PING G425 Driver Review: How Does the 12th G Model Stack Up?
PING has a reputation for creating extremely forgiving golf clubs without sacrificing distance, and the PING G425 driver lives up to those lofty standards.
The lineup of G425 drivers launched on January 11, 2021. With maximum forgiveness, top-end distance and adjustability, the driver marries the two previous, highly popular, editions of the G lineup: the G400 and PING G410 drivers.
G425 Overview
The G425 driver is available with three different head models, the SFT, MAX, and LST.
G425 SFT Driver
SFT stands for Straight Flight Technology and is the draw-bias version of the G425. The SFT has a fixed 23-gram weight in the back heel-side of the head to promote a draw. PING claims the weight promotes approximately 25 yards of right-to-left (for a right-handed golfer) movement compared to the G425 MAX. In addition to the fixed weight, the SFT checks in with a light, D1 swingweight, which assists in fighting a slice.
G425 MAX Driver
The G425 MAX is built for maximum forgiveness. The 26-gram tungsten weight is movable to neutral, draw, or fade settings, and brings the CG low and to the back. The high MOI negates much of the distance loss on off-center strikes, and the adjustable weight allows players to create a bias that best fits their swing, and change it as their swing changes.
G425 LST Driver
The LST is the “Low Spin Technology” edition of the G425 lineup. The LST is the only one of the three with a slightly smaller, 445cc head. Like the MAX, the LST includes a movable weight with neutral, draw, or fade options, but the LST’s weight checks in at a lighter 17 grams.
PING notes the LST reduces spin by about 200-400 RPM compared to the G410 LST. Players with a faster swing speed who are in search of a lower-launching driver with a flatter trajectory are great candidates for the G425 LST driver.
PING G425 Head Comparison
| Model | G425 SFT | G425 MAX | G425 LST |
| Head Size | 460cc | 460cc | 445cc |
| Moveable Weight | NO (Fixed 23-gram weight in heel for draw-bias) | YES (26-gram, neutral, draw & fade settings) |
YES (17-gram, draw, neutral & fade settings) |
| Loft Adjustability | -1.5 to +1.5 | -1.5 to +1.5 | -1.5 to +1.5 |
| Lie Adjustability | Neutral to Flat | Neutral to Flat | Neutral to Flat |
| Player Profile | Mid-High handicap, wants help eliminating pushes and slices | Player seeking combination of forgiveness, distance, and adjustability |
Higher swing speed (100 MPH+) with desire for a lower ball flight |
Look and Feel
Love them or hate them, the newest version of PING’s turbulators make an appearance on the matte crown of the G425 driver. PING tends not to add meaningless frills, so the claim that the turbulators help increase swing speed seems credible. If you’re not currently using a driver with turbulators, looking down at fins on the crown of your driver can take a little getting used to, but after a few swings, you probably won’t even notice them.
Aside from the turbulators, the head of the G425 is fairly neutral. The red accents from the G410 are a thing of the past and the black and silver color scheme of the G425 looks sleek and understated.
PING G425 Performance
I’ve been gaming the G425 MAX since a few months after its release in 2021. I instantly gained an average of 21 yards on my true driving distance over my TaylorMade AeroBurner, which was released in 2015, making it six years older than the G425.
The shots that make up that distance difference aren’t necessarily the longest drives of the day, but the mis-hits. With both drivers, I can expect to hit one or two per side that are absolutely perfect, and both drivers are capable of turning out bombs. But it’s those average drives that I almost catch pure that separates the two. With the G425, the distance loss on off-center strikes is almost unnoticeable, whereas the AeroBurner, and many drivers of its era, just can’t deliver impressive distance without hitting the sweet spot.
The other misses that are less stressful with the G425 are the pushes and pulls. With the AeroBurner, the hooks and slices left planet Earth, costing strokes and golf balls. The ball flight with the G425 MAX is not nearly as severe. A push or pull will still miss the fairway, but the sidespin that used to take the ball into the woods, water, or out of bounds, just doesn’t rear its ugly head.
Shaft Options
Each version in the G425 driver lineup comes with a PING Alta CB Slate shaft. PING also offers two additional stock shaft options with each of the three drivers, the Aldila Rogue White or the Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange.
The Alta CB Slate aims to give golfers more forgiveness, higher ball speed, and more distance. The Aldila Rogue White is designed for lower spin and a low to mid trajectory. Lastly, the Tensei AV Orange produces a mid to high trajectory with low spin.
Every golfer may see different tendencies in their own swing with different shaft and head combinations, so it’s always recommended to get fit by a professional before making the hefty investment into a new piece of equipment. With that said, the PING G425 driver retails for $549.