50 Words or Less
The PING G425 SFT fairway wood launches high, is consistently forgiving, and reigns in the right miss.
Introduction
In the last two generations of clubs, PING has run three models of their fairway woods – Max, LST, and SFT. SFT stands for Straight Flight Technology and is what we’re reviewing here. The SFT model is meant to help get the face more closed at impact to minimize the right miss or promote a draw.
Looks
The first thing you notice is the traditional PING matte black crown. The three alignment dots centered on the leading edge are the biggest change from the previous model; no more turbulators. It is a much more rounded head shape with a significantly larger footprint than other fairway woods which shouldn’t be surprising given its focus on forgiveness. It sits low to the ground with a flat sole, traditionally seen in PING fairway woods. I found this inspiring for hitting balls off the deck.
Sound & Feel
This year’s PING line of fairway woods are loud. Well-struck shots feel like cannons off the face but sound like a wood bat “thwack.” It was somewhat jarring at first, but it only took a few shots before I felt quite comfortable with both the sound and feel.
Mishits with the G425 SFT felt slightly different than the rest. I didn’t notice much vibration through the hands, but it was almost like the ball was suddenly harder on poor shots versus ones with solid contact.
Performance
The PING G425 SFT fairway wood helped me all but eliminate the right side of the golf course. If you’ve read any of my reviews before, you know I love to play the fade. I was skeptical to do a review on a draw biased club for that very reason. The catch here is that this club isn’t automatically going to turn a slice into a draw. It uses a CG placement towards the heel to adjust your ball flight more left than before. Yes, it can help mitigate the right miss (for the right handed golfer) but it can also get you hitting a draw. That’s the toe side gear effect talking.
The more I hit it, the more comfortable I felt swinging freely and not worrying about losing a ball to the right. Even on well struck shots, it helped straighten up my shot shape to a tight 5 yard fade. Occasionally, I could hit one that drew ever so slightly from right to left. This was especially intriguing to me for those holes that dogleg left.
As is typical for a more forgiving fairway in this category, I noticed an uptick in spin. This meant a slight reduction in distance but also a higher ball flight which could be preferred, even for a better player. The spin added control and consistency which PING even markets as “Spinsistency.”
PING’s hosel adjustments allowed me to dial in the ball flight but the bonus with this type of spin is that it gets the ball high up in the air and fast. High shots mean more carry distance and softer landings on the greens. Ultimately, if you’re looking to eliminate one side of the golf course or simply struggle with fairway woods in general, the G425 SFT fairway wood has some unique characteristics that could be a game changer.
Conclusion
The PING G425 SFT fairway wood can help eliminate one side of the golf course for just about any player. Its maximum forgiveness and easy launch characteristics get the ball up quickly and straight on nearly every single strike.
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PING G425 SFT Fairway Wood Price & Specs
Zack Buechner
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Zack nice review, I hit a small Draw already is this a club I should avoid ?
Not necessarily. While I definitely recommend a fitting to know what works best for you, where you make contact on the face compared to club path and face angle will affect how the SFT will adjust your ball flight.
Where did you find it for $299?
PING raised prices late summer/early fall of 2021 for the first time on an existing product line due to inflation and manufacturing costs. They were 299 when they were released early last year.
Thanks for the review. I just added a 7w SFT and was wondering if flattening the settings would tame the draw bias. I don’t mind a little draw, but 6 yards seems a bit much.
Thank you for your help!
Hector,
Yes, flattening the lie angle may make it less draw biased.
Best,
Matt
Is it slightly bigger than the other 425’s?
John,
It has a fuller, rounder address look than the G425 MAX.
-Matt