golfclubase
日本語

PING G440 LST Driver vs G440 MAX Driver

Lower Spin or Maximum Forgiveness?

PING G440 LST Driver

PING

G440 LST Driver

2025 model

Release date
Jan 30, 2025
MSRP at launch
—
G440 LST Driver details →
PING G440 MAX Driver

PING

G440 MAX Driver

2025 model

Release date
Jan 30, 2025
MSRP at launch
—
G440 MAX Driver details →

Which to choose

The biggest difference is spin and who each head is built for. The G440 LST is the low-spin model. It has a more compact 450cc head and is aimed at faster swingers, roughly 105 mph and up, who launch the ball with too much spin. The G440 MAX is the 460cc game-improvement option, built for a high, stable flight, and testers name forgiveness as its standout trait.

On mishits the MAX is the safer choice, with heel, toe and low strikes staying close to centre hits. Testers were split on the LST. Some say heel strikes cost distance and that it trails the MAX on poor contact, though it holds up well on low-face strikes.

Choose the G440 LST Driver if…

you swing around 105 mph or faster, launch the ball with too much spin, and want a compact head that brings spin down while still keeping the ball in play.

Choose the G440 MAX Driver if…

you're a mid or high handicapper who wants the most forgiveness on heel, toe and low strikes, plus a high, straight flight that finds fairways.

Common questions

Which is more forgiving?
The G440 MAX. Testers call forgiveness its standout trait, while opinions on the LST are split and some say it trails the MAX on poor contact.
Which spins less?
The G440 LST spins less than the MAX, though some testers say it still isn't low enough for elite swing speeds.
Is the G440 LST worth upgrading to from the G430 LST?
Testers say the gains over the G430 LST are small, so an upgrade may not be worth it.

Written by golfclubase with AI from our summaries of published reviews and test videos and the makers' published specs (Oct 25, 2026).

Side by Side, Aspect by Aspect

Launch and Spin: The MAX Flies Higher

Reviewers placed the G440 LST lower in spin than the MAX and standard PING heads. Launch was described as low by one reviewer and as similar to the G430 LST by others. Opinions on how low it really spins were split, though. Two reviews felt spin ran higher than they wanted for a low-spin driver, and one testing video advised lofting it down to around 8 to 9 degrees. Several reviewers said the G440 MAX launches high and consistently, with spin they called moderate. One tester found spin on the high side at his speed, and another saw it spin more than a rival. The MAX is the higher-launching, higher-spinning head of the two.

Forgiveness: Opinions Split on the LST

Reviews of the LST's forgiveness were mixed. One owner called it the most forgiving driver he has owned, and several reviewers rated it strong for a low-spin model, especially on low-face strikes. One testing video found heel strikes lost noticeably more distance and called it sensitive to mishits. One article said it trails the MAX on bad misses. Most reviewers rated the MAX very highly. They described heel, toe, high and low misses as playing close to centre strikes. One tester found it less forgiving than the G430 Max 10K and saw low strikes leak right. The MAX drew the more consistent praise, while the LST's ratings depended on the tester.

Feel and Sound: Muted Tones, Mixed Views

Reviewers described the LST's feel as solid, stable and powerful. One said mishits feel weaker through the hands. Views on its sound varied. One article called it quiet and muted and rated it the best in the G440 lineup. Another heard it as livelier and sharper than the G430 LST, and one owner found it a bit dull but liked it. The MAX was called punchy and solid, with low vibration even on thin hits. Most reviewers heard a quieter mid-bass thud. However, one tester found it fairly loud, and one video heard a lively, higher-pitched zing. Both heads were mostly praised for a muted sound, but neither drew a single verdict.

Looks: Compact 450cc vs 460cc

The LST has a 450cc head. Reviewers described it as compact and near-symmetrical or pear-shaped. One article praised a cleaner rear crown and another praised its rich finish. Two reviews felt it looks nearly identical to the MAX and wanted more visual difference. One reviewer found the leading-edge turbulators polarizing. The MAX has a 460cc head. Reviewers mostly praised its matte carbon crown and cleaner look compared with the G430. Descriptions of its shape varied from elongated to slightly pear-shaped, and one video disliked its shiny, chrome-heavy look on the shelf. At address, the two heads differ less than their 10cc volume gap might suggest.

Shot Shape and Adjustability

Reviewers described the LST as slightly fade-biased. One article said it leans a little more to the right than the MAX. Its movable 29g tungsten weight has fade, neutral and draw positions, and one reviewer rated its workability as good together with the adjustable hosel. One article found the MAX neutral with a slight draw bias. Its sliding rear weight and hosel offer similar options. One tester said other 2025 drivers are more workable and harder to flight down, and another rated it less adjustable than a rival. The listed lie angles are 57° for the LST and 58.5° for the MAX. The LST leans toward a fade, and the MAX sits neutral to slightly draw.

Written by golfclubase with AI from what review articles and test videos said about each model, aspect by aspect (Oct 25, 2026).

Key differences

  • Lie angle: the G440 MAX Driver is 1.5° higher than the G440 LST Driver
  • Head volume: the G440 MAX Driver is 10 cm³ larger than the G440 LST Driver
  • Head weight: the G440 MAX Driver is 2 g lighter than the G440 LST Driver
  • Swing weight: the G440 MAX Driver is 1 pt lighter than the G440 LST Driver

Specs side by side

G440 LST Driver: 10.5°; G440 MAX Driver: 10.5° (US models).

G440 LST DriverG440 MAX Driver
Loft10.5°10.5°
Lie angle57°58.5°+1.5°
Head volume450 cm³460 cm³+10
Head weight205 g203 g−2 g
Face materialTitaniumTitanium
Body materialMulti-materialMulti-material
Club length46″46″
Swing weightD4D3−1 pt

Values are as published by the makers. Sources are listed on each model's page.

The Numbers, Visualized

Where They Sit Among Drivers

Compared with the reference club of every model in Drivers on golfclubase (US specs; 10.5° / 10.5°). The line is the full range, the band the middle half, the tick the median.

Lie angleG440 LST Driver 57°/G440 MAX Driver 58.5°
54°60°

G440 LST Driver ranks #17 lowest of 97. G440 MAX Driver ranks #33 highest of 97.

Head volumeG440 LST Driver 450 cm³/G440 MAX Driver 460 cm³
280 cm³460 cm³

G440 LST Driver ranks #13 smallest of 95. G440 MAX Driver ranks #1 largest of 95.

Head weightG440 LST Driver 205 g/G440 MAX Driver 203 g
177 g208 g

G440 LST Driver ranks #7 heaviest of 39. G440 MAX Driver ranks #8 heaviest of 39.

Club lengthG440 LST Driver 46″/G440 MAX Driver 46″
43.5″46.5″

Both rank #5 longest of 97.

Swing weightG440 LST Driver D4/G440 MAX Driver D3
B9D5

G440 LST Driver ranks #5 heaviest of 68. G440 MAX Driver ranks #26 lightest of 68.

What reviewers say

G440 LST Driver

What reviewers like

  • Solid, powerful feel with clear strike feedback
  • Lower spin than the G440 MAX and SFT
  • Holds ball speed and direction well on low-face strikes
  • Muted, pleasant impact sound
  • Movable weight and hosel allow draw, neutral or fade setups

Watch out for

  • Spin may not be low enough for elite swing speeds
  • Only small performance gains over the G430 LST
  • Looks very similar to the G440 MAX; leading-edge turbulators polarise
Full overview of the G440 LST Driver →

G440 MAX Driver

What reviewers like

  • Very forgiving on heel, toe and low-face strikes
  • High, consistent launch that helps carry
  • Solid, stable feel with good feedback on mishits
  • Clean carbon-crown look that inspires confidence at address
  • Sliding weight and hosel give easy fitting options

Watch out for

  • Premium price
  • Less workable and harder to flight down than some rivals
  • Slightly less forgiving than the G430 MAX 10K
  • Longer stock length can feel long at address
Full overview of the G440 MAX Driver →

Lofts and clubs offered

G440 LST Driver
9° / 10.5°
G440 MAX Driver
9° / 10.5° / 12°

More comparisons