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:

Your Reaction?

LIKE213
LEGIT30
WOW21
LOL4
IDHT2
FLOP6
OB0
SHANK8

Related Topics:featured

Up Next

GolfWRX Members Choice: Best driver of 2020

Don't Miss

PXG releases limited-number of 0811 X and X+ prototype drivers; more Essential Face Masks available

John Wunder

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

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Equipment

A shocking Backstryke putter appearance + 7 interesting gear photos from the Zurich Classic

Published

11 hours ago

Apr 25, 2024

Andrew Tursky

Welcome to New Orleans, where TPC Louisiana plays host to the 2024 Zurich Classic. In between breakfast beignets and nightly Creole feasts, PGA Tour players are also competing in the unique two-man format at the Zurich this week.

Although the vibes in Nawlins are a bit lighter-fare than the recent back-to-back competitions the Masters and the RBC Heritage signature event), the gear news was no less serious this week.

We spotted some recent changes from Rory McIlroy, a very rare Odyssey Backstryke putter, dove into the bag of legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, and spotted Patrick Cantlay continuing to test new equipment.

Get your beads out and crack your crawfish, because it’s time for an equipment rundown from The Big Easy (meaning New Orleans, of course, not Ernie Els).

See all of our photos from the Zurich Classic here

Rory’s on-and-off lob wedge

Since the end of 2023, Rory McIlroy has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a Titleist Vokey K-Grind lob wedge. In his last start, it was on, and the wedge is back in the bag again this week. We got a great look at the complicated grind that McIlroy uses.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

A full look into McIlroy’s bag above also shows that he switched out of the TaylorMade BRNR Mini Copper that he used at the RBC Heritage, and he’s back into the Qi10 core 3-wood. As we discussed last week, McIlroy will likely keep the BRNR around as a course-specific club, trading it in and out for the 3-wood.

See Rory McIlroy’s full 2024 WITB from the Zurich here

Turning Back the clock

Unless Tommy Gainey is in the field, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see Odyssey’s Backstryke technology make an appearance on the PGA Tour.

But then, when you least expect it, Russ Cochran shows up.

For more than a decade – since the 2013 Sony Open in Hawai’i – Cochran has been stuck on 599 PGA Tour starts. This week will be his 600th.

Cochran is in the field at the Zurich this week playing alongside Eric Cole, whose regular caddie is Reed Cochran, Russ’s son.

The Backstryke putter was first released back in 2010, and its unique design helps shift the axis point of the putter closer to the CG of the head. And, the putter is getting a nod this week at the Zurich Classic, thanks to Cochran’s 600th career PGA Tour start.

The putter is certainly awesome, but don’t forget to check out Cochran’s full WITB from this week.

Drew Brees with a Super Bowl winning Scotty Cameron putter

Drew Brees, a legendary retired quarterback for the hometown New Orleans Saints, made an appearance at the Zurich’s Wednesday Pro-Am, playing alongside Zach Johnson, Ryan Palmer, and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Brees’ bag included a TaylorMade Stealth2 Plus driver, a BRNR Mini 13.5-degree, a Stealth 5-wood, a mixed set of P-790 and P-760 irons, Milled Grind Hi-Toe wedges, and a custom Scotty Cameron “New Orleans Saints” putter, which Scotty made for Brees following his Super Bowl MVP-winning performance in 2010.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

It should also be noted that Brees has his Venmo QR code as a bag tag.

If you’re gambling with Brees on the course, just know that not having cash won’t work as an excuse.

Brilliant.

See Drew Brees’ full WITB from the Zurich here

Stricker’s unrecognizable putter

Steve Stricker has made numerous upgrades to his bag recently, including a new TSR3 driver and T100 irons, but his longtime Odyssey White Hot No. 2 putter is still going strong. It’s the most recognizable unrecognizable putter ever.

Here’s a better look at Stricker’s flatstick, which he started using back in 2007.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx)

Patrick Cantlay has opened the equipment-switching floodgates

Over on the PGA Tour’s Equipment Report this week, we covered Cantlay’s recent switch into Ping Blueprint S irons, and a Titleist TSR2 driver.

Cantlay hadn’t switched irons for about seven years, so the iron switch he made at The 2024 Masters came as a shock to the norm. He simply isn’t one to change gear very often, so anytime Cantlay makes a switch, it’s news.

It seems the floodgates of equipment testing have opened up a bit for Cantlay, who was also spotted testing a custom Scotty Cameron blade putter on Tuesday this week. By Wednesday, Cantlay was back practicing with his familiar Scotty Cameron T5 Proto mallet, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on going forward.

Daniel Berger’s custom Jailbird site lines

Berger, who’s currently using Odyssey’s Ai-One Mini Jailbird mallet putter, has a unique 3-dot, 2-line alignment on the crown of his navy-white-navy-white mallet putter. Looking down at the putter, it’s easy to see why this alignment system would help; it just seems impossible to set up to the ball off-center, or misaligned to the target.

Also, for anyone worried, you can rest easy. Yes, he’s still playing the 2013 TaylorMade TP MC irons, which we highlighted in our recent “Modern Classics: Old vs. New” video testing series.

FitzMagic teams back up

Brothers Matthew and Alex Fitzpatrick are teaming up once again at the Zurich this year, and Bettinardi Golf hooked them up with some festive “FitzMagic” headcovers to match this week.

See what else is in Alex Fitzpatrick’s WITB here

And, with that, we say goodbye to the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week, including 30 unique photo galleries full of equipment photos.

We’ll see you next week in Texas for the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson!

Your Reaction?