Driver Keeps Cracking on the Face!

[RJ_MJ_JJ]

Apologies for the low key flex, but I'm on my 4th Ping G410 LST Driver head in about 18 months. After about 15 rounds, the face cracks about 1cm from the top. I've been sending them back to PING and they have replaced each one free of charge, but it's getting annoying. My swing speed is about 120-125mph, so I understand that is at the top end of OEM driver tolerances. Anyone else have this issue with PING? Or other drivers? Has anyone had this issue and found a driver that has lasted longer?

[Phabs]

My driver speed is similar to yours.  I’m on my 4th year with the same Taylormade M3 and have had zero issues.  Thousands of range balls and hundreds of rounds. 
 

Odd it’s happened so many times, obviously something in the design that you keep finding.  

[xkilgorextroutx]

Yeah it just may be something with the particular design/face thickness to that model. I'd try and look into something else at this point.

[CKaneb]

I swing about 10 mph slower than you and I cracked a PING G410 LST in the same exact spot as what your pictures are showing

[cgasucks]

Having a swing speed as high as yours is a blessing and a curse.  Man I wish I have your problem.

[Abh159]

SS is the same as yours, and I've had my TM Sim for over a year now with no issues.

 

If this is the fourth time you've cracked one it's obviously an issue with the club not holding up to those swing speeds. I'd get one final replacement from Ping, sell it to someone else, and then use that money to buy another brand of driver. 

[lutomrSC]

during play, on the range? Both?

 

I agree with most everyone that 4 times in the same spot, you've probably exceeded the tolerance on the face thickness. I'll just add that if you're hitting balls on the range with metal woods always make sure the balls are relatively clean of dirt/sand/debris. If there's a small speck of dirt or sand on the point you're making contact with it will dramatically increase the stress on that point of the face.

[SmashGolfBall]

Maybe it is the time to move to the Krank driver 😉

[DFS PFD]

I'm a similar SS to you and had two Ping failures occur with G410 LST, I tend to strike the ball very high on the face similar to you, and about where your face failed. That looks indicative of a design flaw for the integrity of the club at high strike point. I moved the ball down .25"-.375" and had no more failures with very similar ball speed and spin. Just an idea for you to try if you love the Ping. My SIM has been problem free however, so Ping is long gone. 

[Ri_Redneck]

I suspect repeated high-face contact is stressing the face. Moe toward the center should hold up better. Regardless, You would do well to get a head that is designed to withstand higher SS.

 

BT

[RJ_MJ_JJ]

3 hours ago, SmashGolfBall said:

Maybe it is the time to move to the Krank driver 😉

Haha - I know a PLD guy. Might have to try his gear!!

[hammergolf]

5 hours ago, RJ_MJ_JJ said:

Apologies for the low key flex, but I'm on my 4th Ping G410 LST Driver head in about 18 months. After about 15 rounds, the face cracks about 1cm from the top. I've been sending them back to PING and they have replaced each one free of charge, but it's getting annoying. My swing speed is about 120-125mph, so I understand that is at the top end of OEM driver tolerances. Anyone else have this issue with PING? Or other drivers? Has anyone had this issue and found a driver that has lasted longer?

Ask them to replace it with a g425. Obviously the g410 has a stress point that you are exceeding. Not saying it won’t happen with the g425, but it’s obvious the g410 won’t work for you.

[Barfolomew]

🙇‍♂️

[RJ_MJ_JJ]

6 hours ago, lutomrSC said:

during play, on the range? Both?

 

I agree with most everyone that 4 times in the same spot, you've probably exceeded the tolerance on the face thickness. I'll just add that if you're hitting balls on the range with metal woods always make sure the balls are relatively clean of dirt/sand/debris. If there's a small speck of dirt or sand on the point you're making contact with it will dramatically increase the stress on that point of the face.

Good callout on the dirt/debris. I certainly make sure any ball I hit off the tee is clean, on the range or course.

[doc52]

My swing speed is around 125 and won’t hit driver/woods at most public ranges unless they have newer, softer balls.
 

If I’m playing a round at a course with bad range balls I’ll bring a couple balls that were found on previous rounds and hit them with driver/woods in my warmup. I like my woods and don’t want to replace them over range balls. 

[brutus27]

8 hours ago, RJ_MJ_JJ said:

Apologies for the low key flex, but I'm on my 4th Ping G410 LST Driver head in about 18 months. After about 15 rounds, the face cracks about 1cm from the top. I've been sending them back to PING and they have replaced each one free of charge, but it's getting annoying. My swing speed is about 120-125mph, so I understand that is at the top end of OEM driver tolerances. Anyone else have this issue with PING? Or other drivers? Has anyone had this issue and found a driver that has lasted longer?

Damn son, try swinging slower.. maybe call Brooksie and compare notes. J/K wish I had your problem. Good luck, will be following this thread for entertainment.

[grochol17]

Do you yell "POW" every time you hit a drive?

[R5Two]

Put a couple more plates on the squat rack and keep destroying those faces bro. Keep us updated eventime they have to give you a new one. This will be the hottest post around!

Edited November 19, 2021 by R5Two

[bladehunter]

High on the face is a killer at that speed. You’re hitting up towards the top line weld. 

[Valtiel]

It is definitely worth making sure the balls you're hitting aren't of the rock hard range variety as mentioned, specifically if they are colder as well. That really starts to matter a lot at your speeds. 

[gsrjc]

G425 not any better. 
 

 

[RJ_MJ_JJ]

8 minutes ago, gsrjc said:

G425 not any better. 
 

 

That sucks - Noted! Thanks for the insight - and good luck yourself!

[gsrjc]

Oh I got Ping to send me a new head and then sold it. 

[Bdck]

Tsi4 here, mid 190s ball speed. Probably 5k plus balls hit, no issues.

[RJ_MJ_JJ]

10 minutes ago, Bdck said:

Tsi4 here, mid 190s ball speed. Probably 5k plus balls hit, no issues.

Titleist drivers are so classic looking. Good to hear it's done you well. I've hit TMs and I just can't find the sweet spot like I can with the Ping. I hit a Titleist for a few rounds and really liked the look and feel. Thanks for the comment!

[Bdck]

1 hour ago, RJ_MJ_JJ said:

Titleist drivers are so classic looking. Good to hear it's done you well. I've hit TMs and I just can't find the sweet spot like I can with the Ping. I hit a Titleist for a few rounds and really liked the look and feel. Thanks for the comment!

Only Titleist I've cracked was a 975j back when I was a junior.

[VCGolfer79]

Maybe stop buying Ping Drivers? 

[Righty to Lefty]

I swing your same speed range and it is just a fact of life that you will be extremely hard on retail heads and their lifespan will always be short unless it is a model with a thicker face.  I get 1.5 years max out of a retail head but I did get 5 years out of a XR16 long drive head but they have thicker faces and thus you give up a bit of ball speed for extra durability but I found the trade off to be worth it. You are never going to find a retail head that is durable long term when you swing over 120 mph but you can keep sending em back and getting a new one as the company will always honor their warranty so that it a good thing.  

[StillCantPutt]

On 11/18/2021 at 9:44 AM, RJ_MJ_JJ said:

Apologies for the low key flex, but I'm on my 4th Ping G410 LST Driver head in about 18 months. After about 15 rounds, the face cracks about 1cm from the top. I've been sending them back to PING and they have replaced each one free of charge, but it's getting annoying. My swing speed is about 120-125mph, so I understand that is at the top end of OEM driver tolerances. Anyone else have this issue with PING? Or other drivers? Has anyone had this issue and found a driver that has lasted longer?

My driver swing speed is similar to yours. I dented, noticeably, 2 SIM2 drivers this year. Didn't crack but dented the face out near the toe. 1st time I've ever done that, let alone 2 separate drivers in the same summer. TM made it right each time exchanging for a new head but I found that really strange. 

[Ri_Redneck]

ALL driver faces have a thick region near the center which thins as you move towards the edges. Any time you have repeated contact in the thin regions, you will have face failure. It's physics and it can't be overcome without designing the edges thicker. If you want your drivers to last longer you're going to have to start making contact closer to the center. Otherwise, get driver heads designed for higher speeds.

 

https://krankgolf.com/

 

https://www.banggolf.com/

 

https://www.callawaygolf.com/clubs/drivers/ld-spec-drivers/

 

https://www.sellingerspowergolf.com/shop

 

https://ospsgolf.com/

 

BT

Edited November 19, 2021 by Ri_Redneck