Gear: Ping G430 max, G430 SFT fairwaywoods Price: $385 each, with Ping Alta CB Black 55 shaft or Project X HZRDUS smoke red shaft or Mitsubishi Kai’ Li white shaft and Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet handle
Specifications: A 17-4 stainless steel body with a maraging Stainless Steel face, a carbon fibre crown and an adjustable Hosel. Lofts: 15, 18, 21, 24, 24 degrees for Max; 16, 19, 22, 22 degrees for SFT.
Available: Jan. 26
Who they’re for: The goal of these clubs is to provide customized performance, greater distance from the fairway and more forgiveness.
The Skinny: Ping created the three G430 fairway clubs for different players. The SFT models were created to aid golfers who slice while the Max fairway woodens were made to be flexible and forgiving.
The Deep Dive: Fairway woods used to be an afterthought for golf equipment manufacturers. Irons are made to look good and perform well. Drivers often get a lot of attention. Intentionally or not, Fairway woods were often overlooked.
Like the G430 drivers and fairway woods, Ping’s G430 fairway woods have a number of features that make them stand out. Players and fitters can adjust the woods to get the perfect flight.
Ping G430 fairway trees have a carbon fiber crown. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
The G430 Max and G430 SFT both have carbon fiber crowns that wrap around the edges. This is what Ping refers to as Carbon FlyWrap and helps reduce the weight of the top of your head.
The hosel on all Ping G430 fairway woods allows for players to adjust the loft up or down by as much as 1.5 degrees.
Ping G430 Max fairway woods (David Dusek/Golfweek)
The G430 Max fairway wood is designed to work for all players. The club’s face and body are made of stainless steel. It also has a lower center of gravity than the G425 Max fairway wooden’s. This should make it easier to get the ball up and allow golfers to land more soft shots on the greens.
The G430 Max is not intended to be a fairway wood with low spin, but it produces 400 rpm more spin than the G425 Max. G430 Max has a higher launch angle and a lower spin rate, which helps it produce 4 yards more carry distance.
The G430 Max has the most loft options.
Ping G430 SFT fairway Woods (David Dusek/Golfweek).
For those who slice, Ping offers the G430 SFT (straight-flight technology). This fairway wood has extra weight in the heel to allow for a more efficient downswing. It is square and offers reduced sidespin.
The G430 SFT has 2.3 mph greater ball speed than the G425 SFT. This translates into 7 yards more carry distance.
