The Ping G400 driver hit the USGA's list of conforming drivers this week, just in time for the driver, fairway woods and a related Crossover club to show up in staffer bags at the 2017 US Open at Erin Hills.
The G400 is seemingly the follow-on to the G driver and line of fairway woods, which was the follow up to the wildly successful G30 line. As usually is the case in recent memory with Ping G-line drivers, there are three models: the low-spin LST, a slice-correcting SFT model and the standard G400.
The G400 features a tungsten weight in the back of the sole, drawing down and back the center of gravity to improve ball flight, launch angle and forgiveness. The weight is as far back as possible, likely to maximize the effect on center of gravity and increasing moment of inertia rating.
On the LST model, the tungsten bar is moved toward the face and sits lower relative to the ground on the sole. Another weight found on the G400 is moved forward as well, which suggests design to dramatically decrease spin (while also lowering launch angle).
The SFT (Straight Flight Technology) model has a differently shaped head, with the tungsten weight closer to the hosel to promote a draw bias. The face is closed at address to further promote eliminating a nasty slice.
At the top of the head on the crown, there is a new dimple pattern that fits in with the Dragonfly technology found in the G line, which was an evolution of turbulators found in the G30.
The weight carries through into the fairway woods and hybrids, with PGATour.com reporting on-site at Erin Hills about the G400 Stretch 3-wood, which features a larger head and could play as a good replacement for a driver for players in the field.
