Wednesday, January 17, 2018

PING Golf G400 Max Driver, Glide 2.0 Stealth Wedges, G700 Irons Preview

PING Golf is going all in on new equipment releases this year, with drivers, irons, and putters that promise to be some of the most eye-catching products at the 2018 PGA Merchandise Show. 

 

I'll have detailed impressions of the new PING G400 Max driver, G700 irons, Glide 2.0 Stealth wedges, and Vault 2.0 putters at Demo Day and on the floor at the Show.  In the meantime here's some info on all the clubs that PING believes will deliver across-the-board performance gains to help all golfers play better. 

G400 Max Driver 
PING has achieved all-time high MOI measurements in the G400 Max driver by optimizing the crown and face design in the larger-profile, multi-material head.  Forgiveness gains are attributable to the 460cc head, nearly four times the discretionary weight created by the Dragonfly crown technology, and a thin, forged face. 

 

A high-density tungsten back weight wraps around the back of the sole to help bring the combined MOI (from heel-to-toe and top-to-bottom) to record levels for PING.  Its CG position is lower and farther back than any current driver on the market making it more forgiving than the current G400 driver, and according to PING, more forgiving than any driver on the market. 

 

The unique forging and patented heat-treatment process of the G400 Max’s T9S+ face powers a thinner, hotter impact area that is precision machined to elevate ball speed across the entire face.  The forged face was also instrumental in producing the powerful feel of the driver.

Adding to the appeal of the G400 Max driver is the innovative color-shifting paint technology of the Alta CB shaft.  This premium copper shaft paint transitions to nearly black to reduce distractions as golfers address the ball.  The counter-balanced design of the Alta CB allows for more mass in the head to increase energy transfer. 

 

Available in 9* and 10.5* loft options, the G400 Max drivers will retail for $435 and feature 1* loft adjustability up or down, have 206 gram head weights, and offer a variety of shaft options including: PING Alta CB (counter-balanced) 55 (SR, R, S, X); PING Tour 65, 75 (R, S, X); Alta Distanza 40; Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Silver Dual-Core TiNi 60 (R, S, X); Project X HZRDUS Yellow 75 (5.5, 6.0, 6.5); and Aldila X-Torsion Copper (50R, 60S). 

Glide 2.0 Stealth Wedges 
The Glide 2.0 Stealth wedges' 8620 carbon steel head and precision-milled grooves deliver a softer feel and higher-spinning shots for greater control.  The tour-inspired Stealth finish, which yields less glare and makes the head appear smaller, is applied using a QPQ (Quench Polish Quench) process for added durability.  This wedge fits the game and the eye of players for whom performance and appearance go hand in hand. 

 

A patented precision wheel-cut half groove near the lead edge on the 56*, 58*, and 60* wedges improves engagement with the ball (specifically low on the face) to significantly increase spin and control from all conditions.  The wheel-cut milling process was developed by PING’s engineering and manufacturing teams to enable grooves with a sharper edge radius, which increases interaction with the cover of the ball at impact, creating more friction for improved spin and trajectory control. 

 

The grooves in the lower-lofted wedges (46*, 50*, and 52*) are milled with a 20* sidewall and a .005" edge radius for optimal full-shot performance.  Higher-lofted versions (54*, 56*, 58*, and 60*) are milled to a .004" edge radius and a 28* sidewall to impart more spin, especially around the greens. 

 

The Glide 2.0 wedges are available in four sole grinds (SS, WS, ES and TS) to deliver options that fits any golfer's divot depth, attack angle, and common turf conditions.

  • SS Grind  (46*/12*, 50*/12*, 52*/12*, 54*/12*, 56*/12*, 58*/10*, 60*/10*) An all-purpose mid-bounce sole with heel and trail edge relief to create versatility on touch shots around the green.  Ideal for moderate attack angles and divots.  Fits most golfers. 
  • WS Grind (54*/14*, 56*/14*, 58*/14*, 60*/14*) Full-sole design that provides turf security for players with a steep angle of attack. The reduced camber and added width prevent digging. 
  • TS Grind (58*/6*, 60*/6*) A PING WRX-inspired design based on the Tour-proven half-moon grind.  The TS grind facilitates shot making and precision from even the most difficult lies.  The heel relief allows shots to be executed with an open face to difficult pins or from firm lies without fear of the lead edge sitting too high. 
  • ES Grind (54*/8*, 56*/8*, 58*/8*, 60*/8*) Eye 2-inspired sole design provides the ultimate in bunker performance, resulting from the classic dish profile and the tapered hosel.  A refined lead edge upgrades all-around performance with the iconic ES grind. 

The Glide 2.0 wedges will retail for $150 with steel shafts, and $175 with graphite shafts.  A variety of shaft options include: stock steel PING AWT 2.0 Wedge; stock graphite PING CFS 65/70/80 (Soft R, R, S); True Temper Dynamic Gold (S300, X100); Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300); Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100); Project X LZ (5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5); True Temper XP95 (R, S,); Nippon NS Pro Modus 105 (S, X); and KBS Tour (R, S, X). 

G700 Irons 
In the G700 iron, PING engineers put a high priority on creating an iron that offers power and forgiveness by leveraging the advantages of a hollow-body design and a thin, maraging steel face, creating PING’s longest, highest-flying iron to date. 

 

The hollow-body construction of the 17-4 stainless steel head allows for an internal geometry design that positions weight away from the face, creating a frame for metal-wood-like flexing and high COR to greatly increase ball speed and produce launch results that will amaze golfers. 

 

Maraging steel, which is also used in the G400 fairway woods, hybrids and crossovers, is one of the strongest alloys in the world and is commonly employed in the aerospace industry, where strength and flexibility are necessities.  Those properties make it an ideal face material to deliver more flexing for faster ball speeds that launch shots farther and higher. 

 

The G700 irons will be available in 4-9, PW, UW, SW options in 10 color codes (lie angle) at a price of  $160 per iron w/steel shafts and $175 per iron w/graphite shafts. Shafts to choose from include: stock steel PING AWT 2.0 (R, S, X); stock graphite Alta CB (counter-balanced) powered by AWT; UST Recoil 760 ES SMACWRAP (A); UST Recoil 780 ES SMACWRAP (R, S); True Temper Dynamic Gold (S300, X100); Dynamic Gold 105 (R300, S300); Dynamic Gold 120 (S300, X100); Project X LZ (5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5); True Temper XP95 (R, S,); Nippon NS Pro Modus 105 (S, X); and KBS Tour (R, S, X).

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