Ping G430 lst vs Callaway Paradym TD

[gbang15]

Has anybody hit the two heads side by side with similar flex/loft? 

Looking to dial in the most accurate/comfortable driver while still maintaining spin on the lower side (1900-2500rpm). 

 

Driver is a huge part of my game so really want a driver that feels workable in all directions (high, low, left, right); coming down to these two heads.

[jwb10]

I have been testing the TD and it's great. I, too, wonder how it compares to LST ? Anyone /

[gerger]

I haven’t hit the Paradym TD but my previous gamer was the Epic Speed TD and I also tried out the Rogue TD LS. I immediately sold my Epic Speed TD after a couple rounds with the G430 LST. I hit more fairways with it. My left and right misses are just not as severe. According to Arccos, I’m hitting 50% of fairways with the G430 LST and averaging 260 yards. Was 38% fairways and 248 yards with the Epic Speed TD. I’m sure the Paradym is an improvement though!

Edited May 8, 2023 by gerger

[NicholasP]

I just went through testing/playing both for a few weeks.  I'm a low single digit hcp, 105 swing speed on a good day.  I could easily play either one, but I'm a few mph faster ball speed with the triple diamond, and I just found it easier to work.  I struggled to turn the LST over, and it spun a hair more.  What I loved about the LST though, is the spin was really consistent across the face.  To my eye, the Paradym 3d looked a little better behind the ball, but that's subjective.  Really can't make a bad call between these 2 if you like the lower spin heads.  

 

I should also mention I spent some time with the TSR3 and Aerojet LS, neither of which beat my LTDX LS on the course.  I'm committed to the Paradym for the season, burnt out buying and selling, and it seemed more forgiving on off center hits vs. LTDX.  Feel and sound are also night and day better in favor of the Paradym, and thats true for all the drivers I hit.  

Edited May 8, 2023 by NicholasP

[iNeedMoreGolf]

I played the rogue st td last season. Its gone now but it was a not great driver for me. Sound and feel were amazing. Big shots were big.. bad shots were... bad. 

I tryed ping430 lst twice in 2 different stores and saw same results which sold me. Add in the fact that ping is never really going to be too bad in the woods department and i figured it should be ok either way. Sound and feel in store off the ping really stood out in a good way to me. Ive hit past ping woods in store that i put down immediately lol this was really different and i thought sounded and felt better then to me in store vs the paradym td. I hear the ptd is more straighter this year though so all in all still probably a great club. I just liked what i saw in store and felt and add in the fact ping even in lst models are more forgiving then some to begin with. I also had tsr3 which is nice but a bit more demanding similarly to the rogue st td.. and i just cant afford bad play off the tee box for my game as well. I dont think anyone can honestly lol.

[craz-e]

I own both and still haven't decided on what will make it into my bag full time. The Ping launches lower and just wants to go straight, the Callaway feels amazing and for me is easier to shape.

I am testing both again a few nights this week, on a range and taking to the course to see how they fair with having to hit fairways 

[Nixhex524]

Been gaming the LST for the last few months and it is probably the best driver I have hit in the last 5 years.  Granted, driver is not my strong suit but having had access to launch monitors this year I was able to fit for it and has not let me down.  The Paradym TD is really good too, I find it to spin lower than the Ping but also will give up a little forgiveness.  I didn't want to like the Paradym but it does the job for sure if fit properly.  The G430 LST is just the right combination of low spin and forgiveness while really doing a nice job on feel and sound.  Next up is the ZX5 MKii LS.... 

[blazman11]

I had the 430 LST at release.  I was able to see but not hit the head in the summer last year (I’m a lefty and the rep only had RH models).  The head looked great and it’s Ping so I was getting it regardless.  

 

Just could not get along with the 430.  Went through half a dozen different shafts but nothing would cure the 2 way miss. 

 

• Spin is consistent across the face.
• Lowest launching driver I’ve played in memory.
• I’d say it’s quite workable as I could hit push slices just as easily as pull hooks.  
• Shallow head 
• Pleasing sound and looks

 

The last day Callaway offered the 50% bonus on trades I figured I’d order a triple diamond as my buddy was just fit for it.  I intended to just pull the shaft and sell the head as it’s easier / cheaper to ship a new driver head vs a whole set of irons.  I’ve hit 3x diamonds before along with Sub Zeros and never got them off the ground so I didn’t have high expectations.  

 

Took the 3x diamond to the range all taped up before my round last week.  I liked what I saw on the range but wasn’t ready to put it in play as I wanted to give 430 one more shot.   Played the 430 on the front side and it was more of the same.  Tape came off the 3x diamond by 12th hole for good.  Had two more rounds since then and ** fingers crossed ** the 3x diamond is the clear winner.

 

• Launches significantly higher than the 430 at same loft with same shaft.  I need the launch so it works for me.
• Ball just wants to go straight.  Very little curvature so far.
• Wooden baseball like feel / sound at impact.
• Face is 1/3 to 1/2 inch deeper than 430 LST (depending on how I measure) which is a huge plus for me.  
• Awesome looking compact head.  One thing I struggled with the 430 was I could not get any feel checkpoints during the swing.   For whatever reason with the 3x I know when that club is waist height on the way down.  Same shaft and same swing weight with both clubs.  

 

I don’t have any TM numbers with the 3x diamond and right now there’s no reason for me to do so.  I got terrific TM numbers on the 430 but it just didn’t work for me on the course.  To me the 3x diamond is not what I remember a 3x diamond to be.  I equate it to a deeper faced Epic Max LS.  My misses are vertical though and not left to right.  

[nkurz]

I've now tried the Ping G430 LST and Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond from GlobalGolf's UTry program, both in 9 degree.   I played both with the same Mamiya Lin-Q Purple at 46" with an All-Fit adapter.   I normally play 8.5 degree Bangomatic also at 46". The summary is that  both are fine clubs, but I liked the Triple Diamond significantly better.  

 

I'm a 50 year old who swings 105-110 mph.  I tee high, and like to hit the ball far even if it's not wise.   I don't have an official USGA handicap, but I play in a couple leagues on a short easy 9 hole course and typically shoot about 40 from Blues or Whites.

 

Sound is much better for the TD.  My first impression of the TD was "wow, that sounds good" and my first impression of the LST was "CLANG".  I got used to the LST sound, but never came to like it.

 

Feel is a mixed bag.  I found the TD to feel great on softer swings, but full speed center impact felt somewhat like denting an aluminum can.  LST feels OK, but maybe a bit mushy on all hits.    Bang feels best on center hits, worst on off-center. 

 

I liked the look of the TD better than the LST.  Purely personal preference, but to me it looks more like I think a golf club should, and less like a Transformer toy.  

 

Forgiveness of both on non-center impacts with both was much better than my current driver, both in feel and ball flight.  Neither will fix a bad swing, but both are very forgiving compared to a 20 year old long drive club.

 

Ball speed for perfect impacts was best with the TD, and worst with the LST, with my current Bang in the middle. My Yupiteru monitor isn't the best, but I consistently got  ball speeds 2-4 mph faster with the TD than the LST, both for best and average.

 

My impression on the course was that my best drives with the TD were 5-15 yards farther than with the LST, and that like ball speed, the Bang was in the middle.  Non-perfect impact was more similar for the TD and LST, with the Bang trailing.

 

I don't know how they compare for spin numbers, but I'm with Howard that vertical impact position trumps all else.  If you want less spin from any driver, hit it a fraction higher on the face.  

 

I thought both hit about the same trajectory, which felt appropriately high with low spin on good hits. Both could be worked either way, although I wasn't good enough do this consistently with either club.   I tend to adjust my swing and grip to the club, and thus don't mind small differences in loft or face angle.

 

As one would hope from their high MOI, both clubs seemed straighter on toe or heel hits than my current Bang.  Both were much better on low face hits as well.  If I were to guess I'd say I was most consistent with the Ping, but this might just be because it was a little shorter off the tee.  

 

One big problem I had with the LST was that the "turbulators" make it whistle on both the backswing and the downswing.  I want a silent backswing and a nice "woosh" on the downswing.  Instead the LST hisses on a fast backswing and then more loudly on the downswing.  I didn't mind them visually, and I like the concept of improving the airflow, but I did not like the sound they made.  

 

Anyway, my final conclusion was that both are better than my current club, and both are probably right for someone, but I liked the Paradym Triple Diamond quite a bit better than the G430 LST.  My plan is to try to few more current clubs this year before choosing what to buy for next season.  Next to try is a Taylormade Stealth 2 Plus.  

 

 

 

 

 

[jblough99]

13 hours ago, nkurz said:

I've now tried the Ping G430 LST and Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond from GlobalGolf's UTry program, both in 9 degree.   I played both with the same Mamiya Lin-Q Purple at 46" with an All-Fit adapter.   I normally play 8.5 degree Bangomatic also at 46". The summary is that  both are fine clubs, but I liked the Triple Diamond significantly better.  

 

I'm a 50 year old who swings 105-110 mph.  I tee high, and like to hit the ball far even if it's not wise.   I don't have an official USGA handicap, but I play in a couple leagues on a short easy 9 hole course and typically shoot about 40 from Blues or Whites.

 

Sound is much better for the TD.  My first impression of the TD was "wow, that sounds good" and my first impression of the LST was "CLANG".  I got used to the LST sound, but never came to like it.

 

Feel is a mixed bag.  I found the TD to feel great on softer swings, but full speed center impact felt somewhat like denting an aluminum can.  LST feels OK, but maybe a bit mushy on all hits.    Bang feels best on center hits, worst on off-center. 

 

I liked the look of the TD better than the LST.  Purely personal preference, but to me it looks more like I think a golf club should, and less like a Transformer toy.  

 

Forgiveness of both on non-center impacts with both was much better than my current driver, both in feel and ball flight.  Neither will fix a bad swing, but both are very forgiving compared to a 20 year old long drive club.

 

Ball speed for perfect impacts was best with the TD, and worst with the LST, with my current Bang in the middle. My Yupiteru monitor isn't the best, but I consistently got  ball speeds 2-4 mph faster with the TD than the LST, both for best and average.

 

My impression on the course was that my best drives with the TD were 5-15 yards farther than with the LST, and that like ball speed, the Bang was in the middle.  Non-perfect impact was more similar for the TD and LST, with the Bang trailing.

 

I don't know how they compare for spin numbers, but I'm with Howard that vertical impact position trumps all else.  If you want less spin from any driver, hit it a fraction higher on the face.  

 

I thought both hit about the same trajectory, which felt appropriately high with low spin on good hits. Both could be worked either way, although I wasn't good enough do this consistently with either club.   I tend to adjust my swing and grip to the club, and thus don't mind small differences in loft or face angle.

 

As one would hope from their high MOI, both clubs seemed straighter on toe or heel hits than my current Bang.  Both were much better on low face hits as well.  If I were to guess I'd say I was most consistent with the Ping, but this might just be because it was a little shorter off the tee.  

 

One big problem I had with the LST was that the "turbulators" make it whistle on both the backswing and the downswing.  I want a silent backswing and a nice "woosh" on the downswing.  Instead the LST hisses on a fast backswing and then more loudly on the downswing.  I didn't mind them visually, and I like the concept of improving the airflow, but I did not like the sound they made.  

 

Anyway, my final conclusion was that both are better than my current club, and both are probably right for someone, but I liked the Paradym Triple Diamond quite a bit better than the G430 LST.  My plan is to try to few more current clubs this year before choosing what to buy for next season.  Next to try is a Taylormade Stealth 2 Plus.  

 

 

 

 

 

I love the Global U-Try program.  Just started using it this season.  Soooooo much easier than buying and selling to try new gear.  Wish I would’ve started using it years ago.

 

I saw the same results you did LST vs TD.  TD was consistently faster in ball speed and longer by about 10-15 yards.  

[davbrucas]

I found that the only thing better about the TD is the ball speed. Everything else, forgiveness, dispersion, off center hits, feel, etc were better with the 430LST.