Ping G10 driver review

Ping G10 driver - draw version is also available

Ping drivers have always had a great reputation for a solid and forgiving feel off the clubface. Many low to high handicappers have enjoyed the vibration-free feedback from shots - even miss-hits - from earlier G2 and G5 drivers.

But nothing stands still in golf technology and Ping are determined that even this strong reputation can be enhanced by delivering a little more height, a little more distance and improved overall performance.

I recently accepted an invitation to visit Ping's state-of-the art fitting centre at their European headquarters in Gainsborough, in which indoor bays open up on to an enclosed range, sheltered from much of North Lincolnshire's traditional breezes, in a bid to discover if the new G10 driver could deliver its promise.

After the regulatory hand, finger and wrist-to-floor measurements, Nick Boulton - a PGA professional and the company's sales manager - had me hit a series of shots with a combination of shafts and lofts recorded on the Trackman computer tracking system.

Though my best clubhead speed (average 74.2 mph) was nearly 20mph slower than a regular Tour pro and my ball speed (99.2 mph) bore little resemblance to Tiger Wood's 150mph, I was still able to produce a respectable carry and roll-out distance of 210 -230 aydrs , considering my 11 handicap. And apart from the occasional blip, my dispersion (grouping of successive shots) was pretty consistent, too.

Nick boulton checks the computer read-outs

The upshot of my session - has been the chance review a 12-degree version of the G10 driver which Angel Cabrera uses, with a 65-gram V2 Proforce HL (High Launch) regular flex shaft to produce my optimum launch angle of between 16-19 degrees.

The session quickly identified that as a handsy-type player, though a low ball flight tended to reduce my inaccuracy, more trajectory would produce less spin and more distance, making me a longer more efficient driver. No amount of off-the-shelf trial and error with combinations of shaft flexes and lengths, head sizes and loft options would have found me the most suitable driver in as short a time frame.

I'm one of those golfers who doesn't like too much going on with distractions in the clubhead at address. Some golfers have remarked on the crescent-shaped alignment on previous Ping drivers. In the G10 it's still there but less pronounced, while the orange markings on the sole, fitted nicely with the distinctive mustard and silver colours of the UST shaft.

As for the sound, Ping drivers are traditionally under-stated compared to the irritating, high-pitched Twang, Tink or Boing of other drivers. It's hard to describe but you know when you've nailed it.

	The Golfmagic Verdict
Rating: 9/10 Summary: As with many modern drivers, today's shafts are a little longer than you'd find a couple of years ago and allied to new technology, this helps achieve those extra yards everyone seeks. Stock shaft on the G10 is 45.75 ins, nearly an inch longer than many of its rivals. While, it tends to make the club a little more difficult to hit consistently, I'm fortunate in that my swing is shorter and more compact than most, making the G10 easier to tame. I can't honestly claim more than a few yards extra distance but I enjoyed the solid contact, the sound and particularly the trajectory which never looked like ballooning out of control. It comes, too with a distinctive burnt orange, white, grey and black headcover - far more stylish than the cumbersome blue headcovers with previous Ping drivers.

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