Written by Michael VanDerLaan
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Ping has long been associate with their namesake - the loud "pinging" noise their driver makes when it is hit. I tested all three models of the G425 Ping drivers in order to give you all the information you've been hard pressed to find. Is the G425 a viable option? Are you getting a high performance driver or just some marketing scheme? We'll answer these questions and more!
Why Trust Us?
My name is Michael VanDerLaan. I'm the one on the left in the picture above. I have been playing and studying golf since I was a child over 20 years ago. I have a passion for helping people to enjoy the game I love, as well as an ambition to be among the stars of the game.
My brother, John, is in the middle, holding the NCAA National Championship Trophy. We won one together as teammates, and then he won one individually the year before I accomplished the same thing. He plays on Tour and frequently consults with us, providing the perspective of a player who has already established the beginning of a long career playing golf.
Our dad, also John, is the one on the right, and probably the proudest of the three of us in the picture. He taught us everything we used to create the foundation for our games, and continues to push us as well as his own knowledge and expertise to new frontiers.
Between the 3 of us there are over 70 years of golf experience, and lots of trophies. We have all broken 70 in our own golf careers, and we want to help more people improve their games and lower their scores. So let's get into the nuts and bolts of this review.
My Experience Using The Ping G425 Drivers
First off, let me just say that before the Ping G430 driver came out, the G425 series were the best Ping Drivers that I have tested and reviewed.
The G425 comes in three different models, the Max, SFT and LST versions. Each is designed for a different level of golfer.
The G425 Max driver is designed for ultimate forgiveness and will benefit most golfers.
The LST is designed for high speed, low spin golfers like myself, and the SFT is designed to help golfers that struggle with a slice.
I put all three Ping Drivers to the test, both on the range and through several 18 hole rounds of golf.
I tested each model with an Aldila Rogue X flex shaft and a 9 degree loft clubhead.
Here is my assessment.
Ping G425 LST Driver
The first driver I tested was the LST model, because it is the Ping driver that best fits my swing speed and ball flight characteristics. This is the model that most tour players use and the best driver for high swing speed golf professionals.
The first thing that I noticed about the LST is the smaller head size, only 445cc, versus the usual 460cc. This seemed to result in less aerodynamic drag and a slightly increased club head speed, which produced added distance. Who doesn't want more yardage off the tee!
I also found the LST to be very accurate. Ping has moved the back weight deep into the club head, which produced a beautiful launch angle with low spin.
I found myself hitting a high cut fairway finder on every tee box.
I absolutely love the matte finish and it also has a great sound.
I highly recommend this driver to the better players out there.
Keep in mind that the LST is not meant for beginners and high handicappers, they will be much more suited to the G425 Max driver, which I will get to next.
Ping G425 Max Driver
My next test subject was the Ping G425 Max Driver. This driver is designed for more forgiveness with adjustable weights to change to a fade, straight or draw setting.
The G425 Max driver is the model that will fit most golfers, from the high handicapper or mid handicapper, giving them more distance and the ability to change their ball flight by simply changing the adjustable weight.
During my use of the G425 Max, I found it to be more forgiving that the LST and a hit a slight draw with it as compared to a slight fade with the LST.
It was super adept at finding fairways thanks to the forgiveness.
I would highly recommend the Ping G425 Max driver to mid to high handicappers.
Ping G425 SFT Driver
Next up was the SFT version of the G425 and I was excited to put this one to the test.
The SFT is the draw biased model, meaning it is designed with more offset and a slightly closed clubface to promote a right to left ball flight and help golfers with a slice.
As a professional golfer, the draw biased driver was tough to look at, but it definitely works and it clearly will benefit golfers with a slice, which would result in less lost distance due to the curve of the golf ball with a slice.
A lot of golfers could benefit from the draw bias, but I feel the Ping G425 Max driver would be a better choice for the majority of golfers.
Ping G425 Driver Features
Ping is a little different than most other manufacturers in that they don't try to push a new driver model onto the market every six months or a year. They research and produce what they feel is a top of the line product and let it stand on its performance in order to survive.
The G425 contains some technology that makes it the most forgiving driver Ping has ever produced, and one that lots of golfers have come to love and trust.
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Innovative Design
So what separates the G425 from its competitors? There are a few things in the design that contribute:
- Weight redistribution from Internal Dragonfly Technology dramatically increase Moment of Inertia, making the G425 ultra-forgiving.
- A proprietary high-strength, precision-machined T9S+ forged face creates maximum flex to deliver faster ball speeds and longer drives.
- Aerodynamic design creates noticeably faster swing speeds for more distance.
- Internal Rib Structure which reinforces the head and helps to creat the pleasing sound that we have become accustomed to hearing from Ping drivers.
All of this is a bunch of words for a faster, more forgiving driver. Sounds too good to be true, right?
We found that, while we didn't hit it any farther than other comparable drivers, the G425 went the same distance, and was slightly more forgiving. So maybe there is something to it.
Premium Titanium Feel
Using high grade T9S+ titanium, Ping has created a face and club head that are designed with complete performance in mind.
Titanium is among the lightest and most flexible metals used to make golf clubs. This means it is prone to producing higher club head speed and more ball speed, all of which results in longer drives.
When you pair this with the G425's ultra high MOI and streamlined aerodynamics, it performs exceptionally well on both the center strikes and the misses.
Player Performance Characteristics
We've talked about the technology built into the G425 and how that impacts performance. You have learned about the material it is made from and why Ping chose it. The next - and last - characteristics to talk about revolve around appearance and utility.
Visual Characteristics
If you don't like the way your driver looks, you're setting yourself up for failure. It really is that simple. Beyond the aesthetic appeal, having a driver that fits your eye will help you to set up to each shot properly, and make a committed swing.
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Shape
The Ping G425 is a slightly different shape than most of the other drivers that have come onto the market in the last few years. The head features a deeper "D" shape that brings more weight further back, away from the face.
The entire design is meant to promote higher ball flights. A center of gravity that is further back helps the ball get into the air faster, which is ideal for the majority of amateurs of have a hard time with maximizing carry distance.
At the back of the club head, Ping placed a 26 gram tungsten weight to further separate the center of gravity from the club face. All this equates to higher, longer drives.
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Color and Design
The Ping G425 is a monotone driver. As you can see in the pictures spread throughout this article, the color scheme is black with grey and white accents. We don't love this simply because it's too much black and no contrast. The lines of the club are hard to see, making it a visually boring club from a color standpoint.
There are a couple of other interesting features on the G425 head. On the crown, there are six ridges called "turbulators". These are intended to help direct the flow of air as it passes over the club head, increasing aerodynamics. To us, they're just kind of ugly.
The tungsten weight on the rear side of the club stands out, and is a great feature that adds to the functionality of the club. Move it all the way to the heel of the club to help correct a slice!
Finally, the adjustable hosel is a welcome sight in an era of driver manufacturing when this feature seems to be going towards extinction. Let's talk more about this one.
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Adjustability
In my eyes, the only thing an adjustable hosel does is make a driver more playable for a wider number of golfer. I'm always baffled when a brand releases a new club without one!
The Ping G425's adjustable hosel gives users 8 different settings, mostly relating to the loft of the golf club. Each of these settings will change the relationship between the club face and the swing path, so make sure to test them out before going to the course.
Remember - add loft, add left. Adding loft to a club gives it more of a draw bias.
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Price
Here's the best part about the G425: it's way below market average for a driver. At $399 for a stock club - depending on the retailer - you can walk out of the store with a solid driver for almost 40% less than other comparable drivers. That's a nice bonus.
Pros And Cons Of The Ping G425
What We Like
What We Don't Like
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Wrapping Up The Review
Finding the right driver is essential to your golf game. There is a lot to be said about the Ping G425. In terms of performance, it earns a spot near the top of our list. It's just a shame that Ping couldn't make it look a little better.
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If you are the kind of golfer that doesn't notice things like visual characteristics and only care about the way the ball flies, this is a great driver for you. However, if there is any part of you that thinks you might want a driver that looks as good as it feels, keep considering your options.
To put our experience into the simplest terms, we were really happy about the Ping G425 driver once we stopped looking at the club and got to watch the ball fly instead.
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