In 2024, Ping is looking to deliver the ultimate combination with their G430 Max 10k driver: a high MOI, low spin driver for unmatched levels of forgiveness and distance.
Claiming to be Ping’s straightest and most forgiving driver to date, could this be the answer for golfers struggling with consistency off the tee?
Who Is It Aimed At?
The Ping G430 Max 10K driver adds to last years 2023 G430 driver family and is designed to be the answer for every golfer looking for consistency and forgiveness from the tee. With the highest MOI ever seen in a driver, it offers a level of forgiveness that’s theoretically unmatched in the golf market today.
The Tech
As you can imagine, the new Max 10K model adopts a lot of the same technologies we seen in the G430 family.
The G430 Max 10K sees a fixed back weight, driving mass down and back to increase forgiveness and reach that record-setting 10k MOI.
By using a carbonfly wrap on the crown (that we first saw last year in the G430 LST model driver), a 5g saving of weight can be redistributed into the clubhead, allowing the weight placements required for that high moment of intertia. The carbonfly wrap also helps to produce a louder, less muted impact sound in this year’s driver, something Ping actually looked to reduce in the 2023 G430.
This probably won't come as a surprise but the G430 Max 10K sits as Ping’s largest head profile to-date. At 460cc it fits just within the legal volume limit, which, as well as increasing MOI, helps to inspire confidence to golfers at address.
To help retain speed and optimal spin across the face, Ping have introduced a thinner and shallower forged face this year, that can flex, and relies on spinsistency to help golfers gain extra distance off the tee.
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Ping G430 Max 10K Driver Review
Looks
As you might expect, the driver looks very similar to the previous G430. With a 460cc head, it’s certainly large enough to help inspire confidence over the ball if that's what you're after.
You can then see the Carbonfly wrap going further around the crown in this year’s model, and the usual Ping turbulators (yes they're sticking with them!)
The base looks modern, with the same panels and sharp details seen in the G430. Personally, I really like the matte finish to the top of the driver, but I do feel as though Ping go a little overboard with detailing on the crown of the club, especially when they have used my least favourite colour of lime green to highlight a lot of these details…
Feel
Whenever I have Ping clubs in my hand, I’m always expecting a lot in terms of forgiveness - we all do, don't we? However, the amount of this seen in the G430 Max 10K was on another level to anything I have hit before.
The feel at impact is so stable, but with more power and speed behind it than I was expecting. What I found impressive with this driver, is that I was able to try force a slice or hook, but still be able to get away with it somewhat.
Something to note however with the G430 Max 10K, is that the louder, more 'tinny' sound that people disliked in previous Ping drivers like G425 is back. We saw the 2023 G430 with a more muted strike sound, but that isn’t the case this year with the G430 Max 10K. For me, this isn’t a deal breaker, but I do know a lot of golfers had an issue with this previously so be warned if you're one of them.
On Course Performance
I was also impressed at the dispersion pattern seen out on the course, especially in terms of distance. Even the shots that headed to the edges of the fairway weren’t offline enough to get me into too much trouble. When hitting multiple shots from one tee, I also wasn't losing drastic amounts of distance with my slight off-centre strikes.
The best way to describe this driver out on the course is just ‘copy and paste’ - I found the consistency that good.
The Data
As I took the G430 Max 10K indoors and onto Foresight, I was preparing myself to be disappointed with the speed, or distance, or just something with this driver, as so far it seemed too good to be true!
To help give these numbers a bit more meaning, I’m going to compare the stats to the previous G430 driver, that I tested out earlier this year. Despite scoring highly for consistency and forgiveness, I did see the G430 driver coming in slightly shorter in comparison to some other 2023 driver models like the TaylorMade Stealth 2 and Callaway Paradym; with the highest spin rate too, the G430 had an average carry of 215 yards, and total of 236 at 133 ball speed.
With a ball speed up at 135, I was seeing on average a 223 carry and 245 total with the G430 Max 10K! This would put the driver only 1 yard short of being the longest driver from the 2023 models, narrowly behind the Mizuno STX-230, and almost 10 yards further than last year’s model. I also saw a reduction in spin this year, with 2300 compared to 2950, which is what Ping were claiming golfers would see with the G430 Max 10K.
It's also worth mentioning that there was a few drives during testing that crept past that all important 250+ (total) yard mark, which is a number that’s rare for me to hit.
In terms of dispersion when striking the ball left or right on the clubface, Foresight was saying there was no distance loss on any of those off-strikes, and only very minimal direction dispersion. On average, the G430 Max 10K was finishing up only 5 yards offline, which was exactly how it seemed out on the golf course too.
The only time I noticed some real distance drop off was when I completely skied one drive. Even then it still carried 200 yards, which is much further than I’d usually expect for that type of shot!
Ping G430 Max 10K Driver Verdict
The Ping G430 Max 10K looked to deliver unbeatable forgiveness across the clubhead, and I have to say I think this driver has absolutely achieved that. I was blown away with how forgiving this driver was, and the gains in speed and distance in my testing from last year’s G430 are clear to see.
If you’re looking to invest in the G430 Max 10k this year, it’s going to set you back at pretty much the highest cost we’re seeing for drivers in today’s market, at £599.
If you’re a golfer who plays a lot of golf to justify that price-tag or someone who struggles with consistency off the tee, then you should absolutely consider adding this to you testing list.
If you can get past the huge footprint, loud noise and hefty price-tag, I really can’t fault this driver for performance… I just wish Ping would lose the lime green!
Would I Use It?
All in all, I was impressed with this golf club, and I’d happily see the Ping G430 Max 10K in the bag. I think this is going to be tough to beat in both distance and forgiveness.
Ping G430 Max 10K Driver Pros And Cons
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