Ping G430 fairway woods: Full reviews, robotic testing info and more
HIGHLIGHTS
CARBONFLY WRAP
MORE SPEED
Facewrap Quick Hits
Club Comparison
Ping G430 Fairway Woods
Ping’s Carbonfly Wrap is a new addition to the G430 LST driver and that technology extends into all of the new G430 fairway wood models.
Replacing steel with carbon fiber nets an impressive amount of discretionary weight (10 grams) that is then added back to the head in the form of a tungsten back weight.
The back weight serves two purposes, lowering the center of gravity (CG) for more ball speed, while also bumping up forgiveness at the same time. The carbon section covers most of the crown and wraps down into the heel and toe sections to help tune sound as well.
While the Carbonfly Wrap is new, Ping chose to continue with two existing technologies — Facewrap and Spinsistency. The variable-thickness, high-strength maraging-steel face wraps Into the sole and crown of the stainless-steel head to promote a more efficient face flex at impact for added distance.
What a Ping G430 driver, irons fitting did for this 14-handicap | ClubTest 2023
The variable roll radius (Spinsistency) on the lower section of the face rewards thin shots by reducing overall spin for more carry. In the past, shots hit low on the face had a tendency to generate excessive spin. But with less loft being added low on the face, Ping is able to crack the launch and spin code for a common mishit location.
Both the G430 SFT and G430 Max models cover a large swath of the golfing population. The Max ($385; 15, 18, 21 and 24 degrees) boasts plenty of heel-toe forgiveness in a generous profile, while the slightly larger SFT ($385; 16, 19 and 22 degrees) comes in a lighter swingweight for consistent face contact.
An 8-way Trajectory Tuning 2.0 hosel adjusts for loft (plus-or-minus 1.5 degrees) and lie angle up to 3 degrees flatter than standard.
Much like the G430 LST driver and the G430 Max fairway woods, the LST utilizes a carbon fly wrap to lower the center of gravity and push it closer to the face to deliver more ball speed and lower spin, resulting in higher flying and longer carrying shots. The eight-layer carbon crown replaces enough titanium from the head to save a net total of 5.5 grams, which might not seem like a huge amount but makes a world of difference when it comes to getting every last ounce of performance.
With all of this technology packed into one head, it is easily Ping’s most technologically advanced fairway wood to date — and something that will provide golfers looking for a lower-spin fairway wood a big advantage.
