BREAKING: PING’s G425 Debuts After English’s Win at Kapalua

In a world with annual product turnover, it’s incredibly refreshing and noteworthy when a major OEM waits to release equipment that they can confidently claim is backed by measurable improvements over its predecessor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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For 2021, PING is debuting the G425 lineup, which appears to feature heavy design influence from Darth Vader.

Setting that aside, in addition the standard metal wood selling points, like optimal ball flight and peak ball speeds, PING’s recent hallmark feature has been stability (i.e., making a super-high MOI driver that is more forgiving than everything else on the market).

Starting with the new driver, the G425 will come in three different variations—the G425 Max (for maximum MOI), G425 SFT (Straight Flight Technology) and G425 LST (Low Spin Technology).

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The G425 looks to advance a majority of the technologies that have been seen in the G400 and G410, including PING’s aerodynamics (with visible technology presented in the form of the Turbulators on the crown), a redesigned Dragonfly, all-titanium crown (which provides stronger structural integrity when compared to multi-piece construct crown) and a modified TS 9i + forged face insert. With respect to that last design feature, PING has been using a TS 9i + forged face in its drivers for a while, but the big difference here is that PING has incorporated a rough texture on the face, which should reduce spin by approximately 200 RPMs.

With respect to distinct features of the G425 Max, G425 SFT and G425 LST, the Max is a full-size, 460cc head with a single 26-gram moveable tungsten weight that allows golfers (and fitters) to dial in ball flight shape. However, the big feature of the Max is PING’s hunt to develop a driver that pushes right up on the USGA’s 10,000 limit on total, front-to-back MOI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Conversely, the SFT is PING’s draw-biased (a.k.a “slice killer”) driver. Whereas the Max (and SFT) features a moveable tungsten weight, the SFT’s weight is fixed in the heel to help the toe to (relatively) rotate faster and close the face at impact. PING contends that the heel weighting provides 10 yards of right-to-left ball flight bias.

Finally, the LST has a slightly smaller footprint (445cc) and, like the Max, features an adjustable tungsten weight track at the rear. The smaller footprint, in tandem with some adjusted weight positioning, reduces the MOI but drops spin ~600 RPMs when compared to the Max.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PING is offering four stock shafts—ALTA CB Slate (high launch/high spin), Mitsubishi Tensei Raw Orange (mid launch/mid spin), Aldila Tour Green (mid-low launch and spin) and Aldila Rogue White (low launch and spin)—that can be optioned with your G425 driver of choice, all at $540.

Often lost in the fray of a new driver launch are the accompanying fairway woods and hybrids. However, the PING G425 fairways and hybrids have incorporated a design philosophy that is particularly valuable in these types of clubs: consistency.

To explain, the two new innovations underlying this next generation are called Facewrap Technology and Spinsistency.

Facewrap refers to PING’s one-piece, maraging steel cup face that should provide an additional 1.5 MPH of ball speed that’s good for an additional 5 yards of distance.

Spinsistency, on the other hand, is PING’s redesigned face curvature design that modifies the industry standard bulge and roll of the clubface to help provide more consistent performance on off-center shots. The benefits of Spinsistency technology are best found on low shots, which also happen to be the most common swing mistake with these clubs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Similar to the G425 driver, the fairways and hybrids also feature a tungsten weight, however it is placed in the sole here. Visually, however, unlike the G425 driver, the fairways and hybrids will not feature turbulators and, instead, will now feature three dots (a larger center dot surrounded by two smaller ones) to assist with alignment.

That said, the G425 fairways will, likewise, come in Max, SFT and LST variations and available in the following loft options:

• Max: 3W (14.5°), 5W (17.5°), 7W (20.5°) and 9W (23.5°);
• SFT: 3W (16.0°), 5W (19.0°) and 7W (22.0°); and
• LST: 3W (14.5°).

The PING G425 will retail at just under $330, and comes with the following shaft options: ALTA CB Slate (high launch/high spin), Mitsubishi Tensei Raw Orange (mid launch/mid spin) and Adila Rogue While 130 (low launch and spin).

Meanwhile, the PING G425 hybrid will incorporate the aforementioned Facewrap Technology and Spinsistency technologies, but no Max, SFT and LST variations. Thus, you can have the G425 hybrid in a variety of loft options: 2H (17.0°), 3H (19.0°), 4H (22.0°), 5H (26), 6H (30°) and 7H (34°).

The PING G425 hybrids will retail at just under $295 and offer the same shaft offerings (i.e., ALTA CB Slate, Mitsubishi Tensei Raw Orange and Adila Rogue While 130).

Finally, the PING Crossover utility iron, which now features a thinner maraging steel face and internal geometry that’s been redesigned for higher ball speeds and higher launch. The Crossover will retail at $250, and is available in 2 (18.0°), 3 (20.0°) and 4 (22.5°).

PING is a category leader, and fortunately you’ll have plenty of time to test it out before the 2021 season is fully underway, with the G425 lineup coming to market on February 4th.

Cover Image via Instagram