2025 drivers from each Callaway and PING have landed on the USGA (and R&A) conforming golf equipment lists. As per typical, full particulars are being held again till embargoes formally elevate in early January, however there are some bits and items to be gleaned from the knowledge (and photographs) supplied by the governing our bodies.
Let’s have a look.
Callaway Elyte driver
We assume this newest spherical to questionable spelling is a nod to firm founder Ely Callaway, so we’ll begrudgingly permit it.
Nonetheless, Callaway, there are established methods to spell stuff, and no person will fault you for rolling with the established order.
Anyway, out of the gate, Callaway will launch with 4 fashions that seem to reflect the choices from final season.
The suffix-free Elyte appears the seemingly successor to the Paradym Ai Smoke Max.
Whereas the brand new mannequin will proceed to supply impartial, draw, and fade positions for its again weight, it’s notable that Callaway has moved from a steady observe to a few discrete weight positions.
I’d wager that with publish fashions, golfers who bothered to vary from the impartial setting both went all the best way to fade or all the best way to attract. With that, one might argue that the in-between positions supplied little utility.
The discrete place method reduces a little bit of the construction required for the load observe and certain yields extra helpful mass properties because of this.
Elyte Triple Diamond driver
Formally listed as “Elyte (TD)”, the triple diamond looks like a one-for-one substitute for final 12 months’s mannequin with the identical suffix.
The front-to-back weighting system seems basically unchanged. The unknown right here is whether or not TD will stay the marginally undersized “higher participant’s driver” (barely fade-biased) or if Callaway will use the transition to the Elyte platform to make the inventory TD extra like final season after the launch launch of the TD Max.
In fact, if Callway’s sample holds, we are able to count on to see a handful of tour-only variants whereas further retail fashions are a risk as effectively.
Elyte X driver
Callaway seems to be taking part in a little bit of ping-pong with itself over what we assume is the continuation of its draw-biased mannequin.
As chances are you’ll recall, the Ai Smoke MAX D changed the Paradym X within the draw class. The pondering round this time final 12 months was that buyers would favor the specific draw nomenclature.
At first look, it seems the pondering has reverted again to the 2023 mentality.
Just like the inventory Elyte, the Elyte X options discrete rear weight positions. The notable distinction is that the Elyte X is lacking a fade choice, additional suggesting that X is as soon as once more the draw-biased mannequin.
We might count on some noticeable variations within the tackle place as effectively, however that’s not a photograph the USGA takes.
Elyte Max Quick
Lastly, Callaway will once more supply a Max Quick mannequin. Assuming no drastic modifications, the Max Quick ought to current as a light-weight model of the Elyte X (it shares the identical impartial/draw) weight choices.
The Callaway stuff I’m enthusiastic about
What number of extra? – Callaway is infamous for stacking one-off fashions on the USGA listing. Likewise, the corporate isn’t afraid to launch further fashions all through the season. With that, it’s truthful to marvel if this shall be all Callaway has for 2025 or if some golfers might need to maintain off to see if precisely what they’re on the lookout for involves market.
Does the Ai story nonetheless resonate? – Callaway long-ago established itself because the chief in Ai (contained in the golf tools {industry}, anyway). That mentioned, each main producer is leveraging AI proper, and as extra instruments like Chat GPT and Grok hit the open market, we’re being saturated with all issues AI.
So, whereas the USGA descriptions point out that every one Elyte fashions will supply Ai 10x faces, I’m wondering if Callaway might have a brand new hook to have interaction customers.
How a lot will they price? – It’s going to be an fascinating 12 months for pricing. With a great little bit of golf tools nonetheless being produced in China (and, in Callaway’s case, assembled in Mexico), it’s truthful to marvel what impression the specter of tariffs may have on pricing.
With Callaway persevering with to place itself as a premium model, I wouldn’t be stunned if retail pricing pushed previous the $600 mark into Titleist territory.
I’d like to be incorrect.
PING
For 2025, PING shall be introducing three new driver fashions at launch. The G430 MAX 10K is predicted to remain within the lineup.
G440 MAX driver
PING’s different MAX stays its center of the bell curve driver for the lots. At a look, apart from the colour scheme (PING is shifting again to blue), probably the most noticeable distinction is the CARBONFLY WRAP Crown.
As chances are you’ll recall, when the G430 lineup launched, solely the 430 LST featured the carbon crown. It carried over to the MAX 10K and has now trickled into the remainder of the lineup.
A visual three-position rear weight is in step with earlier MAX fashions.
G440 LST driver
On the USGA photographs alone (which admittedly isn’t a lot to work with), the 440 LST seems fairly a bit just like the G440 MAX. Chalk that as much as the three weight place, I suppose.
I received’t count on a lot will change for 2025. With that, count on the LST (low spin know-how) to be PING’s lowest spinning mannequin (duh), however I additionally don’t count on any radical modifications in PING’s method to low spin.
That’s to say, I nonetheless count on the LST to be among the many greater spinning, extra forgiving of the low spin fashions available on the market.
G440 SFT driver
For our cash, the SFT is the very best driver available on the market for golfers on the lookout for slice correction. Whereas nearly all people is ramping up their draw-biased efforts, PING appears to have discovered a candy spot within the class.
With that, my expectation is that we’ll see a rise in ball velocity and a bump in MOI, however in any other case, it’s extra of the identical.
The PING stuff I’m enthusiastic about
Is titanium lifeless? – This isn’t a lot a PING factor as it’s an industry-wide factor, however with PING and Titleist now all-in on carbon fiber crowns, have we seen the final of titanium (as a crown materials) from the most important names in golf?
Do golfers grasp spinsicency? – PING has talked about its spinsistent face know-how for a number of generations now. As PING’s home made phrase suggests, spinsistency is about leveraging face know-how to offer extra constant spin. I’m undecided the know-how has ever resonated with golfers, however this time round, PING is printing the phrase on its driver faces. I’m undecided that can assist clarify what it does, but it surely ought to assist increase consciousness.
How a lot MOI will the G440s supply? – There’s little doubt that PING will proceed to lean into MOI throughout the lineup. That mentioned, with the 430 MAX 10K within the lineup, will PING dial again the MOI within the 440 MAX in favor of a bit extra ball velocity?
There are comparable inquiries to be requested concerning the LST as effectively, the place it’s cheap to marvel if the goal golfer wouldn’t be keen to surrender a little bit MOI for a little bit extra velocity.
How do they sound? – It’s been a little bit of a blended bag for sound from PING. There are inherent challenges with huge shapes, huge weights, and carbon fiber crowns. All three apply to PING, so will probably be fascinating to see if the brand new drivers will supply improved sound and really feel.
How a lot will they price? – As a privately held firm, PING doesn’t face the identical stress from stockholders as most golf firms. If any main golf firm has the posh of holding costs, it’s PING.
In fact, there’s a little bit of nuance within the concept of holding costs. The G430 MAX and SFT fashions launched at $550. The LST was $30 extra at $580 (name it a carbon tax), whereas the MAX 10K launched at $600.
I don’t count on something new within the new lineup shall be lower than that, however I additionally don’t suppose they’ll be extra.
Extra data quickly
We count on embargoes on each the Callaway Elyte and PING G440 drivers will elevate in early January. With COBRA DS-ADAPT drivers already on the listing, TaylorMade is the final of the massive boys to hit the listing. C’mon guys, present us the NOVA.
Extra data because it turns into accessible (and we’re allowed to share it).
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