thomasspears

This is looking promising 😁
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And now, the main event:
Combined Stage 1 and 2, written by STUDque,  30 August 2019 
 
BLUF
SPOILER ALERT: The Ping G410+ is the BEST driver I’ve ever hit.  Period.  This review could start and end with that but what good is a claim without proof?  Keep Reading.
About Me
Maybe not like Phil, but I hit bombs.  Or at least, now I do.  I’ve always had the luxury of distance off the tee but could rarely harness the power.  I’ve tried a lot of drivers with a lot of different shafts and way too many adjustment tool configurations.  Enter G410+
 Specs
Adam asked the forum staff to run through a TruGolfFit fitting and provide feedback…after I had already submitted my order for G410+.  This process made me both happy and sad.  Happy because the tool recommended G410+ as my top driver but sad because it selected a different shaft.  Feedback from an iron fitting I had last summer indicated I was hitting the ball too low with too much spin.  The solution was a higher launching, lower spinning shaft.  I did not get fit for this driver but I applied that concept to my selection when I chose the Tensei CK Orange and a 10.5* head.  The Tensei was the highest launching option available to me in X flex.  The different shaft recommendation from TGF brought nerves while awaiting delivery but, after the range and a few rounds, my concerns relaxed.  I’m not saying TGF is wrong (since I never did get to try the EvenFlow Black), but I am saying that the Tensei is a good fit for me.
 
Looks (10 out of 10 points) 
I love me some turbulators.  The decision to move away from the dragonfly was a wise one.  I didn’t hate the dragonfly look, but I didn’t exactly love it either.  Going back to smaller turbulators with some slight shape changes in the head really do it for me.  The ball is framed nicely without the need for a painted alignment aid.  The bottom graphics and badging look slick in red and black to bring the whole look together.  In my opinion, Ping has totally nailed the look.
 
Sound & Feel (9 out of 10 points)
The Most Wanted tests have shown us that sound and feel, while totally subjective, actually play a role in the user’s opinion of the club.  This leaves the door open for people to dislike the G410+ because this driver is loud.  KABLAMOOOOOO.  Not too far from a shotgun sound.  People know when you’ve hit and especially when you’ve really caught it.  On misses, it doesn’t sound like a different pitch, thud, whatever; it just changes in volume.  The better you’ve struck it, the louder it is.  I’ve uploaded portions of my session at Top Golf so you can hear it for yourself.  4 points for sound because I’m sure it’s not for everyone // Feel is top notch for both quality of life and quality of feedback.  Impact feels fantastic but you still manage to gleam feedback as to where on the face you made contact.  Due to the intense forgiveness, you wouldn’t know from the ball flight so the feel provides the little secret only you know.  5 points for feel, unmatched.
 
Basic Characteristics (20 out of 20 points)
Initially, the ball flight was on the high side at stock settings (weight in the middle and loft at a neutral 10.5*).  I tinkered a bit with my swing before deciding to bust out the adjustment tool.  After trying multiple options during a range session, I settled on the small “-” and the weight in the draw position.  This has been my sweet spot and it hasn’t been changed since.  Now, my ball flight is a mid-high and it’s cutting right through the wind but still high enough to clear most trees. 
 Around mid-summer, I fought a wipey fade pretty bad with all my clubs.  This prompted some aggressive practice at putting a draw back into my game.  While my swing isn’t always delivering, the club certainly is.  A proper draw swing yields a powerful draw flight for some extra roll out and placement.  I’ve given this some effort in the past with previous drivers and was only able to produce a severe hook, not a draw.  G410+ is giving me just enough to turn it over without hitting it off the planet. 
The incredible forgiveness has resulted in superb accuracy which, in turn, has resulted in optimal performance in pressure situations.  In case you didn’t follow, I competed in a stroke play amateur tournament this summer and finished T-1 in my flight (lost in playoff) thanks to some great driving.  The boom stick put me in Position A1 on almost every hole I pulled it.  As I mentioned in feel, you can really feel the strike location even if the ball flight doesn’t reflect it.  THIS is the biggest factor in forgiveness to me.  Nothing like hitting it off the heel but still flying 250 down the middle.  It can be your dirty little secret J
 Arccos captured some pretty staggering results driver over driver.  I realized a 44 yard, 17% increase from a driver smart distance of 256 all the way up to my new smart distance of 300 yards on the nose.  There is a LOT of data logged for both clubs so this is no fluke, G410+ is the real deal.  Don’t get me wrong, I had potential for 300+ in my last driver and every one before that, but the newfound consistency allows me to swing away with confidence and power.  I’m cranking driver over 300yards about half of the time I pull driver. Since I often need less-than-driver, this equates to 4-5 per round.  This would be fine if the drives were 301, 302, etc….but they’re getting out to 315, 320, and further with a longest of 331.  That long end of the distance is NOT something I used to have.  KABOOM is right!
 I couldn’t be happier with the basic characteristics of the G410+.  This baby has so much to offer to so many players.  Would you like to be straight and long?  Golf is the most fun it’s ever been for me thanks to this amazing wonder stick.
 
On-Course Performance (30 out of 30 points)
This has been a fantastic experience.  The i500 review from last year was a lot of fun, but there’s nothing like letting driver rip all summer.  On course, this baby performed amazingly.  I can count on my hand the number of poor shots I’ve hit with it.  This is the same number of drives that are the Indian’s fault.    Moreso, there’s a number of drives that were also the Indian’s fault but the arrow saved the day. 
 On course, I’m able to attack in a way I’ve never done before.  With this, comes a learning curve of selecting new targets and discovering the proper lines around the course.  That learning period brought some errors into play as well but I’m overall more dangerous on the tee. 
 Prior to this test, length wasn’t really holding me back from reaching Par 5’s in two…it was the accuracy AND length.  This summer, I’ve landed safely in GUR three times and converted one of them into an eagle.  That’s three more than I had all of last year or the year before combined.  Pretty staggering.  This straight length is giving me more chances at reaching these Par 5’s and being able to convert is a great feeling.
 I can’t say I’d change anything at all.  Maybe a new paint scheme for the next series just to keep people buying them but the performance is absolutely there.  Ping has totally nailed this one.  For many of my golfing years, I hadn’t really looked much at Ping due to the funky look they put on a lot of their clubs.  Recent years have opened my eyes to the sheer performance quality (and improved looks) of their lines from top to bottom.  I already looked at them as a legit player in the iron category but it’s great to see the performance carries all the way up to the big guy. 

Miscellaneous (8 out of 10 points)
The whole package has been delivered.  In addition to the performance qualities, the little creature comforts are fantastic as well.  The tool is easy to use and looks nice, plus the headcover is top shelf.  I’m typically a custom HC guy but I elected to use the stock HC for this test.  It slides on/off easily, carries a nice look, and has shown no signs of wear.  It’s also really nice that the usual corners have been cut into curves for an easier-to-wield offering.
 One thing I’ll ding the driver on here is the weight.  I don’t like the fact that it comes out and needs to be placed when deciding to move it.  I get that this is (or should be) a one-time adjustment but I believe the slider would’ve been a better choice.  There’s bound to be players that prefer the weight between Draw and Neutral or Neutral and Fade.  2 points off for that.
 
Play it or Trade it? (20 out of 20 points)
What do you think?  Absolutely, PLAY IT.  I love this driver to the moon and back and wouldn’t trade it for the world.  I’ll let other people give it a swing, but I don’t intend on letting it out of my sight.  The G410+ has transformed my game and I’m so thankful for this opportunity to test it.  Whatever price it’s listed at, it’s worth it.
 
Conclusion
Yes indeed, Ping G410+ is the best driver I’ve ever hit.  I did get the chance to demo other current-year drivers and still feel this way.  Top to bottom, it’s the best and you should give it a swing to see if it fits your game.  It’s got a deadly combination of distance and accuracy with just enough adjustability to create a setup suitable to most players’ games.  Couple this with a robust no-upcharge shaft offering and you’ve got yourself a winner.  Give it a try!
Final Score: (97 out of 100 points)
 
Epilogue:  I was a big fan of the texturizing on the face.  If you run your fingernail over it, it'll catch & rattle like teeny tiny iron grooves.  I can't say for certain, but it feels as if this roughness contributes to the forgiveness of the club.

 
Finally, a swing/contact/sound/flight video.  This was at the Top Golf at National Harbor, DC.  The net at the back is 200 yards away but I can't say how tall exactly it is.  Most of the shots were hitting the 4th & 5th section up and boinging back into play.  Very happy with the explosiveness and piercing flight.  According to the Top Golf data gatherer, exit speed hovered around 165mph for most shots.  
 
Thanks for reading!

Looking forward to seeing how much better the G410 is than some one their current equipment. Its great club and in some instances, the guys could benefit from the tech but most importantly getting the right fit with the shaft will make a world of a difference.

Great start all! Looking forward to stage 2 and seeing how they all play out for you.

Nice start boys 👏 I have the G400 LST in the bag and it's a beauty so I will be watching with interest to see how you all go....😁😎

My Stage 1 has been posted right here  ------>  Stage 1

Great start boys! I’ll be clicking the subscribe button for this one. Send it!

Great stuff so far.  @jlukes  I am surprised that the Ping G410 unseated the fitted TS2 so quickly.  I have always been under the expectation that the differences between 2 well fitted drivers would be fairly small.  I know you don't want to give away too much right now but I am curious if you saw more distance, better dispersion, or both?

Mitigation of the big miss was the big factor. Flat lie angle + weight in toe on the G410 is proving to be very beneficial. 

Hey Spies!!!! My stage-I is up. I hope you have a chance to check it out!!!
Digest it if willing and fire away with any questions or comments. I really didn't elaborate on my "initial impressions" so much, so reply here and I will be more than glad to answer your questions about anything about my experiences so far with this baby. Remember, I am here to help you and I want you all to have a great reading experience about it, so if there is anything I can help with, go ahead and respond here...Standing by.😎