Equipment
Ping G425 fairway woods, hybrid, and Crossover: Introducing Spinsistency
The all-new for 2021 Ping G425 fairway woods, hybrids, and Crossover share technologies designed to give golfers what they are always after: more distance and a more consistent ball flight.
When you combine the advancements in design and technology with the new more differentiated Max, LST, and SFT models—along with available fitting options—you get the best-performing Ping fairway wood and hybrid line to date.
Ping G425 fairway and hybrid technology
The G425 fairway woods and hybrids, share two new Ping innovations that come with the fancy titles of Facewrap Technology and Spinsistency. These technologies are designed to provide more ball speed and more consistent spin, especially from shots hit away from the sweet spot—which for most golfers is where contact generally occurs.

Facewrap is a high-strength maraging steel cup face with thinner sections placed towards the front of the crown and the sole to increase flex. Unlike the previous G410 fairways and hybrids, which had a maraging steel face insert, the G425’s cup face is one piece, which saves weight from welding allowing designers to reposition more mass.

According to Ping’s testing, the new G425 fairway woods offer a 1.5 mph ball speed increase compared to the previous model, which equates to roughly five extra yards on average. So how do golfers control and dial in this extra speed without increasing dispersion? Spinsistency!
Spinsistency is Ping’s new complex face curvature design that changes the bulge (side to side curvature) and more importantly the roll (top to bottom curvature) of the clubface to normalize or tighten the standard deviation of spin resulting in more consistent results, most noticeably with 2.5-degree decrease in loft towards the bottom of the face. The performance benefits are especially noticeable on shots hit lower on the face, which is where misses commonly occur with both fairway woods and hybrids.

Just like the G425 driver, the fairway woods and hybrids feature a tungsten sole weight strategically placed depending on the model to increase MOI and create spin and direction biases.

There is one familiar thing noticeably missing from the new G425 fairway woods and hybrids—turbulators. Ping has admitted many times in the past that this feature was always intended as an alignment aid rather than something to improve aerodynamic performance. They have been replaced with a smooth crown that uses a highly effective three-dot system. Ping has always had a focus on helping golfers align better using various techniques (see Heppler putter below).

2021 Ping G425 fairway models
Ping G425 Max

The Max model is the one that is going to fit the widest amount of golfers on the launch conditions bell curve. Instead of looking at golfers by age or other visible factors, it’s much more productive for engineers and designers to look at golfers using their launch dynamics.
The Max is a neutrally biased head and has the highest MOI for total forgiveness.
The G425 Max fairway wood is available in 3-wood (14.5 degrees), 5-wood (17.5 degrees), 7-wood (20.5 degrees), and 9-wood (23.5 degree)
Ping G425 LST

The G425 LST fairway wood, like the driver, is intended for golfers who need spin reduction.
Compared to the previous G410 LST, the new G425 spins on average 200 RPM less on center strikes and a remarkable 450 RMP on lower face strikes, thanks to improved CG location and the Spinsistency face. When you consider the average 3-wood spins between 3,200-3,800 RPM, that is a significant improvement.
Ping’s internal player testing shows this spin reduction combined with the additional ball speed from the Facewrap cup face both improves total distance by close to 10 yards and dispersion by a significant factor.

The G425 LST fairway wood is available in 3-wood (14.5 degrees) only
Ping G425 SFT

The G425 SFT fairway has been differentiated more than the previous G410 from the standard G425 Max to create more left bias in the club to help stop slicing. This is achieved with the head shaping combined with the more heel-biased tungsten weight in the back of the head.
From testing, the G425 SFT is six yards more left bias than the previous G410 SFT and almost a colossal 20 yards more left bias that the G425 Max in the standard-setting. When you include the ability to further close the face with the adjustable hosel, you get even more slice-killing power.
The G425 SFT (Straight Flight) is available in 3-wood (16 degrees), 5-wood (19 degrees) and 7-wood (22 degrees).
Ping G425 hybrids

The best way to describe the Ping G425 hybrids is as mini iron replacing fairway woods. They share all of the same Facewrap and Spinsistency technologies as the G425 fairways but are intended to launch higher and stop faster to create playable trajectories for golfers that need stopping power—all the way down to a 7-iron-replacing 34 degree.
Ping continues to offer an adjustable hosel in the G425 hybrids, allowing golfers and fitters to fine-tune trajectory and launch windows as well as helping faster players a way to create more fade bias into their hybrids by making them play flatter.

The Ping G425 hybrids are available in 2 (17 degrees), 3 (19 degrees), 4 (22 degrees), 5 (26 degrees), 6 (30 degrees), and 7 (34 degrees).
G425 Crossover

If you are a golfer looking for hybrid performance but prefer a smaller “iron-like” package, the G425 Crossover is your ticket to longer, higher-flying, faster-stopping shots.

The new G425 Crossover has been re-engineered with a thinner maraging steel face and internal geometry to deliver hybrid ball speed over a greater area thanks to a “hinge” built into the back part of the hollow head. This hinge acts as a secondary trampoline to increase launch and has allowed the face to be built seven percent thinner. This allows weight to be repositioned higher in the face, giving the new G245 a six percent higher MOI compared to the G410.
To match the aesthetic of the rest of the G425 metals line of slate and stealth, the Crossover has a new stealth hydropearl finish to repel moisture and make the club appear slightly smaller from address.
Available in 2 (18 degrees), 3 (20 degrees), and 4 (22.5 degrees).
Price, availability, and additional specs
The Ping G425 fairway woods, hybrids, and Crossovers will be available for pre-sale starting today Monday, January 11, and will be available at retail starting February 4.
The G425 fairway woods will be priced at $327.50 each, hybrids at 292.50 each, and Crossovers at $250.
Like the rest of the Ping G425 line, the fairway woods, hybrids, and Crossovers will all come stock with Ping X Arccos GP lite Caddie Smart Grip, which features an embedded sensor to record and analyze every shot taken during a round when paired with the Arccos Caddie app. With the purchase of a G425 club, golfers will get a 90-day free trial of the app, and then the option of a $99.99 annual subscription.

Golf Pride 360 Tour Velvet/Arccos Caddie Smart Grip is available in Aqua (-1/64″) undersized, White -standard, and Gold (+1/32″) oversized.
Equipment
Then and now: Comparing Rory McIlroy’s current setup to his record-breaking 2019 Canadian Open victory
In Rory McIlroy’s first appearance at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, he crushed the record books to earn his 16th PGA Tour title in dominating fashion, winning by seven shots over Shane Lowry and Webb Simpson.
McIlroy’s score of 22-under-par 258 is the lowest 72-hole score to date at the Canadian Open, and his closing 61 is also the best final-round score in the history of one of golf’s oldest tournaments. Finally, with his win in 2019, McIlroy became only the sixth player to win the career Triple Crown, adding to his victories at the U.S. Open in 2011 and The Open Championship in 2014, joining Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tiger Woods in a coveted list.
So, with that, why not compare his current setup to the clubs he used to break all the records?
Driver
2019: TaylorMade M5 (9 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees @8), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7X (45 5/8 inches)

McIroy led the Tour in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in 2019; he’s doing the same in 2026. Between now and then, McIlroy has switched from the Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 70 TX (a shaft with slightly more feeling in the tip) to the original Fujikura Ventus Black 7X, having just made the change to the heavier version from playing the 60X.
What’s interesting about McIlroy’s 2019 setup is that the weighting on his driver is actually set in the high-draw setting, using the T-Track weighting system, whereas in the Qi4D, he’s currently using a heavily rear-weighted setup. (Two 13-gram weights in the rear and only two 4-gram front weights.)
The TaylorMade M5 driver he played in during his Canadian Open win was the company’s first head that they claimed to design to initially exceed the USGA’s COR limit, and then injected with tuning resin to bring it back in bounds.
Fairway woods
2019: TaylorMade M6 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 80 TX; TaylorMade M5 5-wood (19 degrees), Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White 90 TX
2026: TaylorMade Qi4D 3-wood (15 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8X; TaylorMade Qi4D 5-wood (18 degrees), Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9X

The TaylorMade M6 fairway wood that McIlroy was using during the 2019 season is still in the bag of some of the best golfers on Tour in 2026. Just check out Justin Rose’s winning setup from the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. This year, though, McIlroy has still been searching for his top-end-of-the-bag setup, having played both the new Qi4D and the Qi10, which he won the Masters with.

The same shaft swap can be seen in the fairway woods as the driver, along with slightly less loft on the 5-wood.
Irons
2019: TaylorMade P750 (4) Buy here, TaylorMade P730 (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0
2026: TaylorMade P760 (4), TaylorMade Rors Proto (5-9), Shafts: Project X 7.0

The biggest difference between McIlroy’s custom set and the stock P730s is the groove design. While the P730s were constructed with 14 MX-9 grooves on their milled faces, McIlroy’s proto heads instead use the higher-spinning, 16-groove layout of the TW2 grooves. Other big differences between the sets are that McIlroy’s 7- and 8-irons have thinner toplines, are 1 degree stronger in loft, and are 1/4 inch longer than the original P730 builds.
With McIlroy’s 4-iron, the switch from P750 to P760 sees a transition to a two-piece construction with Speed Foam in it, which allows McIlroy to launch the ball slightly higher, with more workability.
Wedges
2019: TaylorMade Milled Grind (48-09SB), TaylorMade MG Hi-Toe (52-09SB, 56-09SB, 60-LB09), Shafts: Project X Rifle 6.5
2026: TaylorMade MG5 (46-09SB, 50-09SB, 54-11SB, 60-08LB @61), Shafts: Project X 6.5 (46-54), Project X 6.5 Wedge (60)

Between 2019 and 2026, McIlroy’s focus on his short game has been much more apparent. It was the reason why he switched back to the TP5 golf ball, to help with launch, spin and control with his wedges leading up to his career Grand Slam victory in 2025. The most apparent changes to McIlroy’s wedge setup are his lofts and bounce. He’s slowly delofted his pitching to a sand wedge, but has increased the loft on the lob wedge, bending his current 60-degree to 61. With that, adding more loft to his lob wedge also slightly increases the bounce and leading-edge sit point, so, as a result, he plays a lower-bounce lob wedge compared to 2019. The MG5 wedges are also softer than the first Milled Grind option from 2019. McIlroy also no longer plays the full-face grooves found on the Hi-Toe.
Putter
2019: TaylorMade Spider X
2026: TaylorMade Spider Tour X

Notice anything similar. Yes, the copper finish on Rory McIlroy’s Spider X putter in 2019 is a slightly more reflective finish than the recently released torched PVD finish. McIlroy was using the True Path alignment system, but now uses only a single white sightline.
Ball
2019: 2019 TaylorMade TP5 (#22)
2026: 2025 TaylorMade TP5 (RORS)
As mentioned above, McIlroy had transitioned from the TP5 to TP5x golf ball since his victory in Canada in 2019, but now is black with the same style of golf ball as his victory at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.
Grips
2019: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
2026: Golf Pride MCC
Interesting, McIlroy actually used Golf Pride’s Tour Velvet Cord grips during his victory in 2019 (it was during a 2+ year switch to the corded TV) as opposed to his usual MCC grips, which he has played for most of his career.
Equipment
From the GolfWRX Classifieds: Titleist Vokey Proto Wedges 54M, 60T
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals who all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, @Putt4Dough is selling some prototype wedges from Vokey Wedgeworks. These include a 54 degree wedge with the M grind and a 60 degree wedge with a T grind.

From the listing:
(1) Titleist Vokey Proto Wedge 54M with a Tour Issue DGS400 shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet (logo down). Standard length, lie, and loft. BB&F ferrule. Raw wedge in good condition. No initials. Price is $200 shipped. Buy both wedges for $380 shipped.
(2) Titleist Vokey Proto Wedge 60T with a KBS Tour 130X shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet. Standard length, lie, and loft. Raw wedge in good condition. No initials. Price is $200 shipped. Buy both wedges for $380 shipped.
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link. If you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum, you can learn more here: GolfWRX BST Rules.
Whats in the Bag
Ryan Palmer WITB 2026 (June)
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 60 TX

3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 70 6.5

5-wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max (18 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 80 TX

Irons: Srixon ZXiU (23 degrees), Srixon Z785 MB (5-PW)
Shafts: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 100 6.5 (4), KBS Tour 130 X

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 (50-08F, 54-10S, 58-04T @59)
Shafts: KBS Tour 130 X

Putter: Odyssey Dual Force Rossie II

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
-
Equipment6 days agoMemorial Tournament Tour Report: Rory McIlroy, Cameron Young switch up drivers, and more
-
News2 weeks agoRussell Henley’s winning WITB: 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
-
Equipment3 days agoBest irons 2026: Best irons overall, most forgiving irons, and more
-
Whats in the Bag4 days agoJ.T. Poston’s winning WITB: 2026 Memorial Tournament
-
Equipment1 week agoDetails on Jason Day’s latest prototype Avoda iron setup
-
Equipment3 weeks agoCJ Cup Byron Nelson Tour Report: Koepka and Kim’s newest putters finally get hot
-
News2 weeks agoCharles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
-
Equipment2 weeks agoDetails on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch






Pingback: GolfWRX Members Choice: Best hybrid of 2022 – GolfWRX
Pingback: GolfWRX Members Choice: Best fairway wood of 2022 – GolfWRX
Pingback: Best hybrids in golf 2022: Most versatile, most forgiving hybrids for you! – GolfWRX
Pingback: GolfWRX Members Choice: Best hybrid of 2021 – GolfWRX
Pingback: GolfWRX Members Choice: Best fairway wood of 2021 – GolfWRX
Pingback: Best hybrids of 2021: By club fitters for you! – GolfWRX
Pingback: Best fairway woods of 2021: By club fitters for you! – GolfWRX
Robert f yonkers jr
Jan 11, 2021 at 2:12 pm
For that amount for new drivers you aren’t going to gain the yardage when allowance for ball speed coming of drivers is same for all manufacturers the hackers pay the price for the pros perks.