50 Words or Less
The PING G400 Stretch fairway wood is engineered to maximize distance off the tee. Very long. A capable club from the turf.
Introduction
Hitting 3W off the tee is a way of life for many golfers. For those players, PING has created the G400 Stretch fairway wood. If you need to forego driver for accuracy and consistency but hate giving up distance, this souped-up 3W is a must try.
Looks
At address, the G400 Stretch fairway wood looks very similar to the standard G400 fairway wood, just larger. It’s still slightly pear shaped and not too long from front to back to hit off the turf. Of course the crown is matte black, and the leading edge features PING’s Turbulators.
The face looks slightly taller than the standard G400 but not so much that you’ll be afraid to hit it off the deck.
Sound & Feel
The extra 12cc of size do nothing to change the acoustic character of the G400 Stretch FW. This club is every bit as solid as the standard G400 FW with the same quiet, medium pitch sound and precise feedback.
Performance
In my recent PING fitting, I got an interesting insight into the G400 line up from my fitter. The gist of it was that PING engineers their “standard” product line for the vast majority of golfers. All of the other clubs, whether you’re talking about the Stretch, SF Tec, LS Tec, or Crossover, are niche clubs designed to fit a small percentage of players. That leads to two conclusions: 1) most of us should be playing the standard G400 line but 2) the speciality clubs get every last drop of performance for those niche players.
That’s exactly what I found with the G400 Stretch. With some seemingly minor tweaks, PING was able to squeeze out significantly more distance for players hitting FW off the tee. The differences from the standard G400 3W to the Stretch are: stronger loft (13 degrees), larger head (12cc bigger), and a more forward CoG for lower spin. Interestingly, PING does not use a longer shaft on the Stretch, presumably to keep dispersion in check.
I found that in comparing the G400 3W to the Stretch off the tee, the Stretch had markedly lower spin and longer total distances. The carry distances were very similar, but the Stretch produced a lower, stronger ball flight.
Finally, it’s worth noting that the Stretch is a very capable club off the turf despite its low loft. I would not recommend it for players who struggle with fairway woods or who have low swing speeds, but stronger players or those with higher ball flights will get along with it well.
***Note: the numbers above were collected by hitting the G400 Stretch FW off the turf, not off a tee. This is a club built for tee shot, so those numbers are not as good as they could be, but we opted for consistency among all our fairway wood reviews.
Conclusion
The PING G400 Stretch fairway wood is engineered to excel in one area – smashing shots off the tee – and it does that brilliantly. For better players, it’s also an excellent tool off the turf. Regardless of your skill level, if you’ve given up on your driver, you can look to get some of that lost distance back with the G400 Stretch.
Buy PING G400 Stretch Fairway Wood HERE
PING G400 Stretch Fairway Wood Price & Specs
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He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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19 Comments
Interesting – I never used a driver for the first 5 years of playing golf, only since last year, but was using a 3w instead. How do they compare with the mini drivers of a few years ago? Weren’t they souped up 3 woods in a way too? Nice looking club.
Piter,
Yes, the Stretch FW is similar to the mini drivers. Loft and head sizes vary, but it’s all along the same concept of a smaller head with more loft than a driver and a shorter shaft.
Best,
Matt
Did you like the g stretch or the g 400 stretch better?
Nicholas,
I didn’t test them head to head, but I prefer the feel of the G400 woods slightly over the G series.
Best,
Matt
Great review as always. It helps that we put down some very similar numbers.
This is a very much a speciality club — one I love dearly. For me, I use it to shape shots off the tee. My driver is actually too forgiving (not complaining). Any time I need to bend a tee shot more than a few degrees, this is my go to. I rarely use it off the turf because the carry is about the same as my 5w.
Would switching from a G30 3W to the G400 3W be a major upgrade or minor tweaking? Thanks
#SecretGivaway
Zachary,
The G30 is really good. The only way the G400 will be a MAJOR upgrade is if it’s somehow a better fit for your swing.
Best,
Matt
My bag consists of Ping’s K15 Driver (10.5°) along with the matching 3 (16°) , 5 (19°), and 7 (22°) Fairway Woods, all Soft-R graphite shafts.
I have great results with the fairway woods hitting 200, 180 and 160 respectfully, but have not had the same results with my driver . In the past I have even used Taylormade’s Mini Driver with not so favorable results.
I would like to use the G400 3 FW (13°) as my club off the tee, I was looking for a lower lofted FW and I would be interested in giving the G400 a try. My 3 FW (16°) does a great job, but I find myself being the shortest drive in my group by length of 20-40 yards.
My question is, how does the face footprint of the G400 Stretch 3FW (13°) compare to the face of the K15 3 FW in size, not overall head size, just the front head shape. (same, bigger, taller, wider or other)?
Also, your thoughts on using the club for golfers having trouble teeing off with a Driver.
My hopes is to start with the 13° and in time lower the loft to gain potential yardage.
Thank you in advance.
Victor,
The Stretch is designed for exactly what you’re talking about. Without having both clubs in front of me, however, I can’t confidently answer your question about the face shape. I think the Stretch is a little taller, but that’s only a guess.
Best,
Matt
Matt
How does the g400 stretch compare with the 2014 Rapture 3wood?
I own the Rapture but have not been satisfied with it.
Bill,
I found the G400 a little easier to hit – more forgiving and easier to elevate.
Best,
Matt
Hey Matt, first time poster. I have the G400 stretch 3 wood. I love it, I use it off the turf. I was wondering if there is equivalent drivers that are made the same way, be it Ping or someone else, that can match the pow this club provides as a 3 wood. I consistently hit the club over 200 yards off the turf, and I hit great off the tee, but only 200 to 220 yards. Is there any equivalent clubs like this in a Driver where it produces the same but gives another 30 to 40 yards as a drive. Thanks.
Tim,
Equivalent in what way?
If you’re looking for more distance off the tee, the best way to find that is with a quality club fitting.
-Matt
I’m interested in purchasing the G400 stretch!! Can’t find them on any website except the Ping website. Where do I buy one?
Scott,
The G400 is going to be a bit harder to find because it’s not the current model. You would certainly have success on eBay, but if you don’t want to go that route you’ll just need to be determined and search all the major online retailers.
Best,
Matt
Interesting! I am currently playing a Callaway Big Bertha Mini 1.5, ala mini driver, 14 degree. I’ve had great results with straight drives from 220 to 245 consistently. I use a 3 wood more often though off the tee. Like others, consistently in the fairway with decent yardage in the 180 to 220 range. I can live with that and score well. In the group I play with I am typically the longest off the tee and in the fairway. Age and small stature.
I’ve been considering the Ping Stretch. Interesting! I prefer that 3 wood feel and to be able to hit it off the deck or fairway, which I can’t very well with the mini driver.. When I do tee it up its teed as
low as possible.
My questions…
How does it compare to Callaway’s mini driver?
How tall is it compared to the mini or a regular driver?
Does it have that 3 wood feel?
Thoughts appreciated,
Bill
Bill,
We have a complete review of the Callaway Mini Driver here: https://pluggedingolf.com/callaway-bertha-mini-1-5-driver-review/
The Stretch has a conventionally sized FW face, it’s not a mini driver. I think it’s easier to hit off the turf than any mini driver I’ve tested.
-Matt
Picked up a used one to play links golf in Scotland this summer, where driver inaccuracy is a bigger penalty than distance and where the fairways are cut tight with lots of roll. Ball flight at 13 deg is too low[w/ standard stiff shaft]. Adjusted to 14 deg loft and replaced the standard weight in the head with a heavier 10g weight for a medium ball flight. Normally hit my driver about ~255 – 275 yds, can hit this about 230-240 [with roll] from the tee, generally 220 – 230 from the deck [with roll]. Very straight and perfect for narrow holes on windy days. Can’t stop one on the green–but have used it to bounced up on the front of par 5’s. The occasional eagle putt is a bonus!
I call this my monster club now…..I am a72 + female, quite a high handicapper. I borrowed this club from my husbands bag just for kicks one afternoon. ( I have a popular ladies 3 wood in my bag which I hit fairly well). I can’t explain it but I hit this club at least 30 yards longer than my own, straight down the fairway off the turf. By all accounts, this should not be possible as the flex is Regular and the 43 Inch length is way too long for someone just over 5 ft. tall. Am now starting to get to par 4’s with only a short wedge shot left to the green. Lesson learned…there are many other options for club fitting out there that defy convention!