Equipment
Back By Popular Demand: Titleist C16 Irons
Last April, Titleist did something out of character. It released a line of golf clubs called C16 without the extensive testing and validation process that’s typical for the company’s products. Like concept cars in the auto industry, these were “concept clubs” created for the purpose of experimenting with new technologies, materials and manufacturing processes in an effort to push existing boundaries.
“We weren’t really sure how it would go and how the products would do,” said Josh Talge, Vice President of Marketing for Titleist.
Titleist did no marketing for the clubs, and as you might imagine, they were expensive: $1,000 for a driver and about $3,000 for a set of irons. They were also available in a very limited supply — about 1,500 drivers and 1,000 set of irons — and restricted to buyers willing to be fit for the clubs at Titleist-authorized locations. Despite those hurdles, the clubs sold quickly. And due to popular demand, Titleist is releasing an additional 1000 sets of the C16 irons.
“So many people who hit the C16 irons would say things like, ‘I’ve never done that before or I didn’t think I could do this.'” Talge says. “Golfers were getting a club more distance … all in a package that looks like a players club.”
As with the original launch, fittings are available at the company’s TPI Oceanside and Manchester Lane test facilities, as well as Titleist Fitting Days and Titleist Thursdays trial and fitting events. With the relaunch, Titleist has also added 50 select fitting partners around the country who can now fit C16 irons. The reason Titleist is requiring golfers to be fit for the C16 irons is two-fold, Talge says. The company wants to make sure C16 iron buyers are confident they’re getting something limited and special. Just as importantly, Titleist wants to continue to learn from the C16 irons.
Much has been learned already. When Titleist originally launched the C16 irons it did so with the option of a special “SureFit Grip,” an adjustable counter-weighting feature that gave fitters the option of positioning a 20-gram weight at the bottom or top of the grip to change the way a golfer’s hands rotated at impact for improved performance. It proved beneficial for some C16 buyers, but Talge called it “complex.” He pointed to Titleist’s inability to offer it as an option in more than one grip model and the complications of re-gripping clubs with SureFit grips as the reason it will not be included in the re-launch.
“You could only get [SureFit Grip technology] in a grip that was basically a Tour Velvet,” Talge says. “And when it came time to change your grips, it had to be done by Titleist … We’re still working out some of those kinks.”
Titleist’s C16 driver, on the other hand, proved to be a product with technologies that were immediately ready for mass production. It introduced a moveable-weight technology called SureFit CG that was added to the company’s 917D2 and 917D3 drivers, which were released in the fall of 2016.
Talge emphasized, as Titleist did with the announcement of its C16 clubs in April 2016, that there is no set launch schedule for its concept clubs. New concept clubs will only be released when the company feels it has created a ground-breaking design… or in this case, when golfers can’t get enough of a previous design.
Titleist’s C16 irons ($375-$415 per club) will be available April 15 in the U.S. and in select global markets for right- and left-handed golfers. All of Titleist’s custom shafts and grips are available at no additional cost with one exception: AeroTech’s Steelfiber (+$56 per shaft). Learn More about the C16 irons from Titleist.
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- Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G430 LST (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX
5-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 (18 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 90 TX
Irons: Wilson Staff Utility (2), Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Mitsubishi MMT 100 TX (2), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F @51, 56-14F), SM7 (60-10S)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (48-56), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 (60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: Scotty Cameron Black Baby T
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Plus4
More photos of Kevin Tway’s WITB in the forums.
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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.
The timing of Lowry’s putter changeup was curious: Was he just using a Spider putter because he was paired with McIlroy, who’s been using a Spider Tour X head throughout 2024? Was Lowry just being festive because it’s the Zurich Classic, and he wanted to match his teammate? Did McIlroy let Lowry try his putter, and he liked it so much he actually switched into it?
Well, as it turns out, McIlroy’s only influence was inspiring Lowry to make more putts.
When asked if McIlroy had an influence on the putter switch, Lowry had this to say: “No, it’s actually a different putter than what he uses. Maybe there was more pressure there because I needed to hole some more putts if we wanted to win,” he said with a laugh.
To Lowry’s point, McIlroy plays the Tour X model, whereas Lowry switched into the Tour Z model, which has a sleeker shape in comparison, and the two sole weights of the club are more towards the face.
Lowry’s Spider Tour Z has a white True Path Alignment channel on the crown of his putter, which is reminiscent of Lowry’s former 2-ball designs, thus helping to provide a comfort factor despite the departure from his norm. Instead of a double-bend hosel, which Lowry used in his 2-ball putters, his new Spider Tour Z is designed with a short slant neck.
“I’ve been struggling on the greens, and I just needed something with a fresh look,” Lowry told GolfWRX.com on Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship. “It has a different neck on it, as well, so it moves a bit differently, but it’s similar. It has a white line on the back of it [like my 2-ball], and it’s a mallet style. So it’s not too drastic of a change.
“I just picked it up on the putting green and I liked the look of it, so I was like, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”
Read the rest of the piece over at PGATour.com.
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Equipment
Webb Simpson equipment Q&A: Titleist’s new 2-wood, 680 blade irons, and switching to a broomstick Jailbird
With seven career wins on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory, Webb Simpson is a certified veteran on the course. But he’s also a certified veteran in the equipment world, too. He’s a gearhead who truly knows his stuff, and he’s even worked closely with Titleist on making his own custom 682.WS irons.
On Wednesday at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship, I caught up with Simpson to hear about his experience with Titleist’s new prototype 2-wood, how Titleist’s 680 Forged irons from 2003 ended up back in his bag, and why he’s switching into an Odyssey Ai-One Jailbird Cruiser broomstick putter this week for the first time.
Click here to read our full story about Simpson’s putter switch on PGATOUR.com’s Equipment Report, or continue reading below for my full Q&A with Simpson at Quail Hollow Club on Wednesday.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
GolfWRX: It seems like you’ve been a little all over the place with your irons in the past six months or so, and now going back to the 680’s. Is that just a comfort thing? What’s been going on with the irons?
Webb Simpson: Titleist has been so great at working with me, and R&D, on trying to get an iron that kind of modernizes the 680. And so the 682.WS took the T100 grooves, but kinda took the look and the bulk and the build of the 680’s into one club. They’re beautiful, and awesome looking. I just never hit them that well for a consistent period of time. It was probably me, but then I went to T100’s and loved them. I loved the spin, the trajectory, the yardage, but again, I never went on good runs. Going through the ground, I couldn’t feel the club as well as with the blade. So last week, I’m like, ‘Alright. I’m gonna go back more for…comfort, and see if I can get on a nice little run of ball striking.’
So that’s why I went back.
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OK, that makes sense. I know you had done some 2-wood testing recently. Is that in the bag right now?
It’s like day-by-day. I used it at Hilton Head every day. Valero, I used it one round. And this week, me and my caddie will do the book every morning, and if it’s a day where we think we need it, we’ll just put it in and take the 3-wood out. I love it because it’s a super simple swap. Like, it doesn’t really change much.
Yeah, can you tell me about that club? I mean, we don’t really know anything about it yet. You know? I haven’t hit it or anything, obviously.
It has grooves like a 3-wood. Spin is perfect. And it’s honestly, like, everything is in the middle of a 3-wood and driver number. Trajectory, spin, carry, all of it. So, a Hilton Head golf course is almost too easy to talk about because, you know, there, so many holes are driver 3-wood.
Valero, our thinking was we had two par-5’s into the wind, and we knew that it would take two great shots to get there in two. So instead of hitting driver-driver, we just put it in. And I used it on those holes.
Hilton was a little easier because it was off-the-tee kind of questions. But Colonial will be a golf course where, you know, there’s a lot of driver or 3-woods. It’s kind of like a backup putter or driver for me now. I’ll bring it to every tournament.
So it’s, like, in your locker right now, probably?
Well, it would be. It’s in my house [because Webb lives near by Quail Hollow Club, and is a member at the course.] It’s in the garage.
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Do you know what holes you might use it out here if it goes in play?
Potentially 15, depending on the wind. Second shot on 10. Could be 14 off the tee. The chances here are pretty low (that he’ll use the 2-wood). But, like, Greensboro would be an awesome club all day. I’m trying to think of any other golf courses.
There’s plenty that it’ll be a nice weapon to have.
It’s interesting, the wave of 2-woods and mini drivers. Like, it’s just really taken off on Tour, and all the companies have seemed to embrace it.
Yeah. The thing I had to learn, it took me, like, at least a week to learn about it is you gotta tee it up lower than you think. I kept teeing it up too high. You need it low, like barely higher than a 3-wood. And that was where I got optimal spin and carry. If you tee it up too high, you just don’t get as much spin and lose distance, I don’t know if that’s just a mini driver thing.
And you obviously have a Jailbird putter this week. What spurred that on?
Inconsistent putting. I’m stubborn in a lot of ways when it comes to my equipment, but I have to be open minded – I just hadn’t putted consistently well in a while. And I’m like, ‘Man, I feel my ball-striking coming along. Like I feel better; for real, better.’
If I can just get something in my hands that I’m consistent with. Being on Tour, you see it every year, guys get on little runs. I can put together four to five tournaments where I’m all the sudden back in the majors, or in the FedExCup Playoffs. You can turn things around quick out here. I’m like, ‘Man, whatever’s going to get me there, great.’
My caddie, David Cook, caddied for Akshay at the Houston Open and he putted beautifully. Then, I watched Akshay on TV at Valero, and he putted beautifully. And, I’m like, ‘I’m just going to try it.’
I’ve never tried it for more than a putt or two, and I just ordered what Akshay uses. It was pretty awkward at first, but the more I used it, the more I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty easy.’ And a buddy of mine who’s a rep out here, John Tyler Griffin, he helped me with some setup stuff. And he said at Hilton Head, he wasn’t putting well, then tried it, and now he makes everything. He was very confident. So I’m like, ‘Alright, I’ll try it.’”
And you’re going with it this week?
Hundred percent.
Alright, I love it. Thank you, I always love talking gear with you. Play well this week.
Thanks, man.
See Webb Simpson’s full WITB from the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship here
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Kevin Tway what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
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TheRealDeal
Apr 18, 2017 at 1:02 pm
I’m bagging these sweet sticks!!! Breaking 90’s here I come.
#1HoganFan
Apr 16, 2017 at 11:44 am
To quote a vender a the PGA merchandise show on Orlando a couple if years back. “There is nothing new in golf just new ways to sell it.”
KK
Apr 15, 2017 at 9:40 am
I understand the T-MB because it’s small and very forgiving. This is big and chunky and marginally better than the $800 AP1.
Dan
Apr 15, 2017 at 12:11 am
I’m beginning to think that the golf companies are pandering to the .1% or .10% of Americans that can afford clubs like PXG, Honma and these current clubs. The everyday working class golfer who gets out every other Saturday is getting lower on the totem pole. Even $500 drivers are getting to be too much. I guess class discrimination knows no bounds. As I’ve said before, I’m still playing my Cleveland 588 MT’s and shooting in the 80’s. 🙂
Dave R
Apr 14, 2017 at 10:22 pm
Right on Brad T you can’t buy a golf game. Well think about that awhile.
BigSean
Apr 14, 2017 at 12:11 pm
These are some sweet sticks, know why mean. My mom said she will buy me some when I move out of her basement. She’s just went to get me a 50 and a pack of cigs. Later fellas…..
Smiller
Apr 14, 2017 at 12:01 pm
Now I can buy a backup set of clubs to use when my PXG’s are in the shop. My buddy Jim Grundy has these and they are friggin’ incredible! He hits them long and straight on every shot. From an engineering standpoint they are second to none, and none left town!
Tyler
Apr 14, 2017 at 11:57 am
I’ve hit the C16 Driver. It’s ugly and doesn’t compare to Titleist’s regular line of woods.
Obumma
Apr 14, 2017 at 11:53 am
I can do things with these irons I have never been able to do:
1. Hit the ball
2. Get some height
3. Look the part
4. Be really cool
5. Hang with Scotty
Thomas Murphy
Apr 14, 2017 at 11:41 am
Next gen T-MB for PXG price that is fashion forward for people with cash and strong brand affinity.
Mark
Apr 14, 2017 at 6:41 am
Silly money for clubs.
JS
Apr 14, 2017 at 2:57 am
Does anyone know why PGA pros don’t play these? Spieth is staffed by titleist…. why aren’t any of their staffers playing these?
a
Apr 14, 2017 at 12:17 am
Lower lofts on irons are necessary with the new club technology. Titleist sold the initial run of irons………..so obviously they had the need to produce more.
Golf is a sport but also an industry….
Chuck
Apr 13, 2017 at 10:35 pm
I know I’d like to try them. Are they hollow, like T-MB’s? I’m guessing not, since there’s no hole in the toe which I think is sort of required in the manufacturing process.
So; is there a single tour player, on a single tour (U.S., Euro, AustralAsian, etc.) who has a single one of these clubs in play?
I remember when some of the Japan-only stuff notably made it into tour bags. Ernie Els’ cherished 690.CH 3-iron comes to mind. If these were so magic, you’d think that there’d be some of that.
Eric
Apr 14, 2017 at 1:53 pm
Nope they’re hollow.
Chuck
Apr 14, 2017 at 7:12 pm
Thanks Eric I appreciate that info. With the T-MB already in their line, it really makes for a curious offering.
Mat
Apr 13, 2017 at 8:33 pm
C16 Mar-o-lago edition.
Mike
Apr 13, 2017 at 7:48 pm
With the weight moved low in the head they launch high, therefore the need to strengthen the lofts. These are some awesome irons, forgiving yet workable. I have them with the KBS Tour X. I have a Trackman and an E6 simulator and everyone that’s hit them likes them. They are in a league of their own.
The dude
Apr 14, 2017 at 3:12 am
Ha!…love it….
Mr Muira
Apr 13, 2017 at 6:22 pm
SHANK!!!!!
matt_bear
Apr 13, 2017 at 2:00 pm
it plays a club longer because they basically labeled the clubs wrong. Comparing the lofts of the C16 to a set of CB’s it’s literally a club difference. lol
Fat Perez
Apr 13, 2017 at 12:22 pm
Well, at least we won’t hear from the whining “lefties” about being left out! Step right up and get gouged ya bunch ‘o wrong siders! PXTitleist to the rescue!!!!
Double Mocha Man 4 President
Apr 13, 2017 at 11:56 am
You are da man
Tyler
Apr 13, 2017 at 11:07 am
These clubs are most no better than any other club in it’s category. If you have the swing you can pretty much play whatever you want and there is no need to pay 3k for a set of irons.
Hoselshot82
Apr 13, 2017 at 11:02 am
I’ve had a mint condition set on the classifieds that I can’t even sell for 1750.00
3PuttTerritory
Apr 13, 2017 at 10:03 am
The shaft upcharge @ full retail+installation in a $3000 set of irons is my favorite, most Titleist thing ever.
Bogeypro
Apr 13, 2017 at 9:55 am
I hate to say I told you so, but this is what PXG is doing to the market. For every club that PXG sells for $350, the others will do the same. Its about to get really stupid in the equipment business….
Tom
Apr 13, 2017 at 10:29 am
as long as there is a demand and there’s money to be made.
Tom
Apr 13, 2017 at 10:34 am
ya know after thinkin some more I’m wrong. Costco “signature” balls are popular and the price has been kept low.
Tyler
Apr 13, 2017 at 11:06 am
I was thinking the same thing.
Player
Apr 13, 2017 at 12:03 pm
I can’t wait for the Kirkland Signature forged irons to come out. Same performance as the C16 for $600 a set
Brian
Apr 13, 2017 at 3:21 pm
Acushnet lawsuit notwithstanding.
david
Apr 13, 2017 at 9:33 am
guys these irons are magical. crazy ball speeds and feel and sound awesome. sold a bunch of sets to all skill levels. guys just hit them better. if you haven’t tried them you don’t know!
Dj
Apr 13, 2017 at 10:51 am
Hard pass. All marketing. These are no better than their retail offerings. Nothing but a quick money grab
Stan
Apr 13, 2017 at 12:09 pm
Thanks Lyle Lanley.
Joey5Picks
Apr 13, 2017 at 1:44 pm
I’m sure they all dropped their handicaps by half.
Brian
Apr 13, 2017 at 3:23 pm
I’ll stick with my Mizunos and save $2k in the process. Plus I can customize shafts with no upcharge unlike Titeli$t
Brad T
Apr 13, 2017 at 8:53 am
perfect for the people who think they can buy a better game.
Joe
Apr 13, 2017 at 9:07 am
what’s the difference between buying a new driver every year or buying an expensive set of irons? I honestly do not know 1 person with the ability to afford these irons doing so because they think it will make their game better….
I do, however, know many people who cannot afford the $500 new driver that think it’ll help them lose their slice.
Jack
Apr 13, 2017 at 10:37 am
I became a pro after I got fitted for these irons. It was that easy. Boom
chinchbugs
Apr 13, 2017 at 12:13 pm
I was actually selected to the all-universe team after switching to these
Ian
Apr 13, 2017 at 8:22 am
Alright, hands up. Who demanded the C16 irons?
Tazz2293
Apr 13, 2017 at 9:24 am
Averting eyes, whistling softly to self while slowly walking away
gdb99
Apr 13, 2017 at 8:42 pm
I didn’t, but I hope to hit them in a couple weeks during my Titleist Thursday fitting.