G430 max (non 10k) vs G400 max

[9ironiscash]

Got on TrackMan to compare the new g440 max vs my trusty g400 max, both with the tour 65 chrome shaft I love (OG version in the 400). There were basically no differences numbers-wise. Obviously the new one edged the legend in feel and looks, but that alone isn’t worth the upgrade at all for me. 
 

has anyone else directly compared the 400 max to the non-10 k 430 max and found any substantial gains numbers wise? I know it’s been talked about in other threads but just looking for any quick info on it- the 430 can be had for a great deal right now. The fitter didn’t have the 10k but in any event he didn’t anticipate I would see any massive gains going to that model. 

[mosesgolf]

Longest Ping Max driver (for me)was the G400 Max paired with the Aldila Rogue 125 MSI 70x.  When the G400 Max is paired with the right shaft there is no better driver imo.  I regret ever selling mine.  

[boggyman]

Save your money….

[9ironiscash]

1 hour ago, mosesgolf said:

Longest Ping Max driver (for me)was the G400 Max paired with the Aldila Rogue 125 MSI 70x.  When the G400 Max is paired with the right shaft there is no better driver imo.  I regret ever selling mine.  

I’ll never ever sell it. Just so good. 

[BYK]

yup

10K bit the dust compared with my goat.

But so has everything else.

 

don't sell your 400max

[PJE]

I played the G400 LST but with the G30 shaft for a long time. It was solid if not spectacular. 
I had the same unspectacular experience with the G410 Max. I actually like the G410 head shape best of the Ping G400-425 series so I was hoping for better results. 
People said the G425 Max was great except for the sound. The sound didn’t bother me but it’s a weird driver. I’ll call it sneaky long (Tour Chrome shaft). It doesn’t  feel like it’s struck well but the results are good. So ultimately, I’m meh about it. 
I had a G400 Max with the Alta shaft and it was easy to hit but not overly long. But, then I found a G400 Max with a Ping Chrome shaft in the used bin at my golf store. Wow! I’ve hit drives that are just flat out hammered and time after time. So long, straight, and consistent. 
Yes, I could’ve avoided this journey with a fitting but it’s fun to go out on the course. 
The G400 Max (with the appropriate shaft) is incredible. Golf clubs should be like high end guitars or pianos instead of like cars; here’s your classic G400 Max and it’s been in production for years. It is so good. 

Edited March 28 by PJE

[mantan]

On 3/23/2025 at 1:09 PM, mosesgolf said:

Longest Ping Max driver (for me)was the G400 Max paired with the Aldila Rogue 125 MSI 70x.  When the G400 Max is paired with the right shaft there is no better driver imo.  I regret ever selling mine.  

 

They hold a grudge too.

 

 

I sold mine to a WRXer and got something else. I regretted it and a couple of months later reached out to him to him about possibly buying it back. He was happy to sell it back as he didn't' find the same magic that he had with the original. She didn't show me the same love that she did originally.

 

I sold it and bought another used one....no magic there either.

 

Divorced G400 Max's are bitter af.

 

 

 

[hoosier84]

19 hours ago, PJE said:

I played the G400 LST but with the G30 shaft for a long time. It was solid if not spectacular. 
I had the same unspectacular experience with the G410 Max. I actually like the G410 head shape best of the Ping G400-425 series so I was hoping for better results. 
People said the G425 Max was great except for the sound. The sound didn’t bother me but it’s a weird driver. I’ll call it sneaky long (Tour Chrome shaft). It doesn’t  feel like it’s struck well but the results are good. So ultimately, I’m meh about it. 
I had a G400 Max with the Alta shaft and it was easy to hit but not overly long. But, then I found a G400 Max with a Ping Chrome shaft in the used bin at my golf store. Wow! I’ve hit drives that are just flat out hammered and time after time. So long, straight, and consistent. 
Yes, I could’ve avoided this journey with a fitting but it’s fun to go out on the course. 
The G400 Max (with the appropriate shaft) is incredible. Golf clubs should be like high end guitars or pianos instead of like cars; here’s your classic G400 Max and it’s been in production for years. It is so good. 

 

I've been messing around with Diamana GT 50 (stiff) with my G400 Max and it seems to be a good fit. I have been playing the Ping Tour 65s for the last few years and like you, it has been a great combo. But I picked up a second G400 Max a couple months ago and it has given me the luxury of messing around more with some other shafts. The GT 50 doesn't feel as light as I feared and it has shown less of an ability to go left while yielding a touch more distance.

 

I think shaft technology continues to improve but gains in the driver head the last 6-8 years seems to have leveled off IMO

[ColinKelvin]

I haven't hit anything newer than the G425 (which as we all know sounded like a tin can; I sold it on quickly) and still play the G400 Max with a Tensei 60S shaft.  I bought a G410 Plus and it's very good - but I would say the sweet spot is a bit smaller; it's in my holiday bag.  So far this thread has dampened any urge I had to try the G430 or 440 and potentially saved me money, thank you all!

[Ghostwedge]

I bought the G400 and G400 Max back when released. Preferred the smaller G400 profile, gave the G400 Max to my son. Just retired the G400 a few months ago with well over 500 rds on it. Tested all brands and shafts, G430 Max was the winner but really liked the newer Cobra drivers. 

My son who is scratch with over 100 SS still loves his G400 Max but bought a G425 head for back up, said he hits the G425 a few yds farther. He also tested drivers with me and said the G430 or G440 are as good as the G400 Max easily.

When you retire the GOAT driver I doubt there will be a drop off with the 430\440 models.

[PJE]

On 3/29/2025 at 6:16 AM, hoosier84 said:

 

I've been messing around with Diamana GT 50 (stiff) with my G400 Max and it seems to be a good fit. I have been playing the Ping Tour 65s for the last few years and like you, it has been a great combo. But I picked up a second G400 Max a couple months ago and it has given me the luxury of messing around more with some other shafts. The GT 50 doesn't feel as light as I feared and it has shown less of an ability to go left while yielding a touch more distance.

 

I think shaft technology continues to improve but gains in the driver head the last 6-8 years seems to have leveled off IMO

Thanks for the info. I also have two G400 Max heads. It seems like I should check out a Diamana! 

[bigdriveandy]

I have had both. Sold the G400 MAX when i bought the G430 MAX. Do I miss the G400 Max? No. The G430 is essentially the same driver (for me) in terms of performance on good shots but the added benefit of adjustability makes it a touch more consistent. With the combo of the better adjustability letting me go +1 loft in a flatter lie, and putting the weight in the fade setting I am able to hit my left of target start line with ideal spin, and have the ball cut back to the target with consistency. Where with the G400Max I was having to open the face and swing up more to get the height and cut spin I wanted, but that did not allow me to swing to the left as much as I needed to be able to hit my start line. So I hit a lot more pushy stuff or stuff that ended up in the right side of the fairway or just into the rough as opposed to more middle of fairway drives. I tried to modify the g400 max with lead tape and different weights and it was nice but not as good as the g430. 

[9ironiscash]

On 3/31/2025 at 9:53 AM, bigdriveandy said:

I have had both. Sold the G400 MAX when i bought the G430 MAX. Do I miss the G400 Max? No. The G430 is essentially the same driver (for me) in terms of performance on good shots but the added benefit of adjustability makes it a touch more consistent. With the combo of the better adjustability letting me go +1 loft in a flatter lie, and putting the weight in the fade setting I am able to hit my left of target start line with ideal spin, and have the ball cut back to the target with consistency. Where with the G400Max I was having to open the face and swing up more to get the height and cut spin I wanted, but that did not allow me to swing to the left as much as I needed to be able to hit my start line. So I hit a lot more pushy stuff or stuff that ended up in the right side of the fairway or just into the rough as opposed to more middle of fairway drives. I tried to modify the g400 max with lead tape and different weights and it was nice but not as good as the g430. 

Thanks for the info. How did u find they compared distance-wise and forgiveness-wise, especially from toe shots? 

[bigdriveandy]

I don't hit a lot of toe shots so I can't necessarily comment on that but distance was about the same. One thing PING hasn't tried to overcorrect for is ballspeed gains. I think since g400 there have been some modest tweaks but i don't hear anyone picking up 3-4 mph switching from 400 to 430 unless the previous was a bad fit. I don't hit a ton of shots that are super super far away from the center of the face but I can tell you everything about the 430 family is better the further you get away from the center of the face. The spin stays acceptable and the ball still launches. If you hit the ball all over the driver face,  i'd say more of those shots will be more playable with 430.

[msg]

I owned, maybe like 7 or more G400 Max's lol I am itching to get another one just for kicks. I have tried the 9 and 10.5 degree heads, stiff and regular shafts in Alta CB and Tour Chrome versions and a few in after market shaft configurations. I think I have played about 5 seasons in G400 Max set ups lol

 

The best version of the G400 Max for me was the 9 degree head with a original Ping Tour Chrome shaft in regular flex. It made my driver low spin and launch and gained some distance compared to the Alta Cb shafts. 

 

I went to a fitting and wanted to get the G430 Max when it first released two years ago, I believe and was gaming the 400 max that time. The fitter told me that there was virtually no difference and just save my money unless I wanted something new and shiny. Of course I did not listen. lol 

 

In my experience, the G400 Max protected me from going way right as my miss is a slice. I noticed that the G430 Max and the 10k wanted to go right more than the 400 or 425 heads. As for the forgiveness, distance, they were just the same for me. For some reason, the 400 Max just works for me and edges the 430's by a bit. 

 

Right now I am testing a 10k with a whippy shaft. So far so good. Right now, this combo I can say is nice and might dethrone the 400 Max as my personal goat, just because I love the feel and sound of the 10k more. 

 

My first 10k last season was going right too much and apparently the shaft was too stiff for me. And I went back to the 400 Max to save my season in 2024 lol. We'll see what will happen with the 10k experiment once the course open. 

 

 

Edited April 4 by msg

[caniac6]

I have a 400 Max, and try the new drivers every time we host a fitting day, and so far I haven’t found anything that beats it. The closest was a Mizuno , but the Mizuno rep made an adjustment to my driver, and said he couldn’t sell me a new driver now. I’ll probably play the G400 until it breaks.