The Sand Trap Visits PING! G30 Turbulator Testing, Factory Pics

Thanks to everyone at PING for the invite to the factory, putter fitting and G30 product testing. The PING campus encompasses 30 buildings on about 52 acres with about 800 employees on the site.

First thing I want to say about the G30 is that the Turbulators aren't distracting at address, in fact they actually frame the ball quite well. You also don't see the "Turbulator" writing on the crown. Overall I picked up about 1 mph clubhead speed compared to my G25. The driver looks similar to the G25, less "pointy" towards the back of the club and there is less "ting" sound compared to the G25.

My miss with the G30 tended to be a little off the heel but even in left to right wind the ball wasn't curving that much more right, I guess there is something to high MOI drivers

Numbers basically speak for themselves.

As with the G25, PING is still utilizing the High Balance Point shafts. In the G30 stock shafts they shift the balance point higher, toward the grip while reducing the overall weight of the shaft, which allowed for an increase in overall head weight without impacting swingweight.

PING does this because they found that a heavier head has greater inertia and creates a more efficient transfer of energy than a lighter one.

The G30 also features a new hosel that allows for a full one degree of adjustment in either direction (with a .6° option in the middle, if you're use to the G25 adjustments). So overall, that's 2° of total adjustability. The new hosel adjustment also doesn't come at the cost of adding weight. PING might be the only OEM to able to get to 2° without adding mass.

The G30 SF Tec is basically replacing the K15 line. Similar idea, CoG shifted more towards the heel for players that struggle with slicing or that really want to draw the ball. There will probably be a few tour players that go with this driver.

The G30 fairway woods feel/sound a little hotter than the G25. Similar look at address, slightly deeper face but the newest thing is the carpenter insert that allows the face to flex more. Turbulators are featured on the fairways as well, more for alignment than adding speed.

Like the driver, the fairways are adjustable.

Every generation of G series of iron get a little more streamlined. The same goes for the G30, still a very forgiving high launching iron but will a "cleaner" appearance at address. The tuning port is positioned lower than previous G irons and this also allows the face to be a little thinner. PING also added a couple degrees of bounce because bounce is awesome

G30 hybrids are stupid easy to hit and they get up in the air but don't balloon. To me they look like a mix between the G25 and the Rapture hybrids from a few years back.

Bubba's driver

Also got a chance to tour the factory. Most of the equipment PING builds are custom orders. PING changed the way they assembled clubs a few years ago to improve upon efficiency and get clubs to golfers faster but with the same quality. It's pretty cool to see the entire process.

This hammer is used for part of the bending process.

Different weighted tuning ports to customize and match swing weights.

"Raw" Tour Gorge wedge heads

PING employee showing me how they bend the shafts for the Ketch putters.

How's that for face balanced?

Getting an inside look at how they make their custom bags and backpacks.

The testing range.

PING man

The gold putter vault

Seve's got 44 Anser putters in the vault

My putting stroke numbers.

PING putters through the years

That hammer would make a really nice BAN HAMMER! :)

Great stuff, @mvmac . Very cool.

Yes they took me through it and it seems to work out well. Their process is very close to the one Toyota uses, U-shaped formation. You can order a set of clubs Monday and have them by Thursday/Friday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildTurkey

Can anyone book a fitting at The Factory or do you have be mvmac and get a special invitation?  Cool stuff by the way.

The range is for VIP's only but you can get a factory tour and a free fitting.

http://www.ping.com/about/contactus.aspx