Ping G440 drivers, fairway woods and hybrids: 7 things to know

After a quick adoption by Tour pros around the world, Ping’s highly anticipated G440 lineup of metal woods is finally here.

Here are seven things to know about the new 2025 lineup of drivers, fairway woods and hybrids, which are available for preorder now.

1. Grams are golden

Lowering the center of gravity (CG) has been a hot-button topic in the metal woods space and Ping is no exception.

With the new G440 drivers, designers have created the lowest CG ever in a Ping driver thanks to the CarbonFly Wrap in the crown of all three 2025 driver models. (CarbonFly Wrap was present in only the G430 LST driver in the last generation, as engineers saw no benefit to carbon in the Max or SFT heads.)

CG was also lowered through the use of a new internal technology called Free Hosel, which freed up 5g of weight in the high heel section of the driver.

“We basically strip away a lot of the material on the heel side of the head to free up the heel side of the face to be more flexible, save mass and put it in areas we really need for performance,” Travis Milleman, Ping’s design engineering manager, told GOLF. “It’s about five, six grams of savings just in the heel.”

That mass was then reallocated to the back weight of the driver, and Milleman said each gram that can be saved to put in the back weight translates to one percent higher MOI.

With the reallocation of that mass, the G440 MAX 9-degree head reaches 9500 combined MOI, almost as much as the popular G430 MAX 10k driver. Milleman said there was a desire to differentiate performance between the two drivers, focusing more on speed with the G440 MAX and stability with the G430 MAX 10k.

Ping G440 also has a shallower face to help lower the CG even more and make the face thinner and more flexible.

With the lower CG, Ping G440 drivers launch higher than their predecessors, meaning a player gets more launch out of the same loft, or go down in loft to get more speed if they are already in an optimal launch window.

2. Lighter and Longer

The standard length of G440 drivers with Ping’s ALTA CB Blue stock shaft will be 46″, a quarter-inch longer than previously, right at the USGA legal limit. For stock aftermarket shafts, the length also increases a quarter-inch to 45.5″.

To help accommodate the change in length, the head weights were dropped from 206 grams to 203 grams to compensate for swing weight.

The longer and lighter build helps players swing it faster, while the additional forgiveness of the G440 design helps them keep it in the fairway.

“Our decision to go longer in length is backed by discoveries made here at the Ping Proving Grounds, inspired by the game-changing forgiveness of Ping drivers,” Ping CEO and president John K. Solheim said. “We know that longer-length clubs allow most golfers to swing faster, so we began measuring the effect of a 46-inch shaft during our fittings. The data revealed that most golfers improved their performance, leading to higher-launching, longer drives with tight dispersion.”

3. Designing for sound

If there was a knock on previous generations of Ping drivers, it was the sound. The engineers have taken those criticisms to heart, first going from G425 to G430, and now again with the new G440 line.

“We’ve learned a ton about how to design for sound,” Milleman said. “It’s a perception-based metric. It’s hard to put it on paper, but we do feel confident that the sound and the look are proper.

“We are engineering sound for sure now.”

4. Three models for three different players

Ping’s three different heads in the G440 line are designed with three different players in mind.

“One of the key design themes throughout the G440 driver family is optimization,” Solheim said. “That includes everything from the head size and shape to ensuring each model fits a specific player profile. Our team took a measured approach to ensure each model provides a fitting solution for every golfer.”

All of the models feature Ping’s eight-setting Trajectory Tuning 2.0 hosel that offers ±1.5-degrees loft adjustment and lie up to 3 degrees flat from standard.

As in previous releases, G440 MAX is the most forgiving model, but also is aimed at fitting the greatest number of players, from a Tour pro to a weekend warrior. It features the CarbonFly Wrap crown for the first time and a 29-gram adjustable backweight that can be placed in three different positions to dial in horizontal CG location.

The G440 LST (Low Spin Technology) comes in a slightly smaller package (450 cc) and is a Tour-inspired model for high-speed players seeking to lower spin. Like the MAX, the LST also features the three-position adjustable backweight to adjust horizontal CG location.

Finally, the G440 SFT (Straight Fit Technology) is a draw bias model and has two positions for the adjustable 23-gram back weight: draw and draw+. New in the G440 SFT is a 9-degree loft option, as Ping research has shown many new, athletic golfers with plenty of speed to create the launch conditions necessary for a 9-degree head, but need the slice correction technology of the SFT, which previously was only offered in a 10.5-degree option.

Both the MAX and SFT drivers will be available in a G440 HL (High Launch) configuration with lighter head weights, shafts and grips for golfers who need help generating speed.

5. Three fairway wood models, more options

With Ping G440 fairway woods, there are three models (MAX, LST and SFT) to complement the driver family.

This year, Ping is adding more lofts to give players more options, starting with bringing back a 17-degree 4-wood to the MAX lineup. To create space in the lineup, Ping added a degree of loft back to the MAX 5-wood, brining it to 19 degrees to better segment the clubs.

“We think it’s going to be a really good fit for the majority of the fitting market,” Milleman said. “If we looked at our internal fitting data, someone who swings the driver at 85 mph — which is roughly in the center of the bell curve for club head speed — they’re gonna be really well fit, statically, right into a 4-wood.”

The MAX fairway wood line will now have loft options ranging from a 15-degree 3-wood to a 24-degree 9-wood.

Meanwhile, in the LST family, which has a new HST 220 (High Strength Titanium) face, there will also be a 19-degree 5-wood. The previous generation only offered a 3-wood.

Again, all the fairways also use the eight-setting Trajectory Tuning 2.0 hosel.

6. Growing taller

Ping looked at data from its relationship with Arccos that showed players who hit the ball 250 yards off the tee with a driver have about a 50/50 split in fairway wood usage from the tee and off the deck.

Ping fairway woods have always been successful at helping golfers launch the ball off the deck thanks to their shallow profiles.

“The one complaint we have heard is, ‘I wish it was just a little taller.
 I want to hit it off the tee,'” Milleman said.

The issue was making a taller-faced fairway wood while still keeping the CG low to increase launch, which was difficult to do from an engineering standpoint.

But just as the drivers were able to move weight back from the new Free Hosel design, Milleman said they were able to use the weight saved in the fairway woods to grow the face at a one-for-one ratio.

7. One hybrid, six optimized lofts

When it comes to hybrids, Ping is offering just one model, but with six lofts. But, those six lofts might as well be six unique models because Ping took a specific design approach with each one.

The lofts range from 17-degree 2-hybrid to 34-degree 7-hybrid and no one expects the same player-type to carry both of those clubs.

“Knowing the 2-hybrid player and the 7-hybrid golfer have different shot expectations, we engineered the lofts to best fit their needs,” Solheim said. “The ability to optimize the CG location in each loft enables us to influence ball flight, designing the lower-lofted versions with a slight fade/straight tendency and transitioning to the higher-lofted heads from slight draw to draw biased. This adds a new dimension to the hybrid fitting process while helping golfers better optimize and properly gap their set.”

With that in mind, the 2-hybrid is deisgned to be fade-biased, knowing that the player with lots of a speed who may consider a 2-hybrid doesn’t want to see the ball go left. This essentially complements the LST line as it’s also optimized to be hit off the tee.

The 3- and 4-hybrids are more neutral and designed with the MAX player in mind as someone seeking forgiveness.

Finally, the 5-, 6- and 7-hybrids are draw-biased to help players optimize their set gapping, more catering to the SFT player who needs a high launch and forgiveness.

Price and availability

All G440 metal woods are available for preorder starting today and will arrive at retail on Jan. 30.

All three Ping G440 drivers will cost $599. G440 MAX and SFT fairway woods will cost $349 while the LST model will go for $549. Finally, G440 hybrids will be available for $299 a club.

The entire G440 lineup is available for preorder now on Fairway Jockey or below.

PING G440 LST Custom Driver

The G440 driver family (MAX, LST, SFT) is optimized to deliver more ball speed through multiple advancements, including PING’s deepest CG in a driver to date and a shallower, thinner face, while continuing to ensure the game-changing forgiveness expected from a PING driver. The G440 LST (Low Spin) design appeals to players with faster swing speeds, providing lower spin and more control in 9° and 10.5° lofts with the three-position back weight. HIGHLY FORGIVING Lighter head weight allows for heavier back weight.  FASTER FACE  Shallow, thinner, face increases ball speed for more distance, higher launch.  SOUND DESIGN New shaping, carbon crown and internal ribs produce muted impact experience.  FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, increase forgiveness. Allows for more heel-side face flexing for consistent ball speed across face. 

$599 from Fairway Jockey

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PING G440 Max Custom Driver

The G440 driver family (MAX, LST, SFT) is optimized to deliver more ball speed through multiple advancements, including PING’s deepest CG in a driver to date and a shallower, thinner face, while continuing to ensure the game-changing forgiveness expected from a PING driver. The G440 MAX is the most forgiving model and fits most golfers; available in 9°, 10.5° and 12° lofts with a three-position adjustable back weight. HIGHLY FORGIVING Lighter head weight allows for heavier back weight.  FASTER FACE  Shallow, thinner, face increases ball speed for more distance, higher launch.  SOUND DESIGN New shaping, carbon crown and internal ribs produce muted impact experience.  FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, increase forgiveness. Allows for more heel-side face flexing for consistent ball speed across face. 

$599 from Fairway Jockey

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PING G440 SFT Custom Driver

The G440 driver family (MAX, LST, SFT) is optimized to deliver more ball speed through multiple advancements, including PING’s deepest CG in a driver to date and a shallower, thinner face, while continuing to ensure the game-changing forgiveness expected from a PING driver. Golfers in need of slice-correction technology fit best in the G440 SFT (Straight Flight) option, which features a two-position (Draw and Draw+), adjustable 23-gram back weight. HIGHLY FORGIVING Lighter head weight allows for heavier back weight.  FASTER FACE  Shallow, thinner, face increases ball speed for more distance, higher launch.  SOUND DESIGN New shaping, carbon crown and internal ribs produce muted impact experience.  FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, increase forgiveness. Allows for more heel-side face flexing for consistent ball speed across face. 

$599 from Fairway Jockey

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PING G440 Max Custom Fairway Wood

The G440 fairway family (MAX, LST, SFT) advances PING’s reputation as a Tour-preferred model of choice through a re-designed face structure and low CG system. The face is taller for more confidence off the tee while maintaining a CG location that delivers high- launching performance off the ground. The MAX model (which fits most golfers) is available in five lofts (including a new 4-wood) to provide more gapping solutions.  HIGH MOI Easy to launch, stable design increases forgiveness.  FLEXING FACE Maraging steel face flexes for more ball speed, optimizes spin.  TALLER FACE PROFILE Improves performance off the tee, maintains low CG.  FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness. 

$349 from Fairway Jockey

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PING G440 LST Custom Fairway Wood

The G440 fairway family (MAX, LST, SFT) advances PING’s reputation as a Tour-preferred model of choice through a re-designed face structure and low CG system. The face is taller for more confidence off the tee while maintaining a CG location that delivers high- launching performance off the ground. The multi-material LST (Low Spin) design appeals to players with faster swing speeds, providing high launch and lower spin. HIGH MOI Easy to launch, stable design increases forgiveness.  FLEXING FACE Maraging steel face flexes for more ball speed, optimizes spin.  TALLER FACE PROFILE Improves performance off the tee, maintains low CG.  FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness. 

$549 from Fairway Jockey

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PING G440 SFT Custom Fairway Wood

The G440 fairway family (MAX, LST, SFT) advances PING’s reputation as a Tour-preferred model of choice through a re-designed face structure and low CG system. The face is taller for more confidence off the tee while maintaining a CG location that delivers high- launching performance off the ground. Golfers in need of slice-correction technology fit best in the SFT (Straight Flight) option, which features a draw-inducing CG location. HIGH MOI Easy to launch, stable design increases forgiveness.  FLEXING FACE Maraging steel face flexes for more ball speed, optimizes spin.  TALLER FACE PROFILE Improves performance off the tee, maintains low CG.  FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness. 

$349 from Fairway Jockey

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PING G440 Custom Hybrid

The G440 hybrids appeal to a variety of skill levels, each engineered to deliver different ball- flight characteristics – from the slightly fade-biased 2 hybrid for off-the-tee performance to the draw-inducing 5, 6 and 7 hybrids that help optimize gapping. They all share a new, shallower and thinner face design, which improves face contact for more ball speed and higher-launching shots that hit and hold the green.  FLIES HIGH LANDS SOFT Optimized launch and spin ensure distance with stopping power.  FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, optimize launch/spin and increase forgiveness.  ROUNDED SOLE  Ensures pleasing face angle in all hosel settings  CARBONFLY WRAP  Lightweight carbon crown saves weight to increase MOI, lower CG. 

$299 from Fairway Jockey

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