Equipment

Are these the next, new Titleist irons?

Published

9 years ago

Feb 10, 2015

Since 2011, Titleist has unveiled new models of its AP1, AP2, CB and MB irons every two years in the U.S. — and more specifically every other July.

The lone curveball? In the fall of 2012, Titleist debuted its 712U, a hollow-cavity, fast-faced iron that’s been extremely popular with tour pros and amateurs as both a driving iron and a long iron replacement.

The 712U has been such a good performer, in fact, that many golfers have wondered why Titleist has not yet created a full set of hollow-cavity irons. Well, it appears that the company has, at least for the Japanese market.

Photo from GolfWRX Member yUmaRouS

The 716 T MB irons use a multi-material construction to lower the center of gravity (CG) of the fast-faced irons. It can be expected that they will be more forgiving than the 712U, and fly a little farther, too.

A Titleist representative told GolfWRX that the 716 T MB is a Japan-only product. No word if something like them will be available when the Titleist unveils its next line of irons, which are expected in July.

Click here to visit our forum, where the photo originally leaked.

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32 Comments

As much as some can't stand him....

Jul 2, 2015 at 9:51 am

I know someone who has them, says they were the worst feeling Irons he has played in a long time….maybe because they are hollow? I don’t know

Reply Report comment
Tom Wishon

Jun 26, 2015 at 5:49 pm

BTW, these irons which are made exclusively for the Japan market are manufactured by Virage Tech Industrial of Chengdu, China and not by any of the Japanese forging companies. And on top of that Charles Su, owner of Virage Tech, owns the utility patent pending for this iron design as well – Pub. No. US 2014/0123471 A1; Pub. Date – May 8, 2014. Not Titleist. These irons really are as close to a work of art as can be made presently in the golf industry. And BTW #2, Virage Tech is also the manufacturer of the new this year Hogan forged irons.

Reply Report comment
- christian
  
  Aug 8, 2015 at 9:04 am
  
  They are cast, so why any of the japanese forging houses would be involved beats me.
  
  Reply Report comment
denny b.

Jun 20, 2015 at 3:20 pm

Speaking of Asian Markets. I have a set of Ping eye 2 becu 1 thru sw and Ping ISI becu 1 thru sw. the former in very good and latter in excellent condition. I heard selling these in Japan will bring a very good price. Just asking as I have no idea if true or how to accomplish selling them. Thanks for any input.

Reply Report comment
Jim

Mar 7, 2015 at 12:04 pm

These clubs look a lot like a set of taylormade irons I bought back in the late 80’s. the Taylor’s were not as polished as these but looks like the same concept.

Reply Report comment
BOBBY D

Feb 25, 2015 at 3:38 pm

TITLEIST…# 1…THE BEST

Reply Report comment
Waqar

Feb 18, 2015 at 6:58 am

Japanese made or made for Japan only clubs are always of higher quality as the Japanese have a very low tolerance for lack of quality. No one can match them in metal working.

Titliest is Korean owned, tmag is German owned, Honma is Chinese owned, cleveland is srixion or Japanese owned, XXIO is Dunlop owned. Honma makes golf sets which are sold for USD 50,000 per set. Rich Asians (Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and others) which there are plenty of, buy these clubs. This is the future of golf merchandise market.

When major companies spend millions on R&D of a product, they recover this cost from their Asian clients, and once this is done they bring the technology to Europe and America. Plus there is so much innovation by very small Japanese companies that it makes worthwhile for major companies to have a strong presence in this market.

Reply Report comment
SUMO

Feb 12, 2015 at 5:35 am

Here’s a translation:
A revolution born to keep on attacking aggressively.
All for hitting your best shot.
Hybrid Muscleback iron.

Technology:
-high technology multi-compound hollow muscleback iron
-blade look preferred by tour pros
-thin face designed for faster ballspeed off face
-tungsten weight on toe and heel for high MOI hollow design
– lower deeper center of gravity means higher trajectory even with strong lofts

forged, shafts DG, NS950 NS Modus
5-P costs 1620 dollars, 234irons cost 270 dollars extra

Japan’s probably a cash cow for golf companies, some golfers here play golf to show off fancy clothes and bags and clubs instead of fancy swings, which isn’t good or bad.

Reply Report comment
LindyLoulie

Feb 11, 2015 at 1:52 pm

These look great! My only question is… why do U.S. golf gear companies, e.g. Titles, TMAG, Callaway, and others, offer the Asian markets certain models of clubs, putters, etc. that we in America don’t have access to??? They are AMERICAN companies, so they should allow AMERICAN customers access to ALL their products! I have no doubt that the Asian markets have access to products sold to the U.S. market.

I collect putters, and I have seen many Asian-market-only TaylorMade putters which I would have loved to be able to purchase. I can — if I order from Japanese golf shops for outrageous prices + pay duty taxes! I have a Scotty Cameron 34″ Circa 62 #3 with the leather “steering wheel” grip (putter) that was made only for the Asian market. The Circa 62 line was only available in 35″ length here in the U.S. — except for the Holiday and My Girl special editions which were 34″ and 33″ respectively. I was able to get that 34″ Asian putter on eBay in like-new condition.

Anyone have some insight into this policy of “export only” clubs made by American companies? Would love to hear the rationale behind it.

Reply Report comment
- Ren
  
  Feb 11, 2015 at 5:36 pm
  
  Well, for what it’s worth, Titleist is now owned by Fila, a Korean company. And Taylormade is under the Adidas umbrella, a German company. We live in a time when it may not be accurate to say any one multi-national company belongs to any one nation.
  
  As to why they offer certain products in Asian markets only, I believe that the market for new clubs in many Asian countries is still relatively small with a lot of concentrated wealth. That is not representative of Asia at large, but the market for new clubs within Asia. This is contrasted with an American golf club market which I would guess has a lower avg income among purchasers of new clubs, as well as a lower tolerance for what they’d find acceptable. So these companies probably do a little cost/benefit analysis and realize that they’d never sell enough super-high-end clubs in the US to make it worth it. Which is the adverse reason they probably don’t offer low-tolerance OTR clubs in Asia.
  
  They probably suspect that the very small group of people in the US who would have spent big bucks for clubs will find ways of getting them anyways, and then the big manufacturers don’t have to dilute the brand equity of the JDM clubs etc., or worry about moving high-cost/lower-margin goods in the US.
  
  Hope that finds you well and leads you to ponder just how interconnected this world has become.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - LindyLoulie
    
    Feb 12, 2015 at 12:05 pm
    
    Ren, thanks for enlightening me. I am quite surprised that Titleist is owned by a Korean company! I thought the American company, Titleist owned Fila! Just like I thought TaylorMade owned Adidas.k Boy, I sure got that backwards. Explains a lot.
    
    I am aware that in Japan golf is primarily a sport for the elite with country club memberships being next to impossible to obtain by anyone, much less the common man/woman. That said, however I understand that the Japanese and Koreans are “Golf Fanatics.” I have read that because Japan is so small there are few courses, and to obtain a membership in one a person must pay huge amounts of $$$$$$$ just to get on a waiting list until a member dies. I understand that most folks have to be happy “playing” at a local multi-tiered driving range. This being the case, it is understandable that what you say is true. The elite are willing to pay big bucks for the premium equipment. It is a huge status symbol. Look at the XXIO, Honma, OnOff, and Maruman brands. VERY expensive clubs.
    
    I guess when seeing things from this perspective we are fortunate to be able to purchase good clubs here in the good ol’ U.S. for what are pretty reasonable prices compared to what the Asians and Europeans have available to them.
    
    I recently had the opportunity to try XXIO and Honma clubs. BEAUTIFUL sticks! BIG $$$$$!! Would have paid the price, however they were too head-heavy for me which caused problems for my arthritic hands. But I do have to say that the quality was there!
    
    Yes, the world truly IS interconnected. Too bad we all can’t just get along despite our cultural differences!! 😉
    
    Reply Report comment
    - christian
      
      Aug 9, 2015 at 9:43 pm
      
      They have access to all the USDM stuff PLUS the JDM lines.
      Otherwise the logic (simplified) goes something like this: US customers sre looking for a bargain and brands compete mainly on price, Japanese customers are obsessive about tolerances, quality, fit and finish. Not price
      
      Reply Report comment
  - rer4136
    
    Jun 11, 2015 at 1:29 pm
    
    All of this also explains why there are virtually no jobs for Americans. Bravo Bridgestone for at least making golf balls in the U.S.
    
    Reply Report comment
Golfraven

Feb 11, 2015 at 8:10 am

Uhh, nice. Where is the rest of the 916 line?

Reply Report comment
Fnar

Feb 11, 2015 at 3:16 am

Titty is losing to both TM and Callaway in overall sales in clubs. Balls they sell well but not clubs. So now it’s time to join the band wagon. After all, Titty is owned by an Asian company, so it might as well do what it needs to do to keep up with Asia and the rest of the world and not just club sales in America. I mean this club looks exactly like the Nike Vapor Speed, which is a fantastic club for the amateurs. So why not?

And I hear Titty has a D4 and a D5 driver ready…….. so it’s turning into another TM or Callaway!

Reply Report comment
- Designs Clubs
  
  Feb 11, 2015 at 11:29 am
  
  Wow! Might want to research that data before making that claim. While their overall club sales MAY be higher (I’m not even positive that is true at current typing), their market share has been declining (I am positive of that). Titleist has be one of the main companies picking up the lost market share from TM and Callaway.
  
  Reply Report comment
slider

Feb 10, 2015 at 6:43 pm

I would play these

Reply Report comment
Donnie

Feb 10, 2015 at 5:39 pm

Those just *look* JDM…. (i.e. cool stuff that we’ll never get)

Reply Report comment
Fsubaseball21

Feb 10, 2015 at 4:48 pm

Driving iron? RSI – UDI. Taylormades new one. Just did a product test. It’s the best ever made in this category. Hands down!

Reply Report comment
- slider
  
  Feb 10, 2015 at 6:07 pm
  
  taylormade definitely has a market in the golf world but when it comes to producing good quality products they are definitely far behind titleist
  
  Reply Report comment
  - NN
    
    Feb 11, 2015 at 12:50 am
    
    They’re both made in China ; )
    
    Reply Report comment
  - HackerDad31
    
    Feb 11, 2015 at 10:37 am
    
    Can you elaborate? just curious as to where this opinion comes from.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - Regis
    
    Feb 11, 2015 at 3:57 pm
    
    Which product innovations has Titleist introduced to golf: Metal woods; Rescue clubs(hybrids); Adjustable Shafts; Speed Slots (also known as Active Recoil Channels) ?
    
    Reply Report comment
Kees

Feb 10, 2015 at 3:58 pm

Titleist trying to compete with the Mizuno H5.
Never really understood these utility clubs. Never deliver the distance and ease of use of a hybrid, nor the feel and accuracy of an iron.

Reply Report comment
- Chris
  
  Feb 10, 2015 at 6:03 pm
  
  Hybrids are hook machines for better players
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Chris
    
    Feb 10, 2015 at 6:54 pm
    
    Like the PGA tour players that use them? What a ridiculous statement.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - theo
    
    Feb 10, 2015 at 10:21 pm
    
    Christopher – You’ll learn how to hit a hybrid soon. Keep practicing. In the meantime we’ll let Zach Johnson and Jordan Spieth know your thoughts on hybrids.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Teaj
      
      Feb 11, 2015 at 8:28 am
      
      Both are played on tour, I am going to the Utility Iron so I can flight the ball how I want high into a green and low off the tee, hybrids tend to fly high no matter what. at least that is my experience unless I thin the crap out of a hybrid.
      
      Reply Report comment
Kees

Feb 10, 2015 at 3:54 pm

Japan only release: probably to compete with the Mizuno H5.
Have to admit that I never really like these utility clubs. Never seem to deliver the distance and ease of use of a hybrid, nor the feel and accuracy of an iron.
To each his own I guess.

Reply Report comment
paul

Feb 10, 2015 at 3:41 pm

i have a 712u 3 iron and its money in the bank. can’t wait ’till these drop.

Reply Report comment
Chris

Feb 10, 2015 at 2:44 pm

a set will be on the BST in 3…2…1…

Reply Report comment
- Mike
  
  Jun 1, 2015 at 4:47 pm
  
  NOW!
  
  Reply Report comment

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Equipment

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

Published

2 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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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