Titleist TSR 2 Unoffiical Review

[RickyBobby_PR]

7 minutes ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

  I was averaging 2500 rpm with my driver, and I averaged 2100 with the TSR.  As a result, I was seeing about 10-15 yards more in total distance (roll out) on the monitor.  

This could be a good thing or a bad thing. With 130s in ball speed spin is your friend. Dropping 400rpm in real life scenarios could be bad news on the course.

What was your launch, peak and land angles with both?

Its nice you gained extra ball speed but that’s just a piece of the overall puzzle.

Also looking at rollout on a monitor doesn’t correlate to real life either. The monitors tend to overcalculate rollout, plus course conditions will have an effect as well

[chisag]

12 minutes ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

I took 4 swings with my current TSi3, and actually hit 3 decent (for me) shots to set the baseline.  He had me hit the TSR3, then the TSR2, and it was evident to both of us... the "3" was a better fit for me.  It just felt right. 

 

... Nice wrote up! What were the difference between the 2 and 3 for you? 

[GolfSpy TCB]

4 minutes ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

This could be a good thing or a bad thing. With 130s in ball speed spin is your friend. Dropping 400rpm in real life scenarios could be bad news on the course.

What was your launch, peak and land angles with both?

Its nice you gained extra ball speed but that’s just a piece of the overall puzzle.

Also looking at rollout on a monitor doesn’t correlate to real life either. The monitors tend to overcalculate rollout, plus course conditions will have an effect as well

as usual RB.. I agree with all your comments - in general/non-specific terms.  I'm not a fan of fit testing on an indoor LM...  the roll out is very subjective, I realize that. 

I was swinging the 9 degree and my lauch was around 14.5.  I didn't see the dynamic loft or the land angle in the data sheet... I was carrying about 225-235 on the LM.  Realizing these are all just pieces of the puzzle and none give the full picture... but it is what I have at current , and from a FREE fitting.

As they say... there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.  The data can be manipulated to say whatever they want it to say (within reason) but overall, I thought the new driver was as in most things important to me - better than my current gamer, so I'll start there.

[GolfSpy TCB]

11 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... Nice wrote up! What were the difference between the 2 and 3 for you? 

Thanks Sam, 

The difference was pretty obvious in the head shape between the two... but that didn't bother me, the 2 looked good behind the ball... not as classic a pear shape, and not what I'm used to with my TSi3, but not bad.  I took 8-10 swings with it... and while it was better than the TSi2 I tried when getting fitted for the TSi3 - it still wasn't as "meaty" on even solid hits, and with the 3 (both models) it almost feels like the face is flexing with the ball, where the 2 felt like a harsh and glancing impact by comparison.  Not sure if I am describing that well.  

Plus, my numbers fell off with the 2 compared to both my 3 and the new 3... spin was up, carry was down, flight was more left to right pronounced... which could be settings, but then when I switched back to the 3, all that went away.  I guess confidence plays a role as well.  I was more confident behind the ball with the 3... 

All that said, I know I have to hit the center of the club face to get all the performance advantages with the 3, so I was really hoping the 2 would be a top performer and offer me a little "around the face" forgiveness... but alas... the 3 is my Huckleberry.

[chisag]

5 hours ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

The difference was pretty obvious in the head shape between the two... but that didn't bother me, the 2 looked good behind the ball... not as classic a pear shape, and not what I'm used to with my TSi3, but not bad.  I took 8-10 swings with it... and while it was better than the TSi2 I tried when getting fitted for the TSi3 - it still wasn't as "meaty" on even solid hits, and with the 3 (both models) it almost feels like the face is flexing with the ball, where the 2 felt like a harsh and glancing impact by comparison.  Not sure if I am describing that well.  

Plus, my numbers fell off with the 2 compared to both my 3 and the new 3... spin was up, carry was down, flight was more left to right pronounced... which could be settings, but then when I switched back to the 3, all that went away.  I guess confidence plays a role as well.  I was more confident behind the ball with the 3... 

All that said, I know I have to hit the center of the club face to get all the performance advantages with the 3, so I was really hoping the 2 would be a top performer and offer me a little "around the face" forgiveness... but alas... the 3 is my Huckleberry.

 

... Thanks, this is a perfect example of keeping an open mind when getting fit. The fact that you wanted to like the 2 but it was outperformed by both your old 3 and the new 3 is why we get fit and not just grab what we think will be best based on looks and past experience. When I first started going to the pga show and writing reviews it became obvious pretty quickly that clubs I was looking forward to hitting didn't turn out to work well for me and some I would have ignored performed really well. But when something looks good and performs, it is a win-win so I expect to read about your TSR3 AV Blue purchase soon. 

[GolfSpy TCB]

1 hour ago, chisag said:

But when something looks and good and performs it is a win-win so I expect to read about your TSR3 AV Blue purchase soon. 

I believe you are correct, .  I don't feel like I'm leaving anything on the table with the TSR3... any other enhancements need to come from my technique and swing speed...  This club will be able to grow with me, no question.

[GolfSpy BOS]

Well today I got a great opportunity to get a free fitting at my local PGASS.  I brought my 8-iron and driver in to get loose and try to maintain an “on-course” swing.  I can have a tendency to get in swing trouble if I get into a long drive competition with myself.  

Started out warming up before the Titleist Rep was in (phew, no pressure).  Hit a half dozen 8-irons and felt pretty good so I hit 10 or so drivers.  First one with my Epic Max LS was an absolute bomb that rolled out to 301.  I imagine it was laughing to itself and saying “Good Luck TSR! You’re going to need it!” And I’d have to agree.  The Callaway Epic Max LS is and has been a phenomenal driver and fit for me.  

Rep came in and introduced himself.  Turns out he does a lot of stuff around me and lives in the next town over.  I’ll probably end up running into him again at some point.  He cleared the warmup shots from the data and had be hit some with my gamer.  I hit some good ones, and a few less-than-good ones while we talked a bit about my game and what I’d want to see.  We didn’t talk budget and stock vs premium offerings… but when you walk into the fitting with a Ventus TR red….

We started with TSR3 10* and got a baseline.  We then tried the TSR2 9* and the 3 was better for me with launch, spin, and ball speed.  We then tried a number of shafts (all three Tour AD options, UB, IZ, and DI in both X and S flexes). We also Reid the new Tensei Black in x and s.  We stuck in the 60 gram class the whole time.      It was amazing to me the difference in feel between all the shafts.  It was strange, but a few felt off to me, even just hovering behind the ball prior to starting swinging.  

Then after we felt good on the shaft/head combo we tried a 9* TSR3.  That was probably the strangest part for me.  I launched the 9* higher and my ball speed dropped.  I’m going to guess this was from me not seeing as much loft and flipping to try and launch it, versus seeing what I’m used to and getting through the ball better.  

So… if you read all that, wow you must like me, thanks!  Was it longer? Faster? Better? 

Looks - Classic and saucy, like when you’re lady slips on that little black dress you love, with curves in all the right places.

Sound - TSi3 sounded great… this might be even better.  I want to hit it outdoors at a range.  Maybe with a shaft that I’m more familiar with.

Performance:

Technically… it was 2 yards longer in carry and total distance!  Ballspeed was exactly the same, although the TSR3 did have the highest at 154.  A few things to note… I took the best 4 or 5 of each there.  I hit plenty of other bad shots too not included… I’m not that good!

So @Golfspy_TCB it was a close competition!  My longest was 281 to your 268!  Oh wait, that was total, not carry? 304 for the TSR3, which was 4 yards longer than my longest with the Epic Max LS.

But, Tim did see some real improvement, so I think he’s the big winner between us, even if his wallet ends up lighter!

After reviewing it overall with the fitter he suggested that I should NOT be in the market for a new driver at this time… Blasphemy! He apparently has not seen Club-Ho-Annonymous before.

 

[GolfSpy TCB]

12 minutes ago, GolfSpy_BOS said:

So @Golfspy_TCB it was a close competition!  My longest was 281 to your 268!  Oh wait, that was total, not carry? 304 for the TSR3,

yeah yeah...   I knew that was coming... haha.

[GolfSpy BOS]

7 minutes ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

yeah yeah...   I knew that was coming... haha.

Don’t worry… @Chip Strokes will enter chat soon and put me in my place.

[GolfSpy TCB]

16 minutes ago, GolfSpy_BOS said:

After reviewing it overall with the fitter he suggested that I should NOT be in the market for a new driver at this time… Blasphemy! He apparently has not seen Club-Ho-Annonymous before.

Great review Bryan.  Several of your points were similar to my experience as well... of course the looks... Titleist knows how to make a sexy club.  And the feel is as good as it gets in my opinion.  I'm surprised you didn't swing the 4 - since you are swinging the LS in the Cally.  I am curious about that club... the 4 didn't even enter the conversation in my fitting... but based on my swing profile... I expected that... you on the other hand...

So you laid down the gauntlet... My goal for 2023 is to roll my ball as far as you can carry it.

[GolfSpy BOS]

1 minute ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

Great review Bryan.  Several of your points were similar to my experience as well... of course the looks... Titleist knows how to make a sexy club.  And the feel is as good as it gets in my opinion.  I'm surprised you didn't swing the 4 - since you are swinging the LS in the Cally.  I am curious about that club... the 4 didn't even enter the conversation in my fitting... but based on my swing profile... I expected that... you on the other hand...

So you laid down the gauntlet... My goal for 2023 is to roll my ball as far as you can carry it.

I’ve never really been a super high spin guy. The Max LS is more about controlling spin than killing it like past low spin models were. It’s really neutral overall. 

I know there are some candidates on here for the TRS4, it just ain’t me! Haha
 

[hartrick11]

5 hours ago, RickyBobby_PR said:

No. Balls on the heel are going to spin more than balls hit in the middle or towards the toe and have the same ball fade/slice ball flight. The amount of spin reduction you see from an 8° or 9° compared to the 10° isn’t going to be significant 

Right, but if you watch the Youtube reviewers, multiple reviews I watched touted the new variable face technology in the TSR 2 and 4 which, if you believe the marketing hype/reviewers, helps those heel misses to not have as spikey spin rates relative to TSi, and conversely helps toe misses to keep spin up enough that balls weren't diving out of the air. When I mentioned the lower loft I assumed I would need a touch less loft in a 2 vs. a 3 to keep similar launch angle, but to be more clear than I was before, I would be testing the TSr2 for it's VFT claims more than anything.

[RickyBobby_PR]

24 minutes ago, hartrick11 said:

Right, but if you watch the Youtube reviewers, multiple reviews I watched touted the new variable face technology in the TSR 2 and 4 which, if you believe the marketing hype/reviewers, helps those heel misses to not have as spikey spin rates relative to TSi, and conversely helps toe misses to keep spin up enough that balls weren't diving out of the air. When I mentioned the lower loft I assumed I would need a touch less loft in a 2 vs. a 3 to keep similar launch angle, but to be more clear than I was before, I would be testing the TSr2 for it's VFT claims more than anything.

I haven’t watched any of the videos but the vft face is to maintain speed across the face. Will it help reduce spin on mishits possibly but it’s still going to be higher that’s center strikes, most heel strikes are also going to be lower on the face which is going to launch lower.

Theres not guarantee that one would need lower loft in one head vs the other. It’s all on how the feeling of the combo of shaft and head effect then persons swing. I know plenty people including myself who have similar launch characteristics in the same loft in two different heads from the same brand release. 
 

A good buddy of mine had similar numbers in ts2 and 3 and he went ts2 for the “forgiveness” and he’s a 115+ swing speed 3 handicap 

[chisag]

2 hours ago, GolfSpy_BOS said:

Looks - Classic and saucy, like when you’re lady slips on that little black dress you love, with curves in all the right places.

 

... I have never been a fan of calling golf clubs "sexy" for a variety of reasons but as a club nerd I know I am in the minority on that one. That said your description is one of the best I have ever read when it comes to golf clubs. It isn't a random "sexy" moniker but having seen the TSR, yours is a vivid and unerring description of the TSR.  

[Chip Strokes]

3 hours ago, GolfSpy_BOS said:

Don’t worry… @Chip Strokes will enter chat soon and put me in my place.

nice poke!! looks like the TSR3 is a great fit for you.

those look an awful lot like my 4W numbers

[GolfSpy BOS]

15 minutes ago, Chip Strokes said:

nice poke!! looks like the TSR3 is a great fit for you.

those look an awful lot like my 4W numbers

Honestly I’m shocked its in your “wood” category! I count that as a win! Hahaha. Lord knows my speed is nowhere near that. 

[GolfSpy TCB]

2 minutes ago, GolfSpy_BOS said:

Honestly I’m shocked its in your “wood” category! I count that as a win! Hahaha. Lord knows my speed is nowhere near that. 

After seeing @GolfSpy_BOS and @Chip Strokes LM numbers... I decided to schedule another equipment fitting.

[GolfSpy_APH]

9 hours ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

I believe you are correct, .  I don't feel like I'm leaving anything on the table with the TSR3... any other enhancements need to come from my technique and swing speed...  This club will be able to grow with me, no question.

Isn't that what you said about the TSi3?

[GolfSpy TCB]

4 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Isn't that what you said about the TSi3?

Yes, but...

[Golfspy_CG2]

On 9/14/2022 at 4:21 PM, GolfSpy_BOS said:

That's why he keeps multiple bags! 

This idea of weight being more important than flex is new to me, but on the surface is makes a lot of sense.  I've always seemed to do better with shafts in the high 60g range regardless of S vs X.  Know of any work done on that end or it is more of something you picked up from experience? 

 

Sorry for my absence in my own thread  for the last week and half.  I had my 2nd eye surgery last week and I quarantined at home for my pre screening COVID test.   Gladly so did tbe Dr. This time

I selected quote this post. But read the rest of the thread before replying.   I’m glad I did.   I would have been repeating a lot of what RickyBobby and Chisag had do say…both on point as usual.  
 

I will get back to my review hopefully next week.  As I will have a TSR3 to go along with the 2 and a total of 4 shafts tbst are in the current Titleist lineup to go with them  

Thanks to everyone for sharing their fitting experiences here and keeping the conversation going. 

[Berg Ryman]

22 hours ago, Golfspy_TCB said:

After seeing @GolfSpy_BOS and @Chip Strokes LM numbers... I decided to schedule another equipment fitting.

As someone who is getting into pickleball in a big way... this hits me on a lot of levels.

[KC Golf]

Tried the TSR-2 with a GD up charge shaft in stiff.  The pro that I borrowed it from has a similar swing speed and similar swing tempo.  

On the course it was just amazing with nice sound, great flight and nice roll.  It was great.

I hit some awesome bombs with it.  The heavier head of the TSR2 vs my TSi3 seems to make a big difference for me.

Before I line up to buy the TSR2, I think I will try to get some lead tape for my TSi3 and may be get the upgraded shaft to see if I get similar LM results at a fitting between the TSR2 vs TSi3 comparison.  

I really like my TSi3 when I got it 2 years ago, but I think switching to a heavier Arccos Plus 4 grip has changed my ability to hit it with consistency.

[GolfSpy TCB]

3 hours ago, KC Golf said:

 The heavier head of the TSR2 vs my TSi3 seems to make a big difference for me.

That is interesting KC.  When I tested the TSR's I didn't immediately notice the head weight difference between the TSR's and my TSi3.  But something I will keep in mind.  Have you tested the swingweight on your TSi3 since installing the new grip?  Just curious what the swing weight difference is between the two?

 

[KC Golf]

Sorry for the late reply.  Was traveling in Asia.

I am actually going to get my swing weight measured on my TSi3.  I don't know what it is now.  Also will get the GD TSr2, I borrowed as well.

Its interesting, since my TSi3 FW is also more head heavy and so I find that I can hit it well.   I will get this measured as well.