Provides excellent levels of forgiveness, very confidence-inspiring look at address, slightly refined sole design looks fantastic, improvement across the board in terms of performance compared to G430 MAX
Cons
Enlarged head shape may not appeal to the better golfer, slightly duller feel at impact compared to G430 MAX, very expensive
PING G430 MAX 10K Key Features
Fixed Tungsten back weight: drives mass down and back to increase forgiveness and optimise the centre of gravity position
PING’s biggest head profile to date: larger, confidence-inspiring head helps square the golfer to the target and produces a less muted and slightly louder sound than the G430 MAX
Forged T9S+ titanium face: variable face thickness optimised for more flexing to ensure faster ball speeds
Carbonfly Wrap crown: lightweight composite that covers the crown and wraps into the heel/toe sections of the skirt to save weight and lower the CG for more ball speed
When PING announced it was launching a new driver this year, we have to be honest: we were quite surprised. Typically opting for a two-year product cycle, the brand has this year decided to build on the incredible success of the G430 range and produce a new, more forgiving head.
It is so forgiving, in fact, that it's gone straight into our best golf drivers buyer guide.
Forgiveness appears to be the main aim for club manufacturers this year, and one figure has become recognised as the gold standard for forgiveness. That figure is, of course, 10k MOI.
What are the benefits of 10k MOI, and what does it mean? Well, MOI is the measurement of how much an object twists at impact, so in the case of a driver, if it has a higher MOI, the face is prone to less twisting, leading to greater accuracy and more consistent spin.
The G430 was one of our favourite drivers of last year, so the 10k has some enormous boots to fill. To find out how it measured up to its older brother, we took it out on the course at the La Hacienda Links Course before looking at the raw data at Custom Golf Works in Woking.
Let's get into it.
Player Level
Although forgiveness is the key selling point for this driver, it has already been used by Cameron Champ, one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour.
So, although we would recommend this club more to high-handicap golfers looking to hit fairways more regularly, it can clearly also be utilised well by the most elite ball strikers in the world.
PING G430 MAX 10k
PING G430 MAX 10K: Looks and Feel
The first impression we had when we saw the G430 MAX 10k was just how big the head was. Despite remaining within the conforming size of 460 cc, this head looks absolutely vast.
Both from heel to toe and face to tail, the G430 MAX 10k is right up there with the biggest heads of 2024, with its only equal perhaps being the TaylorMade Qi10 MAX Driver.
The profile is considerably deeper than the G430 MAX, and towards the toe, there is a more pronounced curve back towards the face.
The finish of the crown will be very familiar for users of the G430 MAX, with PING's trademark turbulators and carbon wrap both taking centre stage.
The carbon wrap on the head now dominates more real estate on the crown, splitting the head almost 50/50 with the solid black matte finish.
The look of PING drivers often splits people into two crowds: those who like a busy crown and those who prefer a more classic head design that can typically be seen on that of a Titleist driver.
Personally, we love the look of this head; it not only looks like it would be physically impossible to miss the ball, but the overall design is reminiscent of a rocket ship, which also makes you feel like you're going to send the ball into orbit.
Flip the club over, and the instantly recognisable G430 MAX design has remained consistent with some slight refinements.
If we are honest, the green colour palette used for the G430 range wasn't one of our favourites; however, the 10k features only splashes of the colour, with the primarily black design broken up with a bold white PING logo and sharpened by the single back weight at the rear of the head.
Overall, the 10k is probably the sleekest-looking driver in the G430 family, and the small changes have made quite a noticeable difference to the overall look of the club.
In terms of feel and sound, the 10k is certainly louder than the G430 MAX from 2023. This should come as no surprise due to the larger head size; however, it's worth noting if you prefer a more muted sound at impact.
Where the 10k does fall down slightly is feel. Due to the larger head size, the sensation experienced at impact is quite dull. Across the face, it feels less lively than the G430 Max, which was a touch disappointing.
PING G430 MAX 10k
PING G430 MAX 10K: Performance and Forgiveness
PING G430 MAX 10K DRIVER
The key focus for the new 10k driver is forgiveness, but forgiveness comes in many shapes and forms: consistent spin, accurate start line, speed retention across the face, and offline dispersion.
To best test out the 10k, we put it head-to-head with the G430 MAX, and it's fair to say it has absolutely crushed its older brother in almost every category.
The first things to look at are spin and distance; spinning at 2826 RPM, the 10k span almost 1000 rpm less than the G430 MAX, which is far more optimal for achieving a piercing ball flight and improved accuracy.
That lower spin rate also lead to a vastly improved carry distance. The 10k, as you can see from above, was carrying just over 280 yards, which was a drastic improvement on the 265 carry distance we achieved with the G430 MAX.
On the face of things, these improvements are very impressive, but what made them even more striking was the consistency with which we were able to achieve them.
We found that especially on our more wayward strikes, direction, speed and spin stayed remarkably solid, even from well out of the toe.
It's worth mentioning this driver isn't going to solve your deepest, darkest nightmares off the tee, but what it will do is give you the best chance possible to keep the ball in play while also achieving very impressive distance and speed.
All in all, we were really impressed by the performance on offer from this driver and despite the G430 MAX setting a high bar, the 10k has had absolutely no problem at all pushing it even higher.
PING G430 Max 10k
Should you buy the PING G430 MAX 10k?
If you are looking to hit more fairways, then the 10k MAX is right up there with the best of the best.
We were really impressed with the G430 MAX in 2023, and it was going to take something special to improve it, but PING have succeeded in doing so.
The feel of the 10k has slightly dropped off from previous models, but when looking at the performance, there have been clear improvements to the new model across the board.
If you are a fan of the shape and look of PING drivers and want to upgrade, then the 10k is quite possibly the best driver it has ever made; the only trade-off is it's also the most expensive, coming in at a whopping £599.
Johnny joined GolfMagic as Reviews Editor in 2023 having worked for Sports Impact for two years as Head of Social Media, working alongside prominent golf brands including Galvin Green, Motocaddy and Wilson.
