PING’s G440 Ok driver refines the model’s most forgiving design with increased MOI, adjustable weighting, added ball pace, and a clearer method to efficiency.
Forgiveness is part of, if not the central theme, of practically each PING product story. The corporate’s MAX drivers have all the time been about one factor: conserving the ball in play when contact isn’t good. Velocity mattered, certain—however stability, predictability and dispersion management mattered extra.
The addition of the G430 Max 10K to the lineup allowed PING to push the usual Max extra in direction of the center of the market. That further little bit of differentiation gives an possibility for the lots whereas leaving loads of house for its “Ok” mannequin to serve the wants of golfers chasing each ounce of forgiveness the foundations enable.
PING’s highest-MOI driver, the G440 Ok provides adjustable weighting, incremental ball-speed positive aspects and improved sound and really feel—with out drifting away from the stability-first id that defines the “Ok” (10K or in any other case) lineage. As with most issues PING, G440 Ok isn’t a reinvention. It’s a refinement, one which makes PING’s highest MOI driver really feel extra full than any earlier than it.
What the “Ok” nonetheless means
In PING phrases, the “Ok” has change into shorthand for one factor: inertia. The Ok sits on the high of the G440 driver household on the subject of MOI, pushing forgiveness so far as PING believes is sensible throughout the guidelines.
In comparison with the earlier era, the mixed MOI worth has climbed increased than ever. Whereas precise values fluctuate barely by construct, in its highest MOI setting the G440 Ok comfortably exceeds 10,300 g-cm². In different phrases, that is nonetheless very a lot a “10K” (after which some) driver—even when the quantity not seems within the title.
Why PING dropped “10K” from the title
If the Ok remains to be delivering that degree of forgiveness, why take away the “10K” label?
The quick reply is readability.
With the lighter high-launch (HL) builds, whole MOI falls simply wanting 10,000. Somewhat than danger implying that each configuration—no matter head weight or construct spec—hits the identical inertia quantity, PING selected to simplify the message. PING didn’t need golfers to choose up the HL model, see “10K” on the only and assume each Ok construct delivers the identical MOI.
The G440 Ok title is supposed to convey the place the product matches within the lineup (most stability) with out tying that promise to a single quantity that inevitably varies relying on configuration.
What hasn’t modified is intent. The MAX Ok stays PING’s highest-MOI driver and in normal builds it nonetheless clears the edge that made the earlier era the benchmark for prime MOI.
Adjustable weighting involves MAX Ok
Some of the significant updates within the G440 MAX Ok is one thing PING gamers and fitters have been asking for: movable weights.
Whereas the G430 MAX 10K featured a set rear weight with the G440 Ok, PING pairs its highest-MOI head with adjustable rear weighting. This isn’t about turning the brand new Ok right into a shot-shaping instrument. It’s about including only a bit extra potential to tune the match. Along with a impartial setting, the adjustable weight permits for delicate draw or fade biasing with out undermining the soundness that defines PING’s highest MOI choices.
The objective was to provide fitters simply sufficient management to fine-tune route with out altering what the pinnacle essentially needs to do.
CarbonFly Wrap, reworked
The G440 Ok builds on PING’s CarbonFly Wrap building however the execution is new.
An dual-panel CarbonFly Wrap leverages extra carbon fiber to save lots of roughly 3.5 grams in comparison with the earlier era whereas PING’s Free Hosel Design accounts for one more three grams of mass financial savings. That weight doesn’t disappear—it will get pushed rearward right into a again weight that’s 4 grams heavier, rising each MOI and CG effectivity.
In comparison with the G430 MAX 10K, the middle of gravity is roughly 0.017 inches decrease and practically a tenth of an inch deeper. These are small numbers however, in a high-MOI design, they matter. Transferring mass again and down is how PING was ready so as to add stability with out reducing ball pace.
Quicker than you’d count on
Excessive-MOI drivers can moderately be described as secure relatively than quick however PING continues to push in opposition to that stereotype with the G440 Ok.
As with different PING drivers, the G440 Ok contains a solid T9S+ titanium face, paired with a reshaped Variable Face Thickness sample. As you’d count on, the intent is to ship extra constant ball pace throughout a wider influence space. Regardless of a barely lighter total head weight, PING’s inner testing exhibits ball-speed positive aspects over the earlier era, significantly on mishits.
The Ok nonetheless isn’t a low-spin bomber, and it’s not making an attempt to be, but when it performs as marketed, it is best to see extra forgiveness with none ball pace penalties.
Sound and really feel enhancements
PING has quietly spent a number of generations refining sound and really feel and the G440 Ok continues that development.
New sole acoustic ribs and a revised crown rib construction produce a quieter, flatter, extra muted sound at influence. It’s the type of change that some golfers gained’t discover whereas for others it’d make all of the distinction on this planet.
Palms on with G440 Ok
Make no mistake about it, the G440 Ok remains to be a giant driver. That’s to say, the footprint is massive, which makes it greater than some golfers will wish to take a look at.
That mentioned, in case you don’t dwell on such issues, what it is best to discover is a driver that flies a bit straighter than the unique, is a contact sooner, and launches excessive.
Whereas I’m most likely not a typical illustration of the market as an entire, working the excessive portion of the face, I used to be seeing launch in extra of 17 levels with spin below 2,000. Welcome again to the SLDR days.
I’d count on that almost all golfers (significantly these favoring the middle and even low face influence) will see extra smart numbers with the bigger level being that regardless of the again CG and excessive MOI, there’s no proof that the G440 Ok is an excessively spinny driver.
The place the Ok matches within the G440 Lineup
With the addition of the G440 Ok, the PING G440 driver household is clearly segmented.
LST targets sooner swingers trying to scale back spin.
SFT gives built-in draw bias for golfers who battle a slice.
MAX balances forgiveness and pace.
Ok pushes stability so far as attainable.
The G440 Ok is designed for golfers who prioritize dispersion management, mishit safety and predictability over shot shaping or spin manipulation. Because of added adjustability, it additionally bridges among the hole between conventional Max 10K gamers and people who beforehand wanted extra becoming flexibility.
The underside line
The PING G440 Ok driver doesn’t reinvent what a 10K driver is meant to be. It refines it.
You continue to get category-leading forgiveness, distinctive stability and predictable launch traits. What’s new is the added adjustability, improved sound and really feel, and incremental pace positive aspects that make the Ok really feel extra full than the earlier MAX 10K driver, which is saying one thing.
Specs, pricing, availability
The PING G440 Ok Driver is obtainable in 9, 10.5 and 12 levels. A 7.5-degree possibility (which the PING fitter advised may work for me) is, for now, Tour-only.
Inventory shaft choices embody the PING Alta CB Blue and PING Tour 2.0 (Chrome/Black).
Further aftermarket shafts can be found by means of PING’s customized division.
Retail worth is $649.99. If that’s greater than you wish to pay for the most recent mannequin, the PING G430 MAX 10K driver is discounted to $449.99.
The PING G440 Ok driver is out there for pre-sale now. For extra info, go to PING.com.
The publish PING G440 Ok Driver: Most Forgiveness Refined appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
