The PING G425 driver just hit the USGA conforming list. You will start to hear news about the product line, mostly the driver as irons won’t be on there, but it will be a full line. To start with, here is what we can say. The G425 driver is made up of three models.
MAX
LST
SFT
The major story for driver will be a re-engineered CG shifter (weight movement) and a larger difference between the three models than the G410. For irons will be HydroPearl Consistency and multimaterial badge for feel.
These products (the full line) will then officially be released in Japan the following week. Shortly thereafter the full line will be released in AUS. They will NOT be released in N. America and PING will have no mention of them on their websites or marketing until embargo late into 2020, with a release date of 2021.
Those countries will have the lines listed on their websites at launch time (for Japan, it will next week and AUS the week after that). Speaking with the company over the last month, they have no official statement on the release currently, but do understand that as items hit the international PING sites, that messaging and images will appear.
I’m absolutely enjoying the results. I’m hitting the most fairways I’ve hit in a while and the 3 wood is easy to hit both off the tee and fairway. The 5 wood lofted up to 19 has fit the gap perfectly between 3 wood and 4 iron for me. I know each person is different but I’m super happy with these clubs. I wish the max was smaller like the G400 but that’s just an eye thing.
I was curious and playing around tonight and tried using an online swingweight calculator to compare a few different shafts I have and this is what I came up with.
stock Alta R shaft – C5
PX evenflow black 65 5.5 -1/2” – D3
PX evenflow riptide CB 60 5.5 -3/4” – D3
UST Helium Black 5f3 -1 1/4” – D1
the head weight is within stock spec but the Alta is the longest and lightest shaft with the highest balance point. I changed the grip and took the arccos off but I can’t figure out why it is reading so light compared to the aftermarket shafts I measured.
After hearing about the forgiveness of the G425 Max, I wanted to hit that.
So, I’m given a 10.5* G425 with the Rogue shaft. I was hitting it well. It seemed so forgiving. I go back in and realize I had been given the LST. I think she figured since my G400 was an LST, that’s what made sense to give me. I also tried some combinations of the Max, LST, 9*, 10.5*, Tour shaft…
I’m gaming my 8.5* G400 LST and can’t quite get myself to make the move to the 425 right now.
I think I’m the minority here, but I kind of miss the dragonfly pattern on the crown.
Has anyone transitioned from the 400 to 425 in any of the models and missed the 400?’
Wouldn’t you think Ping knew about the sound at release? Wouldn’t they have done testing and realized that was going to be a factor? My guesses would be that they believed in the performance and didn’t care or… the sound is actually intentional and meant to stand out? If they wanted the sound more muted, I would think their engineering could have possibly achieved that, no?
I agree that there’s no way they didn’t know about the sound. I know some people don’t mind it but personally I just don’t understand why you would release a club that sounds like that.
I went to buy one from my golf club pro shop and they let me take the 425 max demo club out for a round.
After my first shot I thought that I could not play with the club. It sounded like two blocks of wood hit together.
If I had bought the club 2nd hand I would have been convinced that the club was a fake.
As the round went on the sound bothered me less and in the end I ordered a 425 sft.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see ping release an updated model in the very near future though as i can see the sound hitting sales.
i guess my response would be the 400 max didn’t sound great, and people loved that driver. so maybe ping figured if people didn’t care about the 400 max sound, they won’t care about the 425 max sound?
I didn’t have a G400 max to compare it to, but the sound compared to some other manufacturer’s options was a little jarring. I’m sure it plays better outside, and I’m not one who usually cares, but I’d have to think about it before buying this version. Results weren’t there for me so it’s a non-issue. If it were the top performer though, I’d probably still game it, but I’d be looking for some hot melt or something.
you’re certainly not alone in feeling that way. you’re probably in the majority, tbh. i tested the 425 max against the epic max, and honestly i didn’t hate the 425 max sound. probably says more about me than the club though lol. epic max was a much better performer in every metric i care about, so that’s the direction i went and i’m thrilled with my decision.
To my gentle ears…
G400 has the better sound – that is a nice driver
G400 Max is louder
G425 Max – higher piercing sound
I don’t know about LST or SFT versions.
As for Ping drivers & FW’s…. a number of years ago, I used to play a Ping G10, and liked it. Currently have a G425 3-wood in the bag…. Both are/were definitely different from most other drivers and FW’s in sound, compared to most that i’ve hit (Pings generally being higher pitched)… Doesn’t really bother me, but definitely different.
May be time for new Ping Fairways/Hybrids – word on the street is they are much improved – changed the design of the face and appearance, etc.
The distance consistency was seriously impressive.
He gained almost 20 yards and had a + 3 yard of vertical dispersion.
Yes, this was the guy’s first fitting ever but I was shocked with the consistency it was giving him on some very inconsistent swings.
I hit the G425 max 5w, max 7w and Sft 5w today. For me the 5w sft turned down to 18* and the flat setting took it from a hard draw to baby draw or straight ball. Serious ponder on it. It’s got the larger pancake head but I’ve always liked that look. The max has a nice shape. And the 3 dots on top are subtle. Noting garish on top.
But both on the shallower side if that matters.
Personally, the 425 Hy is a ponder sooner or later. But the Mizuno Fwy comes with a great shaft and a great choice of shafts, and is tough to beat.
Because Australia is in / asia and and is a golf loving country also ….
so is the usa. why not release it everywhere? what is the motivation to release it somewhere first, and basically bust your own embargo?
Embargo on what ?? And Australia generally follows on world realise stuff many others get earlier release …supply chains and demand on fulfill orders may have something to do with it ….
embargo on releasing information to the western market. media outlets aren’t allowed to discuss a product, post pictures, etc until the embargo date. and yet the eastern markets basically already had the info. it made the whole release fall somewhat flat, whereas other companies that (i assume) utilize a more globally coordinated release drop with a ton of hype and fanfare. srixon did it this year as well iirc. i’m not saying it’s not a good product, it just lessens the effect (for me) of a release date when it’s, well, already been released lol
Sorry thought you were talking about economics lol , yes get that usually it’s worldwide releases instead of staged releases. Until they release the auto trajectory internal ball navigation alignment driver head , lol l’ll wait and work with the incumbent driver hahah
I can still hit that over the top, all arms pull hook but it’s less of a hook than what I’ve seen from my last few drivers and keeps me in play better.
I’m also really clicking with the Max 5 wood and pondering a 3 wood because of it. It’s been awesome off the tee and the low profile works so well for me off the fairway and rough.
G425 Max? Yeah it’s a different sound for sure but I’ve seen people get fit for this thing with awesome results!
Yeah, it’s the Max. It feels good and seems fast into the net, for what that’s worth, but it sounds like sh!t
My Max 5 wood isn’t much better. I hit a tee shot with it Saturday that had my playing partners wondering what the heck happened. It performs though so I can overlook it.
It sounds busted! Lol
PS- with these results, I can put up with the sound….
I’ve heard window cleaner can work.
That being said, I did not see much improvement compared to how my Rogue driver hits.
Fitted at CC a couple of weeks ago and was quoted 6-8 weeks for build.
that’s awesome, man. such a good feeling to stand on a tee box and have confidence. the opposite made me consider quitting golf entirely. glad we’re having fun again!
Lightly rub it with a mr clean magic eraser. Or a safer option is Norwex rag with Norwex Polish.
What shaft did you use? I’ve tried a few in mine and I like the Evenflow Riptide CB I picked up to try in it. I just picked up a used Tensei Orange CK that was a pull from a G410 and it might be even better for me based on how I hit it on the range today. It is going to go through the paces tomorrow morning.
Graphite Design Tour AD VR. I tried the stock Alta at the range and hated it. Found this one cheap and thought I’d give it a go. Seems to have worked out
I never liked the stock Alta. They seem to whippy for my swing but I bought mine with it instead of wating 10 weeks for one to be special ordered knowing I already had something I was able to use. Finding a LH 9* head in stock in stores was hard.
I’ll be pushing 10 weeks on my G425 irons and the first time I get them on a course will probably be in 2 weeks assuming they arrive this week like they should.