I need to say this up front: In my opinion, the head of the club has a lot of statistics about what makes a successful driver. However two things can be true at the same time: The shaft is also ESSENTIAL to making that group head do what it is designed to do. The club head is responsible for stating the spin, speed, launch, direction, starting lines, etc. — and the shaft is what allows the player to find the center of that club head. In my experience, the shafts are very direct to the player, and if you find one you hit too long and the time is up, the fitters can cook the head to finish the job.
We had a fun lesson on that with Viktor Hovland a few weeks ago. Someone I would call a “hard switcher,” Vik finally put his Ping G425 LST aside and committed to the 440LST. There was a flirtation with the 440, but it was always on the shaky ground – but after his win last week at Travelers, I think it's safe to say Viktor has his driver.
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The transition to new equipment on Tour is rarely a straight line, and Hovland's move to the Ping G440 LST driver is a good example. It's a process that began back in the fall of 2024 during the Oklahoma experiment.
Right out of the gate, the G440 headset showed real promise. It was consistently faster, longer, and gave him more forgiveness on the face than his trusty G425 LST. However, the obstacle was the delivery. The new head kept producing higher pitches and hovering more than Hovland was comfortable watching, ultimately preventing him from finding a permanent spot in the bag week after week.
The breakthrough finally came when the testing process switched to a key variable: the shaft.
Fujikura 2026 Ventus TR Black Wood Shaft (Velocore+)
Designed for speed and control, the Fujikura VENTUS TR Black Shaft is designed for players who produce powerful swings and want maximum stability at impact. The shaft is powered by VeloCore+ technology, Fujikura's advanced multi-core frame designed to reduce twist and increase power transfer throughout the swing. The result is a more stable delivery that helps aggressive players maintain strong spin and consistent ball speed.
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For a long time, Hovland relied on the Fujikura Speeder TR 661-TX. It has an incredibly strong, low spin profile, but its defining characteristic is its very strong mid-range. That specific profile defines how the club releases and feels the impact. Some players need a shaft that helps the toe rise; others, like Hovland, need to resist that feeling to master their first lines.
During testing at the Truist Championship, he tried Fujikura's new Ventus TR Black with Velo+ technology. This shaft features a much stiffer center section than previous Ventus Black profiles, making it the best option in the lineup. The game was fast. The Velo+ TR Black gave him a significant jump in ball speed and greatly strengthened his first lines and lower range bends.
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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When Hovland chose the G440 K head over the Truist, it brought a little left-hand miss to play. When the PGA Championship rolled around, the team shifted its focus to the LST head. Hovland took the club home during his weeks off to practice without the pressure of the tournament rounds, and by the time he arrived at the RBC Canadian Open, the old G425 didn't even make the trip.
Although Viktor Hovland's new driver gets a lot of smoke, we can't ignore how important the shaft was to the whole recipe.
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To get the final build just right, the proportions needed to be fine-tuned a bit to satisfy Hovland's eye. Because the G440 LST naturally starts and spins a bit more than its front driver, the team needed to drop the ground without making the face look unattractive or turn too much at address.
By setting the 9-degree head to 7.6 degrees on the flat surface of the standard hosel, and moving 5 grams of weight forward, they got the exact window he needed.
With a ball speed of 178 mph, a 10-degree launch and 2,500 rpm of spin, the setup gives him the stability and left-handed verification he relies on, combined with a quick, very forgiving head. It took months of testing and patience to get the shaft and head aligned, but the performance at the Canadian Open proved the grind was worth it.
Want to fix your wallet in 2026? Find a club fit near you at True Spec Golf.
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