Updated February 7, 2025. This article was thoroughly audited by multiple golf experts and coaches for its accuracy. You can read more about our rigorous testing protocol here.
Ping continues their very successful G-series drivers with their latest model, the G440 Max.
Featuring a 46-inch shaft, the engineers at Ping believe the longer shaft will help create higher launch, greater ball speed, and more distance for mid-to-high handicappers.
At first glance, this new Ping driver provides the adjustability to help you craft your ideal shot shape. This feature is certainly helpful for all golfers who want to attack the course better.
So, does the G440 Max live up to the hype?
In our Ping G440 Max Driver review, we’ll answer that question and provide our thoughts and feelings on this hyped-up club.
Ping G440 Max Driver
Best Ping Driver for Mid Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 9°, 10.5°, 12°
- Lie: 58°-61°
- Shaft Length: 46”
- Swing Weight: D3
- Head Size: 460cc
Pros
- Hot, thin face produces ultra-fast ball speed
- Longer shaft offers more swing speed
- 3-position back weight delivers customized shot shape
- 8-position hosel alters lie and loft quickly and easily
- Very forgiving with wide, inviting sweet spot
Cons
- Not the best looking Ping driver ever
- Missing high contrast alignment guide
- Doesn’t carry the sound of Callaway Elyte
Ping’s new G440 Max Driver is a nice step forward for the company. Featuring a longer 46-inch shaft, the G440 Max delivers more swing speed for golfers who need it most.
The driver also delivers a nice mix of forgiveness and dispersion.
It also has various adjustable features, including a 3-position rear weight and an 8-position loft sleeve that provides total shot-shaping control.
Ping G440 Max Driver Features
Free-Hosel Technology
Ping removed weight from the hosel and placed it elsewhere to get a lower, deeper CG. The redistributed weight helps balance the club head to optimize spin, raise launch, and increase ball speed.
The G440 Max offers Ping’s highest MOI to date, helping mid handicappers tighten dispersion and minimize side spin off the face.
Longer Proprietary Shaft
Ping created a 46-inch ALTA CB Blue shaft, their longest stock shaft for the G440 Max. The longer shaft tightens dispersion while increasing swing speed.
Golfers can still get a standard 45.5-inch shaft with the Ping Tour 2.0 model or even aftermarket shafts from Project X and Mitsubishi.
3-position Adjustable Back Weight
Ping’s G440 Max also features a 3-position adjustable back weight with fade, neutral, and draw bias settings.
The 29-gram weight influences shot shape and trajectory, giving golfers even more customization.
The rear weight also deepens the CG for an easier, quicker launch that extends carry off the tee box.
Our In-Depth Ping G440 Max Driver Review
Looks
We’re not a huge fan of the blue accents in the color scheme of the G440 driver, but let’s be honest here. We’re not buying Ping drivers because they look pretty.
We want them to hit the ball long and straight, and you certainly get each with the G440.
If you like the design of the previous Ping driver models, such as the G430 and G410, you’ll find this latest driver does little to dissuade you from enjoying its design.
All of the Ping trademarks are here with the G440 as it carries sleek silver trim lines with a blue accent.
Sound
The sound with the G440 Max remained relatively muted during our testing. We enjoyed the clean pop at impact, as it neither distracts nor dazzles.
Even on off-center strikes, the sound stays consistent and doesn’t hurt the eardrums.
The large hitting area and oversized head absorb sound, keeping it soft on the ears.
For our money, the best-sounding driver of the year is the Callaway Elyte with its bombastic, powerful sound. If the Elyte is a 10 on a scale of 1-10, then the G440 is around a 5 in terms of sound.
Feel
During our testing, the G440 Max Driver felt tight and pure.
The ball just familiarly jumps off the face to recent Ping driver releases and soars high into the sky, a welcome sight for all mid and high handicappers.
On the takeaway and downswing, the driver remains firm and sturdy, helping to instill a nice confidence with each progressive swing.
One of the nicer surprises of the G440 Max Driver is how the weight has been redistributed in the club head, giving this latest version a lighter overall feel.
It’s a really enjoyable golf club to swing, and our hands certainly enjoyed its responsiveness throughout our time with it.
Performance
For our testing, we played with a 10.5-degree Ping G440 Max carrying the stock Alta CB Blue 50-gram shaft with a stiff flex.
Our initial evaluation of the G440 Max is that it’s more of the same as this new Ping driver. And make no mistake, we mean that as a compliment to the company and their latest innovation.
The driver offers superb forgiveness, far-reaching distance, and a pure feel that so many drivers can’t even begin to reach.
Of course, the most interesting aspect of the new G440 Max is the longer 46-inch shaft. While using shorter shafts on drivers has become popular, Ping has defied that theory with its latest driver.
During our sessions on the Trackman, the swing speed was slightly higher than our typical average, but the difference with this longer shaft was negligible.
It really didn’t impact our overall distance average.
Having said that, if you are struggling with losing your swing speed, the longer shaft can absolutely help you minimize that loss of velocity.
The 3-position rear weight and 8-position hosel sleeve are extremely adjustable. These two features are quick to install, allowing you to customize your shot shape.
We wish that Ping would offer a high-contrast white dot to signal the center of the face, but their ribbed crown does a solid job of noting where the ball should meet the hitting area.
After our time with this driver, we could not recommend it higher for mid-to-high handicap golfers looking to make that jump to the next level.
Other Models Available
Ping leads the way in variations and alternate editions of its new 2025 driver. Four additional models of the G440 are available for men, and two more drivers from this line are available for women.
These additional drivers help high-handicap golfers with slice correction and lower-handicap golfers with workability.
Ping G440 SFT Driver
Best Draw-Bias Ping G440 Driver
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Specifications
- Loft: 9°, 10.5°
- Lie: 57°
- Shaft Length: 46”
- Swing Weight: D0
- Head Size: 460cc
Pros
- Easy to access draw-bias weighting
- Lightweight build offers boosted distance
- Ai 10x Face offers top-tier forgiveness
Cons
- Only for golfers with slice issues
The G440 SFT Driver offers solid draw bias with significant slice correction. Its solid adjustability minimizes side spin and helps higher handicap golfers hit more fairways.
With a hot face, the G440 SFT delivers long distance with a high launch that effortlessly leaves the face at impact.
Ping G440 LST Driver
Best Ping Driver for Low Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 9°, 10.5°
- Lie: 57°
- Shaft Length: 46”
- Swing Weight: D4
- Head Size: 460cc
Pros
- Low spin, penetrating flight
- Hot, sturdy face generates high ball speed
- Longer shaft boosts swing speed
Cons
- Too much driver for higher handicappers
For golfers with higher swing speeds, Ping designed the G440 LST to generate low spin with penetrating flight.
Workability is another outstanding feature of the LST model, as golfers can pair the 3-position rear weight and 8-position hosel to customize the shot shape totally.
This driver is an excellent model for low handicappers to refine their game off the tee box.
Ping G440 Max HL Driver
Best Ping G440 Driver for High Handicappers
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Specifications
- Loft: 9°, 10.5°, 12°
- Lie: 57°
- Shaft Length: 46”
- Swing Weight: D3
- Head Size: 460cc
Pros
- Extremely forgiving
- Slower swing speeds gain distance
- Deep CG creates a smooth, easy launch
Cons
- Doesn’t have power for high swing speeds
Lighter and more agile, the G440 Max HL utilizes a 46-inch shaft to generate more ball speed while taking advantage of the very forgiving club head to keep more drives in the fairway.
The company claims the HL drivers offer up to nine yards of additional distance, which casual players can benefit from off the tee box.
Ping G440 SFT HL Driver
Best Ping G440 Driver for Senior Golfers
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Specifications
- Loft: 9°, 10.5°
- Lie: 57°
- Shaft Length: 46”
- Swing Weight: D0
- Head Size: 460cc
Pros
- Broad, forgiving hitting area
- 8-position hosel offers 3° of loft adjustment
- Lightweight crown lowers CG for high launch
Cons
- Only available in regular flex
The Ping G440 SFT HL Driver provides a soft, lightweight regular shaft that boosts length for slower swing speeds.
The SFT HL model includes all of the G440’s bells and whistles, including the adjustable hosel and rear weighting, which offer nice customization for golfers who need slice correction.
Ping G440 Max HL Women’s Driver
Best Women’s Ping G440 Driver
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Specifications
- Loft: 12°
- Lie: 57°
- Shaft Length: 45”
- Swing Weight: D0
- Head Size: 460cc
Pros
- 3-position weighting offers customized shot shaping
- Light, agile design provides smooth, easy power
- Highly forgiving hitting area
Cons
- Only for casual women’s golfers
The new G440 Max HL is a great entry-level Ping driver for women golfers. Its forgiving hitting area boosts ball height to extend carry and maximize distance.
With a 12-degree face, golfers can get the ball into the air quicker to create consistent drives that find the fairway more frequently.
Ping G440 SFT HL Women’s Driver
Best Women’s Draw Bias Ping G440 Driver
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Specifications
- Loft: 10.5°
- Lie: 57°
- Shaft Length: 45”
- Swing Weight: D0
- Head Size: 460cc
Pros
- Outstanding slice correction
- Smooth high launch with far-reaching carry
- Low spin off the face offers tight dispersion
Cons
- Only for golfers struggling with slice
Ping’s G440 SFT HL is an excellent draw-bias driver for casual golfers who want to minimize the damage from their slicing.
With a 2-position rear weight, it quickly gets the ball into the air with minimal side spin, helping keep the drive on target.
Our Verdict
Ping’s G440 Max continues its long tradition of building first-rate golf clubs that offer unadulterated fun on the golf course.
The golf driver produces distance, launch angle, and dispersion placing it high among the drivers challenging for the title of “best of the year.”
It also is one of the few top-tier golf drivers this year that offers customized weighting along the rear of the club head to provide total control over shot shape.
For that feature alone, we recommend the Ping G440 Max to golfers who want to take over their game on the tee box.
Ideal for players with handicaps from 5-15, the G440 Max offers effortless power to the golf ball, placing it far ahead of competitors that promise easy launch and distance.