Titleist T Series Irons - 2023 Forum Review

[GolfSpy_APH]

Testers Announced! Titleist T Series Irons

For full details check out this link -https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/titleist-t-series-irons/

This is the third generation of T-Series Irons from Titleist since they moved on from the AP lineup. This generation of T-Seriers introduces two “new” irons to the lineup in the T150 (replacement for the T100S) and the T350. 

Here is a breakdown highlight of the series.

Titleist T100 - The most played iron on the PGA Tour there wasn’t much to change from the previous version. However Titleist worked to improve the feel, create tighter dispersion and updated the variable bounce sole. 

Titleist T150 - One of the “new” models the T150 retains the looks and progression that the T100 made but with a slightly thicker topline and slightly wider sole to create a more forgiving package while retaining improved ball speeds by an updated Muscle Channel.

Titleist T200 - A non-clicky backplate! However in all seriousness the T200 for 2023 is where some big improvements were made. With some updates to the topline and finish the T200 retains the same size as the previous version with what will likely be a more appealing look. Titleist have moved the speed boosting Max Impact Core closer to the heel and face of the golf club to improve sound and forgiveness. 

Titleist T350 - The replacement for the T300, the T350 comes in a package that matches the rest of the T-Series much better. It is a larger, more forgiving iron than the T200 and for Titleist is their Ultimate Game Improvement Iron. 

However most all of you know all that and are eager to hear if you were selected for testing! 

Please welcome and congratulate our testers!

T100 - @bens197

T150 - @Ben Joest

T200 - @GregB135

T350 - @ole gray

**While Testers were selected for those as their main sets, Titleist is working with all of them to ensure they are fit properly. Meaning split sets are an option for each tester.**

[bens197]

Get to know me folks…Bens197

Me:

Hi guys, I am Steve.  My name here is a combination of my name as well as my helmet number at my firehouse.  I’m a 42 year old, married, father of one.  When I am not golfing, spending time with my family or my beloved 11.5 year old American Pit Bull, I am a Career Fire Lieutenant for a suburban Fire Department in Western, NY.  My background is heavy into EMS and I spent several years working as a Firefighter / Paramedic for a high volume FD in Southeast Florida.

Florida?  Oh ya, I also worked in golf down there for 3 years where I worked as an assistant golf professional.

My Golf Background:

I’ve been playing for 35 years and my passion is now nurtured by my daughters newly found love of the game.  She proudly cares for her US Kids Stand bag and 4 piece set while hitting her pink golf balls perched atop her pristinely kept, pink golf tees.

My best scoring days are behind me and those rounds in the rear view were driven by sets of Titleist irons.  In high school and college I played 962b irons…the David Duval specials.

When hired in Florida, I was able to join Titleist staff thanks to a great boss who rewarded my passion for fitting and selling clubs to our members.  The regional Acushnet Rep was so pleased with our sales volume that he wanted Titleist / Cobra to be a mainstay in our shop.  The 962b’s found the back shelf and were replaced by 670’s (along with some 200 series Vokeys, a 905T and a 904F)…they were incredible, I wish I still had them.

Despite a few less rounds per year, I still maintain a healthy 5.1 index that has a lot of room to drop.  My scores tend to drop around this time due to my daughter attending school and a schedule that is conducive to weekday golf.  My first round of this year was a 74 where I hit 14/18 greens so I still have tremendous faith in my iron game.

My Thoughts on This Test:

This test has always been the paragon of MGS testing.  Some may disagree but when that Titleist email drops, there is a buzz around the forum.  I love my current setup and if MyGolfSpy has taught me one thing, there is nothing wrong with the relentless pursuit of the perfect bag…there may even be a certain Mod who lives by that mantra…

One set of T100 irons for thousands of applicants is not something I take lightly.  There is a supreme responsibility to follow through with an honest and transparent test.  I purchased a GPOD mount for my phone to take in-round video and as my daughter begins school in a few weeks, my weekly schedule will offer a lot of time to hit balls, play round and also participate in the weekly match play event.

I chose the T100 because my iron game is still strong enough and capable to see the benefit from these irons.  When they arrive, I will go through the specs, thought process between mixed sets and how I ended up with the setup best for my game.  I expect the performance of these irons to match my Mizuno MP 223 irons and I eagerly await the comparison between two of the games best irons.

My expectations are high.  Every week my email account is updated with “#1 iron in play at X event.”  There is a reason that players put the T100 in play and I expect that they perform to a certain standard.  I’ve read a lot about turf interaction and that is catching some buzz.  When I hear that I think forgiveness.  I’ll offer my own take but won’t be limited to just my thoughts.  What I mean is, please don’t expect me to fawn over the shiny new toy and not offer a fair and transparent assessment.  I have some preconceived notions about Titleist irons and since I have not gamed a set since 2006, I am expecting significant generational changes.  It also means I expect to be challenged by you, to dig into how these would work for any of you who are following along.

Besides that, thanks for checking in and reading up.  I am pretty accessible so if you have specific questions, give me a shout.

Thanks!

Steve

 

 

 

FINAL REVIEW - Monday, October 2nd, 2023

First Impressions - 19/20

Few things in life offer a shot of dopamine like a rectangular box with cursive script embossing the outer packaging.  My wife was home with me and helped me remove all the wrapping to see what lay beyond the Titleist-scripted cardboard.  While I still hold out hope that someday, Titleist will bring back their glorious DCI logo and design, I cannot help but admire the commitment to the tradition that Titleist maintains with a logo that stands the test of time.  As I picked up the 8 iron I felt like I was shaking hands with an old friend.  I worked through the entire set and fondly recalled the look of my 962b irons from 20 years ago.  I was tempted to grab the 8 iron ahead of any other club…simply on looks.  It was as familiar as I hoped with a very pleasant surprise.  I’ll discuss further as you read along.

Unopening MOv

 

 

Aesthetics - 9/10

I had some concerns about the narrower, squarer sole in contrast to what I had been playing.  In years past, I was accustomed to soles that had a slight camber, v-sole or a little bit of rounding to soften things up.  When I unboxed I did not overanalyze, rather observed and noted.  It didn’t really matter much.  When playing irons like these, I did not historically receive much forgiveness compared to something wider and more forgiving.  I don’t know the how or the why but it works.  I could dig a ball out of the rough from 165 yards with full confidence that these irons would not dig me into deeper trouble.

Rough Swing MOV

 

 

From address to the cavity, I was impressed with the blending of squared sole into a rounded toe.  “It’s not your fathers Titleist blades.”  Sure you like the looks however what did you not like?  I am not a fan of badging.  While the club looks precise, the badging leaves something to be desired.  My thoughts are so inconsequential in comparison to the entire product.  Besides, nobody cares what the cavity of your iron looks like when you’re giving yourself legitimate birdie putts throughout a round.  Ferrules were turned properly, grips were symmetrical and sized appropriately and all shaft logos were aligned in perfect harmony.  As you can see below, the sole on the right hand side is narrower towards the heel without a camber.  I am no engineer so I can only trust those who designed them in this manner.  Trust I did and it was a wise choice.

Sole Pics JPG

The Numbers - 10/10

I entered this test playing some of the best golf that I recall and giving these a full and comprehensive run was going to be fulfilling when I knew I was hitting it as well as I had hoped.  Ball flight, trajectory and spin were all within margins I had expected to realize when putting these in play.  My first round as many may recall was only held hostage by a few shots coming up short because of the loft differences between my 223’s and these T100’s. I was expecting a few rounds before I could dial in my yardages.  I needed only one round.

Tight Grouping JPG

 

On Course - 20/20

Bad days were still good days. I played 7 rounds in the month with 6 range sessions.  I had one regrettable round of terrible ball striking and still managed to hit over 50% of my greens in regulation.  These irons do not stray.  I won’t call it gear effect but let me say, there were times where toe strikes on shorter irons found their way towards the target in an acceptable range.

Here’s the thing…we’re talking about a blade type iron that may see some blending with the T150’s.  I am SO glad I did not add those to the set knowing that I can hit a 4, 5 & 6 iron on demand with a precise and solid feeling strike.  Unless you REALLY need the forgiveness, don’t immediately assume that the longer irons will be a challenge.  They’re performers that perform on mis-hits.  Left is Mizuno 223 and right is T100 4 irons.

4 iron address JPG

Let me repeat.

Do not walk into a fitting expecting that you will need to complement the set with a slightly more forgiving T150 in your longer irons.  Trust me on this one.

The Good the Bad the In-Between - 20/20

That feeling when you pull a fresh sharpie pen and mark your ball.  Know what I mean?  When I stand over a shot and focus on my target I have this image in my head of a pure strike, clean contact and that almost empty feeling of pure sensation into your hands.  That’s the summation of a subjective assessment. 

The T100 is a calligraphy pen specifically engineered to precisely deliver shots to an intended target.

Bag profile JPG

Play it or Trade it - 20/20

They’re staying in the bag and there is nothing else to add.

If Titleist told me I had to return these next week I’d be purchasing a set to replace them.  I never expected a club to perform better for my 223’s and here we are.

How confident am I making this statement?

Since starting this test 5 weeks ago, my USGA Index has dropped from 5.3 to 3.5

3.5 index JPG

Yeah…there’s nothing else to say besides these irons are it.  Thank you, my endless gratitude for the consideration to participate.

FINAL SCORE 98/100

These are the best irons I have ever played in 35 years of golf.  Period.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GolfSpy_BEN]

Introduction

Hello All,

Like the screen name suggests, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die…

Wait…That’s a different thread altogether…

Let’s try this again. Like the screen name suggests, my name is, in fact, Ben Joest. I am 44 years old and a happily married father of 3. My progeny: Emma is 10, going on moody teenager. Katie just turned 9 and is my golfing ride or die. Lastly, is our son Noah, he is 4 and if he had been the first, he would be the only. Just energy and enthusiasm for days, and frankly it is exhausting. SWMBO, has mostly come to grips with my addiction to the little white ball, and carries with her the belief that this vice of mine beats similar afflictions involving booze, broads, or bets. The kids are active in youth sports and keep us running most of the year, so finding the time to play can be challenging at times. The family has decided that, when one is given such a magnificent opportunity to test out the latest offering from a preeminent equipment company such as Titleist, certain concessions are made on Dad’s behalf, isn't that right family?

Go Team Joesty!

My history with Titleist can be traced back to the early 2000’s. My first club of theirs was a second hand 975J Driver that I picked up in 2003. I have been playing golf in one form or fashion since I was a kid, growing up in the late 80’s, but prior to 2003, my clubs were mostly hand-me-down sets I inherited from my Uncle Mike, whenever he decided he was ready for an upgrade. Mostly MacGregors and Wilsons, and nothing so memorable that I can recall exact models, all these years later.

That all changed in 2003. I started playing with a buddy from work, that gamed a Titleist 983K Driver and he hit it a mile. After one round, we were enjoying a frosty beverage and he asked a simple question, that looking back, completely changed my trajectory as a golfer. To that point, I was content to play whatever and hack it around the loop, occasionally collecting a par or a birdie, but mostly carding bogeys and doubles. He nonchalantly asked something to the effect of “Do you want to get better?”

This question is so beguiling, as it instantly removes the scales from one’s eyes and forces an unwitting soul to reconcile the state of their game. After a brief pause, I responded, “Yes. Yes, I do.” And down the rabbit hole and into the wonderous kingdom of golf equipment I went. Looking back, it didn’t take long for me to develop the full-blown addiction and cobble together a decent set of used clubs. I grabbed a set of Taylor Made Super Steel Burner irons 3-PW from a buddy’s sister, who was selling her ex-husband’s clubs dirt cheap. I found the 975J Driver and 983 3 & 5 Woods at 2nd Swing, when they still had brick & mortar stores in the Cincinnati area. I topped it all off with a rusted oil can scotty Cameron putter that I found at an estate sale for $25 and a Callaway 56° wedge that I paid less than that for, under the auspices that I should probably have a sand wedge now that I am a serious golfer. I still have most of these clubs, but 975 driver is lost to History.

Since that seed was planted 20+ years ago, I have had lots of other clubs, including a 905 driver I still have the head of, a 910D2 driver, and a set of 712 AP1 irons, that have come and gone. I recently added a set of T100s 4-PW to my stable, and they will be what I set my baseline numbers with for this test.

As some of you may know, I have developed into a muscle back blade enthusiast. See the Who Doesn’t Want to Play a Muscle Back Iron? Thread for more details but the TL; DR:

Is my game good enough to play muscle back blades?

Is my game consistent enough to play muscle back blades?

A little bit of background on the current state of my game. Throughout most of my adult life, my handicap hovered between 8-12. Which is a decent number and it meant that my scores lived in the 80’s, with an occasional low 80’s round and once I shot 78. As last season was ending, after some internal deliberations, I made a commitment to myself to improve. I purchased a net, a perfect practice putting mat, and at Christmas I received a Rapsodo MLM from my family. I spent the winter utilizing these tools to hone the rough edges of my game and joined a simulator league at the local practice facility. There is also a thread for the details of that. The additional hours spent have paid off, and I have worked my handicap down to a very respectable 4.3.

With that in mind, I signed up to test the T150 irons. I am fascinated by Titleist’s attention to the nuances of one’s game when they fit a golfer into a set of irons. I will be sharing the fitting details in a separate post. The goal in all of this is to determine, if a well fitted set of irons can help me improve on what, according to the shot scope data, is already a strength of my game.

My plan for testing these irons is, by design, going to be a bit free flowing as I don’t want to get trapped into a specific methodology and dismiss new ideas, so this is where this test becomes interactive with you, the constant reader. I will be putting calls out to the membership to glean what exactly folks want to see. However, without a loose outline, we are reduced to this:

So with that in mind:

·        Using the MLM, I will use the current irons to set baseline numbers for club speed, ball speed, carry distance, total distance, and apex.

·        Also, dispersion will be looked at from the perspective of the average carry and lateral dispersion. A comparison will be made to determine if the T series improves these numbers and maintains a good gapping between clubs, as these 2 items are a key selling point for getting fitted into these irons.

·        Multiple range sessions with the T series, to accumulate an average for each club for comparison to the current set.

·        A baseline regarding strokes gained numbers through Shot Scope data ( See graph above)

·        At least one round per week, along with observations and results

·        Upon completion of the testing rounds, a comparison of how the strokes gained metric has improved or worsened over the course of testing.

·        Irons only rounds. To this, there have been some preliminary discussions about challenging the other Irons testers from this season to a “friendly” irons only battle royale. Details to follow.

The current goal is shooting par or better this season, with breaking 70 clearly in my sights. Join me on this journey, as it is going to be a wild ride.

 

Here is the link to my fitting post:

Here is the link to my Unboxing/Initial Thoughts Post:

Final Review

First Impressions

These irons are flawless. From an aesthetic standpoint, the T100 through T350 lines are a study in classic, elegant design. Titleist took pains to craft a range of irons that, from aesthetic and performance perspectives can be blended seamlessly. By doing so, they have given their fitting specialists the wherewithal to confidently blend T100’s with T150’s, T150’s with T200’s, etc. As described in my fitting post, I tested a blend of the T150 and T200 lines. PW-8i in the T150, 7i-5i in the T200, and because it was offered and encouraged by Titleist, I was also fit into the T200 Utility 4 iron to round out my 7-club set.

Enough can’t be said about the Titleist fitting experience. The attention to detail is awe-inspiring. It starts with having the fitting on a natural turf driving range with a trackman unit set up to capture all the performance data in real time. Another aspect that separates this fitting from a big box retailer or smaller custom fitter, is the ability to hit every iron in each product line rather than just the 7 iron or a limited combination of each line.  It progresses with the use of brand-new range balls to get things dialed in, followed by your choice of ProV1 or ProV1x to capture 3 shots, so that the fitter can make an accurate assessment of the choices he has determined are best for your game. The product of this fitting is an email with the golfer’s recommended build and specs. Also, because I can’t say enough nice things about my fitter, Jim I am including his contact info here, in the event any spies want to reach out to him:

Under normal circumstances, the order is placed, and you receive a new set of irons 3-4 weeks later. Because our Titleist rep is a rock star, we all got our sets about a week and a half after the order was submitted. The shipping label on the boxes indicated that Titleist sent them standard overnight delivery.

Again, a subtle detail that shows that Titleist knows they have a premium product, and with that comes high expectations, that they take the necessary steps to exceed. I was and continue to be impressed with every aspect of their customer service.

(20 out of 20)

Aesthetics

These irons are a masterclass in elegance and design team has taken a minimalist approach to ornamentation. They are almost too pretty to hit. Although the T150 and T200 lines are built with forgiveness and performance in mind, from address it is easy to confuse the two. They have done a marvelous job avoiding one of the pitfalls of forgiving irons, in that the top line is clean and appears minimal. The T200 especially, doesn’t have the chunky topline that other hollow body player’s distance irons tend to have. Here are images of similar type irons:

 

Taylor Made P790                                Ping i230

Callaway Paradym                             Titleist T200

When at address, it can be tough to differentiate between the T150 and the T200.

Which is which?

It is only from the side that the difference becomes apparent.

The make up of the irons themselves, shows the thought and engineering that went into creating these beauties.

(10 out of 10)

The Numbers

Since receiving the irons on 8/28 I have had 12 range sessions. During those visits, the focus has been on the following:

·        Gaining familiarity with the irons.

I have hit over a thousand balls with these irons between range sessions and the rounds played. I have a pretty good feel for these irons, and I know what they are capable of. During that time, I have reached the following conclusions.

·        The loft gap of 5.5° between the T150 8 iron and the T200 7 iron

The averages shown below show my concerns over this being too big of a loft gap proved unfounded. However, as this is the blend point for this set, nowhere is it more apparent that what is gained (distance & forgiveness) in the T200 line, is done so at the expense of feel. The T150 irons are among the best feeling irons I have hit. Where as the T150 8 iron feels fantastic, the T200 7 iron feels muted by comparison. The chart below shows the performance of the 7 iron is there, but the feel isn’t the same. So much so, that I will be ordering a T150 7 iron to swap out with the T200. The 5 & 6 are clubs that I traditionally struggle with, so the loss of feel isn’t as jarring, in the interest of consistent performance.

·        The loft gap of 1° between the T200 5 iron and the T200 Utility 4 iron

This is another area where the averages show that over the course of testing, my fitter Jim was correct in his recommendation. There were times during my range session when the difference didn’t feel as pronounced as the averages suggest. So I may be going back to my 21° Callaway 4 utility, as it goes a little bit further on average, but also gives me peace of mind, that the loft gap is 3° rather than 1°.

·        Dispersion patterns for all 7 irons.

Dispersion for these irons from session to session and overall has been impressive. I can’t recall any balls that I hit that didn’t go where I was aiming. I tend to overcook the ball to the left when I overswing, but with these irons my misses were still in the area and direction I was aiming. Their reliability is like a security blanket on the course or a nice, warm hug from mom.

·        Carry yardage gaps between the 7 clubs.

On average, the gaps were good. It is worth noting that over the course of testing each club more or less maintained the 5 mph ball speed gap that Titleist looks for during the fitting process.

The Rapsodo MLM does a delightful job aggregating all of the data from the range sessions into easy to share graphics (Note: Distances shown in the graphics are carry distances)

Pitching Wedge (44°)                              9 Iron (40°)        

8 Iron (36°)                                           7 Iron (30.5°)     

6 Iron (27°)                                           5 Iron (24°)

4 Utility Iron (23°)

In conclusion, I am very pleased overall with the irons. My personal feelings regarding the 7 iron and 4 utility have taken a couple points away from the score, but do not detract from my appreciation of these Titleist irons.

(7 out of 10)

 

On-Course

Over the testing period I was able to get 6 rounds in. The first 2 came on Labor Day, when I decided 18 at Shaker Run Golf Club wasn’t enough and played a second 18 at Majestic Springs. That urge paid off in a major way, as I shot a Personal Best -2 69 on the Par 71 track.

Shaker Run Golf Club 9-4-23

My favorite hole from this round was the Par 4 14th. An average drive left me about 135 yards out from the pin. A well struck PW put me to 20 feet. A lag put got me close and a 1 foot tap-in sealed the par.

As this was the first round with the new sticks, there was a period of adjustment needed and the 6 bogeys on this round highlight that.

Majestic Springs 9-4-23

Unfortunately, there is no shot scope data to share for this round. As it was the second of the day, the X5 didn’t have enough battery to make it through both. My favorite hole for this round was the Par 4 18th. I played a 5 wood off the tee that left me 132 yards to the pin. A 9 iron landed softly on the front of the green, leaving me a 45 foot put to a back pin. It broke left to right about 4 and ½ feet and rolled in center cup. That marvelous putt was for 69 and marked the first (and only thus far) time I have broken 70. What a special round of golf.

Hickory Woods 9-10-23

My favorite hole from this round is the Par 3 13th. The layout of the 13th is unique in that the green is about 40 feet below the tee box. So the hole measures 143 but plays closer to 123. I hit the PW to 6 feet and calmly stroked in the birdie putt.

Homestead Golf Course 9-13-23

While the birdies on 3 and 11 were nice, my favorite hole from this round was the Par 5 12th. It started with a drive that was straight but woefully short. That left me with a decision: I could lay up to the edge of the fairway for a decent look in or pull the 3 wood, then hit and hope. For once, self-control got the better of me and I grabbed my 48° gap wedge and proceeded to forward the ball by 100 yards, leaving me with a comfortable 7 iron into the green. The 7 iron I hit was high and majestic and one-hopped into the greenside bunker. From there, I grabbed my 58° lob wedge and went pin hunting. The ball finished 4 inches from the hole, for a tap-in par that felt so earned and rewarding.

Majestic Springs Golf Course 9-24-23

The Par 3 17th was my favorite hole for this round. I hit a high draw with the 8 iron that landed pin high and finished 18 feet from the pin. I rolled the birdie putt on a good line that burned the left edge of the cup and left a 9 inch comebacker for par.

Majestic Springs Golf Course 9 -28-23

The makeup of the bag for the irons only round.

My favorite hole of this round was the Par 4 16th. A great drive by the hybrid off the tee left 90 yards to the pin. A ¾ PW finished 3 feet from the pin, that I converted into the rounds first birdie.

 

Strokes Gained

In my introduction, I included the graphic on the left as a benchmark of where my game stood at the onset of testing. As this test concludes, the graphic on the right is where things stand currently. While the credit for this improvement cannot solely be attributed to the Titleist irons, adding them to the bag sure as heck didn’t hurt.

(18 out of 20)

The Good, The Bad, The In-Between

The Good: Performance, specifically how easy they are to hit and hit well. Consistency comes next. As evidenced throughout this testing period, my dispersion has been well within an acceptable range for my game. Although I could go on, I will stop with Confidence. These irons inspire confidence in my ball-striking and overall game. At any given distance, there is no hit and hope. If I am 155 yards out, I grab the 8 iron and execute. If I need to get one out in the center of the fairway off the tee, I grab the 4-utility iron and swing away. If I am staring at a 127-yard shot to a front pin location that is guarded by a false front and trouble, I hit the PW, knowing the ball is going to go where I need it to. These irons are confidence personified, period.

The Bad: And now for the nits to be picked. Overall, I have little to nothing bad to say about these irons. My initial disappointment during this process is the lack of the shaft I wanted to try at the fitting, the fitter didn’t have the steelfiber shafts, so that has left me curious as to how that set-up would have differed.

The In-Between: The mysterious nature of the Strokes Gained metric being used by Shot Scope.

 

(18 out of 20)

Play it or Trade It?

PLAY IT!!!! As this set is currently constructed, I have seen scores that rightly justify their continued residence in my bag for the foreseeable future. To say that they will remain in their current configuration, would be tantamount to denying my tinker nature. My natural curiosity may see a change to Steelfiber shafts, and I will be swapping out the T200 7 iron for the T150 7 iron, but by and large there are no plans to swap these irons out with anything else.

(19 out of 20)

Conclusion

These irons are as good as you can imagine them to be, their only limitations are that of the individual swinging them. They are built to perform with the singular purpose of allowing any given golfer to play their best. The ease with which these clubs blend across the product range is truly magnificent. If you are in the market for new irons and don’t schedule an appointment with a certified Titleist fitter, then you are doing yourself a grave injustice. Even if you have no intentions of buying them, the $100 for a fitting with a Titleist club fitter is a value for the experience alone. Want a small taste of what Tour pros feel like? Go get yourself a Titleist fitting!

Final Score (92 out of 100)

[GregB135]

First off, a TREMENDOUS Thank You to My Golf Spy and the test mod team for choosing me to test the 2023 T200 irons. As always I am honored by the selection, even more so this time knowing how the selection process works, and receiving some very nice compliments from the mod team as we got started.

As a previous tester, you'd think I would have this whole writing the intro bit down by now, but it seems like this is the input I struggle with the most. But, after finally overcoming some photo related technical difficulties, here we go.

I'm Greg. I'm a Tampa native (yes, people are actually born here). I graduated from UCF in 1992 and then spent 20 years as a KC-135 pilot in the Air Force. Married to my wife Pam (SWMBO, Wife 1.0) for almost 26 years now, with the kiddos mostly grown we are transitioning to empty nest status over the next few years.

My golf experience has been a long and interesting ride. A high school friend invited me to go play one idle summer afternoon. His dad let me borrow a set of clubs, and off we went. I think I shot an unofficial 120 but I hit that one shot - a blistering, medium high draw into the fairway with a persimmon driver - and I was hooked. I started piecing together a set of clubs, one at a time off the sale rack at Sports Authority, and after a little bit of practice, joined our HS team for my senior year. I played sporadically through college, but got into the game more after starting active duty in the Air Force. Over time, my handicap has been as low as 8-9, but currently I'm clinging stubbornly to a 13. I play mostly recreationally, but for the past few years I've been in a social/comptetive league in the summers.

Describing my game I am a decent ball striker too dependent on rhythm and tempo. When temp is good, I'm in the fairway and giving myself good looks at greens and I score in the low 80s. When temp gets off, my tee ball accuracy suffers and depending on how forgiving the course is, my scores go up into the 90-95+ range. I would call my short game good enough but not good, although I do tend to putt better than most of my B-flight competitors.

Why did I volunteer for this test? Because my 7-iron was thinking it might be time to consider new irons...

SWMBO is thinking it might be time to get rid of one of some of the  "old clubs"

 (there are actually more )

I've been comfortably in the 'Players Distance' category of irons for a while now. Left to right we have my current set of 1st gen Titleist T200s, the Ben Hogan PTx (sad to see that company dissolve... again), and Mizuno JPX 850 forged. All have provided a good combinations of feel, forgiveness, and workability that suits my game.

Titleist's claims for the 2023 T200 are, "Enhanced Feel", "Clean Confident Shape" (subjective), "Effortless Turf Interaction", and "Better Tungsten for Scoring" (whatever that means). Though it is also relatively subjective, I'll be able to test "Enhanced Feel" because these irons are going head to head against an earlier version of T200. "Clean Confident Shape", I dunno, I guess if I don't wind up hating the way they look when I set up to a shot, ... sure. "Effortless Turf Interaction" will emerge during play as I encounter various lies. "Better Tungsen for Scoring" will take some creativity but I've got some options.

I've got a couple of options to use for using simulator and Trackman to gather some side-by-side comparison data. I also plan on repeating an exercise I did during the Ping G210 test that I called the "Iron Man Challenge"

No, .. not that.. I played a round of golf from my normal tees using the full bag against only the test irons from the forward tees. I expect I'll do that more than once during this test period. As an aside, that's a great way to measure the status of your game and figure out where to focus your practice time (or at least the 20% of it that isn't short game) ((IYKYK))

The first step in the test is completing the fitting. I'm looking forward to that, because I get to use the same fitter who set me up with my current irons as well as a previous driver fitting. I'm excited to get started and really get into seeing how the slight differences in the club build can change performance.

 

Fitting 

Unboxing / Initial Impression

 

 

[ole gray]

Howdy folks a little introduction about your tester for the Titleist T350 Irons!

My non-forum name is Bill and I live close to Athens, Ga so obviously I’m a huge Dawg fan. I’m 72 years old so hopefully, my review will enlighten some of you seniors out there who are interested in the T350  irons. Not saying these irons are designated for seniors as they should fit a WIDE sample of the golfing community. Golf is a hard game and some of us need more help than those who were born with the golden spoon of golf talent.

I’ve been in golf forum communities since 2009 with THP (TheHackersParadise) where I met many of my internet golfing buddies through outings. I left there to join MyGolfSpy on November 6, 2016, and I have been a contributing member since.  Love it here!

The picture below was taken prior to our Championship game last year.  

 

I have a great golfing partner  (my wife Kelly) who has a pretty stout game and she often whups my butt like a drum. We won a large couples tournament a few years back and the format was alternate shot which caused most of the couples to file for divorce shortly after their round. Jk 

 

 

I’m a Vietnam Vet (1970 - 71) and the picture below is my son at his basic training mid-cycle at Ft Benning, Ga. He was involved with the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. My Dad was a veteran of Pearl Harbor so we have three generations of war veterans in my family.

 

My two stepsons (Jason and Marc) are both excellent golfers as one plays to a scratch and the other at a 3 handicap. Here is a photo of them at Jason’s club where Kelly and I play with those two as often as possible.

 

I’ve been a golf equipment ho for several decades now and the good Lord knows I’ve been through more stuff than any one man should ever see. I’ve had several lessons through the years and played at a single-digit handicap a few centuries ago.   I’ve had several equipment fittings too and the last one with Titleist was the best one by far. More on that as our reviews pick up steam. Currently, I’m a 15 handicapper so the T350 irons should be right in my wheelhouse.

That’s enough yapping about my old arse and I’ll close with this. I can promise you all a 110% effort in bringing those interested in the T350 irons good solid information to help you know these irons better.  I’m a little bit different in the way I do my reviews so gird up your drawers and get ready for a wild ride! 

 

Check out my Titleist fitting here: 

 

 

FINAL REVIEW Wednesday, October 4th, 2023

First Impression 19/20

I’ve had some good-looking irons over the years however the T350s  and the entire T-Series irons are flat-out gorgeous. Sleek lines without looking like a spaceship on steroids make these the best-looking ever for me! If you’re looking for irons with outstanding performance and beauty to match, look no further.

 

 

Aesthetics 9/10

I’ve had some good-looking irons over the years however the T350s  and the entire T-Series irons are flat-out gorgeous. Sleek lines without looking like a space ship on steroids make these the best looking ever for me! If you’re looking for irons with outstanding performance and beauty to match, look no further. 

The Numbers  - 8/10
Gaining familiarity with the irons.
Carry yardage gaps between the 7 clubs.

I was surprised at the short amount of time it took for me to feel comfortable with the T350s. You’ve heard the term honeymoon with a new set of clubs however these already feel like my forever irons.  I will add a proper fitting absolutely ensures that any set of irons you bag will perform better. Titleist fitters do it right and you can be assured your clubs will be matched up to your playing abilities. 

Dispersion patterns for all 7 irons

Unfortunately, I do not possess a trackman or arrcos sensors in my grip so I’m not able to show stats to confirm dispersion.  I can tell you initially I had shots where I aimed right (out of habit for my draw with too often hooks) and the ball ended up on the right side of the green. Once I became comfortable with moving my target line closer to the center my shot pattern became remarkably better. Again I must add my fitting which moved my lie angle from 2 up to 2 down made a noticeable difference for me.  I’ve never won so many close-ups (greenies) with my playing group as I have since gaming the T350s!

Carry yards gap between the 7 clubs

When my clubs arrived they came without a 6 iron/hybrid. That caused a huge gap between my 7 iron and 5 hybrid. I’m still scratching my head on why the 6 hybrid was left out of the equation however once I ordered one and put it in my bag, all was well. It’s pretty much a 10ish-yard gap now and I’m very happy with that.

On-Course - 20/20

Have you felt like you’re a range pro hitting beautiful shots when it doesn’t count and once you tee it up for real your game hits the outhouse? Yeah, I think a large majority of us have had that exact thing happen.  Maybe more than once.  Anyways if you have confidence in your clubs when the strokes go down on the card, it’s a game-changer. The T350s have given me that exact confidence.  Sure bad days are gonna happen but when they come less frequently, golf is more fun. 

Strokes Gained

Since putting the T350s in my bag I’ve gone from a 15.4 to a 11.9 handicap. I shot three consecutive rounds in the 70s (74, 79,76) and this has NEVER happened.  A couple rounds later I carded a 75 so yeah I would say I’ve gained or let’s say knocked the snot out of my average strokes per round. 

The Good, The Bad, The In-Between - 20/20

The Good  - I was fortunate, lucky, or better yet blessed to have been selected for the T350 irons review.  Absolute game changers for me

The Bad -  Not including the 6 hybrid in my initial order. I would say it was because I was liquored up but not true as I don’t partake anymore.

The In-Between -  Not sure what this means however if ya talking like jelly spread between hot buttered toast these irons/hybrids make the best-ever combo. 

Play it or Trade It?  - 20/20

One of my buddies said when you’re through testing them you can pass them down to me. I said Buddy you’d rather run through hell with gasoline drawers on than eyeball my irons. 100 % sure these irons will never leave my possession and in fact, I will be putting my TaylorMade Stealth and Callaway Apex DCB irons up for sale.  The only way I would entertain keeping either of them would be as a backup set.  Another clue I will be keeping them is paying $300.00 for a 6 hybrid to fill a required gap.  

Final Score - 96 /100

 

Edited October 4, 2023 by ole gray

[Golfspy_CG2]

I’m guessing many of you already know as much about me as you care to.   But for the newcomer, I’ll try not to bore you too much.

My name is Rob, the screen name is a shortened version of CarolinaGolfer2, which was my screen name before becoming a staff member.  

I live in the Baltimore/Annapolis/Washington DC area, kind of in the middle of all three. I live with my Fiancé Michelle we have been tighter for 28 years but don’t have any kids.

By default, I am a Washington football fan, still have a hard time calling them the Commanders, and Nationals and I’m a mild Capitals fan. But I spent many of my after college years in the Chapel Hill/Raleigh area, thus the screen name. The Maryland area is great for golf, we get to play 12 months of the year, even though we may run into a few of snow closings in January or February. 

 By day, I’m the Tournament Sales Director at a 36-hole course in Maryland.  I run over 150 outings a year and it keeps me very busy. But somehow, I have managed to play a fair amount of golf, and demo a few clubs here and there

My experience in the industry has allowed me to take some fantastic trips to most of the major OEM’s and attend the PGA Show just about every year (pre covid) and meet some incredibly smart and wonderful industry people. Pictured Below with an extra 60 pounds vs now, I'm with Josh Talge the Director of Marketing for Titleist and a huge fan of MGS

I found the site in a bit different way than others who found it searching reviews of clubs. in 2016, I came across a rather “spirited” twitter exchange between Adam and someone.  I found Adam’s points very strong but very well made and seemed to make sense to me. Prior to that I had only heard of MyGolfSpy as being a rogue site that specialized in putting out leaked or unauthorized photos of new equipment. Just goes to show, you certainly can’t believe everything you read on the internet, especially when it’s a competing website/forum.

So, I looked at the article in question, can’t recall what it was now, but it was typical MGS style, making you not take for granted what the industry has always said.  I noticed the forum tab and jumped over there. I found it to be very friendly, but also very lacking in participation. I mean I read pretty much 4 months’ worth of posts within the first couple hours, and a couple days in, I had read pretty much everything back for several years. You could go an entire day on the forum and see maybe 40 or 50 posts in the entire forum.  My how things have grown and changed.  Thanks to all the great members here!

I was lucky enough to be picked for a test after about two weeks of being a member, I was shocked. It was for the Precision Pro Golf Band. An early version of a GPS watch, although it was more of a Fit Bit style than watch. About 6 months later I was one of the original EVNROLL Testers along with  JLukes  @revkev and @fozcycle, which was a great experience, and really confirmed to me what a great community this was.  Below is a shot of two of my bags after the 2016 EVNROLL testing, yeah, It's not uncommon for me to have two different bags, these happened to have be two of my all time favorite setups

 

 

I first became a staff member in 2017, I believe and a year later became Co Director of the Forum with @STUDque  Last year, I stepped back from the role due to the workload at my day job and became more of a as needed on call Moderator.  I have stayed on to help with things like the Major Contests or any other special contests/projects.  I have organized the first two official MGS National Outings in 2022 in Maryland and this year in Pinehurst.  We grew from 12 in 2022 to 16 this year, I think.  I’m hoping for a bigger and better one in 2024.

I have said many times over and over, the members here are the best asset we have.  They require very little moderation and allow the staff time to focus on things they want to do to try and make it the best forum in the industry.  I have met many members and made several friends here, I travelled to Ohio to join s small group there for a round of golf and some incredible pizza!  I played with Foz in Florida, and went north of the border to play with Ball Coach Jeff along with Matt from TXG.  
 

And one of my more unforgettable rounds was with @ole gray and his wonderful wife Kelly Bo  while I was visiting the folks at Bridgestone a few years back  

I have had the T350 in play for about a month but wanted to contribute along with the testers in this thread.

 

I’ll post my fitting experience separately  

#LetsGo LetsGo

 

[GolfSpy_APH]

Could not be be more excited for this group! Such an awesome group members and fingers crossed we could even have some additional forum exposure!

Looking forward to your reviews, fittings and everything you experience with this testing opportunity!

Of course also big thank you to Titleist for providing this opp. 

[sirchunksalot]

Congratulations testers! Man, this is a phenomenal group and I believe you guys will hit it out of the park! I can't wait to see how the new Titleist T series work for y'all. 

[Josh Ross]

Huge congrats! Excited to follow along!

[Bogeyfree69]

Congratulations to the selected!  Looking forward to the results!

[tchat07]

Congrats testers!

[bens197]

Thank you Titleist and MGS! This was an incredible surprise to wake up to this AM.  
 

Time to get to work!

[Shapotomous]

Congrats to a great group of testers!!

[rkj427]

Congrats. to this great group of testers!

Well deserving forum members selected for this. 

Really looking forward to seeing their comments all during this test.

[ejgaudette]

Congrats everyone, great group here. Can't wait to see how the testing goes

[Woody83]

Congratulations to the testers selected.  Such an awesome opportunity for you guys.   Look forward to reading your reviews.

[Sherlock]

Congrats!! Looking forward to seeing the results

[GolfSpy_BEN]

Big thanks to MGS and Titleist for this incredible opportunity!!!

[CFreddie]

No pressure testers - this one will have a lot of eyeballs on it!!! Congrats!!!

[ParFore74x]

Congratulations testers!!!!

[BigMacQue]

Nice!  But .... darn.

I would have had a blast testing these clubs.  Since I have homes in Florida and Georgia, both within an hour of two of the testers, I think I'll reach out and see if I can hook up with those guys and play a round with them ... just to see those clubs in action.

Congrats, testers, have fun.

[Mr Orange]

Congrats fellas. Looking forward to reading the reviews

[Old Joe]

congratulations to those selected!!!! what a great opportunity to them and us to learn about these state of the art irons

[revkev]

Pulled out all the stops for this group! Congrats testers. 

[GolfSpy_KFT]

19 hours ago, GolfSpy_APH said:

Testers Announced! Titleist T Series Irons

For full details check out this link -https://mygolfspy.com/news-opinion/titleist-t-series-irons/

This is the third generation of T-Series Irons from Titleist since they moved on from the AP lineup. This generation of T-Seriers introduces two “new” irons to the lineup in the T150 (replacement for the T100S) and the T350. 

Here is a breakdown highlight of the series.

Titleist T100 - The most played iron on the PGA Tour there wasn’t much to change from the previous version. However Titleist worked to improve the feel, create tighter dispersion and updated the variable bounce sole. 

Titleist T150 - One of the “new” models the T150 retains the looks and progression that the T100 made but with a slightly thicker topline and slightly wider sole to create a more forgiving package while retaining improved ball speeds by an updated Muscle Channel.

Titleist T200 - A non-clicky backplate! However in all seriousness the T200 for 2023 is where some big improvements were made. With some updates to the topline and finish the T200 retains the same size as the previous version with what will likely be a more appealing look. Titleist have moved the speed boosting Max Impact Core closer to the heel and face of the golf club to improve sound and forgiveness. 

Titleist T350 - The replacement for the T300, the T350 comes in a package that matches the rest of the T-Series much better. It is a larger, more forgiving iron than the T200 and for Titleist is their Ultimate Game Improvement Iron. 

However most all of you know all that and are eager to hear if you were selected for testing! 

Please welcome and congratulate our testers!

T100 - @bens197

T150 - @Ben Joest

T200 - @GregB135

T350 - @ole gray

**While Testers were selected for those as their main sets, Titleist is working with all of them to ensure they are fit properly. Meaning split sets are an option for each tester.**

What an AWESOME group of testers! Congrats guys and can't wait to follow along to see what you end up with!

[MDGolfHacker]

Congrats guys!

[Nater09]

Congrats to the testers! Exited to read their reviews!

[cojobro77]

Congratulations testers! Hit those irons pure!

[Josh Parker]

Congrats!

[nvizble1]

Congratulations! Can't wait to see how these tests come out. Take dead aim!