With the G430 lineup, the Max 10K came a year after the other three in the family. With the G440, PING follows the same playbook. One year later (at least it will be by the time retail availability begins), the company looks poised to release the G440 K.
I assume K is short for 10K or 10-something K. I mean, given that MOI values change a little with each release, it’s probably best to simplify. “Max” now implies 10K, and well, I suppose, do we even need the 10?
My point is that the G440 K will replace the G430 Max 10K as the most forgiving (or at least the highest MOI) driver in the PING lineup, and it’s going to save golf writers like me a whole lot of keystrokes in the process.
One of the most dependable things in the golf equipment world is that PING is going to PING. That is to say, you shouldn’t expect any sort of radical departure from what we got with the Max 10K.
That said, a couple of things stand out in the USGA information.
Lower lofts
First, the G440 K is going to be offered in a 7.5-degree model. It goes without saying you don’t see a lot of 7.5-degree models among high MOI offerings.
Kudos to PING on this one for making a product for high swing speed players who need forgiveness. The low loft will help mitigate spin while the back center of gravity that comes with high MOI designs should work to keep launch in the playable range (and that’s before we start talking about hosel adjustability).
The new loft certainly won’t shift the primary audience for the G440 K, but it’s going to expand it to a group of golfers who typically don’t have a lot of viable options in the Max category.
Just to put a bow on it, the PING G440 K driver is listed in 7.5-, 9-, 10.5-, and 12-degrees in both right-handed and left-handed.
Dual Carbonfly construction
With the G440, PING took the Carbonfly Wrap construction of the G430 LS and brought it to the entire family.
With the G440 K, PING appears to have evolved Carbonfly Wrap into Dual Carbonfly. What exactly that means is a story that will be told in early January, but given that we’re talking about PING, I suspect it’s going to have something to do with saving weight and increasing forgiveness or enhancing the effectiveness of the 3-weight (fade, neutral, draw) system anchored to the back of the club.
How much will it cost?
While it’s not the kind of thing that grabs headlines, PING quietly raised prices on G440 drivers by $20 earlier this year.
With that in mind, I expect the new G440 K will retail for $649. Again, that’s pure speculation, but it strikes me as unlikely that PING (or anyone else) is going to keep next season’s prices where they are right now.
Have your say
Will the PING G440 K be on your short list in 2025? Does the 7.5-degree option appeal to you?
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