Ping G10 4-wood Draw

	Ping G10 Draw 4-wood
Contact: www.pingeurope.com Technology: Low profile head, large weight pad on the sole. G10 Draw version promotes a right-to-left ball flight with the weight pad positioned farther back and closer to the heel than the standard model, to help clubhead rotation. Draw version available in 3- (15.5 debrees), 4- (17), 5 - (18.5) and 7- wood (21.5) models. Available in three shaft options Price: £165

G10 4-wood has 17 degree face loft I've always been a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to fairway metals. I'd never before considered putting anything other than a 3- or 5-wood in my bag until the 7-wood - the gentleman's persuader - came along in the late 1980s and convinced me I needed something as an alternative to long irons. As for the 4- and 6-wood, my view was that they were only for poseurs who wanted you to know they could afford the whole set! Then I spotted Lee Westwood on the range at Wentworth during a European Tour event and he was crunching his 4-wood with incredible accuracy. Dave Renwick, his caddie at the time told me it fitted the gap in his bag between 3-wood and 4-iron for high, floating approaches to par-5s like the third, 12th and 18th and delivered a penetrating second shot at 17th to leave him an appropriate yardage to set up a birdie opportunity. When I had a recent fitting with Nick Boulton at Ping's Gainsborough facility, I remembered Westwood's philosophy (he's been a loyal Ping player since he was at school) and I took little convincing that a 4-wood might prove a versatile alternative to 3- or 5-wood and compliment the 18 and 21-degree G10 hybrids. It was wise advice. The G10 4-wood Draw - which has enabled me not only to straighten a fade but also given me confidence to play for a draw in a right to left breeze - has proved a real asset in my bag.

Weight positioned farther back and closer to the heel to help correct a left-to-right ball flight. As Nick suggested, the lower, deeper centre of gravity that has been created in the low profile head gets the ball airborne more quickly and with its solid strike send a sensation up the shaft which translates into raising the hairs on the back of your neck. You know immediately you've caught one flush enough to penetrate almost any stiff winter breeze. I also like the way it sits at address, imploring you to put your best swing on it. The shaft I chose was the distinctive orange, grey and black UST ProForce V2 high launch (reg). It gave me both loft and distance over my old 3-wood. The Golfmagic Verdict Rating: 8.5/10 Summary: At £165 it's not the cheapest in its class but with its high quality bronze and silver headcover, it encourages you to reach for it without hesitation when the situation demands a solid accurate strike to play for position. It will also deliver a high floating trajectory from a tee peg at longer par-3s. My indecision as to carry 3- or 5-wood or both, has just been solved. The answer is neither... because now I'm a 4-wood man. . *Tell us about the fairway metals in your bag - as well as the other clubs and the balls, shoes and waterproofs. Submit a user review for the chance to win prizes every month. And if you've got equipment to buy or sell second hand you can do that too, in our popular classified section.