Equipment
Spotted: New Titleist MB Prototype irons
Look what we spotted in Jimmy Walker’s bag at The Players Championship on Monday: a set of new Titleist MB prototypes! Based on the photos, the prototypes have a more rounded appearance than Titleist’s 714 MB irons, which were released on Nov. 8, 2013.
They MB irons also have a visible “716” on their hosel, which indicates that they could be part of the company’s 2016 iron launch. Generally, Titleist first releases its new irons to PGA Tour players in July before they become available at retail in the fall.
Check out the photos below, and discuss Titleist’s new irons in our forums.
Comparison Photo
Walker’s new Titleist MB prototypes (left) vs. his current Titleist MB 714 8-iron.
DISCUSSION: See what GolfWRX members are saying about Titleist new MB irons in our forums.
- LIKE433
- LEGIT55
- WOW65
- LOL10
- IDHT27
- FLOP12
- OB11
- SHANK39
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from a piece our Andrew Tursky originally wrote for PGATour.com’s Equipment Report. Head over there for the full article.
…Flash forward to THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson 2024 at TPC Craig Ranch in Texas, and Bryan is still playing with a mixed Takomo set, except he’s added a new 101 U 4-iron, plus a Titleist T200 4-iron, and he’s dropping his 5-iron.
That bears repeating: Bryan is switching to an iron setup that consists of two 4-irons and no 5-iron.
On paper, that looks wrong, but when you look at yardage gapping instead of the number on the sole of the iron, things start to make more sense.
As Bryan explained to GolfWRX.com on Tuesday in Texas, his Takomo 301 CB 6-iron goes about 195-200 yards. Then, his new hollow-bodied Takomo 101U Driving Iron, which he recently started testing “a couple weeks ago” and bent about 2 degrees weak, goes about 220 yards, and the Titleist T200 4-iron goes about 235 yards.
Speaking on his new Takomo 101U Driving Iron, which sells for $119, Bryan had this to say:
“It’s super forgiving and launches high, and it has a bit longer of a profile to where it looks really good,” said Bryan. “If people are willing to play something that doesn’t have an expensive price tag on their club…[I started testing it] in the last couple weeks and it’s in the bag.
“I just made it like 2 degrees weaker. Basically that gap from 205 to 225 I was in a little bit of a dead space, so I’m going to try and fill that gap better.”
Check out Wesley Bryan’s full WITB here.
Read the rest of the article at PGATour.com.
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
In our forums, our members have been discussing players irons. WRXer ‘NorthTXGolf’ is on the hunt for some new irons but is putting a priority on forgiveness, and has reached out to fellow members who have been sharing their thoughts and advice on the subject in our forum.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- Sam217: “i230 has got to be one of the most forgiving players irons available. Cobra King Tour another. Don’t sleep on the New Level 480 DB coming out soon.”
- RangeBaller: “ZX5/ZX7 and i230 should definitely be in your testing pool.”
- YAMS49: “Another I210 homie here… Very highly recommended if you want/need spin and a consistent yardage.”
- golf-RN: “I second the Cobra King Tour irons. I am not the greatest ballstriker by any stretch of the imagination and I find the King Tours very forgiving. Toe strikes might lose 5 or 6 yards with no directional loss. You definitely feel the miss though lol but mishits from the center aren’t punished too hard regarding distance.”
Entire Thread: “Most forgiving Players irons? – GolfWRXers discuss”
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
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 Mack Made Rahmbo putter.
From the seller: (@rkochies4580): “Picked this up recently here on WRX. Absolutely stunning piece of work. Putter is stainless steel, slight toe hang, 354 grams, 34” length. New grip and nice headcover. $525.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Mack Made Rahmbo putter
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
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK0
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Adam Scott WITB 2024 (May)
Adam Scott what’s in the bag accurate as of the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (10.5 degrees)...
Pierceson Coody WITB 2024 (April)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi 10 (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi 10 Tour (15 degrees)...
WITB Time Machine: Billy Horschel’s winning WITB, 2017 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
The tournament bearing the name of one of golf’s all-time greats is now known as the CJ Cup Byron Nelson....
Austin Cook WITB 2024 (April)
Austin Cook what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. More photos from the event here. Driver: Ping...
-
19th Hole1 week agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole1 week ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole3 weeks agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoReport: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoBrandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
-
Equipment3 weeks agoWhat we know about Bryson DeChambeau’s 3D-printed Avoda irons
-
19th Hole6 days agoLET pro gives detailed financial breakdown of first week on tour…and the net result may shock you
Scientific Golfer
Jan 7, 2017 at 7:12 pm
So much love pouring out for those beautiful clubs …. but I still love my old RAM Tour Grind TW276 satin finished forged blades… the ones with the two bumps on the back, one at the heel and one at the toe… with TT Lite shafts….sweeet !!!!
Bob Pegram
Jun 24, 2016 at 2:43 pm
The height of the center of gravity in blades can vary. That greatly affects how easy it is to get the ball up. I have some old Bullet blades from 1993. They are the same heads as the KZG Zero Offsets. They have a low COG and are easy to hit, but still good for shaping shots.
Peter Whitford
Oct 21, 2015 at 2:55 pm
I play Titleist 710 MB’s and looking to upgrade to these now. Shaft option will be a biggie. These look great and I like the rounder edges–love my old clubs but they are wearing out. Need to see a view from above and below as I like a thin topline and a thin sole.
Russell Kempe
May 23, 2015 at 12:19 pm
Blades are made for single digit handicap players with an ‘A’ game, who don’t need excuses. Cavity back irons are designed for the 20 handicappers who needs offset, etc for forgiveness. I played PING (due to peer pressure) during the 80’s – 90’s and that was a total waste of time and power. Blades are what the top Tour Players have played from the 50’s – 80’s. Mark Calcavecchia won the 89′ British Open Championship with PING’s , then the wrath of Nicklaus and Watson drummed-up the square groove controversy.
DK
May 15, 2015 at 2:34 pm
Blades are blades are blades are blades. There’s only so much variation possible in this category. Inevitably one iteration will resemble another… Love the comment about how a blind test would affect purchasing. Image is everything.
Chuck
May 18, 2015 at 6:16 pm
“All blades = all blades…”
I don’t think that’s true. I don’t consider myself a great competitive golfer; but even I know and can appreciate differences in offset, sole grind and weight distribution.
Now if you would like to argue that you can find a very fine (for any particular personal taste) set of forged blades that are labeled Titleist, or Mizuno, or Maltby or Wishon, I’d very much agree with you. If you want to argue that things like “softness” are probably fanciful imaginings, I might again agree with you. I might agree with you further that a thirty year old set of Wilsons or a ten year old set of Titleists could be a better personal fit for a particular advanced player than a brand new set of Callaways or Mizunos or whatever, again I have no problem with that.
But there are differences. Witness the strong preferences of, say, Titleist-contract (or Cleveland-contract) players who insist on playing ten year old designs instead of the newest models. It is because they have personal preferences that are real, and are important to them, and all blades are not equal.
It is not inconsequential, for the likes of Nike, that Rory McIlroy tossed out his Vapor blades and went back to his old VR blades. It’s not terrible, of course, for Nike. The Swoosh is getting a three-hour commercial on Sunday afternoon network tv, no matter what. But still, it does not go unnoticed. There’s a lot of money at stake.
Batman
May 7, 2015 at 10:11 pm
Episode 716: Return of the Chrome.
Brando
May 7, 2015 at 3:59 pm
Looks like a Cross between the 670 and 680. Has a 680 muscle in the short irons with the 670 type sole. Long Irons look more 670 with the length of the blade from heel to toe. Awesome set ya they could lose the MB and forged. I hope the MB is engraved at least and not a sticker the put into a small round cut out. A definite improvement over some past models 695 or ZM to name a few. Hope they make a 2 iron for the set as well people will buy it.
KK
May 6, 2015 at 6:24 pm
Dang, 716 AP1 and AP2 coming soon. I just got my 714 AP1s.
TR1PTIK
May 21, 2015 at 4:44 pm
You must not be familiar with the Titleist release cycle. Should have waited if you were worried about resale – or just screwed the pooch and bought TM.
golfbum
May 6, 2015 at 4:53 pm
So, I am demo’ng as set of Mizuno MP4…found a great youtube video on their forging process. It’s cool: look it up. Anyway, the guy in the video states that there are only 6 forging houses in the world and that in one spot is one company’s product and over there is another, etc. I have stated it here already about club production and its expense. Do they look like MP4’s? Sure, or any other club out there. People are buying the Titleist name first and foremost. So, I will leave with this question.
“If a set of irons came out and these clubs had no brand markings at all….would you play them? ”
…. or, are you caught up in whose name is on them, and or who is playing them etc.
KK
May 6, 2015 at 6:22 pm
Titleist = highly engineered and high quality. No brand markings? That could be worse than bootleg clubs from kajikitikistan.
Bill Ziegler
May 6, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Played 681’s, 690.mb and will definitely get these. Beautiful. But folks are right, take off the MB badge and no need to tell us they are forged.
Steve
May 6, 2015 at 10:55 am
Why do they insist on the MB and forged stamp?
Joe Pro
May 6, 2015 at 11:53 am
Because people would think they were Mizuno’s if Titleist didn’t.
Steve
May 6, 2015 at 10:53 am
These might as well say 680 on them. I love it.
Chuck
May 7, 2015 at 12:09 pm
So this 680 part if the discussion began with my mentioning them in this thread a couple of days ago.
While they look very familiar in overall shape, I’d say this about what I can see comparing the photos to the 680’s that are in my bag right now…
These protos appear to have a lot of camber in the sole grind; more than the old 680’s, and a LOT more than current/recent Titleist MB’s. And I like that. I think. I’ll have to hit them, of course. But this appears to be a very different (and welcome) change in design/grind philosophy from Titleist.
Also; the stanard 680 grind had a blunted leading edge which I fell in love with the first time I hit them. It’s hard to tell whether Jimmy Walker’s proto 716 MB’s have it. The presence or absence may just be a personal spec with Walker, as opposed to a retail trend.
But with 2016 Titleist irons possibly being linked with a retail option for DG AMT’s… Well, it looks like 2016 or 17 will be the year for my once-a-decade irons purchase.
Raymond Norris
May 6, 2015 at 10:52 am
looks like my MP-32’s. Guess there’s only so much they can do.
mr.Smith
May 6, 2015 at 10:05 am
I can only imagine how many hackinkooks run out and buy these while doing their best to break 90!
Joe
May 6, 2015 at 9:00 am
I love the look of all Titleist clubs, but just don’t care for the feel of their irons…never have. I play Mizunos that look just as good, if not better, but simply have superior feel.
jgpl001
May 6, 2015 at 5:15 pm
Come on, is there any “really noticeable” difference feel between Titleist and Mizuno?
It’s really about personal preference for one make over another, both are great irons and I couldn’t see any serious blade player not choosing these because of a possible minute difference in “feel”
J.R.
May 8, 2015 at 4:45 pm
I guess there is a difference…
http://www.golfwrx.com/100880/choi-buys-new-irons-at-golf-galaxy-for-the-memorial/
I’ve always played mizuno irons up untll last year when i needed to upgrade my iron shafts…. I went from playing an S300 to X100. It was going to run me about $350 to have them re-shafted. I found a used set of 710 CBs with the X100s in fantastic shape for $250, so i bought them instead. Though i do love my CB’s and hit them very well, There is no comparison when it comes to that feel you get from a Mizuno blade.
Jericho
May 6, 2015 at 8:20 am
Too round.. Too chrome.. Too 690ish ..too Mp-4ish .. ..they did it nicely with the 714 Mb’s ..satin finish ..sharper cut ..straight line across the muscle pad ..shorter toe to heel ..it looks, sets up and hits with a crisp solid thump ..reminds me of my Miura tournys and Miura limited Baby blades. ..having a set built as we speak just unsure of the shafts ..been playing gold tour issue x100’s ..May stick with those or maybe x c-taper lites. ..so glad I don’t have to wait until the 716’s ..they are nice just not for me.. 714’s! It is
Beer and cigar guy
May 6, 2015 at 9:12 am
…so why are you playing titleist instead of miuras?
Jericho
May 8, 2015 at 4:05 am
Had the tourneys back in 06′ then new set in 08′ played to a +3 at the time..got really busy with work put the game down for a year , the project came to an end and got back to golf, picked up the limited 1957’s .. just wasn’t throwing the club flush ..sold them to a buddy who still has them, my numbers are starting to come back a little playing to a scratch again now it’s just a matter of no Miura connections and paying $2,700 or having a Titleist connection and paying $800 with gold tour issues ..yes if I had the cash ..Baby blades it is but until then I’ll be happy with these
cody
May 25, 2015 at 1:44 pm
Chrome is where it is at. Satin looks terrible too fast.
jgpl001
May 5, 2015 at 4:53 pm
EXACTLY what I was hoping for – solid muscle behind the sweet spot, a slightly wider (and I mean slightly wider) cambered sole, and back to chrome, beautiful chrome!!!
Christmas shopping sorted in May…yippee
Golfraven
May 5, 2015 at 3:09 pm
yep, you as well may buy a set of 690 MBs for 200$ on ebay.
Todd
May 5, 2015 at 1:13 pm
Gorgeous
Lewis
May 5, 2015 at 12:44 pm
Wow these look amazing. I am very glad they have went back to the chrome finish.
Very nice indeed. A+
slider
May 5, 2015 at 12:26 pm
wow these are sweet best iron release in 2 years just wish I was good enough to play these
Jer
May 5, 2015 at 10:42 am
Hard to tell in picture but sole looks it has a little more curve from front to back edge, and def looks as if some mass was added down to bottom of iron. As mentioned, that’s a big chunk of chrome, just asking for highlighted chatter marks. But I’m sure they will be great as most titleist products are…
Jim
May 5, 2015 at 9:52 am
Is it me or do they look alot like Mizuno’s MP-69 irons? Amazingly close in appearance.
Round
May 5, 2015 at 10:24 am
No, they look nothing like the MP-69. The 69 have the indentation at the muscle. As pointed out below, they look like the 680
Ken
May 5, 2015 at 6:02 pm
I was gonna say exactly same thing. I have a set of Mizuno MP-69 and they look so similar. Rounded and Chrome finished!
No
May 6, 2015 at 3:25 am
Looks nothing like the 69
http://www.mizunousa.com/golf/products/mizuno-mp-69-irons
indented muscle, the cut off diagonal mid toe line and shaved trailing edge. Not even close. What are you guys looking at. You got it mixed up with some other iron.
kev
May 4, 2015 at 11:49 pm
god i can’t stand chrome. reminds me my bathroom faucet. why did titleist move away from satin?
Golfraven
May 5, 2015 at 3:03 pm
Fully agree with it. Don’t bother about the chrome at the back but not near the face. Hope the 716 will not be all chrome – please keep it satin like Ping.
Ballstrikaaa
May 4, 2015 at 11:12 pm
Butta’!!!
Chuck
May 4, 2015 at 10:50 pm
Actually, more than the 690 design (mentioned earlier), these now irons look like the 680, which has always been a quiet winner among PGA Tour bags. Adam Scott has repeatedly gone back to his mainstay 680’s. Pre-Bridgestone, DLIII had a set. Webb Simpson may still be playing a set. Peter Uihlein, who is a guy who pretty much gets to choose whatever he wants from Titleist, currently is a good example:
http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1098335-peter-uihlein-witb-shot-at-the-2014-sanderson-farms-championship/
With this new set, I wonder if Jimmy Walker had to switch out the same set of prototype Dynamic Gold AMT shafts he won with a few weeks ago.
Johnny
May 4, 2015 at 10:46 pm
Looks like a reissue of TW’s irons when he was with Titleist..
other paul
May 4, 2015 at 8:22 pm
Not that I have any business hitting these with anything longer then a 6 iron but those things look great. May have to buy a few to replace the short irons in my 710 CB set.
marcus
May 4, 2015 at 8:16 pm
WOW. Hopefull sooner than Christmas release.
Spudstarch
May 4, 2015 at 6:39 pm
That’s weird. Looks like they left the portion above the muscle pad in satin.
Round
May 5, 2015 at 10:25 am
Well spotted.
Tom
May 5, 2015 at 10:49 am
Reduces glare.
Rich
May 7, 2015 at 11:13 am
Really? On the back of the club?
cody
May 4, 2015 at 6:10 pm
They look very 690ish. That is a good thing in my book.
mo
May 4, 2015 at 6:01 pm
Beautiful as usual from Titleist.
Rich
May 4, 2015 at 5:35 pm
Oh my……..come to pappa!
leftycunuck
May 4, 2015 at 5:33 pm
Finally the chrome is back. Nothing better than the feel of chrome forgings. Credit card is locked and loaded
JQ
May 4, 2015 at 5:26 pm
It’d be awesome if you could get them in different finishes like their wedges.
MHendon
May 4, 2015 at 5:23 pm
I don’t like a rounded top line on any of my clubs above the 8 iron so they wouldn’t be for me. Plus they’ve gone back to chrome and I kind of prefer the satin finish.
TR1PTIK
May 21, 2015 at 4:36 pm
I’m okay with a rounded top line, but I’m definitely with you on the satin finish. Much better looking that way in my opinion.
Mke
May 4, 2015 at 5:15 pm
They look good!! Can’t wait to hit a set.