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PING G440 SFT Driver Review

April 14, 2025

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50 Words or Less

The PING G440 SFT driver is arguably the best option off the tee for players struggling with a slice. Strong, adjustable draw bias. Supreme forgiveness.

Introduction

I’m a believer in the idea that if you’re going to do something, you should do it all the way. That’s why I’ve been such a big fan of PING’s SFT drivers. Since their inception, they’ve offered some of the strongest slice-busting tech in golf. I tested the new PING G440 SFT driver to see if it lived up to the reputation of its predecessors.

Looks

One of my favorite things about the PING G440 SFT driver is that it doesn’t look like an anti-slice driver. I’ve sat the SFT and MAX drivers next to each other numerous times, and I cannot see a meaningful difference. Both drivers tilt just slightly toward the heel with a shape that is nicely proportioned rather than being overly stretched from front to back. That said, the G440 SFT driver does sit more closed in the neutral setting.

That similarity continues to the look in the bag. The G440 SFT has the same bold PING branding across the middle of the head, flanked by “G440” and “SFT”. Those with sharp eyes will notice the one key difference: the weight at the back of the head has only two positions on the SFT, not three like the MAX and LST.

Comparing the PING G440 SFT driver to the G430 SFT driver [review HERE], the address look has changed substantially. Two things that have been removed are the angular indentations and the texture on the edges of the crown. What’s new is the Carbonfly Wrap crown, which was previously seen only on the LST models [G440 LST driver review HERE]. I think that overall, the G440 SFT has a better, cleaner look at address.

Sound & Feel

The similarities between the PING G440 SFT driver and the G440 MAX [review HERE] continue with the sound and feel. Thanks to the aforementioned Carbonfly Wrap, PING was able to give this driver a “more muted, pleasing sound” at impact. Indoors or out, the G440 SFT driver is below average in volume. That’s enhanced by its mid-bass register. I would describe the sound as a “thwack” that can get a little “pop” on mishits.

Through the hands, the G440 SFT is strong and solid. On center, there’s an added feeling of speed, but it never loses the sense of strength. There’s quality feedback through the hands, despite this being a very stable driver. If you’re paying attention to impact, you should be able to locate where the ball hit the face with good precision.

Performance

Going back for several generations (of clubs, not humans), slicers have not had a better friend than the PING SFT drivers, and that remains true with the G440 SFT. That’s not only due to the strong draw bias, it’s because PING builds everything in this club around the idea of busting the slice.

Getting slices to straighten up starts with the weighting. Like its predecessor, the PING G440 SFT driver has two weight settings: Draw and Draw+. Moving the 23 gram tungsten weight produces a 7 yard change, per PING, from a 13 yard draw to a 20 yard draw. In addition to this weight, the G440 SFT sits more closed in the neutral setting, and it comes with a lighter swing weight – D0 vs. D3 in the MAX.

All these components add up to create one of the strongest anti-right drivers on the market. As someone who naturally hits a small draw, I was seeing nothing but pronounced right-to-left ball flights. The Draw+ position had me white knuckling it to not power hook the ball. If you struggle with a slice, this driver can go a long way to fixing your ball flight.

In addition to helping to promote a draw, the PING G440 SFT driver is extremely forgiving. This took a while for me to appreciate – I was preoccupied with the amount of draw I was producing – but it was evident when I looked back at my launch monitor data. Thanks to the shallower, thinner face, the ball speed is very high on and off center, and the deep, low CG keeps the ball on track even when your swing isn’t.

One major change for the PING G440 SFT driver over its predecessor isn’t a new form of tech, it’s an additional loft. Previously, the SFT driver had been available only a 10.5 degrees. The G440 SFT adds a 9 degree option so that players who need lower launch and spin can enjoy the benefits of this slice-busting model.

Though the PING G440 SFT driver has different weight adjustability than the MAX and LST, they all share the same adjustable hosel. Golfers can add or subtract 1.5 degrees of loft which will also change the face angle. Additionally, they can flatten the lie angle up to 3 degrees. Players who slice are unlikely to want to flatten the lie angle, but this could make the SFT playable for those that simply want the sweet spot closer to the heel.

Finally, PING is among the industry leaders in shaft options. There are four excellent PING-specific options plus the Denali Red and Mitsubishi TENSEI 1K Black [review HERE]. The stock length will vary depending on the shaft that you choose – 46″ with the PING Alta CB Blue, 45.5″ with the PING Tour, Denali, or TENSEI. PING also details the changes that the different shafts will make on swing weight on their website, but the G440 SFT comes stock at D0.

*I tested all three PING G440 driver heads with the PING Tour 2.0 Chrome to make the launch monitor data an apples-to-apples comparison of the heads.

Conclusion

If you struggle with slicing the ball off the tee, you could take hours of lessons and beat hundreds of range balls in an attempt to fix it. Or, you could visit your fitter, put the PING G440 SFT driver in your bag, and cure the problem in an afternoon. Neither choice is bad, but one brings fun into focus a whole lot faster.