Author: James Hunt - James first started playing golf at age 11, hitting the links with Dad on the weekends and a summer youth golf league. Relocating to sunny Myrtle Beach turned golf into a true passion (obsession) for him.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- Extreme forgiveness, especially off the toe
- Long… a LOT longer than expected!
- Classic Ping sound and feel
- Heavy draw bias (even without moving the weight)
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.
My Recommended Handicap Range: 10 to 25
Loft Options: 9°, 10.5°, & 12°
Launch: High (with some Draw Bias)
Spin: Mid
Adjustable Hosel: Yes
- Superb distance
- Forgiveness is off the charts
- Adjustability for tuned trajectory
- Looks great at address
- Most shots ended up left of center
- Hard to tell mishits from pure strikes from sound and feel
Summary of the New Ping Drivers for 2023
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 design 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
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 opposed to a 6 iron? What would you prefer?!
Forgiveness (A)
The G430 Max Driver is certainly very forgiving driver. I gave it an A because the distance I was seeing outweighed anything else about this driver. I only had a couple poor shots come off the face, and shots off the toe seemed to have minimal penalty on overall numbers.
Playability (B)
The high launch of the G430 Max Driver was too high for my liking. I cranked the hosel down to 9°, which helped a little, but still a bit too high for me. Shaping a draw/fade wasn’t very easy, but that speaks to the forgiveness of the club overall. Expect a higher grading here in the LST model.
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
Overall, the G430 Max is getting rave reviews from the masses. On Ping’s website 25 out of 26 reviewers would recommend this driver. Across big box stores, it is averaging 4.8 stars out of 5.
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.
My Recommended Handicap Range: 10 to 25
Loft Options: 9°, 10.5°, & 12°
Launch: High (with some Draw Bias)
Spin: Mid
Adjustable Hosel: Yes
- Superb distance
- Forgiveness is off the charts
- Adjustability for tuned trajectory
- Looks great at address
- 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 definitely 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 really 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
Ping G430 Max Shaft 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
When is the new Ping G430 Max driver release date?
The Ping G430 release date was January 26, 2023.
What is the difference between Ping G430 Max and SFT and LST?
The difference between the Ping G430 Max, SFT, and LST is that the Max and SFT are the most forgiving, while the LST is the least forgiving.
However, the LST will give you longer distance when you have center strikes on the club face, and the LST is better for those who like to shot shape.
The SFT and Max differ because the SFT (Straight Flight Tech) has a right to left biased shot correction built in to help with players who slice.
Is the ping G430 longer than the G425?
Yes, the Ping G430 is longer than the G425 by about 15 yards on average.
What does Max mean on Ping driver?
Max stands for maximum forgiveness on the Ping driver lineup. This means that 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, as well as the trajectory not going too far off center.
This is in contrast to a lower forgiveness driver, like the Ping G430 LST, that sacrifices forgiveness for extra distance on center strikes.
My Recommended Handicap Range: 10 to 25
Loft Options: 9°, 10.5°, & 12°
Launch: High (with some Draw Bias)
Spin: Mid
Adjustable Hosel: Yes
- Superb distance
- Forgiveness is off the charts
- Adjustability for tuned trajectory
- Looks great at address
- Most shots ended up left of center
- Hard to tell mishits from pure strikes from sound and feel
