The Ping G430 Max 10K was a driver that set an incredibly high bar for forgiveness and performance, and one of the few drivers I have ever given the full 5-star rating to, so the new Ping G440 K driver has huge boots to fill as its successor.
I've been testing it out on and off the golf course to see what this latest iteration has to offer and if it can maintain its reputation as one of the best golf drivers in the game.
Picking up the club for the first time, I was delighted to see that the overall footprint and visual in the playing position is every bit as good as the original G430 Max 10K.
The 460cc head is just as rounded and beefy, inspiring great confidence at address. Something about the much rounder heads that have been introduced since the '10K MOI revolution' really suits my eye more than traditional pear shapes.
However, as I mentioned in my other G440 driver reviews, I personally just don’t love the blue colorway. In truth, though, this is a totally subjective and minor point, and it will likely suit many other people's eyes as it is highly inoffensive and has been used very sparingly.
From a tech standpoint, the G440 K has predictably been engineered for maximum speed and forgiveness, introducing a new 32-gram adjustable back weight to help achieve what Ping is touting as its straightest and highest-MOI adjustable driver ever.
The new back weight is 4g heavier than the fixed back weight in the G430 Max 10K (Ping's previous highest-MOI driver), with the goal being to position more weight to the perimeter of the driver to increase stability and forgiveness.
The adjustable back weight is a key part of the new technology story, along with the Dual Carbonfly Wrap and Free-Hosel Technology, which save discretionary weight from the sole (3.5g), crown (1.5g), and hosel region (3g), allowing the CG to be positioned lower and deeper for high MOI and faster ball speed.
Another technology feature worth noting is the composite crown bridge and acoustic sole 'ribs,' which have been implemented to improve the sound with a more muted and solid impact experience by dampening unwanted vibrations.
Trying to produce a more stable driver than the G430 Max 10K must be a daunting task, but this is the route Ping has taken to achieve it.
While the 4g heavier back weight would, on paper, suggest increased forgiveness and stability, it is very difficult to accurately quantify that in terms of real-world performance differences. The best I can do is to say that in terms of performance, it is every bit as good as the G430 Max 10K, which, frankly, is the highest praise I can think of.
I tested the G440 K indoors and outdoors using my Foresight Sports GC3 launch monitor, and the data results were remarkably similar to its predecessor in terms of spin, speed, and carry. However, there are a couple of slight improvements to speak of in terms of performance…
The adjustable back weight offers a touch of adjustability that the G430 version did not have, allowing you to shift the CG into neutral, draw, or fade positions, which Ping says will help you dial in your shot shape.
Now, I did not necessarily see a distinct shift in shape bias when moving that around; however, I did find that aligning the weight directly behind my standard miss (in the heel position) was very effective in terms of increasing ball speed retention, which is something I would very much recommend trying to anyone with a fairly consistent miss on the face.
Interestingly, Ping has decided to add a quarter of an inch to its 'standard' build length from the previous model, stretching things out to 46 inches (swing weight remains unaffected as they have dropped the head weight from 206 to 203 grams).
Ordinarily, I would preach caution at this point as going that long can often lead to inconsistency of strike, but when a head is this forgiving, quite honestly, I'm not sure it even matters. Just enjoy the small swing speed boost you might see!
Crucially (for me at least), this driver, maybe more than any other 'super' MOI offering, has the capability to cope with higher speed players such as myself. It offers insurance against mishits without producing unplayably high spin, as so many other drivers in this realm do.
Too often, we, quicker players, are forced into uncomfortably low lofts to mitigate spin levels if we are looking to play a more forgiving driver; however, Ping once again seems to have kept that performance element under control, cleverly opening this driver up to a very wide audience.
Ping is a brand all about functionality, and it looks like, once again, it may well have created the industry leader here in terms of raw usability in a driver. A friend of mine often uses the phrase: "If you can't swing it, Ping it!" and while that's doing a huge disservice to a brand that brilliantly covers all players' requirements, it very much applies to this driver. If you don't have the time or inclination to hone your swing and you want the maximum amount of help from your driver with a premium look and feel, look no further.
The G440 K comes in lofts of 9°, 10.5°, and 12° with a 460cc head size. Standard specifications include a 46" length, 203g head weight, and a 32g back weight. There is also a High Launch (HL) build available in all lofts for slower-swing-speed golfers, featuring a 28g back weight and once again, a 46" length.
The Ping G440 K driver will be retailing for £630/$705.
