Please note: PING supplied limited information of the form of a press release at a very late date for all parts of the G430 line. We apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may cause our readers.
Possibly the worst kept secret among all of 2023’s new golf equipment, PING is officially introducing their G430 line of drivers. The company’s messaging around the G430 appears to fall in line with industry trends, focusing primarily on speed and distance without “sacrificing its industry-leading forgiveness”. Debuting on TOUR last fall, PING’s John K. Solheim states their professional staff has seen gains of “2 to 4 mph”, with almost 30 players putting the driver into play the first week.

With PING’s robust fitting program and three unique heads, all designed for different types of players, there is undoubtedly a G430 for all PING fanatics. All three drivers share several common technologies designed to increase ball speed and improve sound dynamics.
According to PING, “The added ball speed is attributed to a shallower and thinner VFT forged face design” and “a variable roll radius technology proven on the G425 fairway woods and hybrids”. A new internal rib structure was incorporated to produce a sound more pleasing to consumers’ ears.
G430 MAX

The G430 MAX is again the every person’s driver of the line, with its 460cc head and a 25g moveable tungsten backweight that PING claims will alter horizontal ball flight ±8 yards. Offered in three lofts (9°, 10.5° and 12°), the MAX’s loft is also adjustable “±1.5° and lie up to 3° flat from standard using the 8-setting Trajectory Tuning 2.0 hosel.”

G430 LST

The G430 LST (Low Spin Technology) offers an exclusive bit of technology PING is calling “Carbonfly Wrap”, which according to the company is, “a lightweight composite that covers the crown and wraps into the heel/toe sections of the skirt to save weight and lower the CG for more ball speed, less spin and higher MOI.”

Designed with faster swing speeds in mind, the LST features a 22g moveable backweight. It’s available in 9° and 10.5° lofts and is adjustable ±1.5° and lie up to 3° flat from standard.
G430 SFT
Unfortunately, in addition to the limited information, no photographs (other than the group photo at the beginning of this article) of the SFT (Straight Flight Technology) driver were supplied in PING’s press release.
Regarding the third driver offering, the company states, “New to the SFT (Straight Flight Technology) head (460cc) is a two-setting, moveable tungsten backweight (22g) that positions the CG to deliver 13 yards of right-to-left shot bend in the Draw setting and another 7 yards in the Draw+ (20 yards total). Available in 10.5° loft (adjustable ±1.5° and lie up to 3° flat from standard).”
Specifications
- Head weights: 208 (LST), 206g (MAX), 200g (SFT)
- Swing weights: D3 (MAX), D4 (LST), C9 (SFT)
- Std. length: 45 3/4″ (Alta CB Black 55); 45 1/4″ (PING Tour 2.0 Chrome/Black and optional stock)
- Stock shafts: PING Alta CB (counter-balanced) Black 55 (SR, R, S), PING Alta Quick 35/45 (HL build only)
- Optional stock shafts: PING Tour 2.0 Chrome 65 (R, S, X), PING Tour 2.0 Black 65 (S, X), Mitsubishi Kai’Li White 60 (S, X), PRJX HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 50 (5.5, 6.0), PRJX HZRDUS Smoke Red RDX 60 (5.5, 6.0, 6.5)
- Stock grip: Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet in six sizes
- U.S. MSRP: G430 MAX/SFT = $600 each; G430 LST = $630 each
The new PING G430 Drivers will be hitting retail soon and you can check out www.budgetgolf.com to pick one up.
[QUOTE=”erock9174, post: 11853509, member: 7797″]
[ATTACH type=”full” alt=”1698066807105.png”]9215689[/ATTACH]
Is the Trademark. Think 430 Max but with a fixed weight. Going for max MOI, hence the 10k in the name
[/QUOTE]
Oh and carbon crown like the 430 LST.
Still gaming a G410 SFT, with no plans, at this time, to replace it. Played with a gent that was playing G430 LST, and he was putting them right down the middle all day, and long too. Sounded good to me! I might go demo one this winter, and also looking at a 3-wood to replace the old Diablo Octane I use. Also looking at Cobra Aerojet, along with Ping. The $500-600 a club range is getting a bit heavy on the wallet though! Might buy used on the 3-wood, go from there…
[QUOTE=”DNice26, post: 11846804, member: 45706″]
I tried a number of drivers this season and the LST was the one that really supported my toe side miss. Ping really designed a great driver there…
[/QUOTE]
This is the reason why the LST has been in my bag the whole year. I keep toying with the TSR3 because on most hits the TSR3 is longer and just as accurate. HOWEVER my miss is 99% on the toe side and the LST just performs so much better on the toe than the the TSR3.
[QUOTE=”golfer_teej, post: 11862904, member: 34915″]
This is the reason why the LST has been in my bag the whole year. I keep toying with the TSR3 because on most hits the TSR3 is longer and just as accurate. HOWEVER my miss is 99% on the toe side and the LST just performs so much better on the toe than the the TSR3.
[/QUOTE]
And yet when you look at the Coolclubs comparison…..it seems the opposite…..yet I have def not seen the TSR3 being more forgiving toe side. It makes me question the Coolclubs ratings to be honest, as they were not really close in my experience (favor to the LST).
EDIT: Their “rating” perhaps is more based off speed than off forgiveness…..? Perhaps that’s the issue here. In other words, TSR3 is a beast of speed off the toe…..it may just dive into the left trees….. I keed…. I keed….
[ATTACH type=”full” width=”802px” alt=”1698341846939.png”]9216651[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH type=”full” width=”800px” alt=”1698341906967.png”]9216652[/ATTACH]
[QUOTE=”DNice26, post: 11863433, member: 45706″]
And yet when you look at the Coolclubs comparison…..it seems the opposite…..yet I have def not seen the TSR3 being more forgiving toe side. It makes me question the Coolclubs ratings to be honest, as they were not really close in my experience (favor to the LST).
EDIT: Their “rating” perhaps is more based off speed than off forgiveness…..? Perhaps that’s the issue here. In other words, TSR3 is a beast of speed off the toe…..it may just dive into the left trees….. I keed…. I keed….
[ATTACH type=”full” width=”802px” alt=”1698341846939.png”]9216651[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH type=”full” width=”800px” alt=”1698341906967.png”]9216652[/ATTACH]
[/QUOTE]
Good point. A snap hook off the toe is going to have a higher ball speed than a club that retains some spin off the toe and keeps you in play
Turns out tomorrow will be a 2 round day, in wind and cold, the 2nd of which will most likely be hitly contested and a bit pricey to lose.
I guess I showed where my faith really lies when I just caught myself pulling my Titleist driver and putting the G430 in. It might not be as pretty as the Titleist, and it may not feel as nice. It might not even be as long as the Titleist on a good strike. But it is just sooo consistent with any hit, I would be silly to leave it at home with $$$$ on the table.
[QUOTE=”1860VS, post: 11867406, member: 71354″]
Turns out tomorrow will be a 2 round day, in wind and cold, the 2nd of which will most likely be hitly contested and a bit pricey to lose.
I guess I showed where my faith really lies when I just caught myself pulling my Titleist driver and putting the G430 in. It might not be as pretty as the Titleist, and it may not feel as nice. It might not even be as long as the Titleist on a good strike. But it is just sooo consistent with any hit, I would be silly to leave it at home with $$$$ on the table.
[/QUOTE]
I feel the same about the 430LST I have another driver I put in the bag. But if I was playing for money or tourney the Ping would be in the bag
I like mine. The last time I was fitted for a driver was seven years ago.
Just saw pictures of the G430 10k…I really don’t want to think about a new driver, but I need to hit it.
[QUOTE=”Tywithay, post: 11904317, member: 14378″]
Just saw pictures of the G430 10k…I really don’t want to think about a new driver, but I need to hit it.
[/QUOTE]
Where did you see pics?
[QUOTE=”LSMO, post: 11904335, member: 33657″]
Where did you see pics?
[/QUOTE]
Insta
[QUOTE=”LSMO, post: 11904335, member: 33657″]
Where did you see pics?
[/QUOTE]
Allgolfequipment on insta. Carbon crown like the LST
The way I have been hitting my G430 Max these past couple weeks, it will take some kind of special to get it out of my bag. I don’t know what happened all of a sudden but I am just killing it, long and straight. Like I was 34 not 64.
I’m going to have a 10k
Only if I decided to chase pure forgiveness. If its anything like Ping drivers (I’ve gamed several in the past) it will be very forgiving, have some areas of strange sound, and be slightyly behind the others in pure ball speed. Not saying no, but the G425 was no more forgiving than the Rogue ST so we shall see.
I saw this today and Michael Kim is playing a Ping driver now. It doesn’t say which one:
[MEDIA=twitter]1723774855416258626[/MEDIA]
[QUOTE=”hedley_lamarr08, post: 11904579, member: 37622″]
Only if I decided to chase pure forgiveness. If its anything like Ping drivers (I’ve gamed several in the past) it will be very forgiving, have some areas of strange sound, and be slightyly behind the others in pure ball speed. Not saying no, but the G425 was no more forgiving than the Rogue ST so we shall see.
[/QUOTE]
I can’t speak to all the previous Ping drivers, but the G430 Max was right up there on ball speed for me. I had trouble with keeping the spin under 3000 and that’s the only reason I moved on. The sound is also a million times better than anything they’ve had in the past. I’m curious what the carbon does for sound in the new Max head.
[QUOTE=”Tywithay, post: 11904635, member: 14378″]
I can’t speak to all the previous Ping drivers, but the G430 Max was right up there on ball speed for me. I had trouble with keeping the spin under 3000 and that’s the only reason I moved on. The sound is also a million times better than anything they’ve had in the past. I’m curious what the carbon does for sound in the new Max head.
[/QUOTE]
the 430 LST was pretty muted with the carbon crown. Guessing it will be similar to that head.
I think I’m ready to say that the 430 lst will be the driver that takes on the 2024 drivers for me. I get great ballspeed and is very consistent for me
[QUOTE=”MH, post: 11906537, member: 38594″]
I think I’m ready to say that the 430 lst will be the driver that takes on the 2024 drivers for me. I get great ballspeed and is very consistent for me
[/QUOTE]
I’m right there with you.
As the season is winding down, I have been reflecting on my bag recently.
The G430 Max driver has been a real asset off the tee.
I did go through a swing rut in August and Sept but things seem to have come together lately in Oct and into November.
Also I switched back to the Tensei Orange AV Raw that I had in my G425 driver and took out the HZRDUS Red.
I think I am onto something.
I have gone from a season average of 51% FIR up to 59% FIR (last 3 rds) with an equal left and right miss.
With the HZRDUS Red I was fighting a big push for some reason so my miss was more right biased.
Also, its the first time since using Shot Scope that my P Avg has been over 240 yds.. Showing 242… previous best was last year using the G425 of 239.
Any my penalty % went from 4% down to 0% with the shaft switch too. Hmm,..:unsure: think I need to go with the Tensei Orange shaft as my gamer from now on.
[ATTACH type=”full” alt=”1699969194363.png”]9221395[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH type=”full” alt=”1699969411520.png”]9221398[/ATTACH]
[MEDIA=instagram]Czoqbbzgsk6[/MEDIA]
He won’t be the last.
[QUOTE=”OldandStiff, post: 11909519, member: 53737″]
[MEDIA=instagram]Czoqbbzgsk6[/MEDIA]
He won’t be the last.
[/QUOTE]
That’s interesting, as you’d expect him to play the lower spin model. This 10k is very intriguing.
I’m hating it already. Because it’s going to cost me money, I can tell already.
[QUOTE=”1860VS, post: 11909653, member: 71354″]
I’m hating it already. Because it’s going to cost me money, I can tell already.
[/QUOTE]
For real. The G430 was a little spinny in my fitting. But the LST wasn’t as good on dispersion. Sounds very Goldilocks.
Has anyone compared 10.5 vs 9 degree in terms of launch and spin?
[QUOTE=”erock9174, post: 12055761, member: 7797″]
Yes, the 9* launched and spun lower
[/QUOTE]
Do you remember by how much?
I need the max forgiveness but the spin reduction. 10k model might be a fit.
I’m kind of of having sellers remorse. The 9* lst was such a good driver for me and I still can’t believe I sold it. I’m trying my hardest not to buy another one until I can get out on the course with the Darkspeed LS and Smoke max. The highest ballspeed I have had on the monitor has been with the Ping