Ping G430 Vs Callaway Big Bertha BB23 Driver Comparison Overview

In today’s comparison overview, we are taking a look at some of the latest driver offerings from Ping and Callaway.

On the Ping side, we have the newly launched G430 line of drivers that come in SFT, MAX and LST versions.

Keep in mind that for this particular review, we are looking at the MAX version. On the Callaway side, we have the latest version of a very familiar driver line: the Callaway Big Bertha BB23. Let’s take a look at both drivers.

Ping G430 Driver Overview

“The Ping G430 driver features an adjustable loft sleeve and an adjustable 25g rear weight.”

This makes the G430 incredibly versatile and allows you to shape your shot to an acute degree. Whether you need to fix a slice, hook or just want to be able to send the ball through the heart of the fairway on a consistent basis, the G430 can help.

We liked the fact that low-face mis-hits were not picking up a ton of spin. This kept ball speed high and, more often than not, kept us on the fairway. The G430 also has a shallower face profile than the BB23 so there is good lateral forgiveness.

The spin rates were surprisingly similar between these two drivers with the BB23 delivering slightly lower spin. As you can imagine, this made the BB23 slightly longer.

Callaway Big Bertha BB23 Driver Overview

“The BB23 driver features forward-oriented weighting which is what helps keep the spin rates down.”

The Callaway Big Bertha BB23 also has a forged titanium face and a larger overall face profile. There is more sweet spot to work with in the BB23 so it’s inherently more forgiving than the G430.

The head at address looks much beefier though. That’s probably good news for high handicappers; but it will surely put better players off. The BB23 is also not as workable as the Ping G430 as a result of the substantial head size. Still, the BB23 played longer than the G430 by an average of 8.6 yards (carry). The heel-biased weighting also produces a near-automatic draw.

“The Ping G430 driver is certainly the more versatile and more workable driver. It should be more useful to mid/high handicap players. The Callaway Big Bertha BB23 is more forgiving and plays longer which is a recipe for success if you’re a 22+ handicapper.”

Ping G430 Driver – First Impressions

“The Ping G430 drivers have a noticeably different design than previous Ping G drivers.”

The face has a more shallow profile yet the crown and sole have a more rounded design. Overall the Ping G430 drivers look really unique. They also have the signature “ping” sound at impact which is really satisfying and lets you know when you’ve struck the ball perfectly.

We were also impressed that all three drivers in the new line come with movable weights. This will help a wide array of players who are struggling against a draw or a fade. It’ll also help you put more power behind the area of the face that you tend to make contact with.

The adjustable loft sleeve will also help you dial these drivers in during fittings. Ping did a good job of upping the adjustability element of the new Ping G430 so that they appeal to a wider array of players. Unless you have a handicap in the 0-5 range, the new Ping G430 driver can benefit your long game in one way or another.

The Ping G430 Family

If you are a better player looking to squeeze more yards out of your drive with muted spin, the Ping G430 LST is definitely the driver for you. If you are a high handicapper, go with the Ping G430 Max. If you are struggling with accuracy off the tee, the Ping G430 SFT would benefit you most.

Callaway Big Bertha BB23 Driver – First Impressions

“Against all odds, it appeared at first that the Callaway Big Bertha BB23 actually had a bigger footprint than the 2022 Big Bertha driver.”

Behind the ball it looks like you simply can’t miss. It looks very confidence-inspiring at address even with the slightly reflective carbon fiber crown.

So our first impression of the Callaway Big Bertha BB23 was that high handicappers are going to love the way this club looks.

And when we hit right outta the guts with this driver, it produced high launch with a sweet little draw – something else that high and mid handicappers are sure to love.

Ping G430 Selling Points

Adjustable CG weights
Forged faces
All three models play hot
Titanium face
Adjustable hosels

Callaway Big Bertha BB23 Selling Points

Triaxial carbon fiber crown
Low/forward CG placement
Easy launch
Wishbone jailbreak bracing
Forged titanium face
Large footprint
460cc head
Lightweight graphite stock shafts

Who is the Ping G430 Driver for?

“With three unique models, the Ping G430 drivers will appeal to a wide variety of players.”

It would seem that the overarching goal for these drivers was to make them viable for all skill levels. For the most part, Ping succeeded at this. The only type of player that we can imagine that wouldn’t benefit from these drivers are scratch players. The Ping G430 drivers launch high and don’t allow for a whole lot of workability.

So if you are a really good player, you’re better off looking elsewhere for a new driver. That being said, the Ping G430 drivers are ideal for both mid and high handicappers looking for a good mixture of forgiveness and accuracy.

We love the new forged face design because it will help virtually any kind of player achieve better ball speeds. The Ping G430 drivers will be especially beneficial to players who need more lateral forgiveness from their driver.

Distance: 96/100

Accuracy: 95/100

Forgiveness: 94/100

Feel & Control: 95/100

Overall Score: 95/100

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Who is the Callaway Big Bertha BB23 Driver for?

“Callaway has thought of a very interesting way to keep the ball straight.”

You usually see forward CG placement in player’s performance clubs. But it makes sense that by eliminating spin, you also reduce your chances of pushing and pulling the ball.

First and foremost, the Callaway Big Bertha BB23 is a great driver for players who simply want to stay on the fairway.

But beyond that, it’s a great driver for players who simply want to drive the ball further than ever before.