Delivering more speed and distance through engineering advancements, including its lowest centre of gravity ever in a driver, PING has launched the the G440 family around the world.
The custom-fit, custom-built G440 family consists of three driver models (MAX, LST, SFT), three fairway wood designs (MAX, SFT, LST) in multiple lofts, six hybrid choices, and an iron set (4-9, PW, UW, 52°, 56°).
For slower-swing-speed golfers, all the clubs except the LST driver can be custom built with lighter head weights, the ultralight PING Alta Quick shaft and a lighter grip as part of the G440 High Launch (HL) option.
“Our pursuit of helping golfers play better and enjoy the game more advances to an even higher level with the introduction of the G440 family,” said John K Solheim, PING CEO and president. “Through multiple technologies across all the product categories, the next generation of our G franchise is delivering more speed and more distance while ensuring the forgiveness expected from every PING club. The powerful combination of distance and forgiveness yields maximum performance when golfers are properly fitted. We see that every day in our testing and we’re excited to get the G440 into the hands of golfers so they can enjoy the same benefits.
“The tour adoption of the drivers and fairways woods has been exceptional. The G440 LST driver was used to win its first official week on tour and we’re seeing more in play around the world every week. Our tour players appreciate the added ball speeds and continually comment on the great sound and look. Like all golfers, they are in search of more speed, and optimised launch conditions, and they are happy to find it in new equipment.”
In the new drivers (RRP £575), the engineering team achieved the lowest centre of gravity in a PING driver to date. This leads to distance-adding ball speed and higher launch across the face through multiple weight-saving advancements, including applying Carbonfly Wrap crown technology to all three models. The combination of a shallower face, lightweight carbon crown and an internal technology called Free Hosel design help save significant weight and align the CG closer to the force line for faster ball speed, optimal spin and higher launch. The lower face height results in a hotter, thinner face for more flexing, especially in the high heel region, a common mis-hit location for a lot of golfers. The Free Hosel saved four grams from the hosel region inside the head and played a key role in optimising the CG location.
Knowing a properly designed, lighter system weight leads to faster swing speeds and distance gains, mass was removed from the heads and shaft to reduce the overall weight by 10g compared to the previous generation. In doing so, the standard shaft length was increased ¼” to 46” in the PING ALTA CB Blue and 45.5” in the PING Tour 2.0 and stock aftermarket options – a combination that is delivering more speed while ensuring forgiveness and improving dispersion.
The G440 MAX (460cc) is the most forgiving model and fits most golfers. It is engineered with a 29g, three-position adjustable back weight for added shot control. The G440 LST (Low Spin) is a 450cc design that also features the 29g back weight while appealing to players with faster swing speeds, providing lower spin and more control. Golfers in need of slice-correction technology fit best in the 460cc G440 SFT (Straight Flight) which is designed with a two-position (Draw and Draw+), adjustable 23g back weight. All three models feature the eight-setting Trajectory Tuning 2.0 hosel (+-1.5° loft adjustment and up lie to 3° flat from standard). The SFT (Straight Flight Technology) model, which positions the CG to deliver right-to-left shot bend, is also being offered in a 9° loft to fill a growing need among new golfers.
Distance driven iron design
The G440 irons (from £160 per club) best fit golfers in need of game-improvement technology who prefer a players-style shape. Increased ball speed comes from a shallower, thinner face and the low/back CG location – resulting in higher-launching, longer-carrying shots with stopping power. Meanwhile, the next generation of the four-piece PurFlex cavity badge is more flexible than previous designs, expanding and contracting to support the thinner face while contributing to more ball speed and enhancing feel and sound.
The G440 four, five and six irons are 1/8” longer than the G430 irons to increase ball speed and help golfers launch shots higher and farther for more consistent distance gaps. Reducing the number of wedges from five to four (PW, UW, 52°, 56°) from the previous generation and modifying their lofts improves gapping and simplifies wedge choice.
The new AWT 3.0 (Ascending Weight Technology) steel shafts are the culmination of many years of research and testing – with the longest iron shaft being the lightest, progressing to the shortest wedge shaft being the heaviest. The lighter long iron shafts allow for more speed and a higher flight while the heavier short-iron shafts promote a lower ball flight with more control and speed.
Next-gen fairway woods
The G440 fairway wood family (MAX, LST, SFT) features a re-designed face structure and low CG system. The face is taller for more confidence off the tee while providing CG location that delivers high-launching performance off the ground. The face thickness is also optimised in the heel and toe regions for more consistent performance on off-center strikes.
The contoured sole shape and slimmed down back weight profile ensures the club sits more flush to the ground and the face angle remains consistent, allowing golfers to benefit from the multiple loft and lie options provided by the adjustable hosel.
Each model (RRP £350 (LST £575)) is designed to fit a specific player type. The MAX model (which fits most golfers) is available in five lofts (including a new four-wood) to provide more gapping solutions. The multi-material LST (Low Spin) design appeals to players with faster swing speeds, providing high launch and lower spin. Its new HST 220 (High Strength Titanium) face combines with a Ti-811body, carbon crown and 85g tungsten sole plate to deliver exceptional distance. Golfers in need of slice correction technology fit best in the SFT (Straight Flight) which is designed with a draw-inducing CG location. All three models feature the eight-setting Trajectory Tuning 2.0 hosel (+-1.5° loft adjustment and up to 3° flat from standard).
Find your best fit
The G440 hybrids (RRP £295) appeal to a variety of skill levels, each engineered to deliver different ball-flight characteristics – from the slightly fade-biased two hybrid for off-the-tee performance to the draw-inducing five, six and seven hybrids. The three and four hybrids are designed with straighter ball flights – and all the hybrids share a new, shallower and thinner face design, which improves face contact for more ball speed and higher-launching shots that hold the green.
A lower CG in the multi-material heads (stainless steel, maraging steel and carbon) is mainly attributed to the mass savings (4g) from the Free Hosel and contributes to ball speed gains for more distance. The slimmer back weight allows for a more contoured sole design to ensure the club sits flush to the ground and the face angle remains consistent. The lightweight, eight-position hosel enables adjustments for loft (±1.5°) and lie (up to 3° flatter than standard).