Right now, if you walk into a pro shop or golf specialty store, you will find three different Ping G430 drivers: the G430 Max, G430 LST and G430 SFT. But it appears a fourth member of the G430 family may be arriving soon because the G430 Max 10K was added to the USGA’s Conforming Driver list on Monday.
Ping has not released any official information about the G430 Max 10K, but looking at the image that is on the Conforming Driver list, there are a few things we can learn about it.
- Lofts: According to the USGA’s notes, the G430 Max 10K will be available in 9-, 10.5- and 12-degree versions. All three of those lofts are listed, which means the USGA separately tested heads with those stated lofts.
- Carbonfly wrap: The USGA notes that the words “Carbonfly Wrap” are printed on the crown. This is a feature that until now was only available on the low-spin G430 LST. Carbonfly wrap is a carbon fiber crown designed to wrap over the edges and extend downward in the heel and toe areas. It saves weight on the top of the club and creates discretionary weight that designers can re-position in other areas.
- Forged face: The previously released G430 drivers have faces that are forged from T9s+ titanium to help them flex efficiently at impact to maximize ball speed. The G430 Max 10K has the words “Forged Face” printed on the sole, so while we don’t know what material Ping used to make the hitting area, we can assume it was made in the same way.
- Weight: The G430 Max has a sliding weight in the back that allows players and fitters to create a draw or fade bias while maintaining a high level of stability. The G430 Max 10K has a tungsten weight in the back (the weight says “Tungsten”), but there does not appear to be a track, so the tungsten may be locked into a back-center location. Adding mass in this spot would boost the moment of inertia (MOI) and increase stability.
- Release date: The G430 Max, G430 LST and G430 SFT were released in fall of 2022 in several markets, then in the United States in January of 2023. With the G430 Max 10K now on the Conforming Driver list, players are free to use it in official tournaments and events, like this week’s RSM Classic. Ping could release it to the public at any time, but the Phoenix-based company has traditionally brought out new products in January, just ahead or during the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. This year’s show is scheduled to start on January 23, so don’t be surprised if there is an announcement about the G430 10K around that time.