Tursky: I tested Titleist’s new 2023 T-Series irons (including the new T150 and T350). Here’s what happened…
My first interaction with Titleist’s new 2023 T-Series irons was at the 2023 Memorial Tournament, where PGA Tour players began testing out the new family of irons. The new irons included an updated T100 model, a brand new T150, a redesigned T200, and a brand new T350.
In the first week, 13 players switched into at least one of the new T-Series irons, and more names got added to that list as the weeks went on. And, as more players switched, my intrigue about the irons only grew.
Then, I wrote about the new irons, covering all of the design changes and technological improvements within the lineup.
That’s all great, but, am I ever gonna get to hit the irons for myself?!
Well, earlier this month, my number was finally called, and I traveled to Oceanside, California, to go through a full iron fitting at the Titleist Performance Institute with expert fitter Chris Baingo.
As one of the most knowledgeable club fitters in the industry, Baingo took me through each of the new T-Series iron models, making adjustments along the way. I was excited to finally hit everything, especially after the months-long hype and anticipation.
I also needed some of my questions answered…
Are the T100’s really any better? Or different? Prior T100’s have looked a little small to me, so are these any more forgiving? And, did they make any changes to the feel/sound of the T-200?
I was especially curious about the new T150 models.
How much more distance/forgiveness will the new T150’s provide, compared to the T100? Will these be my next irons?
In the video at the top of the page, as you’ll see, all of my questions were answered.
However, more than just testing the new iron designs out, I came away with an education about the importance of yardage gapping, general rules for iron fitting, and how to setup my bag with a mixed set.
I won’t spoil everything that Baingo preached in the video, but I do want to highlight one of the most impactful lessons I learned from him during the fitting: As irons progress throughout the set, there should be a 5 mph ball speed difference between irons, and peak heights should generally match through the set.
This means if your ball speed with a 7-iron is 130 mph and has a peak height of 110 feet, then your 6-iron should be 135 mph with the same peak height. If there’s a gap between irons that’s either less than or more than 5 mph with the irons, then an adjustment needs to be made.
Typically, the most noticeable and impactful gap, or “breaking point,” will be between the 5 and 6-irons, or the 4 and 5-irons. In these pockets, the ball speed difference may drop to less than 5 mph, and produce a lower ball flight. This indicates that it’s probably time to look at a 4 or 5-iron that offers more forgiving technology.
For example, in my case, I found the T150’s to have proper speed gapping through the set, until I got to the 3-iron. The ball speed difference between the T150 4-iron and T150 3-iron was dropping below the 5 mph ball speed guidance, thus indicating it was time for me to try out a T200, T350, or U505 iron option. Eventually, I landed on a T200 2-iron, equipped with a Fujikura Ventus HB Black 10 TX shaft (whereas the T150 irons 4-PW were shafted up with Project X 6.5 steel shafts).
To the point about long-iron fitting, Titleist offers long-iron fitting packages that allow consumers to do this exercise for themselves, under the supervision of a professional fitter. As I learned from Baingo, getting an iron fitting is about way more than just hitting a bunch of 7-irons against each other until you find the right one.
While you should absolutely test a bunch of 7-irons to find the right fit for your set, you should also be testing long irons in order to figure out proper gapping, and where the “breaking point” is so that you can get what you need where you need it.
A true full fitting allows the golfer to figure out the gaps in their set, especially at the top end of the bag.
OK, the fitting is lecture over. Enjoy the T-Series testing video above, and click here to see what GolfWRX forum members are saying about the full iron lineup.
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Equipment
Rickie Fowler’s new putter: Standard-length Odyssey Jailbird 380 in custom orange
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 Jailbird craze hasn’t really slowed down in 2024, either. According to Odyssey rep Joe Toulon, there are about 18-20 Jailbird putter users on the PGA TOUR.
Most recently, Akshay Bhatia won the 2024 Valero Texas Open using a broomstick-style Odyssey Jailbird 380 putter and Webb Simpson is switching into a replica of that putter at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Now, Fowler, who essentially started the whole Jailbird craze, is making a significant change to his putter setup.
Fowler, who has had a couple weeks off since the 2024 RBC Heritage, started experimenting with a new, custom-orange Jailbird 380 head that’s equipped with a standard 35-inch putter build, rather than his previous 38-inch counter-balanced setup.
According to Fowler, while he still likes the look and forgiveness of his Jailbird putter head, he’s looking to re-incorporate more feel into his hands during the putting stroke.
He told GolfWRX.com on Tuesday at the Wells Fargo Championship that the 38-inch counterbalanced setup “served its purpose” by helping him to neutralize his hands during the stroke, but now it’s time to try the standard-length putter with a standard-size SuperStroke Pistol Tour grip to help with his feel and speed control.
Although Fowler was also spotted testing standard-length mallets from L.A.B. Golf and Axis1 on Tuesday, he confirmed that the custom Odyssey Jailbird 380 is the putter he’ll use this week at the 2024 Wells Fargo Championship.
Head over to PGATour.com for the full article.
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Whats in the Bag
Akshay Bhatia WITB 2024 (May)
- Akshay Bhatia what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. Bhatia is deciding between drivers. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Rogue ST Max LS (9 degrees @7.2, 2 grams lead tape heel, 4 grams toe)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (44 7/8 inches, tipped 1 inch)
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max D (9 degrees @7)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Max (15 degrees @13.9)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 8 X (43 inches, tipped 1.5)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW Prototype (19 degrees @17.8)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 10 X
Irons: Callaway X Forged UT (21 degrees) Buy here, Callaway Apex TCB Raw (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS $-Taper 125 S+
Wedges: Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S @49, 54-10S, 60-08C @61)
Shafts: KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 135 X
Putter: Odyssey Versa Jailbird 380
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Split
Grips: Iomic
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
More photos of Akshay Bhatia’s WITB in the forums.
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Whats in the Bag
Emiliano Grillo WITB 2024 (May)
- Emiliano Grillo what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wells Fargo Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (15 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
5-wood: Cobra LTDx Prototype (18.5 degrees)
Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Blue RDX 70 TX
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)
Shafts: Project X 6.5
Wedges: Callaway MD3 Milled (46-08S), Callaway Jaws Raw (50-10S, 54-10S, 60-08T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Flatso 1.0
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
Check out more in-hand photos of Emiliano Grillo’s clubs here.
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Wilkinson Tansan
Sep 1, 2023 at 6:03 am
This is one of the rare articles I learned something very useful. Thanks my man.
eva
Aug 29, 2023 at 5:29 pm
I can’t believe I paid $19,000 for my first general test, according to a friend of my younger bs02 brother. Simply click the
.
.
Link to get started………………………………….https://careershome73.blogspot.com
Chuck
Aug 29, 2023 at 3:25 pm
It’s a really good video. Thank you. (Great job on editing.)
So can we see the final WITB for Tursky? Specs, shafts, sw, loft/lie adjustments, etc.?
Bills Bills Bills
Aug 29, 2023 at 7:44 pm
Yeah, Retail cost for what he had done and got, and what he paid.