Equipment
Lightweight, high launch, high spin Titleist TS1 driver rounds out the TS family
The TS series has been a game changer for Titleist.
In a very short period of time, Titleist has gone from a company that self-admittedly struggled to keep up in the metal woods segment over the last few years, to a leader. This season alone, Titleist has won the driver count at tour events multiple times, which is something that would have been almost unheard of only a few years ago.
Why now?
Because TS stands for Titleist Speed, and they really mean it!
On the heels of the recent Titleist TS4 launch (a driver designed for the extreme spin control end of the driver fitting bell curve for players with speed), Titleist is now looking to help players who are looking for additional launch and speed with the new TS1. Specifically designed for golfers with moderate clubhead speeds (think 90mph or less) the engineers at Titleist have pulled out all the stops to help these players gain speed, launch, and more specifically distance off the tee.
Speaking to pulling things out, the first thing Titleist designers did was go to the drawing board (that’s probably an antiquated term, let me try again ) went to the CAD files and began looking at ways to decrease the total weight of the club — from head to grip nothing was overlooked. With the average TS2 coming in at roughly 320g total club weight with a standard grip, the new TS1 tips the scales at an ultralight 275g, thanks to pushing the limits of design technology and components.
Titleist TS1 head
- The head of the TS1 is 8 grams less overall vs. TS2, and there is the ability to go even lighter by either custom ordering it or using the optional SureFIT weight kit later on. The weight is also positioned as far back as possible in the head to maximize forgiveness.
- Speaking to forgiveness – even with the lighter mass of the club head, there is NO loss in MOI performance thanks to that rear positioned weight along with maximizing the head shape.
- It’s slightly draw biased. Not by much, but compared to the other models in the TS line up this is a bit of a departure from the norm for Titleist. But the good news for those concerned, about using a draw biased driver – you still have the adjustable SureFit hosel to dial in ball flight. Something no other driver in the ultra light category offers.
Shafts
- There are two stock shaft offerings for the TS1 to help continue the goal of driving down the total weight. The first option being the Fubuki MV (stands for Maximum Velocity) and the Fujikura AIR Speeder.
- The Fubuki comes in at 45g and is available in stiff, regular, and A-Flex. A ladies flex is also available and comes in at an even lighter 39g.
- The Fujikura AIR Speeder is 40g and available in stiff, regular, and R2 (a nice way to say A flex). Ladies flex comes in at a shocking 39g (PLEASE DON’T LEAN ON YOUR DRIVER WHILE WAITING ON THE TEE!)
Grip
Although you can choose any grip available through Titleist Custom options, the stock grip is the Tour Velvet 360 Super Lightweight, which specs out at 32g for the men’s grip and a 26g in women’s. To put that into perspective, a men’s standard grip averages around 50g — Titleist really is cutting weight everywhere.
Now to the specs & availability…
Internal testing shows that the TS1 spins on average 200 RPM more than the TS2, which helps improve carry distance. Most people think that lower spin helps with gaining distance but thanks to modern low spinning multi-layer golf balls, many players in the moderate swing speed range actually struggle to keep enough spin on the ball. This is why when you see some mishits they appear to just “fall from the sky.”
Since the goal of the TS1 project was to maximize distance, the shaft length has been extended another .25″ from the new Titleist standard to 45.75.” After a lot of testing, it was determined that for many players the point of diminishing return on distance gains came at that length…but like anything else, this can be customized.
The TS1 will be available in three lofts: 9.5, 10.5, and 12.5 degrees. (And 10.5 degrees for lefties)
Fitting tools will start to hit shops on June 20, and stock will arrive at retail locations starting on June 27 (same timeline as TS4). Pricing is also in line with the rest of the TS drivers: $499.
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- Patrick Reed what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Ping G400 (8.5 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125 MSI 70 Tour X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 125MSI 80 Tour X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex Pro (18 degrees)
Shaft: Aldila RIP Phenom Hybrid 100 TX
Irons: Titleist 716 TMB (2), Grindworks PR-202 (4), Grindworks PR-101A (5-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore (50-10 Mid), Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (56-08M @55), SM10 (60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot RX Pt Customs No. 2
Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
More photos of Patrick Reed’s WITB in the forums.
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Welcome to the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
In the last two PGA Championships held at Valhalla, Tiger Woods won in 2000 – when he famously pointed his golf ball into the hole during the historic duel with Bob May – and Rory McIlroy won the 2014 event, basically in the dark on the final hole.
The point is, history shows that Valhalla tends to produce top-tier champions and plenty of drama.
This week at the 2024 PGA Championship, GolfWRX got its first up-close look at what some of the LIV Tour players have in their bags in 2024. We also caught back up with a few PGA Championship legends, such as Rich Beem and John Daly, and we dove into the bags of PGA Sectional qualifiers, too.
In total, we captured 47 different photo galleries this week, including 32 individual What’s In The Bag (WITB) forum threads. Click here to see all of our photos from the event, or continue reading to see my 10 equipment highlights from Valhalla.
1) Brooks Koepka’s new putter
Koepka was previously using a Scotty Cameron T5.5 putter with a slant neck, which he used to win at the beginning of the month in Singapore on the LIV tour. This week, however, he tried a T5.5 with a plumbers neck instead of the slant neck, and it’s immediately going in the bag. According to Scotty Cameron Tour rep Drew Page, Koepka already loved the head, and now finds the plumbers neck a bit more familiar to the blade-style putters he’s used throughout most of his career.
2) The lead tape king returns, with putting goggles
Phil Mickelson has always been one of the GOATs when it comes to lead tape usage, so it was no surprise to see his 64-degree custom Callaway wedge slathered with slabs of lead tape on the back.
The big surprise was that lefty was spotted using ProAim putting training goggles on Wednesday during his warm-up session.
The ProAim goggles are helpful to find center lines and ensure proper alignment to the target.
See Phil Mickelson’s full WITB from the 2024 PGA Championship
3) Dobyns’ old-school gamer setup
Speaking of lead tape, check out Matt Dobyn’s old Titleist 718 T-MB irons, which are so loaded with lead tape that the club is nearly unrecognizable.
Respect.
The head professional at Meadow Brook Club is making his sixth start in a PGA Championship, and he’s using a throwback Callaway GBB Epic driver with MOI-boosting lead tape and adjustable weight placements.
As GolfWRX Forum user “InTheBag” pointed out in our Matt Dobyns’ WITB thread, he has the type of setup that makes you want to hide your wallet: “I don’t know Mr. Dobyns, but one look at that bag tells me he can take your money,” writes InTheBag.
Spot on.
4) John Daly’s custom Sub70 irons and wedges
We first saw John Daly using $750 direct-to-consumer Sub70 659-CB irons and TAIII wedges at the 2023 PNC Championship, and he still has them in the bag, but he’s since stepped up the customization on the Sub70 clubs.
Does Daly ever NOT keep things entertaining?
View this post on Instagram
A true showman.
5) DJ’s custom putter
Dustin Johnson has always been one to test multiple putters week-to-week, and he has a keen eye for different alignment lines and crowns. This week, he’s opting for a completely gray TaylorMade Spider Tour “T3.0” prototype with a short slant neck.
See the rest of DJ’s WITB from the week here
6) Patrick Reed still rocking GrindWorks irons
Patrick Reed knows his stuff when it comes to equipment, and he’s a prolific tester. Still, however, the GrindWorks PR-101A irons are squarely in the bag after his departure to the LIV tour.
The most notable new addition to Reed’s bag is this Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond 3-wood.
Click here to see Reed’s full WITB from this week
7) Beem’s Scratch set
Rich Beem, who won the 2002 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National, came to the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla with a bag full of Scratch Golf irons, which are loaded with lead tape and equipped with some of the coolest custom ferrules in professional golf.
See Rich Beem’s full WITB here
8) Jon Rahm’s 10-iron
Before going to LIV, Rahm was using a Callaway Apex TCB pitching wedge.
Now, he’s using a Callaway Apex TCB “10 iron.”
He’s also since upgraded to three Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke metalwoods, and fresh stampings on his Jaws Raw wedges. Click here to see Rahm’s full WITB from the 2024 PGA Championship.
9) “Why so serious?”
Tyrrell Hatton, another LIV player in the 2024 PGA Championship field, channels his inner Joker to ask everyone, “Why so serious?”
10) Block’s “Proto” iron, from address
As you probably know by now, Block switched out of his old TaylorMade Tour Preferred MC 2014 irons, and into a full set of TaylorMade’s new “Proto” irons. We’ve already seen the Proto 4-iron in the bags of Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa, but this is our first look at the higher-lofted irons in the set.
Here’s a look at the 7-iron from address:
See what GolfWRX members are saying about the Proto irons in our Forums
And, with that, we say goodbye to Louisville, and the second major championship of the 2024 season. We’ll see you next week at the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas after a champion has been crowned.
Until then, don’t forget to check out all of our photos from this week at the 2024 PGA Championship!
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We will be one quarter of the way through Thursday night men’s league season after this week. BK played much better last week, so he is hoping to continue that success and post another good score.
Here are the 14 clubs that will hopefully win him some skins!
Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops (9 degrees, neutral setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 6 X (2024)
3-wood: Cobra Dark Speed LS Titanium (14.5 degrees, set +1)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD IZ-7x
Fairway: Callaway Apex UW (19 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura ATMOS Tour Spec Blue 8 X
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops 4h (22 degrees, Flat Setting)
Shaft: KBS Tour Graphite Hybrid Prototype 85 S
Irons: TaylorMade P770 Phantom Black (5-PW)
Shaft: KBS Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (50-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (56-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Wedge: PXG Sugar Daddy II (60-13 BP)
Shaft: Nippon Modus3 Tour 120 Stiff
Putter: L.A.B. Mezz.1 Max
Shaft: Accra x L.A.B. White
Ball: Titleist ProV1 Enhanced Alignment
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Patrick Reed WITB 2024 (May)
Patrick Reed what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Ping...
Club Junkie WITB, league night week 5: Another L.A.B. putter arises
We will be one quarter of the way through Thursday night men’s league season after this week. BK played much...
Jon Rahm WITB 2024 (May)
Jon Rahm what’s in the bag accurate as of the PGA Championship. 15 clubs pictured. More photos from the event...
John Daly WITB 2024 (May)
John Daly WITB accurate as of the PGA Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Ping G430 LST (9...
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s
Jun 8, 2019 at 11:20 am
Now we know the technology pretty much settled on placing weights on the center line. Back for more forgiveness/stability, front for lower spin / better feel, somewhere in the middle, or both. Then why would anyone want to get a $$$ non-adjustable driver?
Bill Wells
Jun 6, 2019 at 5:01 pm
Wish I knew about this before I bought TS2, of course that probably was the game plan.
jubilee_links
Jun 5, 2019 at 5:54 pm
TM superfast with a shorter shaft length
CrashTestDummy
Jun 5, 2019 at 8:19 am
I like that they are trending towards making drivers lighter because as iron shafts get lighter, drivers can feel very heavy in relation to your set which can really affect performance. The one issue is that the lightweight shafts are way too high in torque for many players. Perhaps the 8 grams out of the head is enough to still use a lower torque shaft and still make it feel quite light. Definitely would like to try one.
TheTruth
Jun 4, 2019 at 5:47 pm
XXIO is already dominating this category.
JThunder
Jun 4, 2019 at 11:19 pm
So the suggestion is that if one manufacturer is “dominating” a certain “category”, then no one else should try?
I guess that’s where Wal-Mart / Amazon Capitalism gets us – people demanding fewer choices and only the #1 seller counts for anything.
Well done, world.
JThunder
Jun 4, 2019 at 11:23 pm
Also, the XXIO is $150 more, has a glued hosel – so no shaft swapping, no adjustability. And the stiff shaft plays to an “R” and there is no XS option.
HackerDad31
Jun 4, 2019 at 3:48 pm
Remember when everyone used to lose their minds when TM or Callaway released more than 2 drivers in a year? Me too.
Eck42
Jun 4, 2019 at 12:48 pm
I think this might be exactly what I’m wishing for. I admit I am not a 300yd hitter and some extra yards would really help. I am looking forward to trying the TS1.
B
Jun 4, 2019 at 2:07 pm
What’s wrong with the Epic Star? You can pick up a nice used on for less than this price, and it’s a better driver
Thomas A
Jun 4, 2019 at 12:34 pm
How very Wilson D300 of them.
B
Jun 4, 2019 at 2:06 pm
Exactly.
Randy
Jun 5, 2019 at 4:18 pm
Right on. I’m still enjoying my D200, and it IS adjustable.
jonsnow
Jun 4, 2019 at 10:12 am
Very interested to see how this driver fares. My swingspeed is in the mid 90s now & all the emphasis from manufacturers seems to be on the higher swingspeed player. Nice to see somebody trying to put out a driver for the slower swingspeed guys.
B
Jun 4, 2019 at 2:06 pm
Epic Star? Honma Beres?
Robin
Jun 4, 2019 at 3:18 pm
The Epic Star is still $700 new and good luck finding a place to demo a Honma in the U.S.