September 22, 2015

Titleist Introduces New Irons and Hybrids

New 716 Titleist AP1 and AP2 irons, available beginning Oct. 23 in golf shops worldwide, are precisely engineered with industry-leading amounts of high density tungsten to deliver the best combination of low CG and high MOI in their respective categories for distance, forgiveness and shot-stopping control.

“AP1 and AP2 irons are designed for two distinct player profiles. AP1 is for players seeking maximum distance and forgiveness. AP2 is for players seeking distance and forgiveness in a tour-proven iron,” said Chris McGinley, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “Our R&D team has precisely engineered both models to create speed and launch for distance with maximum forgiveness to help all players improve their iron play.”

New 716 AP1 is the longest, most forgiving Titleist iron ever. New AP1’s extreme 360º undercut cavity design with a large, thin, unsupported face delivers speed and launch for more distance, while the industry-leading use of high-density tungsten weighting provides maximum forgiveness.

“Golfers looking to improve their games need the best technology available,” McGinley said. “We understand these golfers want as much distance and forgiveness as they can get, but we also know they want to score better. AP1 has technology that will help golfers hit the ball farther with the proper flight to stop the ball closer to the pin more consistently. That’s what good iron play is all about.”

NEW 716 AP1 TECHNOLOGY: New AP1 irons – the longest, most forgiving irons ever designed by Titleist R&D – provide unparalleled game improvement technology:

  • An extreme 360º Undercut Cavity creates a large, thin, unsupported face area, resulting in a Thin Fast Face that flexes more at impact. The thinner face – constructed from specially heat-treated 17-4 stainless steel for strength – increases both speed and launch for more distance. Additionally, the deeper undercut creates discretionary weight that allows industry leading use of high density tungsten.
  • High Density Tungsten, precisely placed low and in the toe of the long and mid irons, produces a lower center of gravity (CG) for a higher launch angle. The improved launch allows for stronger lofts, which increase speed for even more distance. The high density tungsten also moves weight to the perimeter, increasing moment of inertia (MOI).
  • A forgiving High-MOI Design – with 50 percent more tungsten than prior generation 714, at an average of 42.5 grams of tungsten per head – maximizes heel and toe stability without increasing AP1’s preferred blade length, while producing higher ball speeds across the face for more consistent distance on off-center hits.

“Golfers are getting a double helping of distance with new AP1 without sacrificing trajectory,” said Marni Ines, Director, Titleist Iron Development. “By carving more mass from the undercut and thinning the face, we get more launch and speed. On top of that, we’ve added a significant amount of tungsten, which lowers the CG and increases launch. We’ve taken that extra launch and used it to strengthen the lofts. Stronger loft means more speed. More speed means more distance. There are a lot of companies that chase distance mainly by strengthening lofts and lengthening shafts, but we think we’re doing it the right way, with superior technology.”

“Remember, when it comes to good iron play, distance is still just one part of the equation,” said Dan Stone, Vice President, Golf Club R&D. “Distance control and accuracy are just as important, and that’s where forgiveness comes into play. We are the only company in this category using high density tungsten. You can make a club more forgiving just by making the club head larger, but golfers don’t always want that. Through our technology we have the best combination of low CG and high MOI in the game improvement category. What that means to the golfer is hitting the ball far enough to reach the green and stopping it close to the pin more often, and maintaining distance consistency and trajectory even when you hit it off center.”

New 716 AP2 is Titleist’s most advanced players’ iron, made even better, delivering tour-proven distance with forgiveness and solid forged feel. New AP2 irons use extreme high density tungsten weighting to position the center of gravity low and perfectly aligned at impact for more speed. An innovative co-forged construction places the high density tungsten low and to the perimeter, increasing MOI for greater forgiveness and consistent distance.

“AP2 is the gold standard in the tour-played iron category,” McGinley said. “It’s been one of the most-played cavity back models on the PGA Tour and has been trusted over the years by players such as Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson, Bill Haas and Jason Dufner. AP2 is also one of the best selling tour played irons in the market. Our R&D team knows what tour players and dedicated golfers want when it comes to iron performance and have worked side by side with them over the last two years to make the new 716 AP2’s even better.”

NEW 716 AP2 TECHNOLOGY: New AP2 provides tour-proven distance with maximum forgiveness through the most advanced technology available in a tour played iron:

  • High Density Tungsten weighting creates a Low CG that is perfectly aligned at impact to increase speed and distance. The tungsten weights are shaped to perimeter and precisely placed low and out using an Advanced Co-Forging Process pioneered for golf clubs by Titleist R&D. The result is solid feel and higher MOI.
  • A forgiving High-MOI Design – with an average of 56.2 grams of tungsten per head, 25 percent more than AP2 714 – drives higher ball speeds across the face for more consistent distance on off-center hits at a tour-preferred blade length that allows workability and shot control. Compared to the previous generation, 716 AP2 has 8.5 percent higher MOI in the long irons and 5.5 percent for the full set.
  • New AP2’s innovative construction combines a forged 1025 Carbon steel body with extreme perimeter tungsten weighting in the long and mid irons for an unparalleled combination of low CG and high MOI with Solid Forged Feel.

“New AP2 is a direct result of advancements in our co-forging process,” Ines said. “When the development process began, I told my team to design the best club they could, put the tungsten where we wanted it and not worry about whether we could actually make it. We shaped the tungsten to the perimeter of the club and brought it right to the edge so, literally, it’s part of the profile. Incredibly, our manufacturing team figured out how to make it. You can always make a golf club more forgiving by making it bigger, but a tour player doesn’t want to play anything bigger than this. So we had to get more creative in order to boost our MOI. Really, the only way to get the weight farther out now would be to pull it outside of the head.”

“There isn’t a tour-played iron with better technology than AP2,” Stone said. “It’s been the forgiveness leader by a substantial margin for years now and we just keep expanding on that. Our 712 series AP2, which we introduced in the fall of 2011, would still be a leader in the category in terms of combination of low CG and high MOI. And our construction has improved two times since then. Our tour players like ball speed on off center hits just like everyone else does. Consistent distance comes from consistent speed. The forgiveness of 716 AP2 is now on par with 714 AP1 and brings distance control in a players’ club to an entirely new level.”

IMPROVED FEEL: New 716 AP1 and AP2 models provide solid feel at impact with improved turf interaction.

Optimized CG heights, low with a slight progression through the set, are positioned closer to the point of impact for solid feel. Higher MOI, through the increased use of high density tungsten, adds stability and further enhances the solid feel.

AP1 has a new pre-worn leading edge and cambered sole that reduces digging and allows a smoother entry and release from the turf. This is essential for a game improvement head size.

AP2 features a fractionally wider sole (as compared to 714 AP2) with trailing edge relief that helps the club get through the turf fast with less dig.

PREFERRED LOFT PROGRESSION: New 716 AP1 irons are available in 3 (19º) to P (43º) irons, plus W (47º) and W2 (52º) gap wedges, with an optimized loft progression that facilitates shot-stopping distance at both ends of the set and creates preferable yardage gaps. Strong lofts in the short irons provide distance with trajectory and spin control. Strong (but not too strong) lofts in the long irons provide distance with proper launch, longer carry and shot-stopping ability. Compared to other game improvement irons, new AP1’s provide tighter dispersion at the short end of the set where control is paramount, and less yardage gap compression at the long end of the set where launch and trajectory are critical.

New 716 AP2 irons are available in 3 (21º) to P (46º) irons, plus a W (50º) gap wedge, with tour-validated, player preferred lofts similar to prior generations.

ON TOUR: The tour seeding and validation process for 716 AP1 and AP2 irons began in late July at the PGA Tour’s Quicken Loans National. Bill Haas put the new AP2 models immediately in play that week, finishing tied for fourth after rounds of 67-71-64-70.

More than 30 players – including Jason Dufner, Brendon De Jonge and Thongchai Jaidee – have since switched to the new models, a number that continues to climb every week across the worldwide professional tours.

WHAT PLAYERS ARE SAYING…

Jordan Spieth: “The first time I looked down at the new AP2’s they looked even cleaner. I thought they looked almost like a blade. As an amateur, you can now get the look of a tour blade while still having the consistency and forgiveness of a forged cavity. For a true golf lover that can’t be beaten – and I’m really looking forward to getting dialed into my new set after the Presidents Cup.”

“AP2 for me is about distance and forgiveness. Distance is always going to help. If you can hit a 7 iron a bit farther, a 7 iron is a little easier to hit than a 6 iron, a 6 iron is a little easier to hit than a 5 iron. So the less club you can hit into greens, the higher probability you’re going to score better.”

“But we’re also going to mishit shots. We’re always faced with tough lies in fairways or the rough – the ball is above your feet, below your feet. And, even though we do it every day and it’s our job, it’s hard to strike the ball perfect every time. We’re still going to find inconsistencies in our swing. Having the trust that the ball isn’t going to end up too far off line and the distance dispersion is going to be pretty tight means we still might have a birdie putt and it may not affect our score on the hole. As you approach holes with more trouble around the greens on the approach shots, if you know that you can stand over it and possibly mishit it and it’s still going to be OK, it frees you up a bit.”

Zach Johnson: “With the new AP irons, there’s something for everybody. Bottom line is, you can get fitted and find something that, regardless of your handicap, is going to work. That’s just the way the technology is in these golf clubs.”

“The improvements are just that much more every generation. With the new AP2s, what I’ve seen during testing is a clean top line – it almost looks blade-like but a little bit thicker, a little bit bigger and as a result a little more forgiving. But all that technology that you don’t see is there. It’s internal. It’s on the back. It’s the way it’s weighted. It’s where the weights are. But it’s a beautiful golf club. It’s a simple golf club.”

Jason Dufner: “We don’t make a perfect swing every time. The penalties we pay out here are extremely high for mishits and missed shots, so knowing in the back of your mind that maybe if I miss this one a little bit – maybe I catch it a little high or the club face rotates a little bit more than I want it to – we get that forgiveness. That’s part of the reason why I play the AP2’s – my mishits across the board are better than any other club that I could pick from.”

“The club engineers at Titleist are always trying to find new ways to make things better, and because of that tungsten weighting you get more face stability and higher MOI. And that leads to higher performance on the golf course, whether you’re a professional playing in majors or an amateur playing at a high level, or if you’re just one of the guys that’s playing with your buddies on Saturday – you’re going to see a higher performance because of the innovation behind what they’re doing at Titleist.”

Bill Haas: “I think distance control for us on tour is the most important. Obviously I’d love a few extra yards here and there, but I don’t think that matters as much as knowing exactly how far I’m going to hit the shot…. We’d all love to hit it perfect every time, but we don’t. So, I feel like, when it comes to AP2, why not use something that can help you when you do mishit it? And that also certainly holds true for the amateur player that maybe mishits it a little more often.”

HIGH PERFORMANCE STOCK SHAFT MATRIX: New AP1 irons feature two high performance stock shaft options with flighted designs that align with AP1’s high-launch flight goals. The True Temper XP90 provides proven XP technology in a lighter weight design, four grams lighter than the previous generation XP95, with a bend profile to enhance launch. The Mitsubishi Kuro Kage TiNi 65 is a high launch design with titanium nickel wired added for improved response and feel.

Titleist is the exclusive launch partner of the new AP2’s stock shaft, the True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT. Featuring new, tour-proven innovative ascending mass technology, the True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT produces lighter long iron shafts for launch and speed and heavier short iron shafts for control.

SPECIFICATIONS…click here.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: New Titleist AP1 and AP2 irons will be available in golf shops worldwide beginning Oct. 23.

Titleist 716 AP1

  • Steel: MAP $112.50 per club ($899/set of 8) | MSRP $125 per club
  • Graphite: MAP $137.50 per club ($1,099/set of 8) | MSRP $150 per club.

Titleist 716 AP2

  • Steel: MAP $150 per club ($1,199/set of 8) | MSRP $168 per club
  • Graphite: MAP $175 per club ($1,399/set of 8) | MSRP $193 per club.

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New Titleist 716 CB and MB irons advance the heritage of the PGA Tour’s most trusted blade irons through innovative design and engineering, and a development process driven by feedback from the best ball strikers in the game.

The new 716 CB is a modern cavity blade engineered with industry-leading amounts of high density tungsten for tour-proven shotmaking with added forgiveness. The new 716 MB, inspired and validated by the world’s best shotmakers, is a pure muscle back blade with modern refinements that provides maximum shot control.

“In order to make the best iron product line in the world, you need to satisfy the best players in the world. And many of the world’s best prefer a cavity back or muscle back blade for control and feel,” said Chris McGinley, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “CB and MB have been among the most played models on the PGA Tour for years, so it’s critical that our R&D team works together with players to deliver a product that performs better and gives them more confidence.”

The most high-tech cavity blades in the game, new Titleist 716 CB irons use extreme high density tungsten weighting to position the center of gravity (CG) low and perfectly aligned at impact for more speed with tour-proven trajectory and control. An innovative co-forged construction places high density tungsten low and on the perimeter for added forgiveness in its tour-proven profile.

“The technology we’ve added to 716 CB puts this iron in a class by itself in terms of MOI and forgiveness, and makes it clearly stand out among traditional blade forgings,” McGinley said. “The new co-forged construction and addition of high density tungsten weighting gives CB an added kick with unprecedented forgiveness in a traditional blade size.”

Inspired by the world’s best shotmakers, the new Titleist 716 MB is a precise, high muscle back design with a squarer toe, thin topline and pre-worn leading edge that delivers maximum shot control with pure, forged muscle back feel.

“716 MB is a throwback to our Forged 680 Series, which our R&D team has really made modern through high-tech CAD modeling, with input from players such as Adam Scott and Webb Simpson,” McGinley said. “Shotmaking is all about confidence, and the way this club looks at address, feels at impact and performs through the turf is what our players who prefer a traditional muscle back blade want.”

Forged from 1025 carbon steel, new Titleist CB and MB irons feature tour-preferred constant blade lengths with minimal progressive offset for maximum workability. Compact shapes with precise, progressive CG locations and traditional tour lofts deliver the proven flight, feel and shot-making confidence that have made CB and MB the choice of many of the world’s best players.

NEW 716 CB TECHNOLOGY: New CB irons provide shot control with forgiveness and solid forged feel through the game’s most high-tech blade construction:

  • High Density Tungsten weighting creates a Low CG that is perfectly aligned at impact to increase speed and distance. The tungsten weights are shaped to perimeter and precisely placed low and out using an Advanced Co-Forging Process pioneered for golf clubs by Titleist R&D. The result is solid feel and higher MOI.
  • A forgiving High-MOI Design – with an average of 55.2 grams of tungsten per head – drives higher ball speeds across the face for more consistent distance on off-center hits, without the loss of workability or shot control, at the CB’s constant, tour-preferred blade length. The forgiveness of 716 CB, with 12 percent higher MOI than the previous generation 714 CB, is comparable to the previous generation 714 AP2.
  • Optimized CG heights, low with a slight progression up through the set, deliver precise, tour-proven trajectory, while increasing the sweet spot for solid feel.

“With this new CB, we are effectively bringing the high-tech construction of our AP2 platform to the cavity back blade category,” said Marni Ines, Director, Titleist Irons Development. “Thanks to our co-forging process, we can now shape the tungsten weights exactly to the perimeter of the club head, which allows us to place the center of gravity exactly where we want it, low and aligned with the point of impact, for more speed. At the same time we’ve been able to increase forgiveness to a previously unforeseen level.”

“It’s still a shotmaker’s club,” said Dan Stone, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club R&D. “It’s still a pretty small blade, but it’s now also a very forgiving club. We’ve never had a tour player complain about getting more forgiveness. Everyone can benefit from ball speed on off center hits.”

  • NEW 716 MB TECHNOLOGY: New MB irons deliver maximum shot control with pure, forged feel through a precise, muscle back design with high-tech refinements:
  • A modern High Muscle Design with a squarer toe and thin topline, inspired by the Titleist Forged 680 series (circa 2003), delivers tour-proven flight with maximum shot and trajectory control. The high muscle back weighting, better positioned behind the sweet spot, provides pure, forged feel on every shot.
  • Optimized CG heights, low with a slight progression up through the set, deliver precise, tour-proven trajectory, while increasing the sweet spot for solid feel.
  • Designed using extensive player input and High-Tech CAD modeling, new MB irons feature precise profiles that look perfect from long irons to short and provide consistent performance on every shot.

“There’s quite a bit of CAD and engineering work that went into the new MB. This is a very well engineered muscle back blade,” Stone said. “The Forged 680 was a product that was developed on the bench with hand shaping. We’ve taken the 680 and done a lot of work in CAD to get the muscle in the right place and use precise measurements to drive the shapes and sizes so that they blend properly as you progress through the set. When we gave Webb Simpson the new MB’s and he saw that consistency from club to club, he told us he couldn’t even look at the 680s anymore.”

SOLID, FORGED FEEL: The solid, forged feel of CB and MB irons is enhanced by their progressive CG locations positioned closer to the point of impact, which produce a larger sweet spot.

A Pre-Worn Leading Edge on both models delivers precise turf performance with less dig, providing a fast and smooth transition into and out of the turf.

ON TOUR: More than 60 players across the worldwide professional tours have put new Titleist CB and MB models in play since the start of the seeding and validation process. Many players, including Webb Simpson, Jimmy Walker, Ian Poulter, Justin Thomas, Bernd Wiesberger and Zac Blair put the new models in the bag the first week they were available. Most recently, Byeong Hun An earned his first victory on the KPGA Tour playing a set of 716 MB models.

WHAT PLAYERS ARE SAYING…

Webb Simpson: “The R&D team at Titleist always has the same goal of making things better. With MBs, it’s hard to improve the technology that much, but they’ve done it. It goes through the turf better. It seems like with every new MB that comes out, there’s more consistency. When I first got on TrackMan with the 716s I was able to see how much more consistent they were. My spin rates were a lot tighter. Shot shape was better. I want to be able to hit the ball higher with more spin, but not lose any distance, and the new MBs were doing that for me.”

“I think 716 MB has a great hybrid look between the 680 that I’ve been playing and the more recent models. I’ve been playing MB’s since I was 15. Fell in love with them. As a kid, you fall in love with how it looks, not how it feels or plays. I fell in love with the look at first, but the more I played them, the more I learned to love them. I’m kind of an old school guy. I like the feel of an MB. I like to be able to shape the ball a little more so, once I started playing them, I can’t get rid of them.”

Adam Scott: “What’s so important in a blade I believe is the sole and the leading edge. For me, I like that to be fairly sharp and fairly flat. Not too much bounce on it. You want that crisp feel in the turf. That’s what a muscle back has always been about. The new MB certainly has that progressive blend through the set. It’s still very clean which is important but that toe shape is looking very neat and progressive through the set, blending nicely, particularly in that 7- and 8-iron area.”

Zac Blair: “The New CB’s have been great. I put them into play the first week I got them. The new profile has a classic, clean look and a great feel. I’ve really liked the strong, high ball flight these clubs have given me, and the added forgiveness I’m getting from the tungsten is a huge bonus.”

HIGH PERFORMANCE STOCK SHAFTS: Titleist is the exclusive launch partner of the 716 CB’s stock shaft, the True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT. Featuring new, tour-proven innovative ascending mass technology, the True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT produces lighter long iron shafts for launch and speed and heavier short iron shafts for control.

716 MB features the high performance, tour-proven True Temper Dynamic Gold steel shaft for tour-preferred flight, feel, feedback and performance.

SPECIFICATIONS…click here.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: New Titleist 716 CB and MB irons will be available in golf shops worldwide beginning Oct. 23.

Titleist 716 CB

  • Steel: MAP $150 per club ($1,199/set of 8) | MSRP $168 per club
  • Graphite: MAP $175 per club ($1,399/set of 8) | MSRP $193 per club.

Titleist 716 MB

  • Steel: MAP $137.50 per club ($1,099/set of 8) | MSRP $155 per club
  • Graphite: MAP $162.50 per club ($1,299/set of 8) | MSRP $180 per club.

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New Titleist 716 T-MB utility irons are precisely engineered using an extreme amount of high density tungsten to deliver an unprecedented combination of high launch, long carry distance and forgiveness in a sleek, muscle back frame.

“T-MB’s are the most playable, most forgiving utility irons in the game. They will change the way players look at this type of club from a driving iron to a true utility club that can be integrated into the long end of a players’ set to improve distance gapping and shot stopping,” said Chris McGinley, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “T-MB is loaded with technology. That’s what ‘T’ in T-MB represents. Our R&D team has given players more launch, carry distance and forgiveness where they need it most at the long end of the set, all with an incredible, lively feel.”

“The design and technology of T-MB was so compelling that we did not stop at the long irons,” McGinley said. “We’re also offering a full set of T-MB irons through our MOTO (Made Only To Order) program, for golfers that want this type of performance throughout the set.”

T-MB features a high-tech muscle back frame with a thin, fast, unsupported face that increases speed and launch for more distance. Extreme high density tungsten weighting inside the body is used to drive the center of gravity (CG) low and deep, allowing for stronger lofts. The result is high launch, low spin and high speed for increased carry distance. T-MB’s construction allows for maximum use of high density tungsten – an average of 80 grams per head, the most of any Titleist iron – providing a powerful combination of high launch and forgiveness with a playable trajectory.

“T-MB provides the most deceptively shocking performance result versus what you see,” said Dan Stone, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club R&D. “You’re looking down at a muscle back blade, then you hit it and realize how much performance it offers. The ball jumps off the face and launches high but just keeps carrying downrange. Our 712U models have been the most played utility iron on the PGA Tour for more than two years now. The first week we brought this out on tour, many of our players switched to T-MB immediately.”

T-MB 2-5 irons will be available in stores beginning Oct. 23. On the same date, the entire T-MB set (2-W) can be custom ordered through Titleist MOTO.

NEW 716 T-MB TECHNOLOGY: New T-MB irons provide the game’s most playable and forgiving utility iron performance through a sophisticated, high-tech construction:

  • A thin, 431 stainless steel body with a high-strength Thin Fast Face allows the face to flex more at impact, increasing launch and speed for more distance. The thin body design also creates discretionary weight for redistribution to more optimal areas of the club head.
  • Extreme High Density Tungsten weighting within the muscle back frame concentrates the discretionary weight to produce a Low and Deep CG for higher launch, lower spin and increased carry distance. The improved launch allows for 1º stronger lofts (as compared to 712U), which increase speed for even more distance.
  • A forgiving High-MOI Design – with an average of more than 80 grams of tungsten per head – drives higher ball speeds across the face for more consistent distance on off-center hits, without the loss of workability or shot control at the T-MB’s tour-preferred blade lengths (same as Titleist AP2). T-MB, with high density tungsten weights precisely placed in the heel and toe, has nearly 7 percent higher MOI than 712U.

“T-MB’s construction allows us to use an extraordinary amount of high density tungsten. With an average of 80 grams per head, it’s nearly one-third of the total mass,” said Marni Ines, Director, Titleist Iron Development. “What that tungsten helps us achieve is high launch, high speed, stability and forgiveness – the type of performance that is highly desirable but rarely attained in a long iron.”

T-MB irons, in robot testing versus 712U, registered on average 2 mph higher ball speed and up to 200 rpm less backspin, with a similar launch angle at 1º stronger loft. The result was an average carry distance of four additional yards.

“While four more yards on average at the long end of the set is a pretty good number,” Ines said, “anecdotally we are seeing players launch T-MB higher and carry it farther than we predicted.”

SOLID FEEL: New T-MB irons have a fast, lively and solid feel at impact from their tour-validated, high MOI design. The high MOI helps resist twisting of the club in the player’s hands for stability and a solid feel.

T-MB also features a pre-worn leading edge that reduces digging at the point of turf entry, with a trailing edge chamfer that produces a fast, smooth release from the turf.

FULL SET AVAILABLE THROUGH MOTO: A full set of 716 T-MB irons (2-P) will be offered through the new Titleist MOTO program. MOTO products include metals and irons with specialized performance characteristics that make them the optimal fit for a limited group of golfers.

“Not long after we brought out 712U models, we had guys on tour asking us things like, ‘Why don’t you make more of them? Why don’t you make the rest of the set,’ ” Ines said. “And MOTO gave us the opportunity to experiment and see what we could do. Through our testing we quickly found golfers who prefer the performance of T-MB all the way through the bag.”

Golfers can try and get fit for T-MB and other Titleist MOTO products at 110 U.S. locations within the Titleist Fitting Network, plus more than 3,000 fitting events held annually around the country. MOTO products can be ordered through any authorized Titleist retailer. More information is available at Titleist.com.

ON TOUR: Adam Scott is among a growing number of players that have put T-MB irons in play since the tour seeding and validation process began. Scott put a T-MB 2-iron in play the first week it was available to him at the World Golf Championships event at Firestone. Jimmy Walker and Bill Haas also put new T-MB utilities immediately in the bag, while Tim Clark and Ben Crane are using full sets of T-MB irons.

WHAT PLAYERS ARE SAYING…

Adam Scott: “The way I see the T-MB iron is really the future of the game. Technology is involved in everything. This is going to be revolutionary in iron sets. We’ve seen it in hybrids replacing long irons. Now we’re going to see hollow muscle backs with perimeter weighting – tungsten, in this case – replacing muscle back irons, cavity back irons, all the way down through the short irons. I think that’s the way forward. It’s going to be about launching it high and controlling the spin, hitting it a long way but a controlled distance, and there are huge benefits to playing golf that way.”

“The T-MB’s have a lively feel but it’s very solid. I think that addition of the tungsten in there certainly gives it that solid feel. It’s extremely forgiving and certainly coming from an MB to hitting a T-MB you get that extra forgiveness but it is lively and you certainly know you’ve hit a T-MB when you have… It’s an all-positive message coming off that club.”

Jimmy Walker: “T-MB has a fast, aggressive flight to it with a nice, straight trajectory. It really feels like it kind of jumps off the club. A cool look to it, too.”

HIGH PERFORMANCE STOCK SHAFT: Titleist is the exclusive launch partner of the 716 T-MB’s stock shaft, the True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT. Featuring new, tour-proven innovative ascending mass technology, the True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT produces lighter long iron shafts for launch and speed and heavier short iron shafts for control.

SPECIFICATIONS…click here.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: Titleist T-MB irons are available in golf shops, and through MOTO, beginning Oct. 23.

  • Steel: MAP $199 per club ($1,599/set of 8) | MSRP $225 per club
  • Graphite: MAP $225 per club ($1,799/set of 8) | MSRP $250 per club.

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Technically advanced hybrids with tour-validated performance, new Titleist 816H hybrids provide all golfers with the superior technology and fitting precision for improved long game shot making.

Engineered using the best hybrid technology in the game, the new Titleist 816H1 and 816H2 models utilize Active Recoil Channel™ and Ultra Thin Face technology to generate high speed and low spin for long distance. A high MOI design increases speed across the face for more forgiveness on off-center hits, while the optimized center of gravity (CG) increases launch and trajectory for more shot-stopping control.

Trusted by tour pros around the world, 816H hybrids offer a high performance choice over long irons by providing more speed, higher launch and a steeper landing angle to help players hold the green and stop the ball closer to the pin.

“Golfers have long thought of hybrids as ‘rescue clubs’ and not ‘scoring clubs,’ but we intend to change that perception,” said Chris McGinley, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “More golfers than ever are replacing long irons with hybrids and carrying multiple hybrids in their bags because of their performance benefits. Our new 816H models are technically advanced scoring clubs that have better shot stopping ability and can improve yardage gaps at the long end of the set. Instead of thinking about getting out of trouble or just getting the ball close to the green, golfers can now think about hitting the green and stopping the ball closer to the pin more often.”

“Our best club fitters on tour and in the market look at hybrids as a direct extension of the iron set, and fit golfers for hybrids and irons at the same time,” McGinley said. “For this reason, we’ve made the decision to put Titleist hybrids and irons on the same launch cycle.”

Available in golf shops worldwide beginning Oct. 23, 816H hybrids provide the most precise fit Titleist has ever offered with two models, loft choices every 2º and a new 1º SureFit Tour hosel for independent adjustment of loft and lie.

816H1 models are high launching hybrids that fly farther and land soft. 816H1 has a larger profile that provides confidence, with slightly increased face progression that performs well from the rough.

816H2 hybrids have a more compact shape with a slight offset for iron-like shot control for players who engage the turf more aggressively.

NEW 816 HYBRID TECHNOLOGY: Titleist 816H models deliver an unparalleled combination of distance and forgiveness through the game’s best hybrid technology:

  • The Active Recoil Channel – a long, deep channel, positioned along the sole of the club head, close to the leading edge – delivers more distance by actively flexing at impact to launch the ball with lower spin and higher speed. The Active Recoil Channel (ARC™) allows the entire clubface to deflect at impact for high speed. (ARC is particularly effective on hybrids, which are most often hit off the ground with the ball impacting low on the face. Shots hit lower on the face generally produce more spin, which is counteracted by ARC.)
  • An Ultra Thin Face works in combination with the Active Recoil Channel to deliver increased ball speed across the entire face. The high-speed, constant thickness face insert, made of high-strength Carpenter steel, is the thinnest face insert Titleist R&D has ever developed.
  • A precise High-MOI Design with a low CG delivers stability and forgiveness by preserving ball speed across the face for distance consistency on off center hits. (H1’s MOI is 7 percent higher than the previous generation 915H model, while H2 has a similar MOI to the 915Hd.) Improved CG locations (slightly deeper, and lower in H2) increase launch up to 1º for more shot stopping control. A heavier standard SureFit Tour Weight (11g), which concentrates more weight in a low, central position behind the Active Recoil Channel on each model, helps optimize CG properties.

“The Active Recoil Channel has revolutionized distance for us across our entire metals line and really pushes us ahead of the pack in the hybrid category,” said Dan Stone, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club R&D. “But distance is still only one part of the equation. Golfers, now more than ever, are relying on their hybrids to hit precise golf shots and help them create more scoring opportunities. Our R&D philosophy of ‘distance and forgiveness’ ensures that we take the entire shot into consideration, not only how far it goes. 816 provides golfers with complete, consistent performance – the distance to consistently reach the green, the trajectory to stop the ball on the green closer to the hole, and the forgiveness that delivers similar results even when the strike is off center. We haven’t made any sacrifices.”

IMPROVED DISTANCE GAPPING: The 816H hybrid line offers loft choices every two degrees from 19º to 27º and delivers improved long game yardage gapping, whether a golfer carries one, two or three hybrids.

“For most golfers, long irons become more difficult to hit and produce shorter distances than desired. 816 hybrids extend those distances and really allow us to bridge that gap between the longest iron and the fairway wood,” said Stephanie Luttrell, Director, Titleist Metalwood Development. “Following extensive research and player testing, it’s our recommendation that the majority of players use 4-degree loft gaps to create the appropriate distance gaps. That’s why we offer 2-degree loft increments, which gives us three pairs of hybrids (19º and 23º; 21º and 25º; and 23º and 27º) spaced in 4-degree increments. And for the player who truly loves hybrids and prefers them over fairways woods, there is the option to carry three hybrids (19º, 23º and 27º).”

PRECISION FITTING: The complete performance of Titleist 816H hybrids can be maximized through the precision fitting of Titleist’s patented, industry-leading SureFit Tour adjustable hosel and SureFit weight technology.

816H hybrids feature a new SureFit Tour hosel configuration that adjusts loft and lie independently in 1º increments (as compared to .75º increments on 915). The 1º increments mirror the adjustments typically made to irons, while allowing more fitting flexibility for players to try the same lofts at different shaft lengths. The adjustable SureFit Flatweight (available in 6, 9, 11, 13 and 16 gram weights) provides further flexibility when fitting different loft and length options.

“In the past, golfers looking to replace a long iron only had one hybrid loft option. With 816, the number of choices has grown significantly,” Luttrell said. “For example, when replacing a 4-iron with an 816 hybrid, golfers can test both the 23º and 25º models, providing two different lofts at different lengths. Using the SureFit Tour hosel, both lofts can also be adjusted to 24º, providing the same loft option at different lengths. In addition, using interchangeable shafts and weights, the longer length shaft in the 23º can be tested in the 25º, while the shorter length shaft in the 25º can be tested in the 23º. A skilled fitter will employ all of these options to quickly dial in a golfer’s setup.”

816H1 VS. 816H2 HYBRIDS: 816H hybrids offers two distinct shapes and sizes with performance benefits relative to a golfer’s swing.

816H1 has a large, confidence-inspiring profile with a slight face progression for golfers that need enhanced launch and prefer a fairway metal look. The larger H1 head size effectively parts grass through impact, providing outstanding performance from the rough.

816H2 has a smaller, pear profile for launch and trajectory control with a slight offset for more aggressive players that engage the turf. H2 produces 150-300rpm less spin for a flatter flight.

“H1 is our all around hybrid. It has more face progression and behaves like a small fairway metal,” Luttrell said. “We recommend H1 for the player who’s more of a sweeper and a little bit shallower in terms of their turf interaction. And also the player with a more moderate club speed, because H1 does generate more spin than the H2 which will keep the ball in the air longer for more distance.”

“H2 is more of our iron-type hybrid. It has less face progression which visually looks like a slight offset and leads to players attacking it with a more descending iron-type blow,” Luttrell said. “We’ve also made the head slightly larger than the 915Hd by lengthening the face, which provides more confidence in the address position.”

PLAYER TESTING RESULTS: During independent player testing, golfers on average experienced longer carry distance (3 to 5 yards), similar to higher (1.5 mph) ball speeds and lower spin (300-500 rpm) compared to three key competitor’s hybrid products (Callaway XR, Ping G30 and TaylorMade AeroBurner). Golfers also noted a strong preference for 816’s sound, feel, accuracy and playability.

IMPROVED TURF INTERACTION: 816H hybrids have relieved sole edges that improve turf interaction for increased feel and playability. New beveled edges on the Active Recoil Channel, in addition to a relieved leading edge, help the club glide through the turf cleanly.

STRIKING NEW LOOKS: 816 hybrids have a new contrasting color scheme with a gray crown and a black PVD face and sole.

“We wanted to differentiate 816 hybrids as its own category,” Luttrell said, “and this cosmetic change has been positively accepted both with amateurs and our tour staff.”

816H hybrids also feature improvements to the face appearance. Enhanced hosel masking and flatter bulge gives the club a much more square appearance in the address position.

816H HYBRIDS ON TOUR: More than 40 players across the worldwide professional tours have switched to new 816H hybrids since the start of the tour seeding and validation process, including Jordan Spieth, who put a new 816H2 21º model in play at the World Golf Championships event at Firestone. Other players that have already switched to 816H models include Robert Streb, Victor Dubuisson, Zac Blair and Brendon De Jonge.

WHAT PLAYERS ARE SAYING…

Jordan Spieth: “The new 816, with the silver head and black face, is a really cool looking hybrid. It’s really clean, really crisp. When I strike it, it shoots off the face nicely. It goes a little higher than my 915 hybrid, and a little bit further. If you’re going to hit it a little higher and further, ultimately that’s enough to make a golfer really pleased. When you mishit a hybrid, you need it to stay on line, still get up in the air and to still go far enough – and that’s what 816 does.”

Ian Poulter: “I love my hybrids. A lot of guys only use one hybrid, but I transitioned away from a 4-iron into a 4-hybrid a while ago. Based on my early testing I can tell that 816 hybrids are definitely scoring clubs. I get the extra benefit of the higher ball flight, whether it’s from the rough or even if it’s from the fairway. When it lands on the green, I get it to stop a lot quicker than if I was using a 4-iron. If it’s a tuck pin, I’ve still got the beauty of actually landing it tight to the pin and having it stop quickly. Versatility is there as well. I can use it from the fairway, I can use it from the rough. It nicks through the rough nicely. I get the help with the ball picking up nice and quick, and again it stops very quickly from the rough.

TOUR-PROVEN STOCK SHAFT MATRIX: 816’s high-performance stock shaft matrix features five tour-proven, aftermarket options that fit a wide range of players and swing speeds. Titleist also offers an industry-leading number of custom shaft choices.

The stock lineup includes the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ White 90 (low/mid launch), Mitsubishi Diamana S+ Blue 70 (mid launch), Mitsubishi Diamana M+ Red 60 (high launch) and Mitsubishi Diamana M+ Red 50 (high launch). The newest addition, the Motore Speeder HB 8.8 Tour Spec (86g), fits a low-to-mid launch performance niche between the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ and S+ models.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: The new 816H hybrids will be available in golf shops worldwide beginning Oct. 23 with MAP of $249 (MSRP $269).

SPECIFICATIONS…click here.

ON THE WEB: www.titleist.com

CONTACT: Eric Soderstrom, Manager of Communications (508.979.3028; eric_soderstrom@acushnetgolf.com)