Struggling with a slice? Ping’s G440 SFT could be the fairway finder you need

Engineered to fight the slice with confidence-boosting speed and forgiveness. This isn’t just a fix, it’s a fairway finder with serious power.

The Ping G440 SFT is aimed squarely at golfers who struggle with a slice, but it’s no longer just a slice-fixer. Thanks to meaningful tech upgrades, it is one of the best drivers in 2025 as it now offers real performance gains, too. The G440 family as a whole takes the successful blueprint of the G430 series and subtly refines it. Ping haven’t disappointed.

The G440 SFT retains the same fundamental architecture as the Max and LST, meaning you’re getting all of the same innovations in face design, CG repositioning, and acoustic tuning, but with a heel-weighted setup and more upright lie angle to help reduce left-to-right spin. The result? One of the most forgiving drivers on the market driver it straightens out your drives while still packing serious performance under the hood.

Rather than spending months on a new name or flashy redesign, Ping has honed in on refining what made the G430 such a hit. After attending the G440 media reveal at Ping’s headquarters in Scottsdale late last year, it was clear that the engineering team’s philosophy is continual improvement, not reinvention. The Ping G440 family is essentially a polished evolution of the G430’s success.

The Ping G440 driver family consists of three models, each designed for different types of players. The Ping G440 Max will be the most popular, delivering the highest level of forgiveness, while the Ping G440 LST is geared towards players with faster swing speeds, offering lower spin. The Ping G440 SFT targets golfers struggling with a slice, with features designed to encourage a draw. But here we’re focusing on just one, the Ping G440 Max Driver.

The Ping G440 family also includes fairway woods, hybrids, and irons, all available for more in-depth exploration via the links below.

• Everything you need to know about Ping G440 fairway woods
• Everything you need to know about Ping G440 hybrids
• Everything you need to know about Ping G440 irons

Ping’s new G440 driver line aims to redefine performance, blending cutting-edge technology with the brand’s signature forgiveness. Key innovations, such as the deepest center of gravity (CG) ever in a Ping driver and a redesigned, shallower, and thinner face, deliver enhanced energy transfer, stability, and playability, ensuring exceptional results on every swing.

Looks, Sound, and Feedback: 4/5

Ping deserves real credit for giving the G440 SFT the same clean, premium aesthetic as the Max and LST models. From the matte CarbonFly Wrap crown to the subtle Turbulators and minimal sole graphics, it looks every bit like a tour-level driver, not a “fix your slice” club. That’s important because it removes any stigma around using a draw-biased head and gives the SFT broad appeal.

At address, the G440 SFT sets up slightly more closed and upright, and while that might not appeal to the purist, it’s a subtle but effective cue that helps inspire confidence, especially for players who tend to miss right. I found the head shape to be friendly and reassuring without looking oversized, and the contrast between the carbon crown and Turbulators makes alignment simple and distraction-free.

The sound is one of the best I’ve heard from a draw-biased driver. It’s more muted and solid than previous SFT models, offering a deep, powerful note that’s confidence-inspiring without being dull. Feedback through the hands is nicely balanced, you know when you’ve struck it well, but mishits don’t feel harsh or jarring. It’s a driver that feels as good as it looks, and that’s not something I’ve always been able to say about SFT models in the past.

Distance and Spin: 4/5

One of the long-standing criticisms of draw-biased drivers has been their lack of distance, but that’s simply not the case with the Ping G440 SFT. I was genuinely impressed by the ball speed and carry it produced during testing. Ping has clearly addressed the old narrative, thanks in part to the thinner, more responsive face and the optimized center of gravity. For golfers with moderate swing speeds or those looking for an easy launch, this driver really delivers.

Yes, the G440 SFT does generally spin more than the Max or LST models, but in this case, that’s actually a plus. The added spin helps players who struggle to keep the ball in the air, promoting a higher, more stable flight that carries well and stays online. It’s not chasing ultra-low spin numbers, nor should it. For its intended audience, the G440 SFT offers a really solid blend of launch, carry distance, and control.

There’s also a noticeable pop off the face that gives you a sense of energy transfer, even on less-than-perfect strikes. It’s not a bomber in the same way a tour-focused head might be, but the SFT is far from short, and with its added forgiveness and playable flight, that’s a tradeoff many golfers will happily make.

Forgiveness/Control: 5/5

This is where the Ping G440 SFT truly earns its stripes. While all three G440 models benefit from Ping’s Spinsistency tech, which helps maintain spin rates and ball speed on off-center strikes, the SFT takes forgiveness a step further. Its strong built-in draw bias and upright lie angle are specifically designed to reduce slice spin and help golfers square the face more easily through impact.

In practice, that design works incredibly well. Even when I caught one out of the heel, a shot that would usually flare out weak and right, the ball stayed on line with minimal curve. It’s not a miracle fix for poor swings, but it absolutely helps you stay in play more often, which is exactly what a draw-biased driver should do.

The level of control this club offers is ideal for its target golfer. It gives you confidence to swing freely, knowing the club is working with you rather than against you. For anyone who consistently fights a slice or struggles with directional consistency, the G440 SFT is one of the most helpful drivers I’ve hit in years.

Ping’s commitment to advancing technology is evident in every model, and the Ping G440 Max is no exception. A standout innovation is their “Spinsistency” technology, which optimizes the clubface design, grooves, and materials to deliver consistent spin performance across the entire face. Consistency minimizes spin drop-off on off-center strikes, ensuring that the ball flight, control, and accuracy remain reliable and predictable, regardless of where the ball makes contact with the face.

Tech/Components: 5/5

Like its siblings, the G440 SFT features Ping’s Free Hosel and CarbonFly Wrap crown, two innovations that help optimize center of gravity placement and deliver that solid, muted sound Ping drivers are known for. While the rear weight isn’t adjustable like it is in the Max or LST, it’s strategically fixed in the heel to produce that consistent draw bias. It’s a smart design choice that suits the SFT’s purpose without overcomplicating the setup.

The 8-position adjustable hosel remains, giving players the ability to fine-tune loft by ±1.5° and lie up to 3° flatter than standard. This extra bit of flexibility can help golfers dial in trajectory and strike conditions to get the most out of their swing. And while the SFT is the most “specialist” driver in the G440 range, it still shares the same premium tech DNA found in the Max and LST. There’s no compromise on engineering or materials here, it’s every bit a modern, high-performance Ping driver.

Overall: 18/20

The Ping G440 SFT is an outstanding option for golfers who need help straightening out their ball flight, especially those fighting a slice. But don’t make the mistake of writing it off as a one-trick pony. It’s fast, forgiving, and genuinely enjoyable to hit. The blend of draw bias, high launch, and stable ball flight gives you a real sense of control, even if your swing isn’t perfect.

What I loved most is how the SFT doesn’t scream “game improvement” at address; it looks and feels like a proper driver, with the added bonus of a built-in safety net. For mid-to-high handicappers who want to enjoy their time on the course more and lose fewer balls off the tee, this might just be the best driver Ping has ever made in this category.

Price $650 / £575

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

Lofts 9º, 10.5º

Stock shafts Ping Alta CB (counter-balanced) Blue 55 (SR, R, S); Ping Alta Quick 35/45 (HL build only)

Optional stock shafts Ping Tour 2.0 Chrome 65 (R, S, X); PING Tour 2.0 Black 65 (S, X); Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black 65 (S, X); PRJX Denali Red 50 (5.5, 6.0); PRJX Denali Red 60 (5.5, 6.0, 6.5); PRJX Denali Red 70 (6.0, 6.5)

Stock grips 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”)