Ping G430 Vs Taylormade Qi10 Driver Comparison
The new Taylormade drivers are out so I tested the Taylormade Qi10 against the Ping G430 Max to see how it measures up.
Ping G430 Driver Overview
“The Ping G430 features a forged titanium face, moveable 25g rear weight and variable roll radius face.”
The crown features the “turbulators” which help cut through the air and give the G430 driver a decidedly “Batman” look.
I liked the low spin rates I was getting from this 460cc driver. They stayed between 2300 and 2400 RPMs throughout my testing which helped increase distance. The G430 driver sells for around $550.
Taylormade Qi10 Driver Overview
“The Taylormade Qi10 has an AI-designed face, infinity carbon crown and carbon fiber Twist Face.”
The blue carbon face helps to frame the ball easily and the carbon fiber that covers 97% of the crown affords this driver a modern look.
The Thru-Slot Speed Pocket works to save your low-face drives by helping them to maintain high ball speed.
The G430 played a bit longer; but the Taylormade Qi10 helped me to produce favorable lies. The Taylormade Qi10 retails for $600.
“The Ping G430 is a bit more affordable but I think high handicappers will get more from the inherent accuracy of the Taylormade Qi10.”
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 Qi10 Driver
In 20 Words or Less
The Taylormade Qi10 driver combines accuracy with forgiveness. It looks great behind the ball and in the bag.
Taylormade Qi10 Driver – First Impressions
“I liked the depth of the face and the look of the crown right away.”
I could tell that this was going to be a very “user-friendly” driver and I was right. In fact, I had to open up my stance quite a bit to get a true mis-hit out of this thing. It’s very easy to find the sweet spot and even when you miss it, you aren’t punished nearly as much as you may deserve.
While the Taylormade Qi10 driver didn’t play quite as long as say, the new Callaway Paradym Smoke Ai Max, the dispersion was tight which is, I believe, more important for beginners and high handicappers. After all, distance will always follow accuracy – the inverse of that statement is not always true.
In any case, I loved the way the Taylormade Qi10 driver helped me produce favorable lies whether I was warmed up or not.
Ping G430 Selling Points
- Adjustable CG weights
- Forged faces
- All three models play hot
- Titanium face
- Adjustable hosels
Taylormade Qi10 Driver Selling Points
- Infinity carbon crown
- Third generation Carbon Twist Face construction
- Through Speed Pocket
- Higher MOI than previous Stealth models
- Multi-material construction
- Optimized head shape
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 Qi10 for?
“The standard Taylormade Qi10 driver would be a good choice for handicappers in the 18-25 range.”
More to the point, if you are having trouble staying out of the rough with your current driver, the Taylormade Qi10 would definitely be worth the upgrade. The updated carbon fiber face construction works wonders towards coaxing favorable lies out of all kinds of mis-hits.
If you tend to hit the ball heavy or are a 25+ handicapper, the Taylormade Qi10 Max version would probably be better for you. But the standard is still plenty forgiving and accurate for most high handicappers.
Even as a brand new driver, the Taylormade Qi10 utilizes some of the most successful forgiveness features from past models like the Through Speed Pocket. And while distance could be enhanced a bit, I have to agree with Taylormade’s claims that the Taylormade Qi10 is the most forgiving driver in the company’s illustrious history.
Distance: 96/100
Accuracy: 98/100
Forgiveness: 98/100
Feel & Control: 96/100
Overall Score: 97/100
