Best Ping Drivers 2024: tested head-to-head

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What is the best Ping driver for me in 2024? We reveal the ideal model for your golf game.

Ping have consistently made some of the best golf drivers for many years now. The best Ping drivers include models aimed at lowering spin, draw-biased drivers designed to help battle a slice, and some of the most forgiving drivers available.

The choice between models will come down to the type of golfer you are and what you need the most help with. Golfers with fast swings may find they get maximum distance from the low-spin Ping G430 LST model. Golfers who battle an excessive fade or slice will love the draw bias on offer with the Ping G430 SFT. The Ping G430 Max, meanwhile, looks to offer the best of everything, with a focus on forgiveness.

Take a look at all of the G430 drivers available to see which driver best suits your game, including the G430 Max 10k which is Ping’s latest addition to the range – the most forgiving driver they’ve ever offered.

Best Ping Drivers: our top picks

Best all-round Ping driver: Ping G430 Max | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER

Best low-spin Ping driver: Ping G430 LST | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER

Most forgiving Ping driver: Ping G430 Max 10k | VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER

Best ladies’ Ping driver: Ping G Le3 VIEW UK OFFER | VIEW US OFFER

Ping have been manufacturing some of the game’s best drivers for years and if you want to save yourself some money it’s worth considering a previous model Ping driver, whether that’s the very recent G425 or the, what now seems ancient, G410.

An impressive number of Tour pros play with Ping drivers. From Viktor Hovland to Linn Grant, Ping have had a lot of success on the professional circuit with their drivers. With Tyrrell Hatton and Adrian Meronk both moving on to the LIV Golf Tour will Ping enjoy even more success on another global golf Tour?

Best Ping Golf Drivers

Ping's driver than can work for a wide range of golfers

Ping G drivers have built an impressive reputation for being forgiving since the very first G2 was introduced back in 2004. With an MOI of more than 10,000, the new G430 builds on the marque’s legacy by harnessing supreme forgiveness and teaming it with a much more pleasing impact sound than the previous G425, the result of the MAX having a new internal rib structure.

Our data has it down as being a single yard back from the very longest. It’s an excellent result (which could be reversed on another day), especially when you factor in that Ping drivers are so forgiving that they are usually a fraction back from being the very fastest or longest available. The MAX didn’t quite give our very tightest dispersion numbers (experience says results are influenced more by a tester than a club), but it did give our pro his smallest drop-off in ball speed, so expect good on-course consistency. All other dispersion metrics were well below our test averages.

All in all, the G430 MAX is a brilliant driver option for a wide audience of golfers and easily one of the best Ping drivers for 2023. A new, lower-launch Tour 2.0 Black shaft is good for higher-speed players, while a lighter High Launch set-up will optimize ball flight for sub 85mph swing speed players.

Read our full Ping G430 MAX driver review.

Pros

  • Suits a wide range of golfers
  • Amazing workability and adjustability
  • Extremely forgiving

Cons

  • Doesn't have a carbon fiber crown
Lofts 9° / 10.5° / 12°
Stock shafts Alta CB Black, Ping Tour 2.0 Chrome, Ping Tour 2.0 Black, Alta Quick
The test results for the most forgiving golf drivers

A brilliant low-spinning driver for golfers with quick swing speeds

Ping’s previous G425 drivers racked up 70+ tour wins so the new G430 has big shoes to fill. The LST has a smaller (440cc) head and a new carbon fiber wrap-over crown to remove inefficient weight. A 22g backweight gives a good degree of influence over the shot shape.

The Ping LST drivers traditionally have looked more intimidating at address, this new model looks more friendly and playable sat behind a ball. Ping say the 9,083gcm2 MOI is 5.5% higher than its G425 LST predecessor and is now at the level of most rivals’ more forgiving drivers.

Ping drivers usually favor forgiveness over all-out ball speed and distance, but our data shows the LST is a bit of a brute in 2023. The model was within 0.3mph of the fastest average ball speed of our entire test. And while posting data significantly better than our test averages for protecting ball speed and tightening dispersion, it was also our longest low-spin driver of 2023, with a carry distance of 282 yards – an impressive step forward from the previous model.

Thanks to the carbon crown upping price, the G430 LST is a sizeable investment over previous titanium Ping drivers. But if your game will benefit from cutting spin and you don’t want to give up forgiveness unnecessarily, the LST will be good now and for years to come.

Read our full Ping G430 LST driver review.

Pros

  • Flies exceptionally well for quicker swing speeds
  • Delivers great distance
  • Feels really solid
  • Proven winner on multiple Tours

Cons

  • Doesn't suit as many golfers as other models
Lofts 9° / 10.5°
Stock shafts Alta CB Black, Ping Tour 2.0 Chrome, Ping Tour 2.0 Black

2023 Low Spin Drivers test value for money vs statistics.

Ping's most draw-bias driver

Due to it being so draw-biased, and because the sole weights have been non-movable, the most recent Ping SFT drivers have had a bit of a reputation for being one-dimensional, slice-busting machines. We like, then, how the new G430 SFT’s movable weight has a Draw setting, which offers 12-15 yards more draw bias than the G430 MAX, and a Draw+ set-up that adds an additional 7 yards of right-to-left shot shape (for right-handers) for the most suffering of slicers.

As has been the case with several generations of SFT, the model is a really good-looking driver. There’s no massively closed face angle here, and the head isn’t any less attractively shaped or flattened like a pancake to up confidence and forgiveness over the more neutral MAX model.

In the Draw setting, our data has the model down as producing a top-three performance for ball speed, left-right dispersion, shot area, and carry distance drop-off, which, of course, even though it’s a few yards back from our very longest, means it will be super playable and easy to live with on the golf course.

All in all, consider the G430 SFT a brilliant option for slicers.

Read our full Ping G430 SFT driver review.

Pros

  • Brilliant anti-slice driver option
  • Very confidence instilling behind the ball
  • Looks really good

Cons

  • Lack of lofts
Loft 10.5°
Stock shaft Alta CB Black, Ping Tour 2.0 Chrome, Ping Tour 2.0 Black, Alta Quick

The data from our test of the best draw drivers in golf

Ping's highest MOI driver delivers extreme forgiveness

Ping are renowned for their forgiving drivers, having hit the 10k MOI barrier with their G400 Max driver. However, the brand new G430 Max 10k is a better overall package thanks to the advancements in technology Ping have made over the past few years.

This model is undoubtedly designed to help you hit more fairways and I found this driver gave me my second smallest shot area proving that it is a fairway finder.

Sometimes forgiving drivers can make you lose distance but being only 4 yards behind the longest driver in our recent test there should be no concerns about this driver struggling to produce good distance off the tee.

There is something incredibly confidence-boosting knowing you're holding a club with 10,000 MOI, therefore, the G430 Max 10k should definitely be a Ping driver you consider.

Read our full Ping G430 Max 10k Driver review.

Pros

  • Super forgiving
  • Delivers competitive distance
  • Feels really good
  • Sounds sweet

Cons

  • Some might not like the louder sound

Ping's female-specific driver is a great option for golfers with slower swing speeds

Improving an already successful driver is no easy task. It can sometimes be hard to believe that a ‘next-generation club’ is genuinely better than the original but in Ping G Le3’s case, the goal was to improve the feel of the club throughout the entire swing by making the overall driver lighter and the improvements are noticeable.

The titanium head is rounder and more aerodynamic than its predecessor, helping you to achieve a faster club head speed. A thin, forged T9S+ material has been used to increase face flexing for more ball velocity and improved launch conditions. Internal heel-based weighting helps to straighten the ball flight and soft turbulators help frame the ball at address.

Ping have always been leaders in ladies' custom-fitting and the new G Le3 comes with an even greater choice of options to empower women of all skill levels to play, improve and get great enjoyment from their golf.

You can truly personalize your ball flight thanks to a new lightweight, aerodynamic hosel sleeve that gives eight positions with loft adjustments (+/- 1.5°), guaranteeing that this is a driver that will really work for your individual needs.

See more of the best ladies' golf drivers.

Pros

  • Works very well for golfers with slow swing speeds
  • Better colors compared to previous model
  • Extremely lightweight
  • Easy to launch

Cons

  • Players with quicker swing speeds need to be playing G430
Loft 11.5°
Stock shaft Ping ULT250

Ping's previous generation driver presents fantastic value

Best value Ping driver
Price: £349.00 / $399.00
Many golfers thought Ping were late to the movable weight party when they revealed their first driver with a movable CG, the G410 Plus in 2019. But Ping being Ping (essentially they’re a company built on engineering) refused to make a movable weight model until they could include a weight track that had zero compromises on MOI and forgiveness.

Ping G410 was replaced by the Ping G425 Max, which has a 460cc head that is rounder in shape than the LST model, and thanks to a 26g CG shifter (which is 10g more than the G410 Plus) you get 7% more MOI forgiveness than you did from the Ping G410 Plus.

The Ping G425 Max also enables golfers to add 20% more draw bias or 16% more fade bias than the previous model, to help really dial in your preferred shot shape.        

Thanks to the updates, if like many golfers your favorite recent G driver is still the G400 Max, Ping say the G425 Max boasts more forgiveness than this MOI monster. Incredibly this great-looking driver nudges the 10,000 (g-in2) MOI barrier, which was the level Nike needed a square head to tip (the SQ-Sasquatch) back in 2008. In simple terms, it makes it incredibly stable, which helps you keep the head square at impact.  

Read our full Ping G425 Max driver review.

Pros

  • Brilliant value if you don't want a G430
  • Looks fantastic
  • Extremely forgiving
  • Still used by some Tour pros

Cons

  • Can generate a lot of spin
Lofts 9° / 10.5° / 12°
Stock shafts Ping Tour, Ping Alta CB

The launch monitor data from our forgiving drivers test.

A seriously good deal for a very competitive driver

Best bargain-buy Ping driver
Price: £239.00 / $299.00
The G410 Plus was Ping’s first movable weight driver, engineered to increase forgiveness and optimize ball flight.

Until this point, Ping had stayed away from the adjustable market because they believed weight tracks (particularly those that go through the center of the head) meant a compromise on MOI performance.

But with the launch of the G410 Plus driver, Ping felt the time was right to introduce a moving weight track to their driver, without feeling like they will have to sacrifice forgiveness or MOI performance.

The G410 driver has a 455cc head size, which Ping say has a 15% higher MOI than competitor drivers with moveable CG locations.

A 16g tungsten weight (which is 8% of the head's weight) can be positioned to give up to 10 yards of shot bias to help dial in a golfer's preferred shot shape, which Ping say improves fitting capability.

Read our full Ping G410 Plus driver review.

Pros

  • Extremely forgiving
  • Makes a sweet sound
  • Sits well behind the ball

Cons

  • Being slightly older it isn't easy to pick up new

Today's Golfer test pro Neil Wain puts the drivers through their paces at Keele Golf Centre.

How we tested the best Ping drivers

The leading brands sent us their drivers in our Test Pro Neil Wain’s specs; draw models and those aimed at more moderate speeds were sent in Equipment Editor Simon Daddow’s specs.

We created an indoor test lab at Keele Golf Centre to ensure a controlled environment, which meant we could use premium Srixon Z-Star golf balls and a Foresight GC Quad launch monitor to create the most reliable data possible.

Major misses were rejected, but we recorded how shots launched, span, peaked out, and how far they flew in which direction.

See more about how TG tests golf clubs and other equipment.

Best Ping drivers: buying advice & FAQs

Are Ping drivers good?

Ping drivers are excellent. They consistently perform as some of the best golf drivers in our tests of all the leading brands. Ping are fantastic for custom fitting and are always one of the most popular drivers among amateur golfers.

Do any pros use Ping drivers?

Many tour pros use Ping drivers, including Cameron Champ, Stewart Cink, Tyrrell Hatton, Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland, Seamus Power, Louis Oosthuizen, Bubba Watson, and Sahith Theegala.

What is the latest Ping driver?

The Ping G430 range is the latest Ping driver. It comprises the Ping G430 MAX, Ping G430 LST, Ping G430 SFT, and Ping G430 MAX 10k. The previous range before G430 was the Ping G425 family of drivers.

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About the Author

Simon Daddow

Simon Daddow – Equipment Editor

Simon has tested and played more than 10,000 clubs in his life, so what he doesn’t know about golf clubs isn’t worth knowing.

He’s a specialist in all things metal having spent a large part of his career as a golf club maker and product development manager, and has worked in the golf industry for more than 30 years. Starting out as a trainee professional at Downes Crediton GC where he learned the art of golf club making, he went onto work for Clubhaus Plc and Tony Charles Ltd as a golf club maker and running Product Development at Benross Golf.

A ten-handicap, Simon also spent time working as a Sales Executive in Harrods’ golf department, even helping supply Sir Nick Faldo with personalized shirts in a last-minute emergency ahead of a flight to a tournament.

He joined EMAP Active (now Bauer Media) as Equipment Editor in 2006 and has worked for both Today’s Golfer and Golf World. Working alongside Digital Editor Rob Jerram and Test Pro Neil Wain, Simon has made todays-golfer.com the most reliable source for golf club testing.

Simon’s job means he plays regularly around the world, and rates Kingsbarns as his favorite course. He uses a PXG 0311 GEN6 XF driverTaylorMade Stealth 2 HL (15º), Ping G400 (20.5º), PXG 0317 X Gen2 hybridPXG 0311 GEN6 P irons (6–PW), Cleveland CBX2 wedges (52°, 58°), Ping 21 Fetch putter and a TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball.

You can contact Simon via email and follow him on Twitter for loads more golf equipment insight.

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