Is the Ping G20 Driver Still Good? Is it Forgiving for High Handicappers?

ping g20 driver

“The Ping G20 driver may be dated in 2023; but it still might be exactly what your game needs.”

If you are looking for a driver that is large and in charge but also one that won’t break the bank, you need only to look to the past.

In particular, Ping has made some excellent drivers over the last couple of decades so taking a look at some of their older models may be the play.

Today we will be taking an in-depth look at the Ping G20 driver – a driver that debuted back in 2011. We went out and tested this driver and we will be explaining to you the performance aspects of it as well as our overall impression of it.

Does the Ping G20 driver still have something to offer high handicappers? Let’s find out.

Is the Ping G20 Driver Still Good?

“The Ping G20 isn’t the oldest Ping driver you can still find and as such, it has some better features as some of its predecessors.”

Titanium heads are always good to start with when you’re talking about drivers. The Ping G20 driver has a titanium alloy head which ensures its durability, its resilience and a higher MOI.

That’s because titanium has a great strength to weight ratio so it resists twisting to a high degree without adding too much weight to the head. And indeed, many of our testers remarked that the Ping G20 (tested with a graphite shaft) felt light and controllable in the hands.

Another thing our testers said was that the flight was controlled. It didn’t balloon to ridiculous proportions like some game-improvement drivers often do. Instead you get a nice mid-flight that still carries well.

Plus, this is a Ping driver and you can always count on a high degree of quality and performance from pretty much any Ping club.

We would definitely recommend getting fitted for the right shaft and loft to go along with the Ping G20. If you do, you’re sure to score a driver that you’ll absolutely love.

Is the Ping G20 Forgiving for High Handicappers?

Ping G20 Driver3

“The Ping G20 driver is definitely suited to high handicap players as it is surely a game-improvement driver.”

One needs only to look down at the driver behind the ball to figure that out. The Ping G20 has a great look behind the ball. It sits square, it has a generous sweet spot and an oversized 460cc head.

Ping also added an external weight to the back of the G20 club head and what that does is improves launch conditions. If you are a high handicapper having a bit of trouble getting the ball up in the air, the Ping G20 will definitely help.

It produced a nice rainbow arch on almost every drive but the apex height was not out of control. So we still got good carry distances from the Ping G20 on almost every swing we took with it.

The nice thing though is that you can’t actually see that chunky weight at point of address so it still looks nice and clean behind the ball. The Ping G20 also features a deep face profile so even high handicappers will be able to make consistent contact.

Ping G20 Vs Ping G410

“The Ping G410 driver sports a 455cc head so right off the bat, you lose some forgiveness compared to the Ping G20.”

However, what the G410 lacks in forgiveness it makes up for in feel and versatility. The G410 has a movable rear weight so you can set it in the draw, neutral or fade position based on your shaping preferences.

The forged titanium face also delivers a smoother feel through the ball than the Ping G20. But there is just no getting over the size of the hitting zone. The larger sweet spot on the Ping G20 will definitely be better for high handicap players.

Ping G20 Driver First Impressions

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“The first thing we noticed about the Ping G20 was the external weight near the back of the head.”

It reminded us a lot of the Taylormade SIM and SIM2 drivers that both have the”Inertia Generator.” But it’s a lot more discreet overall. In fact, as we mentioned, you can’t even notice it when it’s behind the ball.

After taking some swings with the Ping G20 driver, we were also impressed with how light it was. The CG was nice and low and our testers noted that their swing mechanics felt more fluid and “on the money” with this driver.

Ping G20 Driver Selling Points

  • Ti 8-1-1 head construction
  • External weighting
  • Aerodynamic design
  • 460cc club head
  • Low CG
  • Variable face thickness
  • Controlled launch

Ping G20 Driver Key Features

“The Ping G20 lacks a lot of the custom features that modern Ping drivers have; but there is still a lot of value here for high handicappers.”

Ti 8-1-1 Construction: This is an extremely resilient titanium alloy that reduces weight and increases MOI.

External Weight: The external weight located at the back of the club head does a good job of improving launch without sacrificing carry distance.

Variable Face Thickness: This feature puts more force behind your on-center strikes and preserves ball speeds on your misses.

What Handicap is it for?

“The Ping G20 is best for high-teen to mid-20’s handicappers.”

We like the relatively low launch for high-teen handicappers but the distance and forgiveness will be great for mid-20’s handicappers too.

Ping G20 Driver Options

  • Aldila NV 65 graphite shaft
  • Ping TFC graphite shaft
  • Graphite Design Tour AD graphite shaft
  • 5 degree loft
  • 5 degree loft

Who Should Buy the Ping G20 Driver?

ping g20 driver1

“Anyone who wants help with launch and maximum forgiveness.”

The Ping G20 isn’t the longest driver of its time; but the VFT, deep face profile makes it very forgiving. The lightweight design will also make it a good choice for slower swing speed players.

Distance: 94/100

Forgiveness: 97/100

Feel & Control: 96/100

Value: 97/100

Overall Score: 97/100

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