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Titleist 915 Drivers, Fairway Woods and Hybrids

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The one thing that kept Titleist’s 913 drivers from winning more awards in our 2014 Gear Trials Club Test was their tendency to spin too much, but that shouldn’t be the case with the company’s 915 line.

The new models include what Titleist calls an “Active Recoil Channel” — an extremely wide, deep slot on the front of the club soles that extends across the entirety of the clubface — that not only lowers spin, but raises launch angle and ball speed on off-center hits as well.

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Here’s how it works.The Active Recoil Channel allows for more deflection of the club ace, which then creates more “recoil” into the ball, particularly on shots hit low on the face. According to Dan Stone, vice president of research and development for Titleist golf clubs, the Active Recoil Channel also causes the golf ball to compress in a different manner, which creates less rotational energy. That causes shots to leave the clubface with less spin.

[quote_box_center]“We began incorporating Active Recoil Channel in the prototype phase about four years ago, but this kind of technology requires a lot of fine-tuning if you’re going to do something that’s different, as opposed to making a cosmetic or marketing change,” Stone said. “By adding significant technology for speed and spin without sacrificing MOI, we think we’ve done something very special that nobody’s done to this point.”[/quote_box_center]

That’s a bold claim.

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The one drawback of the Active Recoil Channel? Its structure adds mass to the front part of the sole, which moves a club’s center of gravity (CG) forward. That lowers a driver’s MOI, or moment of inertia, which is a measure of a club’s ability to retain peak ball speed on off-center hits. But Titleist had a fix for that.

To boost the MOI of the 915 drivers, Titleist cast the bodies of the clubs from an 8-11 titanium that’s lighter than the 6-4 titanium that was used to make the 913 drivers. The crowns were also made thinner (Titleist claims its 0.5 mm consistent crown thickness in the thinnest in the industry), the toplines and leading edges were tapered and certain low-stress areas inside the heads were thinned. The weight saved was then placed low and deep in the driver heads to give the 915 drivers an MOI that’s comparable to the 913 line.

915_Driver_High_MOI_Technology_1320x2100_300_CMYK

Above: The blue areas represent where Titleist removed weight from the 915 drivers. The purple areas represent where that weight was redistributed.

The final change to the driver heads was the addition of what Titleist calls its “Radial Speed Face,” which includes a 6-4 titanium variable face thickness insert with thinner heel and toe sections than the 913 drivers to maximize ball speeds on shots contacted in those areas.

915_Driver_RSF_Technology_2100x1629_300_CMYK

Above: The purple areas indicate spots where Titleist thickened the faces of the 915 drivers. The light blue areas show where Titleist thinned the faces. These changes allow the club faces to have a more uniform, maximum spring-like effect across the face.

The 915D2 has a pear-shaped, 460-cubic-centimeter profile. It’s designed to launch drives with about 250 rpm more spin than the 915D3, and has more forgiveness and draw bias than the 915D3.

Related: Our review of the 915D2 and 915D3 drivers

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Above: Titleist 915D3 (left) and 915D2 drivers.

The 915D3 driver has a deeper, pear-shaped face and measures 440cc. Its design encourages more workability, so it does not have the draw bias of the 915D2.

The 915 drivers ($449) will be available in stores on Nov. 14. They come stock with five different shaft options:

  • Aldila Rogue Black 70
  • Aldila Rogue Silver 60
  • Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana D+ 70
  • Mitsubishi Diamana S+ 60
  • Mitsubishi Diamana M+ 50

Titleist’s stock driver length is 45 inches at D2-to-D4, although custom builds and other shafts are available through the company’s custom department. Both models include Titleist’s SureFit adjustable hosel, which is compatible with prior models and offers a 2.25-degree range of loft and lie angle adjustability in 0.75-degree increments.

  • 915D2 Lofts: 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 12 (RH), 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 (LH)
  • 915D3 Lofts: 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 (RH), 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 (LH)

The stock lie angle of both drivers is 58.5 degrees.

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Like the 915 drivers, Titleist’s 915 fairway woods and hybrids use the company’s Active Recoil Channel to lower spin and add ball speed on all shots. Titleist also gave the clubs new, hotter faces — 465 stainless steel in the fairway woods and 455 stainless steel in the hybrids — to make them even faster.

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  • 915F (175 cc): Up to 3.5 mph faster than its predecessor. The 915F averaged 200 rpm less spin and 3 yards more carry distance than the 913F in Titleist testing. It launches slightly higher and is slightly higher spinning than the smaller, more workable 915Fd.
  • 915Fd (160 cc): Up to 3.2 mph faster than its predecessor. The 915Fd averaged 150 rpm less spin and 3 yards more carry distance than the 913Fd in Titleist testing. It launches slightly lower with slightly less spin than the 913F.

Related: Our review of Titleist’s 915F and 915Fd fairway woods

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The 915 fairway woods ($269) come stock with five different shaft options:

  • Aldila Rogue Black 80
  • Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana D+ White 80
  • Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana S+ Blue 70
  • Mitsubishi Diamana M+ Red 60

915F Lofts: 13.5, 15, 16.5, 18, 21 (RH and LH)

915Fd Lofts: 13, 15 (RH and LH)

The stock length for lofts of 13.5, 15 and 16.5 degrees is 43 inches, the stock length of the 18-degree is 42.5 inches and the stock length for the 21-degree is 42 inches.

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  • 915H (118cc): Up to 4 mph faster than its predecessor. The 915H averaged 250 rpm less spin than the 913H and carried about 6 yards farther on average in Titleist testing.
  • 915Hd (107cc): Up to 3.3 mph faster than its predecessor. The 915Hd averaged 150 rpm less spin than the 913Hd and carried about 6 yards farther on average in Titleist testing.

Related: Our review of Titleist’s 915H and 915Hd hybrids

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Compared to the 915Hd, the 915 H will launch about 0.7-degrees higher with about 120 rpm more spin.

The 915 hybrids ($249) are available with four stock shafts:

  • Aldila Rogue Black 80
  • Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana D+ White 80
  • Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana S+ Blue 70
  • Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana M+ Red 60

915H Lofts: 18, 21, 24, 27 (RH and LH)
915Hd Lofts: 17.5, 20.5, 23.5 (RH and LH)

Click here to see what GolfWRX Members are saying about the clubs in our forum. 

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127 Comments

127 Comments

  1. Jericho

    Nov 26, 2014 at 11:30 am

    I just picked up a 20.5 degree 3 hybrid hd a few days ago with a Diamana whiteboard 90 s and am striking this thing nicely , I’m a 0.1 and get down through my shots pretty good and the HD played much better for me than the H ..I’m getting around 225-228 carry with a smooth par 3 swing I’ve jumped on a few with a hard ground loaded swing as much as 240 carry “not my normal playing swing” ..pretty much liking this club a lot ..I’m normally a soft draw player and this setup for me plays dead straight with soft cuts playing to a miss ..still working with it , I play gold tour issue x1’s in the irons and play an Graghite design GT X 80 in my 3w but a stiff in my driver and this new 915 hybrid the x played great for me as well but my miss was a pull ..hope this helps

  2. jim

    Nov 9, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    Wow these clubs look great titleist always puts out a product that I would not hesitate to throw in the bag immediately unlike others manufactures with the racing stripes or blinding green on them that would take some time to adjust too

  3. Bryan

    Oct 23, 2014 at 11:06 am

    Had the chance to demo the 915 D3 yesterday and here is my impression.
    I’m a 3.4 HCP
    Currently game a SLDR with a matrix ozik 6m3 x

    1. Drastic sound difference vs. the 913. It has more of a high pitch sound than I was expecting.

    2. Aldilla rogue shaft. This can’t be the real deal rogue. That’s a different discussion for a different board but.. No way

    3. Looks AWESOME at address

    4. Miss hits are still going a LONG way. I hit my share out on the toe during my session, and it didn’t seem to bother the flight of the ball too much. (Probably the biggest benefit to switch IMO)

    5. I wish I could sing the praises of how well it felt and sounded but I can’t unfortunately. Right now, my SLDR still has the edge. However, being that I don’t hit the middle of the club face EVERY time, the 915 may be a good bet.

    I’d like to get fit to a high end shaft and see the difference vs the demo off the rack. Awesome club from Titleist yet again. There is definitively something to the slot channel because it comes off hot, and is pretty damn forgiving on mishits.

    Just my thoughts and opinion.

    • Bonerhead

      Oct 28, 2014 at 9:23 pm

      Try the new Nike Vapor when it comes out…. Will probably smoke you SLDR. They invented the compression Chanel several years ago anyways. All of a sudden everyone s releasing a driver with a slot underneath. This just proves how much Nike is ahead of the game. Ta ta…

    • T banks

      Nov 8, 2014 at 7:35 pm

      My appt is set to buy at 9 am Fri!!!

      • Derek

        Nov 28, 2014 at 4:47 pm

        Actually Adams was the first to come out with the slot

    • JGB

      Nov 10, 2014 at 4:35 pm

      completely agree with you on the high pitch, forgiveness, and hot face. i game the sldr 430 too, the sldr went further for me on longest drive but my average was better with the 915s.. and the rogue thats in these 915s are the 110msi(silver) and 95msi(black). the real deal ones are 125msi, hopefully that clears things up.

  4. The dude

    Oct 18, 2014 at 6:22 am

    Can’t wait to see the A or A – report card (like 99% of all reviews)

  5. Bob

    Oct 8, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    Can we pre-order the 915 driver now foe delivery nov. 14?

  6. bok006

    Oct 8, 2014 at 1:46 am

    When can expect a review?
    Please don’t say “after they are officially released”…….

  7. JGB

    Oct 7, 2014 at 2:36 am

    913 and 910 were the same. spun way too much and better players using it were at like 7-9 degrees of loft.. really looking forward to the 915s especially with those shaft offerings. just wish there was a D4 at 410-430cc. i’m sure lots would agree with me there..

    • Leslie Chow

      Oct 7, 2014 at 12:58 pm

      If no one else will I agree with you I will. I owned both the 910 and 913. The 910 spun to much for all the time and the 913 spun to much on slight mishits resulting in lost yards and in both cases I used the playability program from the store and exchanged them even though I didn’t want to. As far as looks, sound, and feel I thought the 909/910/913 were top notch. The 915s look amazing and I’m excited to test these out, maybe this is the year a Titleist stays in the bag for a full product cycle. As for the 410-430 head you mentioned the D3 at 440 will hopefully look good to you as black is a slimming color. I almost bought the SLDR 430 yesterday but I think I’ll wait to try the 915 D3

  8. Sodapoppin

    Oct 6, 2014 at 12:23 pm

    I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it, I’m about to loose control and I think I like it.

    I’m so excited, and I just can’t hide it, and I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I WANT YOU 915D3!

  9. Charlie

    Oct 4, 2014 at 10:53 am

    FYI the D3 is available in a 7.5, which this article does not state.

  10. None

    Oct 4, 2014 at 10:37 am

    Does anyone know whether Titleist will be coming out with a newer version of the 712U utility iron any time soon?

  11. Timmy

    Oct 4, 2014 at 10:18 am

    Ok, so let’s go copy Nike’s Compression Channel and go with variable face thickness made out of the same 6-4 titanium drivers had in them 15+ years ago. Brilliant! Nothing to see here, move along. But you suckers are going to drop 4 bills on it. HA HA!

    • ChrisP2773

      Oct 4, 2014 at 8:42 pm

      Take it easy there Timmy

      • CT

        Oct 5, 2014 at 1:56 am

        Truth hurts!

        • Martin de Porres

          Oct 5, 2014 at 2:42 am

          Only if you can prove a driver from 15 years ago can keep up and consistently out drive the 915. I’m betting the 915 wins. The odds a 15 year old driver wins are as good as you hooking up with Kate Upton.

          • Shelby

            Oct 5, 2014 at 9:54 pm

            Titleist is a golf ball company that has a line of drivers, irons, woods, and Scotty makes the putters! I appreciate their 2 year release cycles. Taylor made is first and formost a marketing company. Success went to their heads and now Adidas has to reel these guys in. Nike is a performance company. I really like what their doing with golf and Wall Street agrees. Next year, I expect 2015 to be THE golf year for Nike. (With or without a Tiger comeback). If Tiger does comeback and Rory wins a major or several majors) it will be a mega year for the swoosh!

    • Buck

      Oct 5, 2014 at 9:11 pm

      I bet you play tmag

    • KK

      Oct 23, 2014 at 3:45 am

      Timmy, if you’re going to bash a manufacturer for “stealing technology” at least use a somewhat reasonable analogy when comparing todays equipment to equipment from previous years. I agree that if you’re dialed in with the perfect shaft/head combo and you make solid contact, the 915 isn’t going to fly 15+ yards further than say a 910 or 909. The entire goal of all manufacturers is to make drivers that are slightly longer than the previous generation, but most importantly more forgiving on mishits. I would love to see you do well in a competitive event (club championship type event) with a TaylorMade Firesole, Ti Bubble 2, Callaway Great Big Bertha, or Titleist 975D (all drivers about 15 years old). If you play a driver released post 2005, you’re just being a hypocrite and wasting other reader’s time with your non-sense of a post.

  12. Mark

    Oct 4, 2014 at 5:33 am

    Most pleasant but a tad annoyed…$449 USA, £379 rrp UK. Even with a discount we will be looking at $525. Ouch.

  13. Joe Golfer

    Oct 4, 2014 at 12:27 am

    I wonder what shafts are actually in these clubs.
    I’ve got an old Titleist 909D2 driver, and it has the Diamana shaft that looks like the Blueboard, but it also is one of those “exclusively designed for Titleist” labels in very small print on the shaft.
    They may have stopped printing that disclaimer, but it still happens.
    It’s not the real deal aftermarket shaft but just a cheaper rendition with the same paint job.

    • Zak Kozuchowski

      Oct 4, 2014 at 9:23 am

      The shafts in the 915 are real deal

  14. RocketShankz

    Oct 3, 2014 at 11:00 pm

    The real winner for me here is the alignment arrow being reversed. While I’d still prefer a completely blank, alignment free crown, there’s just something more aesthetically pleasing about a line behind the ball than an arrow.

  15. JD

    Oct 3, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    It’s amazing how golf clubs are getting better and better with every new release!

  16. Jonathan

    Oct 3, 2014 at 4:58 pm

    These look great. Titleist feel, improve performance, and lower spin… no brainer. Can’t wait to hit these but I’m already sold these are the best that Titleist has released to date.

  17. moses

    Oct 3, 2014 at 11:10 am

    I’ll take a 915D3 9.5 with a Rogue 70 x to go please. 😀

  18. Ben

    Oct 3, 2014 at 9:48 am

    I’m not sure what I like more about the articles… The article itself or all the banter that follows 😛

  19. rgb

    Oct 2, 2014 at 10:36 pm

    Damn. I’ve been a Titleist guy for the past dozen years. Currently playing the 983K / 980F woods. Splurged for the Ping G30 SFT driver alone which *still* isn’t in yet (two months next week), but am getting shakes over that or the new Titleist drivers and woods. Do I wait for Nov and Titleist? Do I consider the new Nike series stuff?

    I swear sometimes its easier not to read new equipment releases.

    Has anyone played the G30 fairway 3 & 5 woods? How do they compare with Titleist (remembering I have the very old 980s)?

    • SJCC junky

      Oct 13, 2014 at 2:09 pm

      Go with the 915 and the 906 fairway woods. I know the 906 is an old model but they are still by far the best titleist has had. The shafts are generally the main factor in a driver and woods anyway.

      • Jim

        Oct 29, 2014 at 2:08 pm

        I agree that the 906’s are the best fairways Titleist has ever made. I still see them occasionally in the Golfsmith used club bin.

  20. Jeff

    Oct 2, 2014 at 5:32 pm

    I like everything but wonder why they turned the alignment aid backwards.

    • bogey jones

      Oct 3, 2014 at 3:37 pm

      it”s mimicking the compression channel. …wait, i mean the ARC thing.

  21. Rocketballz

    Oct 2, 2014 at 8:18 am

    Nike RBZ 915 ! Yeah !

  22. Ben

    Oct 1, 2014 at 7:07 pm

    I’m really loving this lineup. The new ball is great as well. I might be turning into a Titleist kinda guy.

  23. DH

    Oct 1, 2014 at 5:38 pm

    Sorry if I missed this but when will the driver, wood, and hybrid be available?

  24. TW

    Oct 1, 2014 at 5:37 pm

    Has there been any word on a realistic release of the D4 or D5, something in the 400cc range?

    • nikkyd

      Oct 3, 2014 at 11:01 pm

      Wouldnt that be great? Looks like we have to make it onto the pga tour to get our mitts on those babies

      • KK

        Oct 23, 2014 at 3:10 am

        It’s interesting to me to see the “demand” for such a niche club. The avg. score of all amateur golfers is well over 90. The tour players have access to everything from equipment to all the technology to dial in their perfect shaft/head combo and they aren’t lined up to request a 400 cc headed driver. All club manufacturers get tour validation from pros on their products before they release them to the public. Why in the world would a company invest hundreds of thousands of dollars (maybe even millions) in R&D on a club that would account for less than 1% of the total units sold? By the way, if you really want to play a 400CC driver, you can probably get a great deal on a 905 T or S…..how many guys still play that club, not many. You know why; because the 910, 913, and now 915 are most likely all longer and a hell of a lot for forgiving. Why make the game harder than it already is?

        • AC930

          Nov 4, 2014 at 10:58 am

          Actually we are all interested in this smaller head concept because we have more ACCURACY with the smaller headed club…. were looking for today’s technology (forgiveness) to go with it, not some old 905 driver. I could care less about 10 yards if I could hit more fairways, but maybe that’s also why I play a 44 inch driver instead of a 46 inch driver.

  25. None

    Oct 1, 2014 at 2:49 pm

    Would the Titleist 913 adapters work in the 915’s? Like can I keep my current shafts from the 913s and switch them to the 915s or would I have to pull the shaft from the 913s and put them in the 915s?

    • Zak Kozuchowski

      Oct 1, 2014 at 2:50 pm

      Yes

    • Joe

      Oct 1, 2014 at 4:58 pm

      Yes the 913 adapter will fit the 915.

      • DerekKJ

        Oct 2, 2014 at 2:48 am

        Are you sure! I’ve been told the fairway will but the driving 910/913 fit will not fit the new 915!

        • SL

          Oct 2, 2014 at 3:00 am

          Yes, all 915 fully compatible with 913 shafts.

          • antonio

            Oct 2, 2014 at 3:38 am

            And 910?
            Thanks

          • moses

            Oct 3, 2014 at 11:08 am

            910 913 driver shafts will work on the 915 drivers
            910 fwy shafts don’t work in the 913. 913 fwy shafts will work in the 915 fwy woods.

            Summary
            910,913,915 driver shafts all same

            913 915 fwy shafts same

  26. nikkyd

    Oct 1, 2014 at 2:16 pm

    If only the lie angles were a bit flatter. I dont want to cut down a shaft to make it flatter. Oh well. FORE LEFT! Maybe someday flatter lie angles will come back in woods

    • Tim

      Oct 2, 2014 at 5:13 pm

      They do make drivers that you can bend though. Companies make drivers with stainless hossels.

    • Paul

      Oct 3, 2014 at 5:23 am

      The lie angles are adjustable, you can flatten all of these woods with the hosel system.

      • nikkyd

        Oct 3, 2014 at 11:05 pm

        Yes they do but 0.75 ° lie adjust hardly does anything . If you could go from 59°to 56° that would be superb. That is what most of the older (25+ years older) woods lie angles were at, as per my measurements anyhow

        • Joe Golfer

          Oct 4, 2014 at 12:10 am

          That’s true, but when drivers had 56* lie angles, they were using steel shafts and were only 43 inches long.
          Now the 3 fairwaywood is 43″ long.

          Still, I’m sure a 56* lie angle would be good for some golfers even at this length, but Titleist has to go with what is most beneficial to the greatest majority of golfers.

    • SJCC junky

      Oct 13, 2014 at 2:17 pm

      The Titleist heads are ordered through the custom shop in 2degree flat, standard or upright. Then the adjustable hosel is use to fine tune. If you need it flat or up go through a registered titleist fitting. Meaning go to there website a find a certified custom fitter.

  27. Joe

    Oct 1, 2014 at 12:53 pm

    Don’t judge this driver without hitting it and being fit properly. I hit the 915 a few weeks ago and it is very nice. I picked up 17 yards of carry distance with a spin reduction of 700 rpm (over my 913), all with maintaining the same launch angle.

    • DS

      Oct 1, 2014 at 2:57 pm

      Damn… I’d like to hit it and see if it’s worth the upgrade over my 910. If I picked up 17 yards of carry, I’d be a very happy man. Were you hitting on Trackman?

      • JJ

        Oct 1, 2014 at 3:02 pm

        Keep in mind he may not have been dialled in with the proper setup with his 913. The distance gains are accurate though, but an accurate depiction would be if you drop your 910 shaft into the 915 and do a side-by-side comparison.

        • DS

          Oct 1, 2014 at 3:14 pm

          Thanks. That’s exactly what I plan on doing. I like the shaft that I’m using although at times I think I probably could use an X rather than S (I have the Tour AD DI-7) so I’m going to throw that shaft into a 915 head and compare side by side on Trackman to see if there’s any difference. My average spin with my AD DI-7 and 910D3 is 2700. So If the new head would drop that down a couple hundred rpm (which I really doubt it would, but maybe) then I could see maybe an increase in carry as well as roll. I’m not optimistic though honestly. I’m not sure how much more I can actually gain given my clubhead speed. Normal is 106 give or take and I usually carry it around 260.

          • JJ

            Oct 1, 2014 at 3:18 pm

            You’ll see about 300-500 spin reduction vs the 910 on off-center hits. You’ll be switching, I have the 910D3 9.5 as well, and tried out the 915D3 9.5, same shaft and was longer. Although I am in the rare portion of the fittings, I actually think I may need to loft down as I was hitting hit higher with the 915, but I should know more hopefully next week in Orlando, if they get their fitting cart earlier than the 10th expected date…

  28. Eric

    Oct 1, 2014 at 12:37 pm

    What will be the price of the fairway woods it wasn’t listed?

  29. Greg N

    Oct 1, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    Is the face of the 915 deeper than that of the 913?

  30. Greg N

    Oct 1, 2014 at 12:10 pm

    Is the face on the 915 deeper than the face on the 913?

  31. MHendon

    Oct 1, 2014 at 12:10 pm

    Active recoil channel = new technology… I think NOT. I believe Nike had that in their previous VrPro models.

    • JJ

      Oct 1, 2014 at 1:17 pm

      Not new, but refined. I had a chance to play 2 rounds putting the 1st gen D+ in the D3 and I can tell you with 100% certainty that it was considerably longer than my 910 with the same shaft…especially on off-center hits…I am constantly 290+ with my 910 and had 3 drivers well over 310 with it and most averaging 305…

      • MHendon

        Oct 1, 2014 at 2:15 pm

        Whats your club head speed, and did it remain the same between drivers? If so then the ball speed should have remained approximately the same which means the 915 optimized your launch conditions. Once you optimize your launch conditions nothing will improve on it. That’s why I haven’t really picked up significant distance in over 10 years. I can tell based off the ball flight I’m getting weather I’m getting the proper launch angle, spin rate, and ball speed and don’t even need a launch monitor to tell me that.

        • JJ

          Oct 1, 2014 at 2:38 pm

          You and I have gone back and forth about this, you never add any positivity to any of the forums on WRX.

          Regardless, my club head speed is 108-112mph and launch around 14.5 degrees. The launch did not change but the lower spin brought down the landing angle, which ultimately led to the distance gains.

          I agree with you on the optimization, and that’s wonderful that you know your game so well. Maybe you haven’t picked up any distance over 10 years because you haven’t improved outside of your equipment…

          • DS

            Oct 1, 2014 at 2:59 pm

            What about carry? Did the 915 improve upon that or are you just referring to the extra bit of roll you’re getting as a result of the lower spin?

          • JJ

            Oct 1, 2014 at 3:14 pm

            Carry distance was about 3-5 yards further.

          • mhendon

            Oct 1, 2014 at 7:30 pm

            Well sorry JJ I don’t remember talking with you in the past but if what you mean by add any think positive to the WRX forums is buy the hype then you are correct. I’m a realest and honest with myself when demoing equipment. I see it all the time especially with a playing partner of mine. He buys a new driver regularly believing with each one he’s picked up yardage yet continues to remain 10 to 15 yards behind me off the tee. He lies to himself to justify buying new equipment. Sometimes the truth hurts.

        • Jeff

          Oct 1, 2014 at 4:38 pm

          While I can’t speak for you, 10 years ago I was 10 years younger. I was more limber, pre-back surgery, 20 pounds lighter… People need to realize that in most cases they have lost distance or swing speed over a period of, say, 10 years, but the equipment has made up for much of the loss and then some.

        • John Mcclain

          Oct 3, 2014 at 11:40 pm

          Everyone on this site already knows how awesome you are MHendon So stop spouting garbage on the forum about how good your swing is, or talking about yourself like you are basically trackman in human form. Once again you have missed the entire point of this article and new technology. The new drivers are built not to give you the longest drive of your life, but to narrow the gap with ball flight optimization between the best and worst drives making golfers more CONSISTENT. The reason everyone but you sees distance increases is because everyone but you lacks robotic consistency and doesn’t possess your superior ballstriking skills that cause everyone on the range to pause, watch and ask you for tips.

          • John McClain fan

            Oct 4, 2014 at 12:21 am

            I’m glad someone else besides me noticed this.
            Whenever I see a post with the name MHendon, I know to expect a slam of something or a contrarian viewpoint seemingly just to be ornery rather than constructive.

          • Leslie Chow

            Oct 4, 2014 at 1:48 am

            + 1.

          • Ron Burgundy

            Oct 4, 2014 at 9:28 am

            Leslie Chow!!! LOL! It was worth reading down just to see that handle.

          • Ben

            Oct 27, 2014 at 8:55 am

            +1 Get lost.

      • EN85

        Oct 2, 2014 at 9:33 am

        JJ, what flex 1st gen D+ if you don’t mind my asking?

    • BigBoy

      Oct 1, 2014 at 11:04 pm

      you might want to see who had the patent out first…about 5 years ago, before you make stupid remarks.

      • bradford

        Oct 2, 2014 at 9:29 am

        …Are you believing they’ve been “working on this for five years”? Or do you have actual info about an Acushnet patent? If you’re calling someone “stupid”, I’d like you to back it up with something. Nike absolutely has a patent, and already went to market with it years ago.

    • T

      Oct 1, 2014 at 11:15 pm

      Adams was the first company to come out with the slot technology.

    • Dale Doback

      Oct 4, 2014 at 9:15 am

      It took Titleist 5 years to perfect and implement the ARC or channel technology into their product line. 5 years ago it was new technology. If you want the latest tech from a club company that releases their new tech faster try a company like Taylormade. But then again you complain more than anyone on the forums about OEMs releasing to many clubs to fast so I guess there is just no pleasing someone like you.

  32. marc

    Oct 1, 2014 at 11:28 am

    so is the Rogue black replacing the current rip offering?

    • JJ

      Oct 1, 2014 at 1:19 pm

      I would say Rogue Black would be closer to the Phenom and the Silver would be closer to the Rip…but I have only hit the black and it’s profile felt very similar to the Phenom (in a launch monitor)

  33. gerald chessen

    Oct 1, 2014 at 11:27 am

    These slight technology changes every year or so, by every company, is why

    the cost of golf ( $419 for a driver) has gotten out of hand. This accent

    on longer and longer drives and there fore longer golf courses produces

    higher green fees and more time to play 18 holes. Then people ask, “why is

    the number of golfers and the number of rounds played less”? My private

    course just went bankrupt. USGA, stop this nonsense, regulate the

    ball!

    • just a dude

      Oct 1, 2014 at 12:05 pm

      So, you recommend golf equipment manufacturers stop developing new equipment, stop investing in R&D resources to improve equipment, and then regulate golf balls I assume to travel less far, spin less, and flat out not perform like they do today?

      That sounds terrible and certainly would not encourage anyone in younger demographics to pick up the game. That also sounds like a recipe for major oem and equipment manufacturers to lay off thousands.

      If a golfer doesn’t like the cost of a brand new driver than go find a used r9 for $65.

      If anything the USGA could be more proactive in informing consumers of their options to buy fantastic older gear at reasonable prices.

      But saying companies should simply not advance the performance capabilities of their equipment because greens fees are higher and your home course went out of business (what isn’t more expensive in 2014…have you checked your grocery bills lately?) is a little off the wall…

      I propose keep pumping new and awesome technology into the market. The courses you and I play don’t need to be longer. Hell, i typically score better on 7300 courses than i do on 6400 yd courses. But make it easy for new comers into the game to be informed on their options to purchase high quality used gear at an entry point that encourages people to pick up the game!

    • Prairie Golfer

      Oct 1, 2014 at 4:23 pm

      ….thank you

    • bradford

      Oct 2, 2014 at 9:38 am

      Nobody is forcing you to buy new equipment.
      Your private club charges you green fees?
      Which coursed that you play has been made longer?

    • Martin de Porres

      Oct 5, 2014 at 11:51 am

      Remember the days when drivers cost $299? They did just a couple of years ago. All but adams put cheap shafts in their woods so by the time I had put in an aftermarket shaft into my Taylormade head the driver cost around $600. So the way I see it a stock price of $449 for a 915 with a Diamana whiteboard or Rogue shaft or a lot of other premium after market shafts as stock offerings is saving me money and it’s easier to get fit. Quit complaining. If you can’t afford it or it isn’t worth the purchase based off what you currently own then DONT BUY IT.

    • Adam

      Oct 11, 2014 at 10:59 am

      Ok– I had a 909, $399; a 910, $399 and currently play a 913, $399. Plus I upgraded my shaft on the 910, so I’ve been playing the same upgraded shaft since 2009. I like it, it fits my swing, and I can change out the shaft myself. They flat out are not getting more expensive. If anything they are getting cheaper, since I don’t have to buy an upgraded shaft every time.

      • Adam

        Oct 11, 2014 at 11:09 am

        one more benefit- since the shafts are interchangeable- I can play heavier and stiffer in the summer and lighter and more flexible in the winter- without an extra dime spent.

  34. James

    Oct 1, 2014 at 11:22 am

    Apologies if I missed the detail somewhere – I read a previous article about the new model of the Diamana Whiteboard (D+) being released shortly, is the new D+ being offered here, or is it the existing model?

  35. bradford

    Oct 1, 2014 at 11:12 am

    There is a HUGE chance this will be my first Titleist driver.

  36. Ian Harris

    Oct 1, 2014 at 11:04 am

    Adjustable for lie angle as well as loft in the fairway woods?

  37. moses

    Oct 1, 2014 at 10:46 am

    The same MO from every oem every year— higher launch lower spin, more forgiveness, better ball speeds. I’m in. 🙂

  38. John Aiello

    Oct 1, 2014 at 10:04 am

    Are we sure about the cc on the 915F and Fd? They seem to be reversed. In the 913 line the Fd was the larger head. In the 915 the article has the Fd as the smaller head. Just trying to get clarification.

    • Zak Kozuchowski

      Oct 1, 2014 at 10:10 am

      Yes, the Fd is now the smaller fairway wood.

      • John Aiello

        Oct 1, 2014 at 4:38 pm

        Thanks for the clarification. Makes sense.

  39. EYK

    Oct 1, 2014 at 10:00 am

    the article says that the 913Hd is larger than the 913H, which is incorrect. Hd was definitely smaller than H. the 915 hybrid sizes are consistent with its predecessor.

    • Zak Kozuchowski

      Oct 1, 2014 at 10:16 am

      Yes, I got that wrong. The Hd was made bigger in the 915 line so that it is more similar to the size of the H.

      Thanks for feedback.

  40. tom

    Oct 1, 2014 at 9:58 am

    any info on what custom shafts can be ordered? would like the new blueboard to be available in 70s…shame there isnt a 80 in the new blueboards

    • Zak Kozuchowski

      Oct 1, 2014 at 10:21 am

      That should be an easy order through custom. I’d give Titleist a call if you’re looking to pre-order right now.

      • bradford

        Oct 1, 2014 at 11:11 am

        Any news on whether they will be actual aftermarket shafts or the Titleist “made-fors”? I think Titleist would crush it this year if they installed factory direct aftermarket shafts.

        • PO

          Oct 1, 2014 at 11:54 am

          Yes, shafts are actual, as they always have been. Titleist does not compromise shaft quality or selection. Rogue #1 shaft on tour all summer. SAME SHAFT. New Diamana’s are 2015 version also.

          • Mike

            Oct 1, 2014 at 1:24 pm

            I think the 913s were the first model to have the real shafts.

          • bradford

            Oct 2, 2014 at 9:35 am

            Perhaps not anymore, which is good to hear as I’m probably buying one of these and would LOVE to save the extra ~$200. Previously the Titleist “made-for”s were shorter, and didn’t match the profiles of the actual aftermarkets they were branded as. I switched several on the 910 to the “same” shaft, and my #’s changed dramatically.

  41. Paul Clark

    Oct 1, 2014 at 9:48 am

    Wondering what that MSRP is on the fairway woods? I see the prices listed for the drivers and the hybrids.
    Thanks.

  42. tom

    Oct 1, 2014 at 9:26 am

    3.2mph increase in ballooned would equate to 7-8 yards extra carry distance. Some dodgy maths going on

    They look great though, will be getting them

    • tom

      Oct 1, 2014 at 9:27 am

      Ballspeed that is….

    • Zak Kozuchowski

      Oct 1, 2014 at 9:35 am

      *Up to a 3.2 mph increase in ball speed, not average gains of 3.2 mph.

      • tom

        Oct 1, 2014 at 9:56 am

        so increase on flush strikes is 3.2mph?

        or is it increase in speed from off center hits, like the driver

        • Zak Kozuchowski

          Oct 1, 2014 at 10:18 am

          They will be faster and lower spinning for just about everyone, but it always depends on the player and his or her idiosyncrasies.

  43. Good

    Oct 1, 2014 at 9:10 am

    Are the stated lofts correct? I thought the 915D3 would have the 7.5 loft. This says it doesn’t.

  44. wjd

    Oct 1, 2014 at 9:03 am

    Just for the record. .. Ping has used 811 Ti since the intro of the G20 Driver! #playyourbest

  45. Dakota

    Oct 1, 2014 at 8:54 am

    Looks great, but why not leave the center low and back in the D2 for more forgiveness?

  46. Sodapoppin

    Oct 1, 2014 at 8:19 am

    I’m SO exited… And I cannot hide it!!!

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Equipment

Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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Equipment

Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (3/28/24): L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft

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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 L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick putter with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft.

From the seller: (@hibcam): “L.A.B. GOLF Mezz.1 Max Broomstick- LA Golf Paige Spiranac Shaft- 44″/79.5. Brand new, never used brown leather cover. The head was professionally anodized from Orange to Blue (Orange looked bad with the Pink shaft so I had it changed). Only a few rounds on this combo. Please see last pic- slight ding on back corner. 8.5-10 condition. THE SHAFT COST $475/ THE PUTTER $625. $799 shipped in the US. ONLY $699 SHIPPED.”

To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max Broomstick with LA Golf Paige Spiranac shaft

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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Spotted: Tony Finau’s driver shaft change at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open

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Tony Finau has always been known as one of the longest players on the PGA Tour, but he has recently been working on adding a little more distance. Last year, Finau averaged 118.3 mph club head speed and 178.08 mph ball speed, all while playing a Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX driver shaft. This year, he has increased his club head speed to 123.93 mph and his ball speed to 183.32 mph.

However, Finau’s overall distance has decreased by two yards in that time. From a fitting perspective, something was amiss. We asked Tony about the shaft change at the Texas Children’s Hospital Open.

“[I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin. My driver’s been a little high spin for me over the last month or so, and so I just figured it was time to probably check out the equipment,” Finau said. “And it definitely showed me that I was using a shaft that’s maybe a little too tip-stiff for me, the way I load the club now. [I’m seeing] better numbers with the spin.”

Finau switched from the Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX into the Diamana GT 70 TX. The newer Diamana GT has a slightly different profile than the D+ Limited with the stiffest handle section in the Diamana lineup. The mid sections between the two are similar stiffness but the tip is just slightly stiffer in the Diamana GT. Both shafts are within one gram of each other in the 70 TX. The torque rating on the GT is 0.1 higher than the D+Limited’s 2.7 measurement.

Mitsubishi lists the Diamana GT as a shaft between the mid-launching Diamana TB and the new low-launch Diamana WB shafts. For most players, it would be considered a mid/low launch and low-spin shaft option. Mitsubishi’s Xlink Tech Resin System makes sure the maximum carbon fiber content is there for smooth feel without reducing the strength of the shaft. MR70 carbon fiber is used for reinforcing the shaft and boron is used in the tip for its high strength and compression properties.

Finau is still using his trusty Ping G430 LST driver in 9 degrees and has the adjustable hosel set to -1 degree of loft (standard lie angle). Finau’s long-time favorite Lamkin UTX Green grip is installed. He definitely has a few extra wraps of tape under that grip as you can see the bulge down where the grip meets the shaft.

One final note: Per Ping’s PGA Tour rep Kenton Oates, Finau’s driver is also adjusted to play with an additional degree of loft to help dial in his desired launch.

We’ll see how he fares with the new setup this week in Houston!

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