By Leonard Finkel
PING’s fastest and most forgiving driver to date highlights the new G400 Series. This power-packed driver is available for custom fitting at Club Champion locations now.
Multi-material construction includes a cast Ti 8-1-1 body, forged T9S+ face, high-density tungsten back weight and a lightweight aluminum/thermoplastic adjustable hosel. A unique forging and patented heat-treatment process of the face powers a thinner, hotter impact area that is precision machined to elevate ball speed across the entire face for 16% more flexing. When paired with its aerodynamic properties, it results in ball-speed gains of nearly 2 mph. Making the face 6% thinner and 9% lighter than its predecessor, extra weight was placed strategically to tighten dispersion even further through a higher MOI. The forged face was also instrumental in producing the powerful feel this driver delivers.
According to PING, the G400 driver’s high-density tungsten back weight and Dragonfly Technology help bring the combined MOI (heel/toe and high/low) over 9,000-gram cm2 for the first time and position the CG lower and farther back than any current driver on the market – making it the most forgiving driver in golf. The Dragonfly crown extends to the skirt section on the sole, providing additional weight savings. A streamlined shaping harmonizes with new turbulators and Vortec Technology to reduce drag by 40% mid-downswing and 15% overall to deliver added clubhead speed.
“The G400 driver is a prime example of how our engineering team looks at every single detail of a club to ensure we are optimizing each design variable so golfers can improve performance,” said John A. Solheim, PING Chairman & CEO. “In this case, we’ve gone slightly smaller in volume (445cc) to improve aerodynamics for faster clubhead speeds while actually raising the MOI higher than any previous PING driver. This commitment to performance enabled impressive distance gains and tighter dispersion, the ultimate driving combination. We’ve also engineered an incredibly pleasing sound in the driver through computer simulation that will turn heads on the tee box when golfers get it in their hands. It even has a shaft that changes color at address to improve the player’s focus.”
Dispersion is a performance measurement that reveals just how consistent your distance and accuracy results will be on the golf course. PING encourages all golfers to get fit and look closely at their dispersion, not just their few best shots on a launch monitor. That will ensure that golfers find the fairway more often and their scores and handicaps will go down. In PING testing, the G400 outperformed the leading drivers in the marketplace, especially when comparing dispersion patterns.
Three head options are available to match a G400 driver to a golfer’s desired ball flight. The standard version is engineered to fit most golfers. The SFT (Straight Flight) is designed to correct a left-to-right ball flight (for right-handed golfers) and features heel-side tungsten weighting and a lighter swing weight to help square the face at impact. The LST (Low Spin) version positions the tungsten weight closer to the face to reduce spin approximately 300 rpm for a more penetrating ball flight. Loft options available are 9⁰ & 10.5⁰ (std.), 8.5⁰ & 10⁰ (LST), 10⁰ & 12⁰ (SFT). Loft adjustability is up to +-1⁰.
Extensive research and computer simulation coupled with music theory allowed engineers to fine-tune frequencies to produce a deeper, more muted sound. One tour professional compared it to “The satisfaction of puring a persimmon driver with the modern technology of the G400.”
PING’s tour staff, including Lee Westwood, Tyrrell Hatton, David Lingmerth and Daniel Summerhays, has been quick to switch to the new G400 driver with more than 70 currently in play around the world. Solheim added, “The players immediately loved the look of the driver and became enamored with the powerful sound and feel. At the end of the week, the statistics proved that both the longest and most accurate players off the tee at the U.S. Open relied on a G400 driver.”
Leonard Finkel is the author of The Secrets to the Game of Golf & Life and former editor in chief of Golf Journeys Magazine. His work has been featured in almost 200 publications including Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Golf Illustrated, Golf Tips and Player Magazine. He has written more than a dozen cover stories for Golf Today Magazine. He has written extensively about golf and travel and has added poker to his writing repertoire. Finkel also works as a marketing and public relations consultant. His specialty niche is writing advertorial copy. Prior to his career in golf, Finkel owned a chain of retail stores and a consulting and import company based in Asia. He attended the University of Utah.