The Ping G400 driver came out in July 2017 as a 445cc head with a forged T9S+ titanium face, offered in Standard, SFT and LST versions, and Ping added the larger G400 Max in January 2018. It replaced the G driver and was followed by the G410 in 2019. The G400 name also covered fairway woods, hybrids, a Crossover and irons, which is why so many of them still turn up in used bags today.
What Ping changed in the G400 driver
Ping made the head smaller than the 460cc driver it replaced while claiming a combined MOI of more than 9,000 gram cm2, which it called a first for the company. The forged T9S+ face was 6% thinner and 9% lighter than the previous one, and Ping said it flexed 16% more for close to 2 mph of extra ball speed. The cast titanium body carries a tungsten back weight. On top, Ping kept the Dragonfly crown, a thin lattice pattern that saves weight, and extended it into the sole skirt. Bolder turbulators on the crown, along with Vortec shaping at the back, were claimed to cut drag 40% in the middle of the downswing. The stock shaft was the Alta CB 55 with a copper to black color shift, and the driver listed at $435.
Standard, SFT, LST and Max
The Standard model came in 9 and 10.5 degrees and was meant to fit most players. The SFT (Straight Flight Technology) came in 10 and 12 degrees and used heel side tungsten and a lighter swing weight to reduce a fade or slice for right handed players. The LST (Low Spin Technology) came in 8.5 and 10 degrees with the tungsten moved closer to the face, which Ping said lowered spin by about 300 rpm. The G400 Max arrived in January 2018 with a bigger head than the 445cc originals and a tungsten weight placed farther back and wrapped around the sole. Ping marketed it as having the highest MOI on the market at the time. The fairway woods in the same family used a C300 maraging steel face on a 17-4 stainless body, with lofts from a 13 degree Stretch 3 wood down to a 23.5 degree 9 wood.
Common questions
Which G400 driver model is right for me?
If you miss to the right, the SFT is built to help. If you spin the ball too much, the LST is the low spin option. Most other players fit the Standard or the more forgiving Max.
Is the G400 head adjustable?
Yes. The G400 drivers use Ping's adjustable hosel, so loft and lie can be tweaked, and the shaft can be swapped with other Ping drivers that use the same adapter.
If you want one in the bag, you can browse our used Ping drivers, where G400 Standard, SFT and LST heads show up regularly alongside newer models. For a look at what came next, our post on the Ping G410 driver covers the 2019 follow up and its movable back weight.
