Review: Ping G30 LS Tec Driver

Gamer 2015
As a product reviewer people often ask what clubs are you playing when you aren’t reviewing new ones.  While this doesn’t happen too often, obviously there is a point in the season when I’ve tried all the new drivers and need to pick one that will be in my bag, “the Gamer”.  I would say the race it tighter than ever this year, but after testing most of the new drivers, it looks like the Ping G30 LS is going to win the “Gamer 2015” title.

My game has certainly improved over the last 15 months because of volume of practice time I’ve been able to add to my schedule.  (coaching high school golf gets me on the course almost daily.)  I’m not a high handicap golfer any more, nor do I need game improvement clubs, but the easier and more forgiving a driver is, it still really helps my game.  In 2014 the G30 came out and it became known as the “Forgivenator”.  If you found the face at all, there was a good chance your drive would turn out OK; plus the turbulators offered high clubhead speeds.  The spin was low, but maybe not quite low enough, thus the creation of the LS Tec (Low Spin).  It reduces the spin around 400 rpms.  It adds a few yards to the carry and even more to the roll out, without losing forgiveness.

I went with the Tour 65 stiff shaft for this driver and it really worked out perfectly.  I had the TFC 419D High Balance stiff and Tour 80 stiff in the regular G30 and wanted to compare the Tour 65 to those shafts and it offers the right balance for me.  I still think the Tour 80 is the better shaft for me in the regular G30 but in the G30 LS Tec driver, the Tour 65 offers a little more feel with just a hair less weight for a better overall combo for my swing.  I went with a neutral setting for the 9* head and with the 45″ stock shaft length came in at D3.

We’ve had an early spring here in MN so I was able to get it on the grass already in March locally and then at Quivira Golf Club in Cabo San Lucas, MX.  At first I was a little concerned because it seemed like the launch angle went down from the G30 to the G30 LS.  It started out hitting low bullets.  There were straight and long, but didn’t offer as much carry as I wanted, nor did they roll out well on soft fairways.  But once I got my swing back, everything fell into place as expected.  Launch angle went up, carry was further and the roll out was huge.  In the dry conditions at Quivira, I had multiple drives get out there past 3 bills; one was over 350 (down hill aided).

The feel of this driver is really hot.  It has that G series slightly hollowness, which really offers “pop” at impact.  The pitch is a little louder and tinnier than the normal G30, but impact sensation is like an explosion off the face.  The launch is slightly flatter and lower than the regular G30.

Flightscope X2 Launch Monitor

Ping G30 LS Tec Driver

    • Spin: 2002 rpms
    • Launch Angle: 13.9*
    • Dispersion: 7.4 yds
    • Club Head Speed: 104.2 mph
    • Ball Speed: 154.8 mph
    • Total Distance:  279.1 yds
    • Carry Distance:  266.7 yds

Why is Ping G30 LS Tec going to be the 2015 Gamer?  Confidence is the main reason.  There are other new drivers with lower spin, there are some that look a little more traditional, there are those that sound a little better, but the over all package of the Ping G30 LS Tec is almost impossible to beat.  Long, straight, accurate, forgiving and hot make this my gamer for 2015.

For more information: www.ping.com


Quick Hits
+Lower Spin
+Super Forgiving
+Hot Feel
+Fast clubhead speeds
+More adjustable hosel