Sell Me: G430 7w, G430 4H, or Apex UW 21*

[JMB3]

This spot tends to be a revolving door in my bag.  For the past two years, a G425 4H (-1) occupied this spot, which I found to be quite versatile, but I was hoping for a bit higher flight for shots into greens.  I am fairly shallow into the ball and from the inside, so I play a draw that can, at times, hook.  As a lower spin guy, loft, a neutral face, and a spinnier ball (CSX, ProV1x) are my friends.  Not that it matters, but driver SS is around 105. 

 

This club will sit between a G430 5w (F-), which carries 220-230 off the deck, and an Apex 21 5i, which carries 190-195.  So I am looking for something that carries around 205-210 from this spot, will hold greens from that distance, but remains fairly versatile (even for tight lie chips).  I do have access to TrackMan, but I would not be able to test all three at once unfortunately--sim is at my club, not the shop.  So give me your thoughts on which club I should start with and why?  Thanks!

 

 

Edited January 18, 2024 by JMB3

[Tree Levino]

If your miss is a hook I think you’d be happiest in a 7w. It sounds like the best option from what you’ve mentioned. UW is hot and flatter in flight. Experiment with shaft length and models as I think it’s a tough club to get perfect. Can be balloonish but it fit well it’ll be great out of rough and offer beautiful descent angle into par 5s etc. obviously not good in wind (generally) 

[JMB3]

57 minutes ago, Tree Levino said:

If your miss is a hook I think you’d be happiest in a 7w. It sounds like the best option from what you’ve mentioned. UW is hot and flatter in flight. Experiment with shaft length and models as I think it’s a tough club to get perfect. Can be balloonish but it fit well it’ll be great out of rough and offer beautiful descent angle into par 5s etc. obviously not good in wind (generally) 

 

I think performance in the wind has been my only hold-up on a 7w, but it’s not terribly windy here other than early and late season.  
 

I did hit quite a few greens with the 4H, but unless the lie assisted, it wasn’t a club I would try and take over a tree, for example—too flat of flight for me.

[Tree Levino]

7 minutes ago, JMB3 said:

 

I think performance in the wind has been my only hold-up on a 7w, but it’s not terribly windy here other than early and late season.  
 

I did hit quite a few greens with the 4H, but unless the lie assisted, it wasn’t a club I would try and take over a tree, for example—too flat of flight for me.

For what it’s worth, I did try the 430 Hybrid for a few rounds at the end of the season and the shaft was a little softer than I normally play - 80x vs 95x and I found my normal ball flight lowered a bit I assume due to the head weight and shaft combo. In any event my gamer is an 818 H1 set flat and open with a weight in the toe. It has a gentle trail off to the right and a bit more spin which I like. And carries 240 or so for me depending on shape. I’d love to try a 7 wood that fits well but I have not found one I like as much. I also have some longer par 3s in the 230 range at courses I play and if they’re into wind I like having the option to hit a knock down hybrid where a 7 wood I would never enjoy hitting on a par 3 unless it was a very unique hole requiring something floaty. I also hit hybrid off the tee on a few holes because of how precise you need to be with placement on my course. Lots of dog legs and a properly placed shot with a shorter club can leave you less in than a longer shot with more club etc. So it really depends on what you need it to do. If it’s mainly for second shots into par 5s where you need a nice option out of rough or you need lots of height and spin 7w could be good otherwise maybe a tweener like the 1 series Titleist could be worth a look. 

[JMB3]

3 minutes ago, Tree Levino said:

For what it’s worth, I did try the 430 Hybrid for a few rounds at the end of the season and the shaft was a little softer than I normally play - 80x vs 95x and I found my normal ball flight lowered a bit I assume due to the head weight and shaft combo. In any event my gamer is an 818 H1 set flat and open with a weight in the toe. It has a gentle trail off to the right and a bit more spin which I like. And carries 240 or so for me depending on shape. I’d love to try a 7 wood that fits well but I have not found one I like as much. I also have some longer par 3s in the 230 range at courses I play and if they’re into wind I like having the option to hit a knock down hybrid where a 7 wood I would never enjoy hitting on a par 3 unless it was a very unique hole requiring something floaty. I also hit hybrid off the tee on a few holes because of how precise you need to be with placement on my course. Lots of dog legs and a properly placed shot with a shorter club can leave you less in than a longer shot with more club etc. So it really depends on what you need it to do. If it’s mainly for second shots into par 5s where you need a nice option out of rough or you need lots of height and spin 7w could be good otherwise maybe a tweener like the 1 series Titleist could be worth a look. 

You’re hitting on some of the issues I’ve been debating, which make the hybrid appealing.  Hybrid off the tee on tight holes has been a very reliable shot for me.  
 

Maybe I just get both and swap for the course 🤣

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

as crazy as it sounds you might want to "try" a 5 hybrid instead. if you always hit things as low as described you must be delofting in most instances. you'll effectively hit a 5 hybrid medium height (most people hit them very high) and the around 200 cover number you're looking for shouldn't be an issue. 

[third-times-a-charm]

Between my 5w and 5i I have a G430 5h turned down 1* and it's fantastic.

 

7w will be too long and bunch up with the 5w. 4h was also too long especially with a sneaky low spinner.

 

The UW 21 will also be too long as its low spin but it is fade biased

 

YMMV though.

[JMB3]

2 minutes ago, Kenny Lee Puckett said:

as crazy as it sounds you might want to "try" a 5 hybrid instead. if you always hit things as low as described you must be delofting in most instances. you'll effectively hit a 5 hybrid medium height (most people hit them very high) and the around 200 cover number you're looking for shouldn't be an issue. 

It doesn’t sound crazy at all!!  I’ve spent a lot of time in the 5H v. 5i thread.  I do plan to order a 5H and test them head to head—with the lower spin of the G430 hybrids, as I’ve read, there’s a chance I could carry both.  

[JMB3]

3 minutes ago, third-times-a-charm said:

Between my 5w and 5i I have a G430 5h turned down 1* and it's fantastic.

 

7w will be too long and bunch up with the 5w. 4h was also too long especially with a sneaky low spinner.

 

The UW 21 will also be too long as its low spin but it is fade biased

 

YMMV though.

This is an intriguing option.  I do worry about gapping.  I hit the 5w pretty high (higher than my old 4H), so I do worry if I get something too hot or low-spin in this slot, it could bunch up with the 5w.  And I almost always loft down woods/hybrids to open the face a bit, so turning a 5h down could do the trick.

[Kenny Lee Puckett]

11 minutes ago, JMB3 said:

It doesn’t sound crazy at all!!  I’ve spent a lot of time in the 5H v. 5i thread.  I do plan to order a 5H and test them head to head—with the lower spin of the G430 hybrids, as I’ve read, there’s a chance I could carry both.  

FWIW to increase ball speed you could order that G430 5 hybrid the length of a 4 hybrid (so +1/2"). IMO you just need more loft on the hybrid head in that distance gap, that's it (and you can still go "-" hosel setting to slow down the hook).

 

edit: might put in a swing weight request with PING so it doesn't get too heavy.

Edited January 18, 2024 by Kenny Lee Puckett

[JMB3]

17 minutes ago, Kenny Lee Puckett said:

FWIW to increase ball speed you could order that G430 5 hybrid the length of a 4 hybrid (so +1/2"). IMO you just need more loft on the hybrid head in that distance gap, that's it (and you can still go "-" hosel setting to slow down the hook).

 

edit: might put in a swing weight request with PING so it doesn't get too heavy.

 

That’s a really good idea.  

[animalgolfs]

5h will cover the gap to 7w - G430 hybrids carries about 6yds farther than G425 all things equal

 

I'd go 7wd all day

[gentles]

3 hours ago, JMB3 said:

 

That’s a really good idea.  

 

If you're looking for a cheaper option to try out, all ping hybrids since the G410 on take the same adapter, so you could seach the BST or post a WTB for a ping 5 hybrid head only. You can find aftermarket weights on ebay to dial in the swing weight too. Might be a cheaper way for around $100 or so depending what you find to test out that option 

 

Have you tried lofting up the 4 hybrid to the big + setting to see the impact of more loft? 

[hook_or_slice]

10 hours ago, JMB3 said:

This spot tends to be a revolving door in my bag.  For the past two years, a G425 4H (-1) occupied this spot, which I found to be quite versatile, but I was hoping for a bit higher flight for shots into greens.......

 

This club will sit between a G430 5w (F-), which carries 220-230 off the deck, and an Apex 21 5i, which carries 190-195.  So I am looking for something that carries around 205-210 from this spot, will hold greens from that distance, ...... So give me your thoughts on which club I should start with and why?  Thanks!

 

 

 

Start with increasing the loft on your 4 hybrid to +1.

You did say a "bit" higher.

[dmeeksDC]

Paradym Super Hybrid 21 will fly higher than the UW and could fit right into the carry number you are looking for. Adjustable to dial it in.