By James Hunt – Jan 3, 2024
(Reviewed by Coach Erik Schjolberg)
Contents
Key Takeaways
- Extreme forgiveness, especially off the toe
- Long… a LOT longer than expected!
- Classic Ping sound and feel
- Some draw bias (even without moving the weight)
I am a golf fanatic with a 10.7 handicap, looking to break into single digits this year. Finding the right club off the tee will most certainly help me get there.
I recently tested the Ping G430 Max with three range sessions and two rounds on the course. At the range I used the Rapsodo PLM to collect some shot data.
Summary of the New Ping Drivers for 2024
The Ping G430 Max is Ping’s most forgiving option in the G430 lineup (see below), and is packed with technological improvements to boost MOI and provide consistency across the face.
All new face designs with more flex at impact, movable weight, and improved acoustics have Ping confident that the G430 Max is one of the most forgiving (and longest) drivers on the market.
- G430 Max Driver – Most forgiving and adjustable weighting
- G430 SFT Driver – Draw bias with up to 20 yards of shot correction
- G430 LST Driver – Ultra low spin and movable weight
Ping G430 Max Driver
Loft Options: 9°, 10.5°, & 12°
Launch: High (with slight Draw Bias)
Spin: Mid
Adjustable Hosel: Yes
Pros:
- Superb distance
- Forgiveness is off the charts
- Adjustability for tuned trajectory
- Looks great at address
Cons:
- Most shots ended up left of center
- Hard to tell mishits from pure strikes from sound and feel
My Full Ping G430 Max Driver Review
Features and Benefits
- T9S+ Forged Face – Variable thickness and extreme flex at impact generate forgiveness and distance
- New Internal Rib Structure – Internal ribs create pleasing sound and improve overall strength of the crown and sole
- Spinsistency – A variable roll radius on the face design creates less loft lower in the face and produces consistent spin rates across the face
- Forgiveness – Highest MOI in Ping history and a movable 25 gram weight for repositioning the center of gravity
Testing the Ping G430 Max Driver
My Ping G430 Max Driver review consisted of me testing the newest Ping driver for a week, and had three range sessions and two rounds on the course with it.
I opted for the Mitsubishi Chemical Kai’li White 60 shaft in a stiff flex. I used my Rapsodo PLM to collect some data on my range sessions.
My Experience with the Ping G430 Max Driver
This Ping G430 Max Driver review was my first foray in the Ping world, and they brought the HEAT!
The moment I unboxed this beauty I knew we would get along swimmingly. The flat black crown, with accents of white and bright yellow, spoke to me and I couldn’t wait to take it for a spin.
It didn’t disappoint once I got out to the range. I was seeing drive totals 15-20 yards farther than my gamer! Part of it was carry distance, but the roll out was impressive too. That would be the handiwork of the new face design and what Ping calls “Spinsistency.”
I witnessed a much faster clubhead speed as well as more ball speed off the face compared to my current gamer.
One thing that really stood out was the left/draw bias. My general miss is right, and those were few and far between… much less than my gamer. However, all of my good strikes were finding their way left of center. Slight adjustments to my setup made for an easy fix though.
The G430 Max Driver comes with an adjustable hosel and movable rear weight. I tuned the 10.5° loft on driver down to 9° for a more penetrating ball flight, but I felt no need to move the rear weight.
My Grading of the Ping G430 Max Driver
Distance (A+)
Ping really delivered on the distance game. Looking at the launch monitor after my first few shots, I was shocked with the distance and faster ball speeds. I was expecting maybe a slight improvement over my gamer that is a couple years old, but not this much distance gains.
15-20 yards more changes everything on the course. An 8 iron into the green as opposed to a 6 iron? What would you prefer?!
Forgiveness (A)
Playability (B)
Looks (A+)
This has to be one of my favorite driver designs to date. The colors look great together, the flat color crown looks good at address, and even the head cover looks fantastic. Awesome job Ping!
Sound and Feel (B-)
I have heard people rave over the Ping driver sound, and the G430 Max Driver was supposed to improve on that. It may just not be for me, but I prefer a louder pop compared to the muted Ping thud.The feel left something to be desired too. I prefer a different feel on mishits compared to laying one on the screws. I found it difficult to discern which was which.
Customer Reviews
Bottom Line – Why Consider the Ping G430 Max Driver
This Ping G430 Max Driver review has proved that the G430 Max is a one-size-fits-all driver. It offers something for a wide range of handicappers. Distance for low handicappers, forgiveness for higher handicaps, and looks anyone would love.
Loft Options: 9°, 10.5°, & 12°
Launch: High (with slight Draw Bias)
Spin: Mid
Adjustable Hosel: Yes
Pros:
- Superb distance
- Forgiveness is off the charts
- Adjustability for tuned trajectory
- Looks great at address
Cons:
- Most shots ended up left of center
- Hard to tell mishits from pure strikes from sound and feel
Who is the Ping G430 Max Driver For?
Low Handicap (Maybe)
Low handicaps generally come with high swing speeds, but not always. This is a great option for decent swing speeds looking for distance gains.
Mid Handicap (Yes)
A mid-handicap like myself will see benefits to putting this club in the bag. It has everything you need to find the fairway!
High Handicap (Maybe)
Depending on your issues off the tee, this might be the best option for you. Slower swing speeds will work well with this club. If you are a slicer, the SFT might be better for your swing.
Alternate Choices
Callaway Paradym X – Callaway changed the “Max” to just “X” this time, but it compares well to the G430 Max.
Cobra Aerojet Max – Maximum forgiveness, movable weights, all in a modern sleek design.
TaylorMade Stealth 2 – No movable weight, but long and forgiving much like the G430 Max.
Ping G425 Max (our review here) – Yes, Ping’s previous model is still a good driver today. Especially if you’re looking for a discount.
My Final Verdict on the Newest Ping Driver
My Ping G430 Max Driver review proved that Ping delivered this time around. I was surprised and impressed each time I swung this club.
The distance, the forgiveness, the looks. It seems to be the total package, and I would recommend it to pretty much any golfer.
I was able to get extensive testing done on this club thanks to Global Golf and their UTry Program. You definitely want to make sure the clubs you are buying are a good fit for your game, and the UTry program lets you put the clubs through their paces as you figure out if it’s for you or not.
Ping G430 Max Shaft Options Chart
| Shaft | Flex | Weight | Launch Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
PING Alta CB Black 55  | Soft Regular | 56.0g | High |
| Regular | 57.0g | Mid High | |
| Stiff | 60.0g | Mid | |
PING Tour 2.0 Chrome 65  | Regular | 56.0g | Mid |
| Stiff | 61.0g | Mid | |
| X-Stiff | 66.0g | Low Mid | |
PING Tour 2.0 Black 65  | Stiff | 60.0g | Low |
| X-Stiff | 66.0g | Low | |
Mitsubishi Kai’Li White 60  | Stiff | 65.0g | Low Mid |
| X-Stiff | 66.0g | Low | |
HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 50  | 5.5 | 50.0g | High |
| 6.0 | 51.0g | High | |
HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 60 | 5.5 | 60.0g | Mid High |
| 6.0 | 60.0g | Mid High | |
| 6.5 | 61.0g | Mid |
If you’re not sure what shaft or shaft length to get, check this article out here.
FAQ
The Ping G430 release date was January 26, 2023.
The difference between the Ping G430 Max, SFT, and LST is that, on the one hand, the Max and SFT are the most forgiving, while, on the other hand, the LST is the least forgiving. However, it is important to note that the LST will give you a longer distance when you have center strikes on the club face. Additionally, the LST is better suited for those who like to shape their shots.
Furthermore, the SFT and Max differ in that the SFT (Straight Flight Tech) has a right-to-left biased shot correction built in, which helps players who tend to slice.
Yes, the Ping G430 is longer than the G425 by about 15 yards on average.
Max stands for maximum forgiveness on the Ping Driver lineup. This means that, for instance, if you don’t hit the ball with the exact center of the club face, you will still be able to get a relatively good distance from the shot. Additionally, the trajectory will not go too far off-center. In contrast, this is quite different from a lower forgiveness driver, like the Ping G430 LST, which sacrifices forgiveness for extra distance on center strikes.
Loft Options: 9°, 10.5°, & 12°
Launch: High (with slight Draw Bias)
Spin: Mid
Adjustable Hosel: Yes
Pros:
- Superb distance
- Forgiveness is off the charts
- Adjustability for tuned trajectory
- Looks great at address
Cons:
- Most shots ended up left of center
- Hard to tell mishits from pure strikes from sound and feel