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Titleist 620 irons: Classics refined for the modern player

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5 years ago

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Some irons need no introduction.

For decades, the number 600 has been synonymous with classic forgings from Titleist. Blades and cavity backs that have found their way into the bags of the world’s best and golfers looking for the ultimate experience in shotmaking and feel. Be it the 660, 670, 680, 681, or 690, a set of these in a golf bag usually meant one thing—look out!

These timeless designs evoke memories of well-struck shots and golf balls curving in the air at a player’s will. In homage to the legacy of those that have come before, and looking towards the future with refinements for the modern player, Titleist introduces 620 MB and CB irons.

Titleist 620 MB irons

Blades, also known as muscle backs, are the easiest style of clubs to recognize in the game. Whether it be on a shelf in a pro shop or in a Sunday bag next to the practice green, you can spot them in a second. The thing is, when it comes to the 620s from Titleist, you won’t find the initials MB on them anywhere. The reason is beyond simple in its explanation, according to Marni Ines, Director, Titleist Irons Development: “We wanted to bring this blade back to its roots and make it as clean as possible, eliminate any unnecessary markings on the hosel on the back. So we didn’t stamp it with MB. We figure it you’re in the market for a blade you don’t need to be told what one is.” As I said, it almost makes too much sense.

Beyond the stamping, there is more to these irons than initially meets the eye. The 620 series offers improved turf interaction throughout the set thanks to more camber and a tweaked leading edge. I realize this is something often mentioned with new releases, especially with players clubs, but there is a good reason: As modern swings are changing, so are turf conditions. The improved agronomy of modern courses means club soles especially need to be tweaked to offer maximum playability. The sharp leading edges of yesteryear are LONG gone!

In addition to the sole tweaks, there is also less sole to worry about in the short irons. Let me explain: To offer greater control of trajectory and help players “hit their proper windows,” the set has characteristics hidden in each club. The blade length is progressive from the longest iron to the shortest, the transition is so smooth that unless you set clubs next to each other, it’s quite difficult to notice. Every detail of each head was checked, double-checked, and tour validated before getting to this point. The next part of this progression is the face height, which also transitions from more shallow to tall in the pitching wedge. This is where the extra control comes from, especially in the shorter irons with a higher CG.

Titleist has taken everything it has learned from previous MB designs, and with feedback from the best players in the world, created the finest, most controllable, blade it has ever made. It will never be the most forgiving option, but I can’t blame a player of any skill level for wanting to give 620 MB irons a try.

Titleist 620 CB irons

Just like its big brother, the blade, the Titleist 620 CB has gone through a total refinement process to get to where it is today. The sole and profile have similar tweaks to the MB but in an ever-so-fractionally larger package.

Progressive blade length and face height create the same trajectory control, but what makes the CB different is that unlike the blade (or the Titleist T300 iron), it’s not a club found at either end of the spectrum, it’s within it. Data shows that more thanr 80 percent of tour players play some sort of combo set, whether it be blades to CBs, or CBs to unsupported faster-faced irons. What this means is that the CB has to hit this perfect middle ground between transition club and being its own boss.

This is what Titleist has done to complete perfection, not just with the CB but with the clubs around it. Each radius, curve, and transition slots in perfectly with the models on each side of it, this allow you as the player to pick the set the way YOU want, and not be dictated by some unpleasant look from address. The 620 CB is still 100 percent its own unique club, designed for a specific player type, but thanks to some very smart engineering it also gives you more options.

There is more than meets the eye with the long irons of the 620 CB too. Just like the T100s, the 3 and 4-irons of the CB are co-forged with tungsten in the heel and toe to keep the size small but give a serious boost to MOI and launch.

“Our ability to use co-forged high-density tungsten in such a compact blade size like 620 CB is extremely powerful, especially at the long end of the set where players need the most help with launch and forgiveness,” Marni Ines, Director, Titleist Irons Development.

This isn’t the only club in the new Titleist iron line that has gone through this reimagining. The T100 profile has been shrunk compared to the previous AP2 (its most direct club in the previous line) to be the exact same size as the CB to offer greater stability through the ball thanks to embedded tungsten. So, regardless of if you are looking to go full CB or build your own combo set, the 620 irons from Titleist give you the classic look and feel you want—with plenty of performance.

620 MB and 620 CB Specs

STOCK SHAFTS

Steel

620 CB: True Temper Project X LZ: Mid-launch shaft that offers smooth feel, and tour trajectory for those looking to maximize control and have a smoother tempo.

620 MB: True Temper Project X: Low-launch, low-spin shaft that has been a staple on tour and in the bags of some of the world’s top players with faster tempos looking for maximum stability.

Graphite

This is a new one for Titleist. Just like with the original True Temper AMT, they will be the first to offer the Mitsubishi MCA Tensei White AM2 (stands for “ascending mass”).  This new shaft is a low-launch, low-spin option for those wanting a lighter total weight and vibration dampening. The shaft will ascend two grams per club, starting at 108 grams in the PW and going to 94 grams in the 3-iron.

These options are on top of Titleist’s already extremely large selection of available shafts—including options from KBS and Nippon—many of which are available at no additional up-charge.

AVAILABILITY

The new Titleist 620 irons will be available in golf shops worldwide beginning August 30, with fittings beginning August 8.

Steel: MAP $175 per club ($1,399/set of 8)

Graphite: MAP $187.50 per club ($1,499 /set of 8)

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Ryan Barath is a club-fitter & master club builder with more than 17 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. He is the former Build Shop Manager & Social Media Coordinator for Modern Golf. He now works independently from his home shop and is a member of advisory panels to a select number of golf equipment manufacturers. You can find Ryan on Twitter and Instagram where he's always willing to chat golf, and share his passion for club building, course architecture and wedge grinding.

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. Pingback: Best irons in golf of 2022: Best blades – GolfWRX

  2. Pingback: Best irons in golf of 2021: Best blades – GolfWRX

  3. Mike

    Aug 8, 2019 at 8:33 pm

    Finally one with nothing stamped on it, just a clean Blade NICE!

    Reply Report comment

  4. Bobbyg

    Aug 7, 2019 at 1:40 pm

    Makes me miss my 660 blades.

    Reply Report comment

  5. Doesnotno

    Aug 7, 2019 at 8:46 am

    $175 for the MB, made by hitting a black of hot metal with a hammer before grinding and polishing it. The T300 is $125 a piece, with multiple pieces and polymers, and presumably a degree of grinding and polishing.

    What gives? Aren’t blades the cheapest clubs to manufacture any more?

    Reply Report comment

  6. dat

    Aug 6, 2019 at 8:47 pm

    MB yes, CB no.

    Reply Report comment

  7. The dude

    Aug 6, 2019 at 2:12 pm

    MB’s….wow!…now that’s clean (lookout Miz)

    Reply Report comment

  8. Michael Constantine

    Aug 6, 2019 at 9:57 am

    Specs available anywhere?

    Reply Report comment

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Whats in the Bag

Kevin Tway WITB 2024 (May)

Published

7 hours ago

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May 10, 2024

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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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Equipment

Did Rory McIlroy inspire Shane Lowry’s putter switch?

Published

8 hours ago

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May 10, 2024

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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

Published

11 hours ago

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May 10, 2024

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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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