Equipment

My favorite irons of all time: Titleist 962B

Published

4 years ago

May 8, 2020

They were, and still are, my favorite irons of all time. I played the best golf of my life with them, and every “best iron shot” I ever hit was with these irons.

It was a multi-faceted love affair: look, feel, turf interaction, ball flight, curb appeal, David Duval played them, and on and on.

It was the only set that I had two of, for a gear junkie like me, that is huge. And BTW, this set has the best looking 7-iron ever.

Once again, I went to my Titleist R&D resource, Larry Bobka, to find out the backstory of what I think is the greatest cast players iron ever made.

JW: What was the goal of developing this iron? Was it to please a certain player and find a “tour” 962 iron?

LB: Well it was fairly simple actually. We had just signed David to be the face of the DCI line if irons and had to make him an iron that he would put into play. Marching orders came in and we went off and made it. So essentially it is the David Duval iron.

JW: The was a previous DCI B black that was produced, but there really wasn’t a market for it. Why do you think the 962B did so well?

LB: There are two main reasons for the success of the 962B 1) Was David Duval 2) was the design of the satisfied a broad range of good players. Whether you were a blade, cavity back, cast, or forged player, this iron seemed to satisfy all of them. It was very special that way.

JW: What design features stood out to you?

LB: It’s a “forged iron” in a 431 stainless casting. So essentially we took the design and playability characteristics of a forged players iron and were able to incorporate that into a cast club. The sole, top line, etc all look and perform like a true forging. I’ve seen anything quite like it.

JW: What is it about the sole of that iron that was so unique?

LB: Based on his swing characteristics and ball flight preferences..he needed a sole with a very little heel. David liked to play closed to open hitting a drop fade, he wanted/needed minimal heel to turn the ball left at impact.

JW: What former Titleist irons influenced the 962B?

LB: Really none. We needed to make the best “players” cast iron! Typically they are forged, we had to start from a new place to get this done.

JW: How many different iterations did it take on before the final?

LB: Peter Gilbert was head of Iron Design at Titleist back then. We sat down, laid out the specs, and did it on the first iteration.

JW: Was a forged set ever made?

LB: Never but that would be an awesome setup.

JW: Would that design still hold water today?

LB: Absolutely. Great iron designs have been cast or forged. I’m sure some modern tweaks could be made but as a stand-alone club, it could still perform quite well today.

JW: What other Titleist staffers besides DD used it?

LB: To be honest, not a ton of our staff used it with the exception of Faxon and Curtis Strange on occasion. It was very much a DD iron that wasn’t really intended to satisfy a huge bucket of players…but regardless everyone loved it.

If I had the dough and could have Don White or Mike Taylor grind me up a set of irons, I’d replicate the 962B…all day, no question. Titleist has always made great irons, but this one was a unicorn.

Specs:

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13 Comments

Rich Douglas

May 9, 2020 at 5:21 pm

If your favorite irons are some old set, play them. If you don’t have them, find them. But my question is, if they were so great, why aren’t you still playing them?

While I’ve made a couple of mistakes along the way, for the most part by best irons are the ones in the bag. The rest is just waxing nostalgic and convenient forgetfulness.

Reply Report comment
Benny

May 9, 2020 at 3:40 pm

Great article and while I always thought DCI’s were the ugliest kid on the block. Fun read JW!

Reply Report comment
- George Stevenson
  
  May 10, 2020 at 1:01 pm
  
  Probably the ugliest iron ever made!
  
  Reply Report comment
BRADLEY

May 9, 2020 at 8:03 am

I am playing my favorit iron of all time right now the DCI 990 3-pw. I have kicked around getting a set of the 762 or even the 762b. Now after reading this I might have to buy a set.

Reply Report comment
Sam

May 9, 2020 at 5:39 am

Do you guys even edit these articles before you post them?

Reply Report comment
stanley

May 8, 2020 at 11:00 pm

we need titleist to make a forged version of this iron.. o man!!!!

Reply Report comment
- Shallowface
  
  May 9, 2020 at 11:19 am
  
  Why? The cast version is as soft as forged and more durable. If the molds still exist, I would think they could produce these immediately, as long as people would accept the old school lofts (a big if I’ll grant you).
  
  Reply Report comment
Stump

May 8, 2020 at 10:01 pm

Does anyone know if the 962B came in lefty? I had a set of lefty 962 2-SW and gave them away. I really wish I had them back. I’ve been trying to find another set without much luck.
My buddy gave me a 962 1 iron for my birthday so I’ve got the start of a new set!

Reply Report comment
- Chris G
  
  May 8, 2020 at 11:44 pm
  
  Nope sorry bud, the 962 (and 990 which came later) were only available in the regular version. Little thicker top line, and a little more cavity. We got them Righties back two years later when Phil gave us the 731PM. Yes!!
  
  Reply Report comment
Peter

May 8, 2020 at 9:43 pm

I had the normal 962 irons but I remember looking at the B version each time I went in the pro shop and wanting those instead. I would probably give up my mizuno blades for a new set of these.

Reply Report comment
EJ

May 8, 2020 at 8:49 pm

Not the B, but just picked up a set of unstamped 962, 2-pw, x100 for the princely sum of $103… I’ll get a set of “B” eventually and blend them in. Went into those from a set of Titleist 660 and I’ve played all the usual, mp14, mp29, 681, 690, etc. These are up there with the best of them…

Reply Report comment
brian

May 8, 2020 at 7:49 pm

I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I mean, some find the Ping Eye aesthetically pleasing, too…

Personally, I find that 962 7 iron to be ugly as sin.

Reply Report comment
- Duder
  
  May 8, 2020 at 8:13 pm
  
  My favorite irons of all time are the Mizuno MP 37 hands down! Wish I was young again, lol.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (4/23/24): TaylorMade Qi10 Driver Ruby Red

Published

6 hours ago

Apr 23, 2024

Gianni Magliocco

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 Qi10 Driver Ruby Red.

From the seller: (@Gehly): “TaylorMade Qi10 Driver 9.0 Designer Series Ruby Red. Custom Mitsubishi Kai’li Red 60s (stiff) shaft, plays 46”. Great condition, head near mint (see pics). w/ Red/Black Golf Pride NDMC Midsize grip. No headcover for it. $545“

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: TaylorMade Qi10 Driver Ruby Red

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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Whats in the Bag

Sam Burns WITB 2024 (April)

Published

24 hours ago

Apr 22, 2024

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Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.

Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 TX

3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond T (15 degrees @16)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X

Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Burns’ WITB in the forums.

Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X

Irons: Callaway Apex TCB ’24 (4-AW)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (4-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Tour Issue (AW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F @55), WedgeWorks Proto (60-T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue (56, 60)

Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Burns’ WITB in the forums.

Putter: Odyssey Ai-One #7S

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align

Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X

Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Burns’ WITB in the forums.

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Whats in the Bag

Will Zalatoris WITB 2024 (April)

Published

1 day ago

Apr 22, 2024

GolfWRX Staff

Will Zalatoris’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.

Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X (44.5 inches)

3-wood: Titleist TSi2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X

See more photos of Will Zalatoris’ WITB in the forums.

Irons: Titleist T350 (3), Titleist T150 (4-PW)
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