The Ping G430 LST was a roaring success on global professional tours in 2024. From scouring tour bags as I do, I would say that it was probably the most-played driver by non-contracted tour professionals in 2024 by some distance. As such the new Ping G440 LST driver has some big shoes to fill! I have been testing it out to see if it can take its place among the best drivers of 2025.
WATCH - Joe Ferguson puts the Ping G440 Max driver up against the TaylorMade Qi35!
From a tech standpoint, the story is mainly centered around CG location. Along with the G440 Max and G440 SFT, Ping has created a range with its lowest-ever CG locations and has done so through multiple discretionary weight-saving advancements higher up on the head.
A combination of a shallower face, lightweight carbon crown, and a technology Ping calls Free Hosel design (they have basically lightened the structure that houses the adapter sleeve), helps save significant weight in an attempt to align the CG closer to what Ping calls the force line for faster ball speed, optimal spin, and higher launch.
Essentially lowering the CG will give you more chance to hit those high-launching, low-spinning flights that we know offer maximum distance. The G440 LST (Low Spin) is a 450cc design that features a 29-gram back weight to offer stability while still trying to appeal to players with faster swing speeds, providing lower spin and more control.
Looks wise, it is a tale of two halves for me. Truth be told, I much preferred the design and colorway of the G430 range. Something about the new blue colorway just doesn’t do it for me, but that is totally subjective and you might very well love it! More importantly though, from the playing position it is as strong as ever. The slightly more compact 450cc head looks tidy behind the ball and the rest of the crown retains a very similar look to the exceptionally popular G430 LST. ‘If it aint broke, don’t fix it’.
I really enjoyed the performance on offer from the G440 LST, despite no real tangible or measurable improvements from the previous model. My standout performance factor was probably just how well it retained ball speed from strikes low on the face, which is maybe a somewhat biased opinion as this is very much my predominant miss. Not only from here did ball speed remain high, but it felt a lot more solid than comparable mishits on G430 LST where I sometimes noted some fairly prominent vibrations.
Aside from that, and a very slight increase in launch, I found the overall performance very similar to the G430 LST, which is by no means a bag thing. Finally, the slight fade bias which is synonymous with the LST model remains which will keep lower handicap players happy in the main.
Overall, I was pleased to see only minor refinements to what was a brilliant previous model, and if you are someone like me who tends to miss low on the face, then this is a must-try.
Head weight: 205 grams
Lofts(adjustable +-1.5°): (9°, 10.5°)
Stock shafts: PING Alta CB (counter-balanced) Blue 55 (SR, R, S), PING Alta Quick 35/45 (HLbuild only)
Optional stock shafts: PING Tour 2.0 Chrome 65 (R, S, X), PING Tour 2.0 Black 65 (S, X),Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black 65 (S, X), PRJX Denali Red 50 (5.5, 6.0), PRJX Denali Red 60 (5.5, 6.0, 6.5), PRJX Denali Red 70 (6.0, 6.5)
Stock grip: Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet in six sizes
RRP: $650 each with stock shaft
