The cat is outta the bag! After more than two years since the launch of the TS series metal woods, Titleist has cooked up something new, and from the response and comments on the Tour, this thing is a heater.

I had a chance to catch up with my buddy and Titleist Tour rep J.J. VanWezenbeeck while he is on a West Coast/East Coast whirlwind testing tour, and this is what he had to report.

JW: Overall, how are players responding to the new TSi drivers?

JJ: TSi launch has been a long time coming…but despite fires, heat, COVID-19 restrictions the product is coming out above it all. It has been 27 months since players have seen a new lineup from Titleist, so they were overly excited about seeing what we have been working on.

We have been working through playoffs, scheduling, travel restrictions, COVID rules/regulations, and safety needs to try and see as many players as possible, including this week in Portugal and Napa.

JW: In simple terms, what makes this driver unique/special vs other models? 

JJ: TSi drivers have shown up in a big way from look, to feel, to launch monitor performance.  Almost all players have to see ball speed increases out of the gate, but the stability of the head is what really is showing off—players are seeing incredibly consistent spin, speed, and direction numbers—this has let players find another gear (see Mark Blackburn post of Charley Hoffman TPI testing).

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New @titleist TSi Woods launched this week @safewayopen! Here’s a closeup of my man @charleyhoffman ‘s TSi3 ???????????????????????? #itsnotatrenditsatitleist @mypdev @greystonegcc @academies.swingu @titliest @footjoy @vokeywedges @scottycameron . . . #golf #putting #golfcourse #golfer #juniorgolf #collegegolf #swingu #golfchannel #whyilovethegame #golfgods #golfclub #pga #pgatour #golfislife #golfpro #golfswing #golfinstruction #golflife #golfcoach #golfpractice #golfdigest #golfmagazine #golflesson #golftips #golffitness #golfdrills #golfswinganalysis

A post shared by Mark Blackburn (@blackburngolf) on Sep 9, 2020 at 5:34pm PDT

JJ Contd: We are incredibly excited about week one and what the coming weeks are going to bring with this product. The overwhelmingly positive comments from our staff is incredible. I would look out for some early and often success. Stephanie Luttrell and our R&D team did a phenomenal job. I can’t wait for all our Tour Staff and the rest of the golfing world to experience this product.

JW: How many players will most likely have it in play this week?

JJ: With players all over the globe, COVID-19, and scheduling challenges, we have not had a chance to see all our staff as we like to present the product in person and answer questions for them and get them fit perfectly. We have our worldwide teams on the road and seeing all of our staff over the coming weeks. This week, we have seen some early adopters on social media in Portugal after working with Liam McDougal, and we will have 15-plus players using the new metals in Napa after seeing them for the first time this week.

JW: Charley Hoffman has a white line down the face of his TSi3, what’s the reason?

JJ: Charley Hoffman has been drawing a vertical line on his driver for a while just to allow him to set up more centered. He was instrumental in helping with the new face graphics and felt like it framed the ball so well he may not need it. After discussing, he decided better to have and not need than not have.

*Tommy Fleetwood has also made the switch in Portugal, and from what I hear from my source, he’s killing this thing.

Driver: TSi3 9 @ 8.25 (D2 Surefit Setting) w/ Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X

(Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

From early reporting from Napa, these players will have TSi drivers in play: Blaum, Bramlett, Brown, Campos, Cauley, Duncan, Haas, Hadley, Hoffman, Hubbard, Kizzire, Ledesma, Malnati, Pan, Shelton, Spieth, Streb, Taylor, Uihlein.

And on the Euro Tour, beyond Fleetwood, Haotong Li is most likely putting in play as well.