The buzz around Ping is back with the company's new G400 line, which made its public debut in the bags of staffers at the 2017 US Open, where a record number of players (13) adopted the driver the very first week it was made available to them.
G400 driver
The G400 driver marks a slight change in direction for the company, going with a smaller, 445cc head while improving aerodynamic performance, particularly for faster swing speeds, and hiking moment of inertia for better forgiveness.
The driver sports a T9S+ face, connected to a cast Ti 8-1-1 body, which is forged 6 percent thinner than its predecessor to allow 16 percent more face flexing across the face. With a 9 percent weight savings, MOI could be improved while allowing 2 mph in improved ball speed.
On the sole, a high-density tungsten back weight lowers center of gravity, while Dragonfy technology (evolved turbulators) combines with other features to bring total MOI over 9,000.
The modern turbulators and Vortec combine to increase clubhead speed by a sizzling 15 percent.
Of course, fine-tuned sound is a key point. However, more intriguing is the color-changing shaft in the stock 45.75-inch Alta CB shaft. The copper shaft paint transitions to nearly black to reduce distractions as golfers address the ball and is counter-balanced to allow more mass in the head.
As with other Ping driver families, there are three head options:
The standard version, fit for most golfers
The SFT (Straight Flight) is designed to correct a slice with a heel-side tungsten weigh and a lighter swing weight to help square the face.
The LST (Low Spin) version positions the tungsten weight closer to the face to reduce spin approximately 300 rpm
The Ping G400 driver is available in the standard head in 9- and 10.5-degree options, with the LST in 8.5 and 10 degrees, and the straight-flight option in 12 degrees, all adjustable up or down a degree. The Ping Alta CB 55 stock shaft comes in Senior, R, S and X flexes, with aftermarket shafts available for a $75 upcharge. The driver retails for $435.
G400 fairway woods and hybrids
In the G400 fairway woods and hybrids, Ping brought in C300 maraging steel for the face material (which you might remember from the days of Orlimar Golf) to increase distance and launch angle in concert with the 17-4 stainless steel head.
The G400 fairway wood now offers a 9-wood and three SFT (Straight Flight) choices (3-, 5- and 7-woods), while the Stretch 3-wood is designed to be a driver replacement of sorts of help players get to par 5s in two. Lofts are adjustable up or down 1 degree.
The Ping G400 fairway woods are available in 3- (14.5 degrees), Stretch 3- (13 degrees), 5- (17.5 degrees), 7- (20.5 degrees), 9- (23.5 degrees), 3- SFT (16 degrees), 5- SFT (19 degrees), 7- SFT (22 degrees) woods with the Ping Alta CB 65 stock shaft in Senior, R, S and X flexes for $288 each.
The G400 hybrids feature progressive CG locations: the 2- and 3-hybrids are have a toe-side center of gravity to minimize left bias, while the 4-, 5- and 6-hybrids are designed for forgiveness and a higher launch angle. Lie angles can be adjusted up or down 2 degrees.
The Ping G400 hybrids are available in 2- (17 degrees), 3- (19 degrees), 4- (22 degrees), 5- (26 degrees), 6- (30 degrees) hybrids with the Ping Alta CB 70 in Senior, R, S and X flexes for $248 each.
G400 Crossover
The G400 represents the second generation of the Crossover, which is meant to look and feel like an iron while offering the ball speed and forgiveness of a hybrid. The 17-4 stainless body has a C300 maraging steel face. A new 20-gram tungsten weight in the toe improves forgiveness for a tighter dispersion, while a thinner sole and Hydropearl Chrome finish reduces friction by 40 percent.
The Ping G400 Crossovers are available in 3- (19 degrees), 4- (22 degrees) and 5- (25 degrees) iron options with the Ping Alta CB 70 shaft in Senior, R, S and X flexes or the AWT 2.0 (R, S, X) shaft for $248 each.
