Ping G430 Vs Taylormade M4 Driver Comparison Overview

Ping G430 Vs Taylormade M4 Driver

The new Ping G430 driver is the latest member of the G400 series of golf clubs.

It comes in three varieties: MAX, LST and SFT. The LST is the low-spin version and the SFT is designed to correct your slice via a sliding weight that can be set in draw and extreme draw positions.

For this comparison however, we will be playing the Ping G430 MAX. And for the control driver, we will be using the tried and true Taylormade M4.

Ping G430 Driver Overview

“For the most part, we have seen the features of the Ping G430 MAX in older Ping drivers.”

Such features include the forged titanium face, variable face thickness, sliding weights and adjustable loft sleeve.

However, now the forged face insert sits squatter so the lateral forgiveness has been enhanced.

The sliding weight has also been shrunk down to 25 grams to help save on weight.

As far as new features, the G430 has a “variable roll radius” face that is very similar to Twist Face technology from Taylormade: it helps to straighten shots made on the high-toe or low-heel.

At the range, the Ping G430 was a rousing success. Our testers averaged a distance of 242.1 yards after three swings each.

They also remarked that their mis-hits were almost rewarded with straight trajectory. Our better testers were even able to work the ball up and down with this driver.

Taylormade M4 Driver Overview

“The Taylormade M4 will also help your low and high face misses with Twist Face technology.”

The Taylormade M4 also features the fabled Speed Pocket that preserves ball speed on strikes made below the sweet spot.

Our testers remarked that the sound they got from the Taylormade M4 was very satisfying and that overall, it was very forgiving.

However, the distance was a bit of a let down. We were averaging 236.7 yards with the Taylormade M4 after three swings each.

A lot of the lost distance had to do with significantly higher spin rates and lower ball speeds compared to the Ping G430.

“The Ping G430 was at least as forgiving as the Taylormade M4. It also played longer on average.

While we appreciate the cleaner look at address that the Taylormade M4 driver offers, we have to say that the Ping G430 is the superior driver – it’s workable, long and forgiving.”

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.

Taylormade M4 First Impressions

The M4 driver looks great at point of address with a nice, beefy 460CC head.

Right away, the M4 looks great for beginners and high handicapper – or anyone with a slower swing speed in general.

We were also really impressed by the way this driver sounded and felt. You will find that the M4 really helps straighten out your drives as well. One of the caveats with this driver though is that launch angles were slightly lower when compared to the M6.

The M Family

Another worthwhile entry into the Taylormade M driver family is the M2 which is an extremely lightweight driver that features a multi-layer carbon crown and titanium body.

Ping G430 Selling Points

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

Taylormade M4 Selling Points

Speed Pocket
Twist Face technology
Very affordable
Great sound
Good feel
Produces straight shots

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 Taylormade M4 Driver for?

The Taylormade M4 would make a great driver for anyone who is on a bit of a budget but still wants significant help with forgiveness.

Keep in mind though that if you really want to prioritize distance, the M4 played about 13 yards shorter than the Taylormade M6 driver on average.

The forgiveness of the M4 driver is at least on par with that of the Taylormade M6 driver though. And we actually think that the M4 sounds and feels better when you strike right on the sweet spot.

Also, it should be noted that the M4 is not so much for lower handicap players. The workability is minimal and if you have a faster swing speed, you might actually lose some distance with this driver.