Designer Q&A: Ping G driver

We find out more about the story behind the technology found on the new Ping G driver from Ping Senior Design Engineer Marty Jertson

Not only is Ping’s Senior Design Engineer Marty Jertson an outstanding golfer (he’s already played a few PGA Tour events as well as the 2011 US PGA Championship) but he’s also a golf club science boffin. Anything he doesn’t know about driver design and performance isn’t worth knowing, so who better to speak to than him to find out more about the thinking and technology behind the new Ping G driver.

Ping are known for staying true to down and back centre of gravity positioning within their clubheads, offering the best combination of distance and forgiveness. This feature is further enhanced in the new Ping G driver.

Check out the rest of the Ping G range

“Having the CG down and back is without doubt the best place for it,” Jertson told GM. “It allows golfers to play less loft, which means the contact with the ball is less glancing and more direct leading to more ball speed. It’s then about creating appropriate spin, which you can do through the three different models we offer in the new G driver range.”

Another interesting feature on the new Ping G driver is the Vortec on the back of the clubhead. Much like a spoiler on a car, this works with the turbulators to reduce aerodynamic drag.

“On the downswing there are two forces acting on the club. The Vortec design was adopted from the back of pick up trucks and helps give the air flow over the crown more momentum, meaning there is less vacuum force slowing the club down and ultimately increasing the speed of the clubhead.”

Ping’s new G driver features lighter sections on the back of the crown called Dragonfly technology, which allows Ping to move weight lower and more toward the perimeter of the clubhead.

“It produces amazing weight savings while also achieving great acoustics. The rib structure on the inside and outside creates the strength and stability we need. We didn’t take no for an answer when it comes to titanium and we’ve pushed the boundaries of what was possible and included sections that are just 0.43mm thick, much thinner than the 0.5mm that was believed to the be the thinnest possible in golf club driver design. We’re really proud of what we’ve achieved and we think golfers will love it.”