After hitting the Ping G440 Max, I think it may have set the new gold standard for fairway woods

I reviewed the Ping G440, which could well be the most popular fairway wood of 2025. Find out what it brings to the party and why I think it has set the new gold standard for fairway woods.

Ping have often set the benchmark with some of the best fairway woods, consistently delivering models that outperformed their predecessors in speed, forgiveness, and aesthetics. That tradition continues with the Ping G440 Max fairway wood, the latest evolution in Ping’s storied lineup.

Trusted by Major champions and everyday golfers alike, Ping’s fairway woods have always combined Tour-level performance with game-improving technology for millions of players worldwide. With the G440 fairway woods, Ping has taken that legacy even further, crafting their most refined and high-performing lineup to date.

The G440 fairway family builds on Ping’s reputation as a tour-preferred option by introducing a redesigned face structure and a low CG system. The face is now 7% taller, offering a confidence-boosting look at address, especially off the tee. Ping aimed to create a fairway wood that “still performs great off turf but better off the tee” while maintaining a CG position optimized for high-launching performance from any lie.

Strategically optimizing the face thickness in the heel and toe regions enhances forgiveness, ensuring consistent ball speeds even on off-center strikes. Each model in the lineup is tailored to suit different player profiles, with head shapes and launch conditions fine-tuned for various swing types.

The Ping G440 fairway woods are part of a broader family that includes drivers, hybrids, and irons. To explore the full lineup, check out these detailed guides:

• Everything you need to know about Ping G440 drivers
  
• Everything you need to know about Ping G440 hybrids
  
• Everything you need to know about Ping G440 irons

The Ping G440 fairway wood lineup includes three models, each designed for specific needs. The Ping G440 Max is expected to be the most popular, offering broad appeal with five loft options, including a 4-wood for the first time. “The 4-wood gives players a higher launch than a traditional 3-wood while providing more control and versatility,” explained Travis Milleman, Ping’s Design Engineering Manager. “We added both a 4-wood and a 5-wood in the Max model to fill gaps and provide more fitting options.”

Whether it’s the Max, SFT, or LST model, Ping continues to cater to a wide range of golfers. With options offering high-launch forgiveness, spin reduction, or slice correction, the Ping G440 fairway woods are designed to elevate your game and deliver performance you can trust.

Looks, Sound, and Feedback: 5/5

The Ping G440 Max fairway wood is designed to appeal to a wide range of golfers, making it the most versatile and likely the most popular club in the lineup. This head is built for the masses, offering a profile that suits players of all skill levels while retaining enough forgiveness and performance to cater to seasoned players.

The taller face profile is one of its standout features. While the previous shallow design worked for some, the added height inspires more confidence at address, particularly for golfers who might have found the older look less appealing. Visually, the dull matte finish of the CarbonFly wrap gives the club a sleek, modern aesthetic. From afar, the faded carbon detailing on the crown is subtle, but up close, it adds a touch of sophistication that enhances the overall appeal.

Ping has gone for a minimalist approach with the Ping G440, removing all graphics from the crown and sole – a decision I wholeheartedly applaud. The clean, uncluttered design is complemented by a perfectly centered grey alignment dot atop the white grooves on the face, borrowed from the Ping G440 hybrids. This thoughtful feature makes aligning shots incredibly easy, giving players one less thing to consider.

At address, the club sits flush to the ground, with proportions that feel just right – not too big or small. The aerodynamic head shape looks fantastic from every angle, and both on the turf and off the tee, the Ping G440 Max has a profile that inspires confidence. As Goldilocks might say, the head shape is “just right.”

The sound and feedback of the Ping G440 Max are equally impressive. Impact produces a crisp, clean sound that provides instant feedback on shot quality – enough to let you know when you’ve nailed it, but not so loud as to be intrusive. There’s nothing distracting about the head design; it’s clean, modern, and arguably Ping’s best-looking wood since the G410, which I absolutely loved.

Distance and Spin: 4/5

When it comes to fairway woods, versatility is key. I want a club that performs just as well off the ground as it does off the tee, and the Ping G440 Max delivers on both fronts. In a world where competition from mini-drivers is becoming more common, it’s reassuring to have a fairway wood that is reliable and effective no matter the situation. The Ping G440 Max feels like a true all-rounder, offering consistent performance and adaptability across different lies.

While distance is important, modern fairway woods are already on the cutting edge in that department. What I look for now is a balance between distance and other key attributes—launch, spin, and control. The Ping G440’s lower and deeper CG location plays a huge role in achieving that balance. Similar to the Ping G440 hybrids, this placement ensures that launching the ball into the air is effortless. The result is a higher launch angle paired with a penetrating ball flight, all while maintaining spin levels that are manageable and predictable.

The Ping G440 doesn’t stand out as the longest fairway wood I’ve tested – my current PXG Black Ops fairway wood holds its own in terms of raw distance. However, where the Ping G440 really shines is its ability to consistently launch the ball higher without sacrificing forgiveness. That’s something I’ve struggled to achieve with other models, and it’s a big reason why the Ping G440 could easily find a place in my bag.

It’s not just about height, though. The Ping G440 Max offers a degree of shot-shaping versatility that adds to its appeal. For instance, when you have a fairway wood that reliably carries 220 yards while also offering stopping power on the green, it becomes a serious asset for reachable par 4s and shorter par 5s. It’s one thing to hit a ball far; it’s another to have it stop where you want it to. The Ping G440 accomplishes both with ease.

In summary, the Ping G440 Max fairway wood is more than just a distance machine. It combines a forgiving design with high-launch capabilities and dependable spin control, making it a great option for golfers seeking versatility and performance. Whether you’re looking to hit it long off the tee or land it softly on the green, this fairway wood has you covered.

Forgiveness and Control: 5/5

Forgiveness has always been Ping’s strong suit, and with the PIng G440 fairway wood, they’ve taken it to another level. The introduction of the free hosel design has enhanced consistency across the face, particularly in the heel. Shots struck in less-than-ideal locations still launch with impressive speed and stability, a testament to Ping’s continued innovation in club design. The results are evident when hitting balls—off-center strikes simply perform better than ever before.

By saving weight through the free hosel design and combining it with a taller face profile, Ping has crafted a club that inspires confidence at address. The increased face height not only looks great behind the ball but also ensures a high launch, whether you’re hitting from the turf or the tee. Impressively, they’ve achieved these improvements without altering the club’s CG location, maintaining the high-launching, low-spinning characteristics that golfers love.

One of the standout features of the Ping G440 is how well it sits at address, even when the loft and lie are adjusted. Unlike some adjustable clubs that lose visual appeal when settings are tweaked, the Ping G440 maintains a clean and inviting look. This attention to detail makes a big difference for players who want versatility without compromising aesthetics or performance.

Another highlight is the consistency of performance across the clubface. Mishits off the heel or toe don’t drop out of the sky or lose excessive distance. Instead, they remain playable, adding a layer of forgiveness that will appeal to golfers of all abilities. Whether it’s a drive off the tee or a recovery shot from an awkward lie, the Ping G440 proves it’s built to perform in all situations.

The Ping G440 fairway wood’s contoured sole ensures the club sits flush on any surface, making it easy to hit from nearly any lie. Be it the second cut, a bare patch, or even a fairway bunker, the Ping G440 feels effortless to swing and delivers dependable results. After two years of incremental improvements, it’s clear that Ping’s refinements in face design and overall playability have paid off handsomely on the course. This is a fairway wood you can trust to elevate your game in any scenario.

Technology and Components: 5/5

The standout feature of the Ping G440 fairway wood is the Free Hosel Design, a simple yet innovative engineering solution that saves weight in the hosel area and redistributes it low and back in the clubhead. This redistribution results in a lower center of gravity (CG), enhancing forgiveness and launch performance. It’s a wonder why no one thought of this earlier, as it makes the club more versatile and appealing to a broader range of golfers.

Ping’s attention to adjustability ensures that the G440 fairway wood can be tailored to fit any golfer’s game. With a variety of loft options and an 8-position hosel, the club offers plenty of flexibility to help golfers dial in their preferred trajectory and shot shape. Whether you’re filling gaps in your set or fine-tuning your launch angle, the Ping G440 provides all the tools needed for optimal performance.

Building on previous successes, Ping has incorporated a high-strength, variable-thickness maraging steel face that extends into the crown and sole. This design maximizes face flex at impact, producing faster ball speeds and higher launch angles. It’s a proven technology that continues to deliver, and when hitting the Ping G440, it’s clear that some elements don’t need reinventing – they just work.

The reimagined sole design deserves recognition as well. It allows the club to sit flush to the ground in various lies, whether in the fairway, rough, or even a bunker. Paired with the CarbonFly Wrap crown, which contributes to a total weight saving of around 20 grams, the Ping G440 feels effortless to swing and offers exceptional forgiveness. These refinements add up to a club that’s as forgiving as it is versatile.

Ping’s approach has always been about evolution rather than revolution, finding ways to enhance what already works. With the Ping G440 fairway wood, they’ve made an already excellent product even better. By incorporating thoughtful improvements like the Free Hosel Design, optimized face flexing, and weight-saving technologies, Ping continues to set the bar for performance and playability in the fairway wood category.

Overall: 19/20

The Ping G440 Max fairway wood is a versatile all-rounder that combines forgiveness, high-launch capabilities, and dependable spin control, making it a must-have for golfers of all skill levels. Its taller face profile inspires confidence at address, while the minimalist, modern design—including a sleek CarbonFly Wrap crown and uncluttered alignment aids—cements its place as Ping’s most visually appealing fairway wood since the G410.

Delivering a crisp, clean sound at impact, it provides instant feedback without being intrusive, enhancing the overall playing experience. With a high-launching, low-spinning design and a contoured sole for effortless performance from any lie, the Ping G440 Max excels whether you’re hitting it long off the tee or landing it softly on the green. The club’s balance of distance, shot-shaping versatility, and playability, combined with Ping’s thoughtful innovations, I think, sets a new standard for fairway woods.

About the Author

Will Shreeve-Peacock – Golf Equipment Writer

Will is an expert in golf shoes, GPS watches, rangefinders, and training aids.

He has a degree in journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and four years’ experience working in golf retail with American Golf where he was trained by a host of the big-name manufacturers.

A six-handicapper, Will has played golf for more than a decade and is a member at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Price $385 / £350

Launched January 14, 2025 | On sale Jan 30, 2025

Lofts 3W-15º; 4W-17º; 5W-18º; 7W-21º; 9W-24º. HL (High Launch) version available in all lofts.

Stock shafts Ping Alta CB Blue 65 (SR, R, S); Ping Alta Quick 35/45 (HL build)

Optional stock shafts Ping Tour 2.0 Chrome 65/70 (R, S, X); Ping Tour 2.0 Black 65/70 (S, X); Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black 75 (S, X); PRJX Denali Red 60 (5.5, 6.0, 6.5); PRJX Denali Red 70 (6.0, 6.5)

Stock grip Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet in six sizes (Blue -1/16” Red -1/32”; Aqua -1/64”; White-Std, Gold +1/32”; Orange +1/16”)