There is an art to all of this: launching your cargo product on global tours. After months/years of testing, trying, learning and performing, it all comes down to that first reaction from your tour staff.
Just because it’s new and shiny doesn’t mean it’s going to go in the bag right away. That’s true for some players, but in many cases, the prep work is so targeted and the product so good that leaving it out could put you at a disadvantage, or you’re just a player with crippling FOMO.
This week in Cabo and Abu Dhabi, the Ping Tour team hit the practice tees with the new Ping G450 line of Drivers and fairways (and a Mini). It’s too early to talk about technology or anything like that; which will come at the top of the year. But from where I stand, it’s pretty fun to watch conversion rate Ping performed this week. It is typically marked for a Launch of the Tour, as the sale: its leads versus closed. The trick is to move all the projects into Glen Garry.
Make no mistake, this process is not easy. Keep in mind that these players play for a living, and you’re up against a bias toward a product, past success (ie, the security blanket: think of the Scottie Scheffler QI10 saga), and some players who don’t want to try a range of tournaments. These Tour representatives (in all brands) are so good at this stuff that when it’s time to push the game, they consider every detail – yes, even the emotional ones. It is high science.
It also goes across the pond. Ping staffer Tyrrell Hatton is sitting T2 (-17) in Abu Dhabi, just behind his friend Jon Rahm, with the new wood in play.
- Drivers: G450 LST (9° @ 9.5° Small Plus), 45.5″, Diamana TB 60TX (Tip 1/2″), D3 swingweight, 5g Heel
- Fairway (7W): G450 MAX (21° @ 19.25° Big Minus), 40.5″, Diamana TB 80TX (Tip 3″), D1 swingweight, Neutral weight
In terms of out-of-the-gate success, look at what converts have done with 36 holes spent at the Tech World Championship. Some of these are non-staff like Denny McCarthy, Harry Hall, Zach Bauchou and Will Gordon.
Here are all the configurations in Cabo:
Denny McCarthy (T4 | -11)
- Fairway (7W): G450 MAX (21° @ 19° Big Minus), 41″, Mitsubishi 1K White 80TX
2. Zaccaria Bauchou (T6|-10)
- Drivers: G450 LST 10.5° @ 9.9° Dot, CG Shifter Toe
3. Austin Eckroat (T6|-10)
- Drivers: G450 LST (9° @ 8.75° Standard), 45.5″, Graphite Design GP 6X (Tip 1″), D3+ swingweight, 20g CG Shifter Neutral
- Fairway (3W): G450 MAX (15° @ 14.5° Small Minus), 42″, Design Graphite DI 8X (Tip 1.5″), D2 swingweight
- Fairway (7W): G450 MAX (21° @ 19° Big Minus), 40″, Design Graphite DI 9X (Tip 2″), D2 swingweight
4. Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (T6|-10)
- Drivers: G450 LST (10.5° @ 8.6° Flat Minus), 45.25″, Mitsubishi 1K White 60TX (Tip 0°), D4 swingweight, 20g CG Shifter in Fade
- Fairway (3W): G450 MAX (15° @ 14° Flat Minus), 42.5″, Mitsubishi 1K White 70TX (Tip 1″), D3 swingweight
- Fairway (5W): G450 MAX (19° @ 17.5° Flat Minus), 41.25″, Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80TX (Tip 1.5″), D3 swingweight
