping SFT and LST?
The difference between the Ping G425 SFT and G425 LST is quite substantial. The SFT, or Straight flight technology, is designed to promote a ‘draw-biased’ type shot shape by adding extra weight in the heel of the driver.
The LST, or Low Spin Technology, is a much less forgiving model for higher swing speed type players who want to keep the ball a little bit lower in trajectory due to the high spin of swinging hard through the ball. It is also not biased to one type of ball flight like the SFT.
Which Ping driver is the best?
The latest G430 line is the best Ping driver out there at this moment. The best model you should use depends entirely on your own individual strengths and weaknesses. Check out our review and test of the Ping G430 SFT driver, the Max, and the G430 LST.
Lofts Available: 10.5º
Draw Bias: Yes
Pros:
- The draw-bias works!
- Point and shoot for high sidespin players
- SFT retains the exceptional forgiveness of the Max
- Looks and sound are perfectly “normal” for a “draw biased” driver
- Ample tungsten added to this edition while keeping head weight low
Cons:
- Fixed weights reduce adjustability
- Lack of loft options even with the adjustability
- The draw-bias to this driver makes shaping shots more difficult
- Players that hit a draw to begin with may see that turn into a hook
About the Author
By Coach Erik Schjolberg – Last Updated Jan 2, 2024
Expertise:
Coach Erik actively coaches several PGA Tour Professionals. He’s the head golf instructor and writer here at Swing Yard, was voted the “#1 Golf Coach in Scottsdale, Arizona”, and has been coaching for over 20+ years. Erik also owns and operates his own online golf school, EJS Golf Academy. His other credentials include: Active PGA Coaches Membership, Titleist TPI Level 1 and 2, Trackman Certified Level 1, Dr. Kwon’s Biomechanics Level I and II, Scott Cowx Certified Level I Advanced, BodiTrack and V1 Sports Pressure Mat Certified, Titleist Club Fitting and Ball Fitting Certified, PGA Hope, and Sportsbox AI. Check out Erik’s full bio and certifications for more info.
