Price
$600
Ping G440 LST
Price
$600
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matt martian photography
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Why We Like It
- Better players with faster swing speeds will benefit the most from this design’s use of multiple materials to produce a higher launch and less spin.
- This new version has a more rounded shape and a taller face for improved versatility off the tee as well as a muted sound.
- The lightweight titanium face features a new alloy that’s stronger, allowing it to be made 8 percent thinner for increased resilience across the face.
- A carbon-composite piece wraps around the back of the crown and into the rear skirt, saving weight to lower the center of gravity for less spin.
- The bottom of the club has an 85-gram tungsten soleplate (6 percent heavier than the previous model) to increase launch angle and reduce spin.
- A slimmer rear weight ensures the club rests closer to the ground for a consistent face angle regardless of the adjustable loft and lie settings.
- A redesigned interior section of the hosel frees up room for the heel side of the face to flex more efficiently and saves weight to maintain a lower center of gravity.
- Top 5 in Forgiveness, low-handicaps
- 15, 19 degrees (with an eight-way adjustable hosel)
what our testers said
handicap
- all
- low
- mid
- high
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List testers noted a confidence-inspiring, slightly larger head that plays lighter and swings effortlessly. Center strikes produce explosive ball speed, strong carry and forgiving toe/heel performance; turf interaction is excellent and it’s unusually easy to launch. Sound is loud and distinct. Trajectories varied: many found a high-launch, low‑spin profile with added run, while others saw a lower, penetrating flight—so it suits players seeking speed and forgiveness. One downside: limited workability on shot shape.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List panelists observed it looks more like a traditional 3‑wood and is extremely forgiving — toe and heel strikes still produce strong ball speed. Many found it easy off the tee and turf, with powerful carry; the low‑spin head can suppress trajectory for higher‑spin players while others saw a high launch. It resists turning over (ideal for hookers), delivers a loud, whip‑like impact, and isn’t very workable.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List panelists observed a roomy, easy-to-launch club with strong distance and ball speed, a soft/cushy face feel and an appealing profile. It's extremely forgiving—many praised tight dispersion and consistency on off-deck shots and heel/toe misses—and center strikes produced pure, penetrating, workable flight. Trajectory reports ranged from medium-high launch to a lower, penetrating flight on pure strikes. Looks and playability scored highly. One downside: it's noticeably loud at impact.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
COMMENT SUMMARY
Hot List testers noted a larger look that plays smaller and inspires confidence, with flat-black styling that feels exotic. It produced easy, repeatable distance: high-launch, low-spin shots with excellent ball speed, consistent center contact and superb turf/tee interaction. Very forgiving—toe misses held up without overhooking—and satisfying, distinct sound on solid strikes. Trajectories varied between high-launch and low, penetrating drives. One caveat: off-center hits could be more punishing left/right, though carry distance often remained.
Summaries generated from tester comments with the assistance of AI.
Wei
55, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
When you first grab this club, it really inspires confidence. Overall, it looks like the club wants to completely envelop the ball, ready to do what you want it to do. The sound, performance, the distance, the ability to get it high, the spin numbers, all of it was incredibly easy to generate. I didn't have to change my swing at all.
Jason
49, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
They made it look a little more like a traditional 3-wood. And I loved all that forgiveness!
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
It's got a more of a cushier feel off the face. It's got a nice profile. Looks ready to launch—and it is. Goes medium to high and the distance is very good. It's a launcher.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
Plenty of distance but I wanted more forgiveness.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
There is plenty of performance here and plenty of ball speed. The only issue is the trajectory is pretty low, so it's probably best for a higher-ball hitter.
SEE ALL (29)
Wei
55, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
When you first grab this club, it really inspires confidence. Overall, it looks like the club wants to completely envelop the ball, ready to do what you want it to do. The sound, performance, the distance, the ability to get it high, the spin numbers, all of it was incredibly easy to generate. I didn't have to change my swing at all.
Jason
49, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
They made it look a little more like a traditional 3-wood. And I loved all that forgiveness!
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
It's got a more of a cushier feel off the face. It's got a nice profile. Looks ready to launch—and it is. Goes medium to high and the distance is very good. It's a launcher.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
Plenty of distance but I wanted more forgiveness.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
There is plenty of performance here and plenty of ball speed. The only issue is the trajectory is pretty low, so it's probably best for a higher-ball hitter.
Anand
44, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I actually found it easier to hit off the deck than off the tee. Very forgiving. I think off the tee, I just couldn't keep the ball down. It was launching a little higher and I was losing a little distance. But off the deck—perfect launch angle, less spin, good distance and a pretty tight dispersion.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
I felt like this one had another gear to it. I got a high flight with low spin. I had great ball-speed numbers, too. It's more on the forgiving side than the workability side. Toe misses didn't overhook, which was good, they held their head up.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
It's super forgiving whether you hit it off the toe or the heel. When you find the sweet spot, it's absolute money. It is a little high launching for my liking, but the head's amazing. The sound's a little annoying.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
A little larger head that sets up nice to the ball.
Todd
62, Handicap 13
1 year testing
An incredible hitting experience off the tee and the turf. Interaction was also superior. I had this sensation of not wanting to stop hitting it.
BK
42, Handicap 2
10+ years testing
I couldn't turn it over, so this is the anti-left club for hookers. Really ideal for a lot of golfers. Great pop off the face. Easy off the tee and ground. Smooth through the turf.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Center strikes are pure and create a penetrating ball flight. The workability is strong, especially hitting fades.
Jamie
52, Handicap 7
3 years testing
I can really swing hard at it off the tee and get a great amount of ball speed. But off the turf, it was difficult to find the sweet spot.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
Pleasing, with some simplicity, to the eye. The Club is extremely forgiving. It launched high and produced straight, green-seeking shots. I could see this being great for long-approach shots. A terrific addition to the bag.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
It had a very distinct sound. It was one of the higher-flying fairway woods. Very playable and very forgiving. I appreciated the launch angle as it came off the club and thought that it had quite a bit of power. Easy to find the center of the face with consistent distance.
Ricky
47, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
Freakin pure. Sounded like you're cracking a whip at impact. And what you hear matched what you saw. The ball just kept going.
Megan
40, Handicap 0
2 years testing
Performance off the tee was really, really good. With this one, it was high launching and very easy to hit. Off the ground, shots were going quite far but way offline. I would play it off the tee, a lot.
Wesley
31, Handicap 4
3 years testing
Very forgiving fairway wood. Toe strikes, heel strikes, they still come off the face with good ball speed. It is not as workable as I would like, but it's more of a forgiving club. Just hit it straight and far, don't worry about curving it.
Scott
38, Handicap 16
10+ years testing
The flat-black paint makes it look like an exotic race car. The off-center hits were a little bit more punishing in terms of left and right. Still, carry distance was no problem to maintain. Its low, penetrating ball flight didn't hurt distance at all.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
My mis-hits were a lot more spinny. The club felt oversized, but it's still very light and moves through the air almost so easily that you might lose control. A hollow-ish sound at impact.
Robert
29, Handicap +2
2 years testing
The sound was noticeable. Very loud. It felt like a marshmallow, but it sounded like a gunshot coming off. It performed really well. I could hit every shot. If I wanted to hit a softer cut to land it softer, I could. If I wanted to let one launch, I could.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
Larger look to it but it played smaller. Love the performance. I was hitting high, five-yard draws time after time, even off a tight lie.
Jack
36, Handicap 1
3 years testing
The low-spin head kept my ball from getting up in the air. My one negative on this club was it was a little bit too low for me. If you are a high-spin player, this is the club for you. It really brings the ball flight down.
Jin
30, Handicap 10
2 years testing
I only had eight yards difference between my good hits and mis-hits. The ball flight is not high, which I really like. I think it will have more run, and the way I play—hitting it off the tee—I still get the distance that I need.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
The sweet-spot shots were satisfying, but I feared the mis-hits so it tempered my swing. The ball flight was low and driving. It was almost impossible for me to create a higher-flying shot.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
Good shots were very similar in performance but my misses were all over the place. It was easy to get it in the air. It felt soft without losing any firmness or power.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
It's a really loud club, but it's not pingy, which I don't mind too much because it doesn't echo. It's pretty consistent. On the misses, it might go five to 10 yards left to right, maybe a little lower, but roughly the same direction and distance every time.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
I like the forgiveness. Shots were equally easy to execute off the tee or ground. I really liked the high ball flight, too. I tended to hit the ball a little higher than average for me, but I got good results for the most part.
Alan
31, Handicap 3
2 years testing
Audibly loud and an almost hollow feeling, but if you can get over that, it does perform. It launches high with good carry distance. Tough to bring one out of the air, so it's more built for maybe a low-launch player.
Wei
55, Handicap 14
10+ years testing
When you first grab this club, it really inspires confidence. Overall, it looks like the club wants to completely envelop the ball, ready to do what you want it to do. The sound, performance, the distance, the ability to get it high, the spin numbers, all of it was incredibly easy to generate. I didn't have to change my swing at all.
Ryan
50, Handicap 10
8 years testing
Plenty of distance but I wanted more forgiveness.
Ryan
47, Handicap 12
3 years testing
I felt like this one had another gear to it. I got a high flight with low spin. I had great ball-speed numbers, too. It's more on the forgiving side than the workability side. Toe misses didn't overhook, which was good, they held their head up.
Todd
62, Handicap 13
1 year testing
An incredible hitting experience off the tee and the turf. Interaction was also superior. I had this sensation of not wanting to stop hitting it.
Matt
53, Handicap 11
4 years testing
Pleasing, with some simplicity, to the eye. The Club is extremely forgiving. It launched high and produced straight, green-seeking shots. I could see this being great for long-approach shots. A terrific addition to the bag.
Aaron
45, Handicap 16
1 year testing
It had a very distinct sound. It was one of the higher-flying fairway woods. Very playable and very forgiving. I appreciated the launch angle as it came off the club and thought that it had quite a bit of power. Easy to find the center of the face with consistent distance.
Scott
38, Handicap 16
10+ years testing
The flat-black paint makes it look like an exotic race car. The off-center hits were a little bit more punishing in terms of left and right. Still, carry distance was no problem to maintain. Its low, penetrating ball flight didn't hurt distance at all.
Daniel
34, Handicap 11
6 years testing
My mis-hits were a lot more spinny. The club felt oversized, but it's still very light and moves through the air almost so easily that you might lose control. A hollow-ish sound at impact.
Gary
38, Handicap 13
10+ years testing
Larger look to it but it played smaller. Love the performance. I was hitting high, five-yard draws time after time, even off a tight lie.
Jin
30, Handicap 10
2 years testing
I only had eight yards difference between my good hits and mis-hits. The ball flight is not high, which I really like. I think it will have more run, and the way I play—hitting it off the tee—I still get the distance that I need.
Shane
37, Handicap 12
6 years testing
The sweet-spot shots were satisfying, but I feared the mis-hits so it tempered my swing. The ball flight was low and driving. It was almost impossible for me to create a higher-flying shot.
Peter
58, Handicap 8
10+ years testing
It's got a more of a cushier feel off the face. It's got a nice profile. Looks ready to launch—and it is. Goes medium to high and the distance is very good. It's a launcher.
Wayne
61, Handicap 7
3 years testing
There is plenty of performance here and plenty of ball speed. The only issue is the trajectory is pretty low, so it's probably best for a higher-ball hitter.
Anand
44, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
I actually found it easier to hit off the deck than off the tee. Very forgiving. I think off the tee, I just couldn't keep the ball down. It was launching a little higher and I was losing a little distance. But off the deck—perfect launch angle, less spin, good distance and a pretty tight dispersion.
Matt
28, Handicap 7
2 years testing
It's super forgiving whether you hit it off the toe or the heel. When you find the sweet spot, it's absolute money. It is a little high launching for my liking, but the head's amazing. The sound's a little annoying.
Paul
64, Handicap 6
10+ years testing
A little larger head that sets up nice to the ball.
Chris
60, Handicap 8
1 year testing
Center strikes are pure and create a penetrating ball flight. The workability is strong, especially hitting fades.
Jamie
52, Handicap 7
3 years testing
I can really swing hard at it off the tee and get a great amount of ball speed. But off the turf, it was difficult to find the sweet spot.
Alejandra
27, Handicap 6
5 years testing
Good shots were very similar in performance but my misses were all over the place. It was easy to get it in the air. It felt soft without losing any firmness or power.
Skylar
27, Handicap 7
3 years testing
It's a really loud club, but it's not pingy, which I don't mind too much because it doesn't echo. It's pretty consistent. On the misses, it might go five to 10 yards left to right, maybe a little lower, but roughly the same direction and distance every time.
Thomas
61, Handicap 7
10+ years testing
I like the forgiveness. Shots were equally easy to execute off the tee or ground. I really liked the high ball flight, too. I tended to hit the ball a little higher than average for me, but I got good results for the most part.
Jason
49, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
They made it look a little more like a traditional 3-wood. And I loved all that forgiveness!
BK
42, Handicap 2
10+ years testing
I couldn't turn it over, so this is the anti-left club for hookers. Really ideal for a lot of golfers. Great pop off the face. Easy off the tee and ground. Smooth through the turf.
Ricky
47, Handicap 0
10+ years testing
Freakin pure. Sounded like you're cracking a whip at impact. And what you hear matched what you saw. The ball just kept going.
Megan
40, Handicap 0
2 years testing
Performance off the tee was really, really good. With this one, it was high launching and very easy to hit. Off the ground, shots were going quite far but way offline. I would play it off the tee, a lot.
Wesley
31, Handicap 4
3 years testing
Very forgiving fairway wood. Toe strikes, heel strikes, they still come off the face with good ball speed. It is not as workable as I would like, but it's more of a forgiving club. Just hit it straight and far, don't worry about curving it.
Robert
29, Handicap +2
2 years testing
The sound was noticeable. Very loud. It felt like a marshmallow, but it sounded like a gunshot coming off. It performed really well. I could hit every shot. If I wanted to hit a softer cut to land it softer, I could. If I wanted to let one launch, I could.
Jack
36, Handicap 1
3 years testing
The low-spin head kept my ball from getting up in the air. My one negative on this club was it was a little bit too low for me. If you are a high-spin player, this is the club for you. It really brings the ball flight down.
Alan
31, Handicap 3
2 years testing
Audibly loud and an almost hollow feeling, but if you can get over that, it does perform. It launches high with good carry distance. Tough to bring one out of the air, so it's more built for maybe a low-launch player.
NO REVIEWS
There are no tester reviews here.
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$400
This compact, low-spin model targets better players with above-average swing speeds who like to work the ball off the tee.
The multi-material head includes a 6-4 titanium body, a high-strength, lightweight 8-1-1 titanium face insert and a weight-saving carbon-composite crown.
An 80-gram tungsten weight pad pushes the center of gravity low and forward to decrease spin and increase energy transfer at impact.
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Wilson
Dynapower Carbon
$430
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$430
Designed with better players in mind, this model offers the lowest spin in Wilson’s fairway-wood lineup.
The thin carbon-composite crown lightens the head’s mass at the top and helps shift the center of gravity toward the bottom for reduced spin.
The variable-thickness face used AI analysis that considered thousands of permutations to optimize distance, launch and off-center performance.
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Wilson
Dynapower Max
$380
|
Golf Galaxy
GD SCORE
GD HOT LIST SCORE
Hot List Silver
$380
The Max is larger front to back and has a shallower face than the Dynapower Carbon. This should appeal to golfers looking for easier launch and forgiveness on mis-hits.
The variable-thickness face used AI analysis to consider thousands of permutations to optimize distance, launch and performance on off-center hits.
The variable-thickness crown includes four sections that are thinner than a credit card to save weight that’s relocated in the sole to optimize spin and increase launch.