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Titleist’s new TS2 and TS3 drivers: Tech Talk and Fitting Results

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As per Titleist’s standard two-year cycle of metalwoods, it’s been two years since the company launched its 917 drivers and fairway woods. But for some reason, the launch of its new TS2 and TS3 drivers this year feels different than launches of year’s past. Maybe it’s because of the nomenclature shift away from the 900s, or maybe it was the 17 players who put the driver in play the first week possible (including Justin Thomas and Jimmy Walker) at the 2018 U.S. Open, or maybe it’s because Titleist was calling this driver mission the “Titleist Speed Project.” Could Titleist make these drivers faster and longer without giving up forgiveness? And if so, how?

Well, the GolfWRX team traveled to the Titleist Performance Institute in Oceanside, California to find out everything possible about the new TS2 and TS3 drivers. First, we learned everything there is to know about the technology, design, specs, shafts and pricing from Josh Talge, the Vice President of Marketing at Titleist, and Stephanie Luttrell, the Director of Metalwood Development. Then, we put the drivers to the test on Oceanside’s range, as GolfWRX’s Original Content Creator Johnny Wunder received a full fitting from Titleist’s Master Fitting Supervisor Glenn Mahler, comparing his gamer driver to the new Titleist TS2 and TS3 drivers.

The cool part? We had the cameras rolling the entire time. Check out the information, photos and videos below to learn about Titleist’s new TS2 and TS3 drivers.

See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the drivers here.

Tech Talk: Titleist TS2 and TS3 drivers

Why did Titleist get rid of the Active Recoil Channel in the TS2 and TS3 drivers? Find out here.

To summarize, the TS2 and TS3 drivers have a 20 percent thinner titanium crown than the 917 drivers, allowing weight to be placed lower and deeper for lower CG (center of gravity) and higher MOI (moment of inertia, a measure of forgiveness). The faces also use variable thickness for faster ball speeds across the face, and this year, the faces have been made 6 grams lighter.

According to Titleist, the faces are so thin now that the scoring lines have to be lasered onto the faces instead of etched, as with previous generations. With the combination of weight savings from the face and crown, Titleist says these drivers have the lowest CG ever for a Titleist driver, and MOI is 12 percent higher than the 917 drivers.

Additionally, for more club head speed, Titleist says that enhanced aerodynamic shaping of the club heads that reduces drag by up to 20 percent.

As with the previous Titleist 917 drivers, the TS2 and TS3 will have a SureFit hosel that has 16 independent loft and lie settings. The 460cc TS2 has a fixed CG location, a “high launch, low spin” profile, and is available in 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 11.5 degree lofts.

The TS3 driver, on the other hand, has a SureFit CG weight system that does allow golfers/fitter to adjust for launch characteristics. Also at 460cc, the TS3 driver has a “mid launch, low spin” profile, and is available in 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5 degree lofts.

Stock shafts include Mitsubishi’s Kuro Kage Black Dual Core 50, Mitsubishi’s Tensei AV Series Blue 55, Project X’s HZRDUS Smoke Black 60, and Project X’s Even Flow T1100 White 65. Each of the drivers will be available on Sept. 28, and will sell for $499.

To find a free fitting or trial event near you, click here.

The Full Fitting: Could the TS2 or TS3 beat Johnny’s gamer?

See what GolfWRX Members are saying about the drivers here.

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31 Comments

31 Comments

  1. Jay

    Feb 24, 2019 at 4:56 pm

    I’d like to see Johnny hit his SLDR with that Blueboard. It’s all about the shaft! The TS are good looking drivers I must say.

  2. Max

    Sep 25, 2018 at 1:37 pm

    How can you work for Golfwrx and still game a SLDR? C’mon, man!

  3. Tom

    Sep 7, 2018 at 4:25 pm

    Uncle Rico is taking bets that he can hit a ball with these drivers over them there mountains!

  4. John S

    Sep 7, 2018 at 8:49 am

    A thinner face and longer shaft… lol…. revolutionary! What a joke

  5. JasonHolmes

    Sep 6, 2018 at 7:52 pm

    So a five year old gamer got beat out by a professionally fitted current model?

    No kidding.

  6. Tom

    Sep 6, 2018 at 7:17 pm

    WOW so new and different from the last model! Will probably will add at least 50 to 100 yards more carry to each drive!!! You will need to chip back to all the greens on long par fours you airmail from the tee?

    • Ty

      Sep 7, 2018 at 6:33 am

      That was funny. These companies think we are mental and are going to buy into all the baloney they keep spouting.

    • golfsmask

      Sep 26, 2018 at 11:39 pm

      I always like to leave comments whenever I see something impressive. I appreciate your expert article!

  7. Charles Clarkly

    Sep 6, 2018 at 5:23 pm

    Who’s that LPGA’er Canadian gal, Brooke, that swings what looks to be a 65″ shaft? She’s what, 5’4″, and she CRUSHES IT!!

  8. stevet

    Sep 6, 2018 at 3:55 pm

    “…lower CG (center of gravity) and higher MOI (moment of inertia, a measure of forgiveness)…”. NO… it’s lower CM (center of mass) and higher MOI (moment of inertia, a measure of inertial resistance) …!!!!

    • halensmith

      Sep 24, 2018 at 3:13 am

      Great article for the beginners like us . I am a new in this game and enjoying the adventure

  9. ron

    Sep 6, 2018 at 3:49 pm

    Great new drivers for the Tour players… and gearheads who only look at their WITB fantasy gonadal arsenal of weapons.

  10. Andy LaCombe

    Sep 6, 2018 at 1:36 pm

    Awesome piece – was a blast to watch the discussion and then the fitting. Thanks!

  11. dat

    Sep 6, 2018 at 1:32 pm

    what is the HZRDUS Smoke? Just a new shaft finish or an actual new shaft?

    • james

      Sep 9, 2018 at 7:15 am

      Special made in China cheap shaft for morons who think its the same made in San Diego shaft the pros use

  12. Aaron

    Sep 6, 2018 at 12:49 pm

    Tripod camera was much better than the jiggling handheld.

  13. Jerry

    Sep 6, 2018 at 11:06 am

    TS2 looks like Taylormade R9 Supertri

    • Craaap

      Sep 6, 2018 at 12:44 pm

      Because it is. A copy.

      • JP

        Sep 6, 2018 at 2:42 pm

        They all are to some extent. How much different can you make a driver with so many having been designed in past years? The newest driver is bound to share some characteristics with older models.

        Don’t like it, don’t buy it.

  14. BirdieBouy18

    Sep 6, 2018 at 10:41 am

    How many degrees up or down does a SureFit adapter allow?

    • ron

      Sep 6, 2018 at 3:51 pm

      12º… all the way from the LD to duffer lofts … 😮

  15. Richard Douglas

    Sep 6, 2018 at 10:22 am

    Not sure I see the value proposition for upgrading from the 917D2.

  16. Dave

    Sep 6, 2018 at 10:16 am

    finally a fitter with a 44.5 inch playing shaft. all fitters in my area ever never have anything other than stock even though most should be playing much shorter….im 6 3 and 44.5 is my length how the hell can a guy at 5’6″ play a 45.5 inch shaft with consistency.

    • Doug

      Sep 6, 2018 at 10:28 am

      Exactly on the “long” shafts!

    • Forrester

      Sep 6, 2018 at 10:41 am

      The theoretical 5’6″ guy has a better, more consistently repeatable swing than you?

    • Craaap

      Sep 6, 2018 at 12:46 pm

      Sure, Dave, if you also want to hit it shorter.

    • golfraven

      Sep 8, 2018 at 4:48 pm

      Been gaming a 44.5” 913 D3 and after the TS fitting I still walked away with half an inch shorter club but this time at 45”. Its about consistency and I have not seen much of dispersion. So I rather get the ball speed up with that 0.5 inch and maybe an iron less to the green. However, anything above 45” is just bs for folks under 6 feet

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head

From the seller: (@lasallen): “For sale is a BRNR mini 11.5 deg head only in brand new condition.  $325 shipped.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade BRNR mini driver head 

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/18/24): Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made

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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.

It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.

Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made.

From the seller: (@DLong72): “Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made. ?: $1150. ?? 100% milled collectors item from the limited releases commemorating when Ping putters won every major in 1988 (88 putters made). This was the model Seve Ballesteros used to win the 1988 Open Championship. Condition is brand new, never gamed, everything is in the original packaging as it came. Putter features the iconic sound slot.

Specs/ Additional Details

-100% Milled, Aluminum/Bronze Alloy (310g)

-Original Anser Design

-PING PP58 Grip

-Putter is built to standard specs.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Ping PLD Limited Anser – 1988 Open Championship – #2 of only 88 Made

This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules

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Inside Collin Morikawa’s recent golf ball, driver, 3-wood, and “Proto” iron changes

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As you probably know by now, Collin Morikawa switched putters after the first round of The Masters, and he ultimately went on to finish T3.

The putter was far from the only change he made last week, however, and his bag is continuing to change this week at the 2024 RBC Heritage.

On the range of The Masters, Morikawa worked closely with Adrian Reitveld, TaylorMade’s Senior Manager of Tour at TaylorMade, to find the perfect driver and 3-wood setups.

Morikawa started off 2024 by switching into TaylorMade’s Qi10 Max driver, but since went back to his faithful TaylorMade SIM – yes, the original SIM from 2020. Somehow, some way, it seems Morikawa always ends up back in that driver, which he used to win the 2020 PGA Championship, and the 2021 Open Championship.

At The Masters, however, Rietveld said the duo found the driver head that allowed “zero compromise” on Morikawa’s preferred fade flight and spin. To match his preferences, they landed on a TaylorMade Qi10 LS 9-degree head, and the lie angle is a touch flatter than his former SIM.

“It’s faster than his gamer, and I think what we found is it fits his desired shot shape, with zero compromise” Rietveld told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the RBC Heritage.

Then, to replace his former SIM rocket 3-wood, Morikawa decided to switch into the TaylorMade Qi10 core model 13.5-degree rocket head, with an adjustable hosel.

“He likes the spin characteristics of that head,” Rietveld said. “Now he’s interesting because with Collin, you can turn up at a tournament, and you look at his 3-wood, and he’s changed the setting. One day there’s more loft on it, one day there’s less loft on it. He’s that type of guy. He’s not scared to use the adjustability of the club.

“And I think he felt our titanium head didn’t spin as low as his original SIM. So we did some work with the other head, just because he liked the feel of it. It was a little high launching, so we fit him into something with less loft. It’s a naughty little piece of equipment.” 

In addition to the driver and fairway wood changes, Morikawa also debuted his new “MySymbol” jersey No. 5 TP5x golf ball at The Masters. Morikawa’s choice of symbols is likely tied to his love of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.

Not enough changes for you? There’s one more.

On Wednesday at the 2024 RBC Heritage, Morikawa was spotted with a new TaylorMade “Proto” 4-iron in the bag. If you recall, it’s the same model that Rory McIlroy debuted at the 2024 Valero Texas Open.

According to Morikawa, the new Proto 4-iron will replace his old P-770 hollow-bodied 4-iron.

“I used to hit my P-770 on a string, but sometimes the distance would be a little unpredictable,” Morikawa told GolfWRX.com. “This one launches a touch higher, and I feel I can predict the distance better. I know Rory replaced his P-760 with it. I’m liking it so far.” 

See Morikawa’s full WITB from the 2024 RBC Heritage here. 

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