Why Viktor Hovland finally retired his long-time driver found something new
When Viktor Hovland first tested drivers at the Truist Championship earlier this year, he was 117 in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee. This week in Connecticut, he led the division and won the Traveler Championship in Monday morning’s Scottie Scheffler qualifier.
What has changed? He eventually switched to a new driver.
From 2020 to 2024, Hovland was a top 25 driver every season with his Ping G425 LST. His comfort was the main reason why it was difficult for him to leave the five-year-old team.
But in 2025, Hovland fell out of the top 80 and out of the top 100 after the first four months of the season. That was despite previous attempts to break into Ping’s new G440 line both last year and at the start of his first outing this season in Phoenix.
“I tried the new 440 last year because it’s faster,” Hovland said at the WM Phoenix Open, before playing K for the first time. “The spin consistency on the surface is a joke. If I hit it on the heel or the toe with 425, the spin difference is huge. Like if I hit it on the toe, I can spin under 2000. If I hit it on the heel, I can get to 3000. Versus the 440,20, from 440, from 20, from 200, from tight. a big gap.
“However, the problem is that it starts slow for me. And for some reason, with the setup I tested it with, it tends to go too far to the right. Right now, with my golf swing, if I get bogged down, my miss is already a high miss to the right. When I hit this driver, it pops up.”
Starting at the Truist Championship and continuing the following week at the PGA, Hovland began testing both the G440 K and G440 LST again. Ping Tour representative Kenton Oates initially thought the more forgiving K would get the nod, but as they progressed, the LST had a clear advantage on the first row, just a touch more fair than the K.
Hovland also fell in love with the LST when they tested it with a Fujikura Ventus TR Black+ 6-X shaft, which has a stiff mid-section, similar to the Speeder 661 TR shaft he sports on his 425. Ping has a very limited number of Speeders left in Hovland, so they only use them to save 425 heads.
“When he tightened up his swing a little bit, to me it felt like it was coming off the right line every time,” Oates told GOLF. “The TR Black Plus was playing on paper right away because it was supposed to get rid of his spinal cord, and it should give him a better feeling.”
After getting comfortable with the new build at home, when we took off three weeks after the PGA, the new 440 LST was the only driver Hovland brought to Canada.
“That’s one way to change,” Oates joked. “Leave your protective clothing in Oklahoma and call it a day.”
This week at TPC River Highlands, Hovland started in SG:OTT and missed the event by only 13 holes. In both of his tee shots on the 18th hole – on Sunday, and on Monday morning in the playoff – he split the fairway, setting himself up for a catch and a birdie putt in the playoff.
PING G440 LST Driver Custom
The G440 family of drivers (MAX, LST, SFT) is designed to deliver more ball speed with a number of improvements, including PING’s deepest CG in a driver to date and a thin, narrow face, while continuing to ensure the game-changing forgiveness expected of a PING driver. The G440 LST (Low Spin) design appeals to players with faster swing speeds, providing lower spin and more control at 9° and 10.5° lofts with a three-position back weight. EXTREMELY FORGIVING Lighter head weight allows for heavier rear weight. FAST FACE Shallow, thin, face increases ball speed for more distance, higher launch. SOUND DESIGN New shape, carbon crown and inner ribs produce a muted feeling of impact. FREE-HOSEL DESIGN Saves weight to lower CG, increasing forgiveness. It allows the face to expand on the heel side for constant ball speed on the face.
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Details
Ping G440 LST 9.0
Actual loft: 7.4
Ping Trajectory 2.0 setting: Flat Dot
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black w/ Velocore+ 6-X
Tip: 1″
Height: 45.75″ EOG
Swingweight: D5+
Grip: Golf Pride MCC Black/Blue 60R (+1 wrap)
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