PING has long held a reputation for crafting some of the most dependable and high-performing fairway woods in the game. With each new release, they’ve built on a foundation of speed, forgiveness, and reliability. The latest addition to the family, the Ping G440 Max fairway wood, continues that legacy—refining rather than reinventing, and doing so with typical Ping precision.
From Tour winners to mid-handicappers, Ping’s woods have long struck a balance between elite performance and game-improving technology. With the G440 Max, that balance is perhaps better than ever. Built with a taller face and a re-engineered centre of gravity (CG), this club is designed to inspire confidence off the tee while remaining versatile from the deck.
The face is now 7% taller than previous models, giving it a more substantial look at address—especially off the tee, where many golfers use fairway woods as a reliable alternative to driver. The CG remains low and deep, resulting in a high-launching, stable ball flight that performs consistently across a variety of lies.
Looks and Feel – 5/5
Ping has taken a minimalistic design approach with the G440 Max. Gone are the crown graphics, replaced with a clean matte finish and a simple alignment dot that aids in setup without distracting the eye. The taller face adds confidence, while the new CarbonFly wrap crown offers a sleek, modern touch.
At address, the club sits beautifully flat to the turf, with a profile that’s neither oversized nor too compact. It’s a “just right” shape that will appeal to a wide range of players. The aerodynamic head shape looks sharp from every angle, and sound at impact is crisp and satisfying—distinctive enough for feedback, but not harsh or tinny.
Distance and Versatility – 4.5/5
Many of us lose distance off the fairway with a 3 wood due to inability to get the ball airborne, but launching the G440 Max is effortless, even from tight lies, and it performs admirably off the tee. While mini-drivers are gaining traction for certain players, the G440 Max makes a strong case for sticking with a traditional fairway wood that does everything well.
Off the deck I found the G440 Max four wood carried longer than any other fairway wood I’ve tested in recent years and wasn’t too far behind the hot face fairway metals off the tee.
Forgiveness and Playability – 5/5
Forgiveness is a Ping hallmark, and the G440 Max does not disappoint. The new Free Hosel Design—a clever reworking of the traditional hosel—saves weight, which is repositioned low and back in the head. The result is greater stability on mishits and higher ball speeds across the face, particularly in the heel and toe areas.
What stands out is how well the club performs when you’re not swinging your best. Slight mishits still get airborne with good carry, and the club’s ability to maintain spin and ball speed even on poor strikes makes it a valuable tool for golfers of all levels.
The new sole design allows the club to sit flush on a wide variety of lies, from fairway to light rough and even the odd scruffy patch. Combined with the taller face, this gives the player the confidence to go after the shot, knowing the clubhead will glide through cleanly.
Technology and Adjustability – 5/5
Ping has packed in plenty of proven tech without overcomplicating things. The maraging steel face is variable in thickness to promote maximum flex and faster ball speeds. Meanwhile, the adjustable hosel offers eight settings for loft and lie tweaks, allowing players to dial in their preferred trajectory
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Perhaps the most impressive innovation is the Free Hosel, which delivers real benefits without adding weight or bulk. Together with the CarbonFly crown, which saves around 20 grams, these updates help make the G440 Max feel light, stable, and easy to swing.
Final Verdict – 5/5
The Ping G440 Max fairway wood might not be revolutionary, but it’s a textbook example of Ping doing what it does best—making subtle improvements that lead to performance gains. It’s easy to launch, consistent across the face, forgiving on poor strikes, and offers a clean, modern look that will appeal to both traditionalists and tech-lovers alike.
If you’re after a fairway wood that delivers dependable results from tee to turf, the G440 Max is going to be a hard one too beat. I’ve already put the four and seven wood in the bag and my long game confidence has never been as high.
