Dan Murphy on the striking looks and performance of the latest G-series range

Devotees of the legendary G range will not be surprised by how well these clubs perform – but even Ping’s staunchest fan would have to admit that the G25s are a big improvement on their predecessors in terms of looks.

Factor in an adjustable element, plus a price point that is comparable to most of its serious rivals, and it all adds up to a driver that is sure to be in high demand over the coming months as winter turns into spring.

The matt-black finish might seem dull to some compared to the brightly-coloured heads other manufacturers are offering but perhaps it just proves Ping remain, first and foremost, an engineering company focused on performance.

You can optimise launch by adjusting the loft plus or minus half a degree. Again, compared to some, this is unremarkable. Ping argue it means you can choose any loft between 8 and 12.5° in half-degree increments. They also believe there are implications that compromise performance when you adjust loft by more than this, not least in terms of a club’s centre of gravity moving.

Subtly, when you change the loft down the face opens, and when you increase it, the face closes. If only as a placebo effect, this can be effective in promoting a preferred shape.

Ping say this is the most forgiving driver they have ever made – with the ultra-thin-crown allowing weight to be moved further back and lower. The G25 feels fast off the face, lively and powerful. Expect a slightly higher launch, but not with the extra spin that often goes with it. Already in Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan’s bags, the G25 is powered by the TFC 189D, a lightweight, high-balance-point shaft developed specifically for this driver, creates more clubhead momentum and forgiveness.

SRP: £299

Available: Now

Lofts: 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 & 12°

Shaft: Ping TFC 189D (Soft R, R, S, Tour Stiff,and Tour X-Stiff)

Super-forgiving, as you’d expect, but also much sleeker than we’ve become accustomed to in the G range, and with a smart new mattblack finish. Think Eye 2 – these are game-improvement irons that will attract a broad audience.

Gone is the ugly – yet effective – shape we’ve previously seen from Ping hybrids. What’s not to like about these? The G25 hybrids are just the shape and size you’d want and launch the ball high and far.

If you are someone who struggles to get the ball up with a fairway wood from off the deck then you must try these. Fairway woods have never been easier to launch and few game-improvement models look as good as these.

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