I love the 25-30 yards of roll that turns 230 carry into 260 total, lol. Even at the height of summer on our perfect bent grass fairways, most people never sniff that kind of roll. It’s quite unrealistic, unless you’re playing a Texas goat ranch in August … or a Tour venue.

I am happy with your tests, because you are way closer to my type of swing, than most of these other YT influencers with their perfect swings way over 110mph. And I could imagine I am not the only one who think so... So go further and I hope your channel will grow

Index of 2.1. My driver swing speed is around 103, tried the Callaway Smoke and the Ping G430 10k. Both using Ventus Blue velocore + shaft. Brought both drivers on the fairway - hit 10 shots (on different holes). Both were really straight. 10k outdrove the Smoke by around 22 yards on the average (total distance, not carry). Both were set at 9.5deg.

I'm impressed with the spin numbers on the 430 10k. It is a much lower spinning driver than many competitors and adding the forgiveness makes it very interesting. I tried the Q10Max and my spin numbers were much higher than what you were getting. That is a problem I have with almost all drivers. Even though I'm a 135mph ball speed guy I have to go with a low spin head otherwise I end up in the 3500 rpm range, which is too much for me. The Max was more forgiving than my Stealth 2 plus but about 5-10 yards shorter due to spin issues. I generally don't have a problem keeping the ball in the fairway, it is more getting the speed up. But that is something I am working on this offseason.

I hit all of these the other day at the PGA super store- G430 max 10k was by far the best for me (5hdcp)- I have set up a fitting for next month- basically a shaft fitting as it was crazy how the numbers changed when the guy at the store changed a few out..

I tried the Cobra and Smoke couple wks ago. Found the Cobra very loud, but very nice to hit. Smoke to me had better sound. I hit the Smoke further. Club speed and ball speed were all higher than the Cobra. At the end of it all I brought out my Paradym to go against the Smoke. To be honest I didn’t see the advantage of switching. Paradym was better than the Cobra IMO. The prices of the Smoke, and especially the PING are crazy. PING 10k is $975 tax paid in Canada. 😮 Unless I can “steal” the smoke I will game my Paradym this yr. Great review of all them drivers. Thx!

Love it mate! Now we need the tour edge, cleveland, srixon, mizuno & pxg comparison 😂

Think you had the heavier weight in the heel on the cobra. Would’ve been better if you had it in the rear position for a better comparison. Overall nice comparison. Ping g430 max 10k is definitely the overall best pick. Mid to low spin, sits in between the max and the LST

Great review - Ping g425 was 10k.... your worst swings were better w Ping - 2 of the qi10 swings spin jumped way too high, Ping stayed more consistent? Seems Ping won...wonder if this is the one to finally kick out my G400 max..

Your Stealth 2 and That QI10 are exact same size again!!! 460cc is max and they have all been that size with the exception of some of the LST models being 430cc you get that launch up between 14 and 16° and you will get a bit better distance most likely

I have the G425 with the Alta CB 55R. Love it! May try the 430 Max 10k with the same shaft.

Ordered the Mizuno St Max. Beat out all of these models for me.

IMO Ping or Qi10. Cobra not enough spin especially on the toe/hook shots. Smoke AI I don’t see much difference from previous model. Ultimately the March Madness Bracket that you do will show us best performer. Thx Gabe.

I agree with you, Gabe, but I leaned towards the Ping for you out of these four. However, you need to test the PXG and Mizuno!

I bought the 10k max the day it came out (last Wednesday) and loving it so far. High Launch/Low spin fairway finder!

Another great review for us mortals!! lol. Even though I just got a cobra radspeed for Christmas, I love seeing the stuff for the upcoming golf year.

Agree with other comments, at last someone with a similar swing speed and honest opinions, really enjoyed your analysis 👍👍👍

PXG Black Ops is a 10K as well would be nice to add to the test as well

great review, just a shame the new Mizuno driver wasnt available/included as that is getting fantastic reviews. Would love to see it up against the Ping/TM

Great video Gabe! you got that video out with the quickness! You stated multiple times that your drive has been inconsistent lately. I'm no pro, but it looks like your standing farther away from the ball than you used to. Maybe something to look into. The tour pro I did a TPI on said this is the biggest mistake with drives that he sees with amateur's

A good review indeed. I would like to have seen you get some base numbers with your gamer, which I believe was Titleist TSI3? So you can do an honest fairy valuation of how these performed against your current driver. Because sometimes newer does not necessarily mean better and what I’m seeing for numbers on a lot of these new drivers are compared against each other but against numbers from the past at comparable swing speed the overall distance numbers on some of them are down. I don’t think your Titleist driver would be losing out in distance but it likely definitely is not going to be as forgiving and that is why the choice you are making is wise to stay in the fairway this year. But I would’ve liked to of seen you test the new Mizuno ST 230 MAX driver. I think it may be would have rivalled every one of these or beat it.

I believe the Dark Speed Max has a weight at the back and at the heel. The standard dark speed has the weights at the front and back.

I really like my Titleist TR2 that I got fitted for nack in November. The Ping G430 Max was a close runner up

I don’t know why you would say the Ping or TM. The Callaway gave you the farthest carry but most importantly the tightest grouping at only 8yards. You can’t beat longest carry but also the straightest.

Any reason you chose to do the regular max instead of the max d? I feel as though the max is more comparable to the dark speed x or the Qi10 regular model.

I am anxious for you to hit the NEW PXG Black Ops driver !!!! Great Video Gabe !!!! Keep up the good work 👍

2024 Cobra Air X Offset is the most forgiving, anti-slicing driver ever made I believe. Really want to see the Cleveland XL2 too. :)

I’m more of a dispersion, spin rate and carry distance. If I was fitting you, I would advise you on the Ping. You were more consistent on all your shots

Gabe… Honestly I think you were the biggest difference in all these clubs, and that is not meant to be a slam, just a reality. I would love to have any of those drives. The question for me with these new clubs would not be carry or total distance, unless it was a huge difference, it would be distance from center and total dispersion which I wish you had shown. That is what forgiveness is all about and you alluded to that but didn’t address it in the stats. I know it’s impossible for you to do, but I would love to see a comparison using something like an Iron Byron to take the human element out it.

I went into my fitting really wanting the Smoke, but I couldn’t argue with the Ping’s numbers.

Hi there fellow golfer , Two things though bother me 1st is we live in a time when golf design is getting nicer take this smoke driver very nice , BUT WHY IS THE DESIGN ON THE BOTTOM NOT TOP. Take any driver in the shop and it's on the bottom. 2nd THE price we'll we are supposed to be struggling yet prices sore , fine for the pros they get them free fitted and paid to do so. I would love the SMOKE OR THE QI OR WHATEVER IT IS, AND YET THE 4 YEAR OLD MAVRIK SUB ZERO WAS THE BEST YET FOR ME.

Distance is great eh well you sound knackered. Besides you can rig this thing , I found that out on course . Mavrik in there was 220 for me but on course 290 plus

I wish you would have shown the ball groupings. That is what show’s forgiveness, which I still would have been the 430 that you picked

Gabe, just curious to see if any of these could replace your current driver this year? You seemed to like the Ping.

Kind of figured you would pick the Ping overall. It would be my choice for you based on the numbers. A respectable backspin without getting too low and amazing accuracy.

It seemed like your swing got a little fatigued on the last 2 drivers and it could be a reason for the off center hits compared to the first 2 drivers.

Great video as always, Gabe! Love it!! ❤⛳️👍🏻

Hi Gabe I hope you can do a review of the Ke4 Maltby driver for all us poor people! Thanks!

Golfers do not go by this yardage unless in USA, well there they are flat courses compared to West Yorkshire, take Normanton g,c, its third is left to right uphill par 5 its about 5 levels high in a block of flats . 650 yards s.I. 3

Noticed that when you go after it a bit harder, your right elbow is further away from your body - hence going to either side, imo…

Did you ever consider having someone that has a swing speed of around 75 to do some of these test with you?

I have the 2023 Paradym and it's VERY forgiving and long!!!

Truly amazing how each swing is different. I hit the exact 3 same clubs and I hit the AI Smoke 6-8 yards longer than the others

Nice review can I ask what your swing speed is?

I'll keep my big bertha b21, thanks. As long or longer than new drivers and very forgiving. Plus can find it for less than half of a new driver.

9:50 you have a weight in the heel too

Clubs are so expensive now. I haven't tried a new driver in over ten years, a burner bubble was my last purchase. I'll have go hit some see what the fuss is about.

Gabe, I've heard the ST max from Mizuno is better than all of them you tried.

Ping is just putting that new driver out there with lots of marketing dribble, i'm not convinced, personal opinion. As engineering rules Govern driver specs it comes down to Marketing BS (fancy terms etc) at the end of the day it is going to be hard for OEM's to sell more drivers in years to come, look at the Ping G400 it is still a great driver.

What is meant by 10000 moi? I thought 1.5 was max moi allowed. Club speed to ball speed ratio

Was really interested to see the AI smoke have good distance and a small offline. Ill take a long, straight drive all day

The Ping G425 max already had an moi of 10k. Its a lot cheaper than the ones coming out now and I highly recommend. People bitch about the sound but when Im hitting fairways and theyre not I look good.

How about the Mizuno st max driver?

You must try the new PXG Black Ops. It replaced Ping G430 Max for me and it wasn’t even close. I was shocked!

It's 2024 and companies still make loud drivers. Is it really that difficult to stop that from happening?

No Mizuno? They are underrated. I love my STX-230.

Specs show the smoke was second on carry and first on offline.

Interesting but I won’t be changing my G425 max.

You need to try the Mizuno ST MAX!!!!!

As a trainer for 20 years hopefully you are warming up before these tests. If you don't it may skew your numbers a bit as you warm up during the test.

Still think g430 max with movable weight would become more forgiving for a lot of players. I almost wish it was less movable weight as the shot shape correction is almost too much!

please test the Teton driver

I was just wondering what your swing speed is?

What is your driver swing speed?

you've missed the best of the lot, mizuno st max...

Such an interesting coincidence that every major Manufacturer was suddenly able to build a 10k inertia Driver for this Season 😂😂😂

How does the new TaylorMade compare to your Stealth 2?

Cobra Dark Speed. Really awesome driver. Works great for this 67 year old .

The way you set up you can't help but hit it on the heel

Just curious as to why you didn’t test the Callaway AI Smoke Max against these other drivers? Wouldn’t that driver be a better fit than the non Max version? Really enjoyed the video!

Looks like you hit the Taylor made the best.

All look great drivers. Not sure why you’re using stiff shafts though. Surely you’re robbing yourself there!

I hit my longest drive ever with cobra darkspeed, i find that unless i REALLY screw up, I cant hit it bad

Yea this guy don't know what he's talking about but with that weak swing I would of picked the ping..I hit all these clubs and the cobra had the best results but didn't match with my Cobra Aerojet...

Smoke was longest and most consistent on distance, and had the least amount of deviation. Why would you not think that was the best driver with the most forgiveness?

TSR3 sorry

Where is the AI Smoke “MAX”?? Every other driver is Max but the Callaway. Weird.

Thanks

Mizuno ST Max beats them all

Taylormade-always the best!

Will any of these qualify for your “March Madness” tournament?

Manufactures are making it almost impossible for average players to afford these drivers. Almost all are on the plus side of $700.

Gabe u make me realise how bad I am at this game, I have pretty much exactly the same ball speed but can only hit 240yards at the most if I'm lucky 😢

You need to fix that early extension, that's what's causing you to lose your balance. Your butt is to far back at address.

Turbulators are ugly and getting old, need to come up with new crown on next model.

For what these new drivers cost it is not worth upgrading to me.

I think the AI Smoke is so ugly.

You could pull out any 5 year old driver and it would be right there with if these new marketing gimmicks. Let’s be real people. The result of your golf swing is 99% you and 1% the club itself.

Just tell us from the start instead of rubbish before

Hi from the uk you’re breathing concerning me as a practising doctor you should not be so breathless hitting a few shots please get a check up please

Put the performance of the PING or TM with the looks of the Darkspeed into a driver 🤌🤌 Would walk out of the store with a new club right there. Gotta love what TaylorMade and PING have done