Callaway Ai Smoke VS Ping G430 Max 10k - Which one goes in the BAG!?

[@CPBuilds]

I got fit for the AI Smoke with a $350 shaft upgrade and the PING LST I ended up getting, with a stock shaft, outperformed the Smoke by 7 yards. The smoke got me 297yds of carry and 332yds total while the Ping got me 303yds of carry and 339yds total. My desperation with the Ping was a lot tighter than the Smoke too. The LST wasn't even on my radar. Glad I got it. Nice video though...really enjoyed it.

[@TKGolfYT]

Thanks for the feedback 😊 I enjoyed putting the 3 videos together last week 💪🏻 I think you’re another example of why it’s so important to get fitted 😊 and I think I’m learning, from all the comments, that some drivers are better for different people 😊

[@discr1709]

Nice video. Have to say, though, that a drive that has 145 mph ball speed and 3,931 RPM spin isn’t going to carry 281 yards.

[@TKGolfYT]

Thank you 😊 the hole was playing down wind 😊 the Flightscope Mevo Plus was tracking the ball during its actual flight. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a good chance it’s miss read a few number, but it was a long way down that 4th hole 😊

[@CharlotteK2008]

Aye, no chance 🤣🤣🤣 Must have been a hurricane down wind

[@TKGolfYT]

It was a 30 yard wind according to Arccos 😂

[@pancakesoboy]

Appreciate the video. I have a Ping G425 going to get fitted tomorrow, and i am not brand loyal. How you feel about a club is always the most important thing, was nice to see they both performed well.

[@TKGolfYT]

They are arguably the best 2 drivers of 2024 😊 I think, in hindsight, l had a little subconscious bias towards the Callaway in this video… but like you said, how you feel about club is very important 😊 Enjoy your fitting! Hope it goes well 💪🏻

[@limey7066]

Nice review. I think you knew already your choice of club before the video and obviously no one should choose a club from only 5 drives. Im sure you had the chance of hitting each of them for multiple days in a simulator and collected enough data to make the choice that is best for you. I did the same myself with these drivers. I have always loved thr PING drivers (apart fom the sound) but i am always willing make a change if i feel a club is better for my game. I had better distance with the callaway however ehat made me choose the Ping 10K max was the dispersion. I will always take that over a frw extra yards. I feel there too much hype over distance anyway. Its all about being able to inprove you game. And for the me the Ping does that. Enjoy the Callaway mate and keep up the good work.

[@TKGolfYT]

Thank you for the comment 😊 I did 2 other videos comparing the clubs which were uploaded the same week as this one 😊 I spent the whole day hitting both clubs and I think, going into this final video, I was leaning more towards the Callaway 😊

[@danielbeltran8232]

He had chosen the Callaway as the winner before this flawed test method.

[@TKGolfYT]

The test was over 3 videos to be fair 😊 during that week; I had a fitting, a review video and then finally this video. I don’t think I made that clear enough to viewers in this video, so I totally understand your comment 😊

[@guitarpager]

It is the club he ended up liking the most. Why does that bother you?

[@doctorstrange2549]

Callaway has always made a better product. Ping does not have the R&D chops, categorically.

[@bloggs730]

It felt you were biased towards the Callaway from the start? 😅

[@TKGolfYT]

You’re probably right to be fair 😂 but I had tested both clubs all day. This was the 3rd video uploaded from the full day of filming 😊

[@smokesoft2009]

Same feelings for me. Got fitted looking for the Ping but ended up buying the Smoke. Got me 15 yards further and the best feeling playing with it

[@TKGolfYT]

Strange how that confidence and feeling over a driver can actually help you play better with it 😊 on paper, it shouldn’t be better than the ping I don’t think 🤔

[@MrBluegooh]

Nice vid thank you, I think hype sells most clubs. Each of us are different so never a one size fits all in golf. Must say though, I now live in Queensland Australia, it’s hot all year round and sun is pretty constant, can play all the time but we do get a fair bit of rain ( but warm rain ain’t so bad ) but when I watch these vids from home I really miss playing on days where I had to rug up. Miss my oldest golfing buddies so much too but can’t have your cake and eat it as they say. Looking forward to more vids 😉👍

[@TKGolfYT]

I think my latest video might be up your street as well then 😂 standard wet English ground 😊 I’d love to golf all year round 🙌🏻

[@guitarpager]

I just got the Callaway AI Smoke and I absolutely love it. It feels different than the Ping. I don't want to say it is soft, but it feels like a well struck iron when I hit it well.

[@rosswhiteside1087]

I got fitted recently. I tried the Ping, Taylormade and Callaway. I ended up going with the Callaway. But it was close. My decision came down to the Callaway being a little bit longer and with a tighter dispersion.

[@TKGolfYT]

I’m going to wait before I spend my money… I NEED to try that Taylormade first 💪🏻 and give the Ping a bit of a fairer run at it 😊

[@moorcroft69]

Love the testing/video! I think it’s important to note for the viewers that you’re using the least forgiving version of the ai smoke (triple 💎) vs the most forgiving version of the Ping 430 (10k). The triple 💎 also has a smaller head size so inherently it would be less forgiving and maybe harder to hit fairways. Obviously it is a distance monster!

[@TKGolfYT]

I thought the forgiveness of the triple diamond was very impressive considering all those factors you mentioned! 🤔 need to get my hands on a QI10 as well… 🤔

[@rclick1226]

Yep!! Ihave Smoke Max and I love it! Plain crushes it!!

[@lesmoore7613]

where's my tee???? hahaha.... great stuff

[@Bech285]

I got fitted for the Taylormade, Callaway and Ping and they performed about the same, so I picked TM based on looks

[@TKGolfYT]

I think I need to try the new TM before I actually buy one 🤔

[@LaFerlitaFamily]

On that last hole, I’d have picked the PING. Give me center of FW every day of the week… and twice on Sundays!

[@patrickhoward4080]

I demod both of these and the qi10 max. Ping won hands down….on any mishits…ball speed drops are incomparable to the ping g430 10k. It is a tad more spin and launch….but I hit a draw and with it is a bomber giving me My optimal trackman numbers in launch and spin and the forgiveness is un freakin believable!

[@TKGolfYT]

The forgiveness was incredible! Looking back, the ping is always going to be the smart choice. I don’t find it as long as the Callaway, but I think there’s some bias in my opinion - I’m using ping g425 lst at the moment and really don’t get in with it. I think that, in the back of my mind, I wanted a change! But I had tested the clubs all day, across 3 different types of videos 😊

[@patrickhoward4080]

@@TKGolfYT try lofting a 10.5 head down to 9. Will knock spin off and for me gives a nice consistent baby draw. I also like the (-1) 9.5 and FLAT setting. This gives me a straight to baby fade that protects from the left hook misses that I hate. I’m torn but am gonna try the -1.5 at 9 degrees and standard lie setting for a few rounds. See the flight…adjust from there. These two settings gave me my fastest ball speed with the loft turned down and knocked spin off and gave me a very safe driver that also hits bombs in play

[@robertmoore5246]

When did you shoot the video? I can’t believe how well Spalding course is looking. With all the rain we’ve had, I’d expect there to be a lot of standing water. I was a country member there a couple of years ago. Are you based in Lincolnshire? I like the ping, but the sound of the callaway was much better. I’ll be getting fitted for a new driver when I get back from playing in Turkey in April.

[@TKGolfYT]

I shot this video on the 5th of Feb 😊 the course has been closed fairly regularly since unfortunately, but the work they do in the winter really pays dividends in the summer! It’s a great great course, fair play! I am based in Spalding yes 😊 Make sure you visit James at Spalding GC for a fitting 💪🏻 he’s also getting the new Taylormade clubs in soon 👀 I’m waiting to have a go with that before I make my final decision 😊 Enjoy turkey Robert 😊

[@alanrutland4424]

Really enjoyed this video and your delivery. There is nothing like a real test environment to check whether something works for you. A good choice. and I subscribed. 😊

[@TKGolfYT]

Thank you Alan! Really appreciate the feedback and thank you for your support 😊

[@per_growth]

I noticed that in your test - you are using 2 different shafts for the Ping and Callaway?

[@TKGolfYT]

Yup 😊 so, on Monday, I did a video where I got fitted for both drivers 😊 this was the final video of 3 that I uploaded during the week to figure out which I was going to put in the bag 😊

[@seanconnors7639]

Good video! Felt the Callaway was consistently more left! As someone who misses left, that would be a deal breaker for me! I would agree that you got on much better with the Callaway during that test - way fewer shots off the top of the club

[@TKGolfYT]

I think that might have been a tee height issue with the ping 🤔 I really did enjoy the Callaway 👀 maybe it just need a little dialling in to come off straight 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@seanconnors7639]

Wish more of life could be like that, two incredibly awesome options and and most likely couldn’t go wrong with either at the top of the bag! Enjoy whichever one you decide!

[@Ronaldalan114]

I gotta say, while this is a creative post, good idea for getting a video up, this isn’t a great way to chose a driver. What is the best way? Hard to say I guess. In perfect conditions in a simulator? Demo each club for 3 rounds each on the same course to track FIR and distance? Maybe better than the simulator. Don’t really know. I hit both of these clubs, about 100 balls each on the range and I demo’ed both for a couple rounds at my club. I chose the Callaway. It came down to what I preferred to look at at address, as both had great performance. That, and, the fairway woods for Callaway outperformed the ping fairway woods, and I like congruency in my bag. Interesting vid. Thanks for posting.

[@TKGolfYT]

I really loved hitting the Callaway as well as how good it looked 😊 I hit both clubs all day and this video was filmed at the end of the day. There are two other videos from the same day uploaded before this one as well 😊

[@Brearo]

You wanted the callaway all along, I’ve hit them both and no way is there 20 yards difference.

[@TKGolfYT]

I tested the clubs all day, and I’ve uploaded two other videos about them - but yeah, towards the end of the day, I was falling in love with the Callaway 😊 I think miss striking the ping so badly wasn’t helping it… what do you think I should do? 🤔

[@Brearo]

@@TKGolfYT the heart wants what the heart wants 😂

[@TKGolfYT]

Amen to that 😂 so hard to avoid internal bias sometimes. No matter how hard you try! Thanks for watching the video - hope you enjoyed it still 😊

[@swingeasyguy]

just watched this video and it looked like you pulled your first 2 tee shots with the smoke, which means they went farther. No?

[@TKGolfYT]

Potentially 🤔 I think the biggest thing I found between the two drivers were that miss hits with the ping were more forgiving, but spun a lot more. Overall, pulls excluded, the ai smoke was longer, the ping was more forgiving. I did enjoy hitting the Callaway more though 👀

[@swingeasyguy]

@@TKGolfYT Wish I could afford either! Had a driver fitting with my Ping g400 max vs 430 10K and 10K gave an extra 5 yds, not worth the 800 Cdn. Maybe I should try the smoke?

[@scottkiesel4228]

Did I miss it? Which smoke driver was this? The max? Max D? Thanks

[@TKGolfYT]

It was the triple diamond 😊 on Monday and Wednesday, I uploaded more videos about the two drivers with more details and comparisons 😊

[@paulsbox67]

Curious if you was fitted for the Ping? Seems like you could use less loft.

[@TKGolfYT]

I was yes - I was fitted into a 10.5 head, set to 9.5. The Callaway is a 9 head. I think the issue is, like some have commented as well, because the face is shallower, I was hitting it off the top of the face 🤔 it deserves a re-visit I think

[@v205]

Isn't high and low spin the winning formula these days?

[@TKGolfYT]

Clubs are still managing to get good distance with some spin now I think 😊

[@kirkshammett94]

Curious what mic are u using?

[@TKGolfYT]

Just a simple cheap one off Amazon 😊 nicama AS12

[@GeovannyMatias-gs6qu]

That miss wasn’t the club at the par 5 Callaway driver shot

[@TKGolfYT]

What you thinking? Was I aimed over there? 🤔

[@GeovannyMatias-gs6qu]

Face open to path

[@chrisgilligan4968]

The Ping does come in different lofts right? If you got fit for both, why would you be having such vastly different performance characteristics between one and the other? They both should have been fit for proper launch and spin. Seems like maybe the Ping fitting wasn't as good - and if fit properly, would probably be the better choice by a pretty wide margin. All of the 3 wins for the Callaway you hit pulls of varying degrees - the worst of which was the tiebreak hole. You picked it on the last hole because you had decided on the Callaway before you started this comparison. Personally I've never got on with Callaway drivers - I've played Ping for the better part of the last 10 years. The sound isn't for everyone, and they aren't known for being the longest drivers historically.....but they have been more forgiving than most for quite a long time.

[@TKGolfYT]

During the fitting on Monday, I ended up in the 10.5 head set at 9.5, and 9 for the Callaway. So only .5 degree difference. I was getting too much shape with the 9d head in the ping. I think the loft issue was due to tee height for the ping. Every shot came off high on the face 🤔 I have been using ping for a while now, and this video was all about my choice 😊 so there’s no doubt that there was some subconscious decisions being made 🤔

[@chrisgilligan4968]

@@TKGolfYT Some clubs suit the eye of the user better than others....which can lead to a higher level of confidence in that club. Confidence is half the battle of hitting good drives....making a committed and confident swing. If one club gives you that more than another, then you go with what you like. Before making a final call on it... maybe play around with tee height and see if you can dial in the strike on that Ping - and whether you don't find that it starts to grow on you!! 🤣🤣

[@chrisgilligan4968]

@@TKGolfYT Remember also that when you turn the loft down with the sleeve adjustment, it opens the face of the club. That's pretty weird about the results you were seeing with the 9d Ping....I would never have expected that kind of a variance just by going marginally down in loft!

[@Grunt21Tennessee]

Great review!

[@TKGolfYT]

Thank you! 😊 really appreciate the comment! 💪🏻

[@danielpink6384]

On the look out for a new driver. Ive found Ping drivers to feel dead in the past. Will consider the Smoke!

[@TKGolfYT]

Feel wise, I don’t think the ping has come along that much to be honest 🤔 I really do love the sound and feel of the Callaway!

[@danielpink6384]

I have the smoke in a 5 wood and it's a rocket.

[@TKGolfYT]

I need to consider a 5w I think 🤔

[@baba98052]

I picked the smoke. It consistently hit left. You probably been better if you would not have aimed left

[@ianhelliwell8460]

Shallower face on the ping..needed tee big up lower…that callaway was all over the shop

[@TKGolfYT]

Looking back now, it makes so much more sense why I was striking the ping so badly 🤔

[@bp4968]

Very biased test. Your swings were completely different with the two drivers.

[@chandlertreu5313]

That’s not what biased means, inaccurate yes but not biased.

[@bp4968]

@@chandlertreu5313when the swings are clearly different and they are clearly different between the two clubs it is.

[@TKGolfYT]

An interesting take 🤔 I’ve done three videos on these drivers this week, this video being the final one 😊 I put them both through the ringer for a full day 😊 I did feel a bit weird over the ping compared to the Callaway - but couldn’t explain why 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@donegotold8776]

If someone actually fit you for that Ping with that high of a ball flight and spin rate , they might want to reconsider a new line of work lol !!! It has no chance of performing set up that way and not a fair test in my opinion !!!!

[@TKGolfYT]

I do think the ping was fit week, I uploaded a fitting video in the same week this one came out, which is worth a watch 😊 I think the issue with the ping was; the shallower face was making me hit the top of top of the club. User error more than anything - I should have used different tee heights.

[@ronaldwestra8735]

Sorry to say but you are not swinging consistently. I don’t know what the Ping is doing to your mind which result in a “strange” other less quality swing.

[@TKGolfYT]

I think that’s part of a testing process for mid handicapers like me 🤔 sometimes, the club just doesn’t feel right I guess 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@mattdipadua3614]

Hard to remember a pull always guys further then a good strike

[@TKGolfYT]

Yeah true! Which makes it more impressive really that the ping could keep up so well to be fair 🤔 which driver would you have picked?

[@mattdipadua3614]

@@TKGolfYT me I would go ping at 9 degree but callaway you were getting more distance so on this test I would go callaway but I still think ping fit right with right shaft and more importantly the head weight I think ping will be driver of the year

[@craigmoyer6916]

First hole. I’m not certain you should penalize the PING for finishing a foot from its plug mark. It’s not the clubs fault you hit it in a damp area. The PING appeared to be a poor fit. I’d expect the Callaway to be slightly longer and the PING to be only slightly shorter if properly fit and the PIND may find a few more fairways.

[@TKGolfYT]

I think the issue with the ping was user error 🤔 due to the new shallowed face, it was coming off the top of the club a lot. I haven’t spent the money yet considering all of the similar comments I’ve had 😊 I also think it would be worth trying the new TM. Really appreciate the comment! You make a fantastic point about the pings first drive! Fitting wise, I think James did a great job. The fitting video was uploaded earlier in the same week if you haven’t seen that 😊

[@Station2Station-du2gh]

Some guy was hitting the 10K on the driving range the other day and people were moving away from him because it was so loud. Awful.

[@TKGolfYT]

Yeah I wasn’t a massive fan! I do still have the ping g425 and it does sound a lot worse to be fair 😂 so at least they have tried to make it sound better 😂

[@Station2Station-du2gh]

@@TKGolfYT seems like a little hotmelt at the factory could keep all of us happy - in the meantime Im playing the LST which is a touch more tolerable. Thanks for the video!

[@donsmnc5319]

The Ping will be more forgiving, the Callaway should be just slightly longer, you have pick your poison, longer or straighter?

[@TKGolfYT]

The Callaway was a lot more forgiving that my current driver as well. So I kinda feel like I’m getting an upgrade in distance and straightness with it 🤔

[@guitarpager]

The Callaway is a very forgiving driver. I think it's the best driver on the market right now. You made a good choice.@@TKGolfYT

[@tonyaltobelli2050]

Lower the tee on the ping the face is more shallow

[@TKGolfYT]

Yeah for sure! Serves me right for using castle tees 😂 I’m going to give the ping another chance I think before I spend my cash! Also, the pro shop is getting the QI10 on stock 👀

[@bloggs730]

Cut the corner with the Callaway, so it was obviously further.

[@v205]

No way can I live with that ping sound.😂

[@TKGolfYT]

It’s horrible isn’t it 😂

[@v205]

It's in between a twang and a clunk. Twunk?

[@mattneedham3595]

Correct choice with the callaway The ping still sounds like a empty tin of beans

[@TKGolfYT]

😂😂 I really so still hate the sound of the ping

[@No_Fear_33]

Those models were 4 years ago. You should see the tech in 2024 by Ping.

[@smokinjaws3310]

Ping was more accurate. Calloway long balls were pulled left closing the face. Probably should test again to see how they preform on equal strikes. At the end you need to play the one you have more confidence in.

[@TKGolfYT]

That’s a very good point! I wonder what my confidence levels would have been like with the ping if I was striking it better 🤔

[@NovaScene]

The G430 curse strikes again.. the shallow face. I think I can see zooming into the video there is an issue with your tee height with the 10k, the whole ball is above the driver head. Basically all your drives on the course went under the ball, thats why they are so high and go nowhere.. Later looking at the smash factors it's clear that almost all of your Ping drives, except the last one, was also from the top of the face. It's a designe flaw.. no wonder the higher faced Callaway won.

[@TKGolfYT]

I was thinking the same when I was editing the video 🤔 I think it would be fair to give it another go! The issue with both these drives though is the price 😳 something I didn’t want to touch on in the videos because price is subjective, but for me, they are both really expensive! Thanks for taking the time to look so deeply into the video! Really appreciate the feedback 💪🏻

[@MattMacKo]

I think you wanted Callaway to win.

[@TKGolfYT]

It does look good to be fair though doesn’t it 👀😂

[@jamesbaine580]

You can't fairly compare these 2 drivers with that much wind and operator error

[@TKGolfYT]

This was the final video of 3 😊 there was a lot of testing during the fitting on Monday, and a full review on Wednesday 😊

[@leroyboyz2667]

Can’t trust a guy teeing it up in the rough…😮😮

[@None-dj8iy]

Callaway all day.

[@freddiecarr9025]

Ping needs a lower tee

[@TKGolfYT]

You’re absolutely right! Started to realise that while I was editing 😂

[@pinoybirdie]

You didn’t have to create this video when you have the Smoke AI as your favorite from the start. Even the way you swing the G430 was obviously different. 20 mins of my life wasted

[@TKGolfYT]

This video was the last one of 3 uploaded that week 😊 I think I should have made that clearer to viewers during this video 🤔

[@guitarpager]

Why waste more of your time commenting? This was a test to see what driver he wanted in the bag. He's not telling you which driver to purchase.

[@guitarpager]

I think you're too nice@@TKGolfYT

[@saltyolive_]

nice content but the test is flawed. you are not even swinging consistently to give them both a fair shake

[@TKGolfYT]

I’ve had similar feedback to be honest 🤔 it’s interesting that people have mentioned that, I was trying to swing the same 😂 it’s puzzling to me how my swings are different. Really strange 🤯

[@trickyrickymtb5622]

Favoured calloway, picked the winner, a left in the rough over the Ping in the middle of the fairway. What was the point of this video 😂🤣

[@TKGolfYT]

I really did like the Callaway… 👀😂

[@jasonyazel96]

Lots of technology but no glove. What gives mate?

[@TKGolfYT]

😂 just forgot it on the day! The pro shop was closed so I couldn’t buy one! I was annoyed with my self 😂

[@jasonyazel96]

Ahh, I understand... cheers mate

[@RealSweetTom]

Every fibre of my being tells me to detest the Callaway simply because of the name. Smoke is fine but why ride the AI trend? AI cannot design a driver and if it could, would anybody else want one? I wouldn't.

[@TKGolfYT]

I think it’s interesting how these companies do their research to improve 🤔 Callaway have been big on Ai for a while now! I think, as long as it works, I’m happy 😊

[@eugeneely7431]

why are we watching someone who can't play for .....? your shot tracker device needs calibrating

[@Macedonia270]

I find it irritating that people will, despite the rule change, insist on taking the flag out for their putts in casual play, especially when a four ball takes the pin out and replaces it 4-6 times on EVERY hole. Slow play is my biggest bugbear, and this easily makes an 18 hole round 30-40 minutes longer.... Most of these idiots would miss the putt REGARDLESS of whether the pin was out or in anyway.... THEN, they mark their 6 inch putt, replace the pin for their friend who duly misses his putt, and marks his 4 inch putt etc.etc.

[@TKGolfYT]

I think, as long as you’ve not got a group waiting behind you, it’s ok 🤷🏼‍♂️ I’ve always taken the flag out because the hole looks a bit bigger to me that way 😂😊

[@Macedonia270]

@@TKGolfYT The course was full and two four balls waiting on the tee box...

[@TKGolfYT]

Good point well made 😂 I probably wouldn’t even putt if there were that many waiting on the tee 😂

[@jasonkarageorge7678]

I love how he’s wearing the callaway hat and chooses the callaway driver

[@TKGolfYT]

😂😂😂 it’s a Prime Archery hat…

[@johnlowe9809]

Ping all the way!!!!!!!!!

[@TKGolfYT]

It’s a great club for sure… but is it as cool? 😂

[@jasonkarageorge7678]

As a golfer I have always used callaway and now I am hitting ping g430 and the ping is killing the callaway I will not be hitting callaway anymore they are just made cheap

[@TKGolfYT]

Each to their own 😊 there’s bugger all between the two at the end of the day. Not too sure about Callaway being made cheap though 😂