Is the Ping G400 Driver Still Good? Is it Forgiving for High Handicappers?

Is the Ping G400 Driver Still Good? Is it Forgiving for High Handicappers?

When the Ping G400 driver first came out, Ping made some pretty lofty claims about it.

Namely that it was the driver with the lowest and furthest back CG of any driver on the market. We can’t go back in time and confirm whether that’s true or not; but what we can do is provide an updated review of the Ping G400.

We took the Ping G400 driver back out to the range and put it through its paces. Is the Ping G400 driver a good choice for high handicappers in 2023? Let’s find out.

Is the Ping G400 Driver Still Good?

At a glance, this is a beautiful looking driver. In fact, the looks alone are probably what have drawn so many people to this driver over the years.

Ping is known for making beautiful clubs so this is no surprise. But good looks aren’t the only attraction with this driver. Before we get any more ahead of ourselves though, we would like to answer the question very plainly: yes, the Ping G400 is still a very good driver.

With the Ping G400, Ping included not only a tungsten weight in the back; but also an additional high-density weight. The company claims that they achieved an MOI of over 9,000 in the Ping G400 driver.

The Ping G400 also features a forged titanium face which would make it at least a  worthwhile consideration for any golfer in 2022. But it’s very clear that Ping also put a high emphasis on club head speed and reduced drag with this driver.

First of all, it’s a 445cc driver. Secondly, it features redesigned turbulators on the crown and a multi-material design that helps keep the weight down. The idea was clearly to help increase club head speed.

And it does, to a moderate degree. Don’t expect a huge jump in your swing speed but the Ping G400 certainly helped our testers with slower swing speeds – an asset that on its own still makes the Ping G400 a good driver.

Is the Ping G400 Driver Forgiving for High Handicappers?

Some high handicappers may read that the Ping G400 has a 445cc head and immediately dismiss it.

You shouldn’t fall into that trap though. While not the most forgiving driver that Pinghas ever made, the Ping G400 is still a good option for high handicappers. There is one thing to note before we start talking about the forgiveness benefits of this driver: namely that it will take a few swings to find the middle of the club head.

Most of our testers hooked a few balls to the left with the Ping G400 before they found the middle. But once they did, it was pretty much smooth sailing the rest of the way. According to our launch monitor readings, club head speed was being increased by 2.2 mph on average.

Our high handicap testers were able to score an average distance of 289 yards with the Ping G400 after three swings. One of the things that helps with the overall distance of this driver is the spin rate.

Surprisingly, the Ping G400 was spinning in the low to mid 2000 rpm range which was something we didn’t expect.

Ping G400 Vs Ping G Driver

The Ping G has a very similar head shape to the Ping G400.

But the turbulators are a bit thinner and longer in the G driver. You get the same titanium face; but in the G driver it’s not forged. Instead, it’s a variable thickness face which helps with errant strikes.

The sound and feel of the G driver wasn’t as good as the Ping G400; but its 460cc head and variable face thickness makes it just slightly more inherently forgiving than the Ping G400.

Ping G400 First Impressions

What struck us first was the looks.

The Ping G400  just looks fantastic from face to crown. It also has a lower, deader sound than most Ping drivers we have tested which we also really liked. It’s not as deafeningly loud as past Ping drivers.

Ping G400 Selling Points

• Forged T9S+ Face
• Internal dragonfly ribbing
• Redesigned turbulators
• Multi-material club head
• Tungsten rear weight

Ping G400 Key Features

Again, it would seem that most of the features were geared towards increasing club head speed.

• 445cc Head – The smaller head was designed to help reduce drag on your downswing and increase swing speed.
• Tungsten Rear Weight – The tungsten weight helps move the CG far back and low in the club head.
• Forged T9S+ Face – The forged face feels incredible and helps push ball speeds with more flex.

What Handicap is it for?

We would actually say that it’s good for players in the range of about 12-23.

Better players will love the more compact head and forged face; but high handicappers will benefit from the boost in club head speed and low CG.

Ping G400 Options

• PING Alta CB 55 shaft
• PING Tour 65 shaft
• PING Alta Distanza shaft
• Aldila X-Torsion Copper shaft
• Project X HZRDUS Yellow shaft
• Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Silver Dual-Core TiNi shaft
• 9 and 10.5 loft

Who Should Buy the Ping G400 Driver?

The Ping G400 driver still has mass appeal but that most certainly includes high handicap players.

Again, just take some time with the Ping G400 and you will start to notice increases in club head speed and distance probably within your first range session. We were really impressed with this driver and we know that high handicappers will benefit from it if they are just a bit patient with it.

That all being said, the Ping G400 would also be a solid choice for mid handicappers. On top of all that, it’s very well-built so you can rely on it season after season. Overall it’s a great investment and a driver that will grow with you as you improve your game.

Distance: 98/100

Forgiveness: 96/100

Feel & Control: 97/100

Value: 96/100

Overall Score: 97/100

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