Ping G10 3 Wood Review

If you read this column regularly you know that I’ve fallen in love with my Ping G10 hybrids. I started out with a 21 degree last year and had such success that I added the 18 and 24 degree versions at the beginning of the season (see Ping G10 Hybrid Does It All). It didn’t take long before I began hankering after the G10 3 wood to round out the bag.

At various times in the past I’ve used both 13 and 15 degree 3 woods depending on the course I was playing and conditions. I have a couple versions of each, but never one that I was completely in love with. When I found out that Ping’s G10 3 wood comes in a 14 degree version I knew I had to have it.

Like Goldilocks, I found the 13 degree too low, the 15 degree too high, but the 14 degree was just right! It probably helps that I’ve been using the Ping hybrids for awhile, because the 3 wood is much the same club, albeit a bit different head shape and slightly longer shaft. Some 3 woods are too much like a hybrid and some too much like a driver. The Ping G10 is a comfortable compromise between these extremes. The head has more length than the hybrids, but is small enough that it encourages you to use it from the fairway.

At address it feels and sets up like its sister hybrids. I don’t know what Ping has done differently than other manufacturers, but I find all of the G10 family tremendously easy to swing. I’m guessing the shafts may be slightly shorter, but whatever it is it sure works.

All my G10′s have the standard copper colored Ping stiff shaft. The trajectory of the 3 wood is perfect for me, a bit penetrating and neither too high nor too low. By changing the angle of the clubface, ball position and angle of attack, I can alter the trajectory significantly. This is especially important if you play in windy conditions.

For my ears, all the G10 family has a nice sound on impact. This is a highly personal matter, but in this age of clubs making all types of fantastic sounds, the Ping has a nice solid, dare I say, ‘ping’ to it. Actually ‘clink’ may be closer, but that’s probably not a great choice for a brand name.

The sole of the G10 3 wood has enough keel to it that it handles the first cut of rough well. Even there, if there’s much grass behind the ball I’ll opt for my 18 degree hybrid. I can afford the sacrifice in yardage to guarantee that I make good contact.

I’ve always thought that working the ball was mostly about the golfer and only a little about the club. After all, there are no switches to throw to change anything on your equipment. Either you know how to make a draw or fade swing or you don’t. Having said that, the G10 will move both ways, enough so to make it useful in dealing with a cross wind or negotiating a dogleg. It has come in handy a number of times when a driver just brought in too much risk for the reward.

Now I feel I have 4 go to clubs in my bag, from my 24 degree Ping G10 hybrid down to the 14 degree 3 wood. Confidence is a good thing on a golf course and all these clubs exude it. My only question now is do I dare try a G10 driver?

Related posts:

1. Ping G10 Hybrid Does It All
2. Tiger Shark Grip Just Right – Review
3. Tiger Wood’s Interview on CNN International
4. The Tip – ping Point!
5. Alpha V5 Driver Review

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