Ping G30 LS Tec Driver - Member Review

[apprenti23]

Ping G30 LS Tec Driver – Review by Apprenti23

9* model on -1* setting and stock Tour 65 X-flex shaft

 

 

INTRO

I have never really been a huge fan of Ping Golf, mainly because of an instance where an account was closed because my old boss sold a five year old shop worn putter for $50 off of the price he was supposed to, but that is neither here nor there. Many moons ago (mid 90's) I played a Ping driver. This was my first one and it was the Ping Zing 2 which was ugly as sin, but I loved the sound and feel of the steel head. Unfortunately for Ping then came the Big Bertha, Great Big Bertha, and TaylorMade Burners along with the introduction of titanium drivers. I went away from Ping clubs for a while, but when I was in college came the Ping ISI Tec driver. Whoa baby! This thing was an absolute BEAST of a driver and I loved it so much, that it is still in my bag of “classic drivers.” Fast forward 10-15 years and now we have speed fins and gravity cores with all kinds of adjustability. Last fall I hit the Ping G30, hated the look, hated the sound, but it was crazy easy to hit. Being a high launch, speed, and spin guy I was waiting for something stupid forgiving and low spin. Enter the Ping G30 LS Tec. One rainy day I stopped at the PGA Superstore to kill some time, and unfortunately for me they had a G30 LS in my specs. Flip flops and all, it took about five swings in the simulator and I was at the register…

 

Out with the old, in with the new

I have absolutely no problems admitting that I am a bonafide club hoe. I don't know if it's that I get bored with current equipment or if it's an addiction or what. But hey, it's cool. I would much rather be addicted to golf equipment than strippers and cocaine. At least that's what I tell my wife!

 

Every golf season, I get pretty much every “new and improved” driver that comes out from every company. Why? Because I can and because I want to. Being in my early 30's and fat and out of shape, my golf swing sucks; but somehow (smoke and mirrors mainly) I am still a decent player who can generate some speed. I'm not out there getting anything high launch or high spin or uber forgiving; it's not that I have an ego, but with my shitty swing those are just terrible fits for me. With that being said, my “gamer” driver for the better part of about 6 or 7 seasons has been the exact same. It's not forgiving, not even close to being easy to hit, but I'm comfortable with it and it is DAMN long. It is a 7.5* Adams Speedline Classic DF Prototype at 45.5” long with a Matrix Ozik Altus 2007 Proto with D7 swing weight. Basically a man's driver and sheer beauty. My driver is also very anti-left and I prefer to hit about a five yard cut with it off the tee; however, I can turn it over when I want or don't want. Here's an address pic-

 

Now for the challenger- the Ping G30 LS Tec. This thing is ugly as sin! Turbulators? You're joking, right? This head shape is atrocious. The club looks like it's about 7* upright. When I lay it down it sits about 3* open. Not kidding, take a look-

 

Now here's what it looks like when I “fix it” at address. Not bad, but still ugly.

 

Did I happen to mention that the G30 sounds god awful? My Speedline is fairly muted at impact. This G30 sounds like a damn TPX baseball bat! The sound of the G30 is annoyingly loud- not quite Nike Sumo SQ, but close. Figured I can fix that with hot melt, but have also heard of putting cotton balls in the head to fix the sound. So that's always an option. My iPhone microphone isn't the greatest sound bite, but here's a clip of how bad this thing sounds at impact-

 

https://soundcloud.com/user730657496/g30-ls

*no idea how to use this soundcloud site and i think i uploaded both into one? so it somehow is going to play a loop of the old and then the new? there is a difference, very subtle but there is!

 

When in the simulator at PGASS I only hit five balls because the sound was that bad, not because I “instantly knew it was love at first sight.” So, cotton ball treatment it is!

 

Fixing the sound

This is actually a pretty easy process, and using cotton balls in the driver head is technically “illegal” unless you have them fixed in the head. They don't weigh much so no worries about changing swing weights. I used four large cotton balls and have heard of guys using as few as two or as many as 16 to change the sound-

Grab four cotton balls...

Then I shredded the cotton balls.

I weighed my driver head and it came out to 199 grams with the weight installed. The back weight weighs 9 grams as I weighed that individually as well. After removing the back weight, I found a golf tee with a similar diameter to stuff the cotton balls with.

I am sure there is a quicker, easier way of doing this. But, patience is a virtue and I don't mind.

 

 

IMG_5045.MOV

 

After installing the four cotton balls, the head weight of the G30 LS Tec head went up an enormous two grams. I figured, well that's not so bad. If it doesn't mute it enough, I can always add more. To the range we go! Here is the new sound:

 

https://soundcloud.com/user730657496/g30-ls-post-cb

*no idea how to use this soundcloud site and i think i uploaded both into one? so it somehow is going to play a loop of the old and then the new? there is a difference, very subtle but there is!

 

Like I said previously, not sure if you can tell over my iPhone microphone, but this thing sounds like a freaking HOWITZER now! Much more muted sound. I am content with the weight and sound, so I put a little bit of rattle stop in there to secure the cotton balls and make the club “legal.”

 

Performance on the Range

Not a huge range rat, usually, and when I do practice the majority of my time is working alignment with 6 or 8 irons and working at the same target trying to hit a variety of shots- draw, fade, low, and high with each. I don't really “work the ball” like that on the course unless I have to, but this way of practicing gets me more comfortable with my swing. I don't like hitting the same shots over and over and over.

This time I wanted to make a point of hitting driver. For comparison purposes I hit five balls with my old driver and seven with the G30. First two with the G30 were MASSIVE snap hooks. I'm talking so bad, the houses on the left side of OB weren't in danger, but the ones across the street from them were! I'm thinking to myself, oh no what have you done! This driver is shorter, lighter than and not nearly as anti-left as my previous gamer. So the next five balls I put some cut swings on and dear lord. All five balls were straight as a string, much flatter trajectory than my gamer, and I instantly think “Ladies and Gentleman, we have a producer!”

 

Performance on the Course

The very next day I was scheduled to play in a Pro-Am at a course that I know better than any. I figured it would be a great day to test it out because I know where my ball normally ends up out there. It would also be a great day to test it out because the guys in my group all know how I hit my old gamer and they would be extremely critical if I were hitting this thing worse. Being that it was a scramble and I didn't really have any big “pressure” tee shots where it was adamant that I got one in play, I think I am going to need to review this a little further before I can really justify an on-course review. The day was also rather cool- low 60's and extremely soft and damp, so it was hard to figure distance. I will tell you one thing, this driver is ungodly forgiving in comparison to my old gamer. I don't think I missed a fairway by more than 10 yards left or right all day. For me, that is extremely rare! With me not playing much I'm good for one “WTF was that?!?” type tee ball each round. I'm talking TW like misses into opposite fairways!

 

 

 

Performance Notes

I will be playing a round tomorrow, so I will edit this part with round two information Thursday.

 

 

Subjective

Looks

Describe the following:

• General shape is very odd to me, but considering this is a modern driver, no surprises
• Graphics are very understated and what you would expect from a brand such as Ping
• The blue, grey, silver, black color scheme works for me, I like it
• The matte black finish on the top is fantastic! No glare, maintenance free, love it!
• The Turbulators are stupid, but I guess they work? #science
• The finish on the face is very cool, reminiscent of a raw set of Vegas I once had
• Shaft graphics are cool and I like the silver ion plate look

 

Sound and Feel

Before I treated the driver to mute it, it was obnoxiously loud, but now it sounds and feels fantastic.

• Shaft feels good, little lighter than what I'm used to, but smooth we'll see if it stays
• Stock grip sucked, so I put a Super Stroke TX1 on there and am happy
• The sound of the driver is good, I may make a decision to add more cotton balls in the future, but we'll see.
• The SW is very light, lighter than what I'm used to. Interested in seeing how that plays out. If I change the shaft, I may want to add more cotton balls as well.

Conclusion

Ping makes three different G30 drivers to fit the mass population. If you haven't yet hit one, do yourself a favor and find one that fits your game. This driver is stupid forgiving, long, and looks pretty darn good! If the sound has been turning you off, that is a terrible excuse. I showed you how to fix it, and if you're married, chances are you have everything you need at home to fix it for free!

 

The Five

1. Will the Ping G30 LS Tec go in your bag? Why or why not?

This is the first real contender for a driver spot in my bag for a long, long time. I am going to give it a fair shake. Unless I can get my hands on a 915 D4!

1. To whom, if anyone, would you recommend the Ping G30 LS Tec? Why?

Anybody who fights the high spin kite shot off the tee and are looking for something forgiving I would recommend this to them. During my round, one of my playing partners who has the regular G30 hit my driver all day. After the round he bought a G30 LS Tec driver.

1. How, if at all, did the G30 LS Tec change your overall impression of Ping Golf?

I've always thought of Ping Golf to be one of the greatest in the industry and this driver further proves that. Their customer base is extremely loyal and I don't blame them. Ping makes a great product and stands by it as their customer service is well known as being one of the best. Their pricing structure allows for the loyal customers to feel good about their purchases.

1. What feature would you change or eliminate from the next generation of this model?

I don't really know the science behind these crazy Turbulators, but if they only get you one or two mph in club head speed, I don't know if I would really take that. Ten yards to me isn't much. Maybe keep them in the regular and SF Tec models.

1. What feature do you really like, and would most like to see continued or evolved in future models?

I really like the matte black finish and hope it stays for a long time. I also love the way the metal looks on the face- almost like a raw back look. Very cool.

[Mr_Theoo]

Great review. I really want this driver but need to spend my money on short game at the moment. The cotton ball thing was cool but what if you hated the new sound is there anyway to get them out?

[apprenti23]

Great review. I really want this driver but need to spend my money on short game at the moment. The cotton ball thing was cool but what if you hated the new sound is there anyway to get them out?

I knew that I prefer a muted sound and that is the only thing that adding the cotton balls would achieve; therefore making it instantly better I guess I could burn them out? hahaha

 

I have heard of guys using yarn or plastic bags in the same fashion and being able to then pull it out if they didn't like it.

[mizuno_lover]

Great review Apprenti makes me want to give the LS The another chance and try.  I took it out on the course and hated it.  Probably won't hurt to take it out and hateit again.  I read reviews like this and think what's wrong with me.  Oh well, whatever lalalalala. Hi ho hi ho its off to the range I go

[Kanoito]

Nice review!

Low-spin and forgiving! That sounds like a contender to kick out my current gamer.

Speaking of old Ping drivers... the only one I ever liked was the Rapture V2

[Sluggo42]

The sound lip was weird, but you could definitely hear the difference between before and after. Cool addition!

[fozcycle]

Great review apprenti,  however, you did not state that once you stuffed the head with cotton there is no reversal..........LOL.

[Kanoito]

Great review apprenti,  however, you did not state that once you stuffed the head with cotton there is no reversal..........LOL.

 

Pour a little lighter fluid and light it up?

[apprenti23]

Pour a little lighter fluid and light it up?

I'm actually going to add four more to the head... It's just a tad loud and light still. I almost have it at point and shoot for a baby fade off the tee.

[dhayse32]

Every golf season, I get pretty much every “new and improved” driver that comes out from every company. Why? Because I can and because I want to. Being in my early 30's and fat and out of shape, my golf swing sucks; but somehow (smoke and mirrors mainly) I am still a decent player who can generate some speed. I'm not out there getting anything high launch or high spin or uber forgiving; it's not that I have an ego, but with my shitty swing those are just terrible fits for me.

 

I couldn't have said this better myself.  This sounds EXACTLY like me!

 

Great review, very well put together.  I tried the LS Tec out and hated everything about it except the performance.  It was short as hell, ugly, and I don't even want to discuss the sound anymore!  Had I put the cotton balls in it I might still have it, but I didn't so it is gone! 

 

And like you, would love to try a D4, but after seeing a used one on another forum selling for $750, I think I'll pass for a while!

[Kanoito]

I couldn't have said this better myself.  This sounds EXACTLY like me!

 

Great review, very well put together.  I tried the LS Tec out and hated everything about it except the performance.  It was short as hell, ugly, and I don't even want to discuss the sound anymore!  Had I put the cotton balls in it I might still have it, but I didn't so it is gone! 

 

And like you, would love to try a D4, but after seeing a used one on another forum selling for $750, I think I'll pass for a while!

 

Excuse my ignorance, but what makes a D4 so expensive compared to previous offerings?

[apprenti23]

D4's are MOTO- made only to order. Supply and demand is why the price is higher.

[Fireinthehole]

Interesting review and a great read to boot!

I would agree 100% about how much I hated the driver sound. I didn't go with the ping g30 because most of my misses are heel hits and I snapped the demo club I tested...

The LS tech might encourage me to try one out again.

 

D4 is an anomaly. Bigger than the D3 but lower spinning???

[~^~]

I hit the G30 LS at Golfsmith. Aside from being more muted in sound, the Callaway XR was longer. It also has turbulaors and a matte black finish which is easy to clean. The XR was at least 10 yds longer for me, and I bought it.

[revkev]

Nice review I'm going to be looking at a variety of drivers this winter. Something in this line will be among them. The Cleveland black has been an eye opener for me, so easy to hit.

[Blade]

Very nice review! Just wondering though, isn't the hosel hole open to the body of the head so you could stuff cotton balls in through there instead of the tiny weight port?

[mbrodeur86]

Never got a chance to hit this season's Pings as they were not at the demo day this year. I really liked the G25 driver. It almost won me over.