Ping G5 Driver > Reviews > Ping !!

Author's product rating:   

Durability	Good
Comfort	Good
Control	Good
Value for Money	Good
Material	not applicable

Advantages:	Reasonably priced .  Long .
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Due to the new R&A rules on Drivers and the limits on the trampoline effect the face can have (COR) I was forced to get rid of my Taylor Made XR-03.

After a little looking around and trying a few of my friends driver (Titleist and King Cobra mainly) I decided to give a ping G5 a try. Recently Ping brough out a newer / updated driver (the G10) priced at about £180 so I hoped the G5 would come down significantly but sadly not, they were still retailing for about £145 / £155, so I set about getting one from e-bay, where generally they retail at between £80 and £95 - much more reasonable.

The 460cc titanium head is best described as round with a deep face (as opposed to the more elongated profile and shallower face of some newer drivers) and finshed in black with a white half moon (including a small black line in the middle) to assist with alignment.

Various lofts are available (7.5°, 9°, 10.5°, 12° and 13.5° which is virtually a 2 wood), I opted for the 9 which gives a good flight, high enough to clear trees etc but still some penetration. The weights in the head are distributed to increase stability, forgivness and control and given the loft on mine I would agree, of course a bad swing is always going to give a bad result but the head is forgiving.

The are also many options in terms of shafts and shaft flex. As standard the G5 comes with Pings own shaft however mine has a stiff Aldila NV65 shaft. The club is well balanced when swung but the head does tend to feel a little heavier just before impact on the downswing, this is very common with large headed drivers and does take a little getting used to. When struck the club makes a solid, realitely deep and muffled noise not a loud tinny one some of the newer drivers make and it does propel a long way at least as long as my old (and now illegal) driver

All in all I think the G5 is a great club for the price and if you see one at the right price definiely give it a go