Club Test 2011: Ping G15 drivers

From Golf Magazine (March, 2011)
Category: Game-Improvement Drivers
We tested: 9°, 10.5°, 12° with Ping TFC 149D graphite shaft

Key Technologies: Ultra-thin crown frees up six grams that get redistributed to the external sole weight. This plug helps to optimize the center of gravity for higher trajectories and reduced spin. The larger clubface (by 7 percent) increases ball speed and provides consistency across the face.

OUR TESTERS SAY: One of the top drivers tested; produces a steady pattern of consistent results.

PROS
DISTANCE: One of the longer hitters; several testers see improved spin and ball-speed numbers, which translates to longer shots than with own clubs; little distance loss on off-center hits.

ACCURACY/FORGIVENESS: Quite good results, directional misses are of little to no concern.

FEEL: Considered to be one of the best in the test — lively face pounds the ball; well-balanced club encourages an aggressive swing.

PLAYABILITY: Flat, mid-trajectory flight; shots don't balloon; fairly low-spin club for many testers.

LOOK: Typical Ping understated look; crescent-shaped marker on crown helps when addressing the ball.

CONS
Some testers are disappointed by the lack of clubhead adjustability based on other models tested; a few dissenters experience a harder, subdued feel on well-struck shots.

From Golf Magazine (ClubTest, February 2010)

Ping G15
We tested: 9°, 10.5°, 12° with Ping TFC149D graphite shaft; 9°, 10.5° with Aldila Serrano 60 graphite shaft

Company line: "An elongated face with more rear weight translates to 15 percent higher MOI than in G10. The G15 produces 0.75 degree higher launch, 1 mph faster ball speed on center hits (six yards more carry), and 2 mph more ball speed on off-center hits (10 yards more carry)."

OUR TESTERS SAY:
PROS: All-around strong performer, near the top of its class in all categories; a fine blend of distance and accuracy; low, boring trajectory; stable head through the impact zone leads to powerful, lively impact feel—the ball jumps off the face; responsive feedback regardless of impact location; G15 maintains distance despite your swing flaws; lots of directional help; low-spin club; many find it among the longest tested.

CONS: Longer shaft contributes to some inconsistency; for whatever reason, a minority of testers struggled to get maximum distance.

From Sports Illustrated Golf+ Equipment Issue (February 8, 2010)
The G15 provides maximum forgiveness that delivers distance and accuracy. Its titanium head is longer front to back and features Ping's patented ultrathin crown technology. A larger face increases ball speed as well as consistency across the hitting surface.

Ping G15 Draw
Category: Max Game-Improvement Drivers
We tested: 9°, 10.5°, 12° with Ping TFC149D graphite shaft

Company line: "The mass saved from our patented ultra-thin crown is positioned as an external sole weight to optimize the center of gravity (CG) for higher trajectories and reduced spin. The TFC149D high-balance-point shaft allows for a 5-gram increase in head mass (without increasing swingweight), which results in higher ball speeds and an increased moment of inertia."

OUR TESTERS SAY:
PROS: Tops for look, feel and forgiveness; consistently longer than testers' current drivers; the feel is just right between sharp and muffled; more responsive than the G10, center hits communicate a "crushed it" feel; draw-biased but not extreme—delivers gentle draws rather than duck-hooks that can plague other draw drivers; works as intended, corrects the big slice; improved alignment markings versus the G10; large effective hitting area; no ear-piercing sounds.

CONS: Swing a little too quick and shots go left; the grip can be rough on your hands.

From Golf Magazine (September 2009)
Ping is best known for groundbreaking game-improvement irons, major-winning putters and a total commitment to custom fitting. Recently, though, the company has also made its mark with long-hitting drivers (see G5, G10 and Rapture V2). Next on the tee: The super-charged G15.

The G15, on average, hits it higher, farther and with more forgiveness than the G10. An elongated face and more rear weighting results in 15 percent higher MOI (less heel-toe twisting) and improved inertia on shots struck high or low on the face, to maintain spin and ball speed. The G15 produces 0.75-degree higher launch, 1 mph faster ball speed on center hits (six yards more carry) and 2 mph more ball speed on off-center hits (10 yards more carry) than the G10. The external rear weight pad positions the CG to promote high trajectory with reduced spin rate.

The TFC 149D "high-balance point" shaft enables Ping to build a heavier head (5 grams more) than the G10. In this case, additional head mass increases ball speed without affecting swingweight or total weight.

From the Shop Blog (July 2009)
The shaft of the Ping G15 has a balance point closer to the handle area, which allowed designers to leave more mass in the head without sacrificing the overall balance of the club. Big deal you say? Well, more mass delivered at the same speed yields more power, which increases ball speed across the entire face.

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