One of the best hybrids Ping made is the Anser because it was relatively low spinning and had a neutral set up that better players liked. The Ping G Hybrid has a similar set up in terms of head size and spins that little bit more to make it easier to play for most players.
Compared to the previous Ping G30 it is actually the same size, even if it looks to the naked eye that it is a little smaller.
This could be down to the different look at address as there is no gloss finish to the top line and the groove lines on the face have a darker section in the middle.
They look off-centre and they are deliberately so as the sweet spot is nearer the heel and Ping say this will help golfers line up the head correctly with the ball.
Of course there are also the Turbulator fins on the top of the crown for the first time on a hybrid too. These have no aerodynamic benefit on a head of this size and are there to ‘improve alignment and inspire confidence’, but I think that is passing me by.
On the inside is where the important changes are as the head is now made from Carpenter 455 Steel that is stronger and thinner to enable the face to have a variable thickness again for more ball speed that the G30 hybrid did not have.
This makes the face 8g lighter than in the G30 and also enables it to have more bulge and roll, which is the curvature on the face that makes it more forgiving.
The face also comes with a rough finish on it between the grooves which is there to reduce spin by around 200rpm.
There is also a thinner section on the sole of the club just behind the face called the Cascading Sole Design that enables it to flex a little bit more at impact.
All this was evident when I took both models on Trackman, with the G hybrid delivering an increase of several miles an hour in ball speed, but with lower spin so I got more carry distance.
The Ping Alta shaft with its high balance point suited the club very well and the sound and feel at impact was very solid.
Overall the Ping G hybrid is a good solid club and apart from some of the crown visuals, it is difficult to fault it. It is probably leaning towards the wood end of the hybrid styling scale with its size and shape, so if that is the type of hybrid you want then you won’t go wrong.
For some single figure players it may not stir the soul enough, but fear not because Ping has a new trick up its sleeve that you should check out called the Ping G Crossover.
