*Opinion: New Titleist Drivers, Ugly or New thing of Beauty?

[CB Lobo 4 Life]

The one thing (Outside the new TM driver) I have been waiting for the most this year was to hear about/see the new Titleist drivers. I gamed and still do on occasion the TSR3 and I absolutely love it! So, in my excitement, I heard yesterday Titleist released their newest model on tour. Imagine my shock when, at first appearance, I could not help but feel dismayed. The looks to me are nothing short of bland...I can't give a full description as to why, but I do not like the weird matte-glossy look. The classic design Titleist has kept to in the past has given way to a contemporary mashup of Cobra matte finishes mixed with Callaway's love of gloss, and needless to say, I am not a fan. 

I do not doubt that the performance is phenomenal. Will I be honest and say I will also try it out when released to the public? Yes, I most certainly will. However, I can't overcome how much I dislike the new look. Sure, Titleist probably does not care about some dude in northern AZ's opinion, but I am troubled that the release I have been most looking for has left me nothing short of deflated. 

Let me know what you all think. If you have yet to see the models that have been released, see the link below. 

https://golf.com/gear/drivers/titleist-gt-drivers-memorial-tournament/

[RickyBobby_PR]

It looks like a titleist driver. I don’t think it looks that bad and I typically don’t care what the sole of the driver looks like unless it some of the weird stuff Wilson put out.

I almost put a j815 driver in the bag and wasn’t a fan of the look. 
 

I pay more attention to the look of irons than I do drivers 

[GolfSpy_BNG]

I personally think they look good and the weight forward in the GT3 is a welcome sight. Also from pictures it looks like the gt2 has been slightly tweaked and maybe a deeper face than the tsr2.  
 

I shared this in our staff conversation but I was hoping for this when I heard rumblings early in the year. 
 

GT1- 10k moi

GT2- Larger more forgiving GT4 with weights forward and back

GT3- weight forward and left to right

GT4- small and super low spin weight front and back. 
 

This would have been my ideal range

[TJ Hall]

I’m not opposed to the looks, almost would’ve liked the matte finish all around.  Would like to see one in person and how it sets up/performs.

[GolfSpy_BEN]

My initial reaction to the first images was less than kind, but subsequent photos have softened my stance. Of the models, I’m interested in the GT-2 and will demo it when the opportunity presents itself. 

[TJ Hall]

10 minutes ago, GolfSpy_BEN said:

My initial reaction to the first images was less than kind, but subsequent photos have softened my stance. Of the models, I’m interested in the GT-2 and will demo it when the opportunity presents itself. 

Are you performing destructive testing on the Titleist models as well???

[GolfSpy_BEN]

8 minutes ago, TJ Hall said:

Are you performing destructive testing on the Titleist models as well???

I genuinely hope not, but

[Josh Parker]

I like them.  They are very Titleist.  I feel like they really don't ever do much more than a classic look. I like the new weight locations and from what I have seen, performance should be increased some. 

I love my TSr3 and the face and sole are similar to the GT 

[WiLS0N]

Titleist drivers at address look so good; the shape and all black crown from TS to GT are spot on. The metallic rib on the bottom looks a little weird to me.

 

[KC Golf]

I’m a TSR3 guy and I am totally okay with the look of the GT.  The GT name sounds like a sports car, but it is what I expect from a Titleist driver.  Looks totally fine to me.  Not sure you mess with a four proven look by adding ribs like a Ping or a line of colour on the face.

The weight track on the GT3 looks like the TSi3 FW in my bag.  I have to admit, I have never moved it around, buy it does catch a lot of dirt when I play it from the fairway.  So that might be something to look out for if you play a driver from the fairway.  I don’t play a driver off the deck so no issues for me.

i would say, I am happy to see it out already.  Can’t wait to try GT3 out for a fitting.  Does it appreciably increase distance or compensate better on mishits…  I also need to try the GT2

[Swood1994]

The new GT line reminds me a lot of the 915 series woods. That being said Titleist has never had any overly crazy woods in recent years. I prefer the TSR line when it comes to the looks department though. 

[GolfSpy_KFT]

I still think the best looking sole design in recent memory for Titleist drivers is the TSi3. It’s just freaking cool lol. 

I also was initially underwhelmed by the sole of the GT, but in hand photos look so much better and honestly every day I see it again I think it looks better and better. The GT2 fairway wood sole is absolute IMO.

Also, we never see the sole at address and their crowns are always a classic thing of beauty. Can’t wait to hit them when they become available and see how they compare to TSi

[berkeleybob]

Looks-wise, it kinda reminds me of the Mercedes E-Class 

Or an Audi A5

Which kinda fits with the company, I think. Just a classic brand looking to modernize its look in a minimalist kinda way. Me personally, I’m not an attracted to it, but I think I get the look it’s going for.

Performance-wise, I wouldn’t say no if someone handed it to me to try out.

Edited June 5 by berkeleybob

[GolfSpy_APH]

8 hours ago, GolfSpy_BEN said:

My initial reaction to the first images was less than kind, but subsequent photos have softened my stance. Of the models, I’m interested in the GT-2 and will demo it when the opportunity presents itself. 

I think you said it looked a little Kirkland like?

It is funny because the sole of the club is what gets a lot of attention, yet outside of it being on a shelf or looking at it with a headcover off I can't say I ever really notice it. The top of the new drivers look great, very traditional and what we have come to expect from them. Maybe the bottoms lack that pop or wow factor, but it also isn't what they are known for. The fact weights are so far forward is really cool to me and I am very interested to try them as soon as possible...which I am guessing won't be till August or September based on previous years. 

[ryan.mzzz]

my opinion, unplayable due to the glare on top. so, uggo to the max. 

Of course, my reaction to titleist drivers probably has something to do with the fact that I lost approximately 100,000 balls in the woods of west virginia with my trusty 915 driver and I thought all that spinning was my fault. then I got a ping g400 and stopped losing balls. so, i doubt i’ll ever get over that impression and use a titleist driver again.

at the same time, i’m dreading the day the powers that be in the golf world get between me and my yellow v1x’s. i may have to build up a prepper style years long supply right before that happens.

[William23]

I prefer the look of tsr but I don’t hate gt I would just move the font down to the heel like the previous line and add the model number to the crown so it has three digits above the strike zone or bring back the triangle 

[khlee102872]

I can't say blown away with the new look, the placement of the GT logo with the white background looks kinda out of place... I'm gaming the TSI3 and i absolutely love the simplicity of that driver, all black, all performance.

Anyway, i am eagerly awaiting the lowdown on the new tech in this latest series.. (I'm also guessing the two cycles will be GTI and GTR)  

[SigmaMason]

Looks like something titleist would produce. The only question is price and performance. 

[kmac17]

It is really hard to comment on the looks of the driver without understanding the technology that exists within the driver head. But let me have a crack - It looks like a titleist driver with some minor changes which I don't think makes it look nicer than the TSR; I am.not fan of the matte and gloss mashup, but maybe there is a technical reason it's there.....Not to mention the name sounds like a Ford Falcon GT. 

Looking forward to testing performance against the TSR3, but not buying on looks alone.

[mywong23]

since the 915D2 is still in my bag, I love the looks !

Really hope to be a tester... if/when.....

[jbsap]

First impressions are everything. As a lefty, with a tendency to have high spin off the tee, there are few options I was looking at for next year moving out of my stealth 2 that offered an 8 degree head with the ability to flatten a lie angle. Titleist has met those needs with the last several releases, and the only reason I am not still in my tsr2 is because of foolishness. That being said, based on the initial photos of the gt line, I have to say it looks like a cheap Temu version of a tsr. My understanding is that the excitement around them is performance based, and hopefully that remains to be true. 

[lecairn]

I just can't say as i 'm really in love with the TM mini driver BRNR cober ... All the rest seems Ugly and fat !!! 

[Rob Person]

Having rummaged through the Titleist website boards a little, it's interesting to read some of th reactions.  And like many here, some felt underwhelmed. 

My personal opinion is that I like the clean look to them. Minimalistic- is the word I'd use. But maybe that is what is separating Titleist from the rest, the ability to increase performance,  without going flashy? Alot of the new driver releases are regurgitating their club designs but with updated color changes and sole plates.  Being flashy isn't everyone's cup of tea, but will going simple be enough ?  As long as the performance is there, maybe it will be. 

Maybe this late release over the competition also gave the design engineers a chance to reenforce the internal structure/bonding points to be more sustainable compared to the other companies releases facing backlash over heads cracking. 

[Chubbs1991]

I like them I thought the TS was the best one in recent years. 

[joe59golfer]

At the end of the day it comes down to performance and not looks. Remember the Nike Sasquatch? If you could put that in your bag in the quest for more distance then this Titleist will do just fine.

[Brooner82]

Bring back the triangle logo on the crown, having TSi, TSR etc looks naff.

I wouldnt say no to a matt finish on the crown, which I really like on my Rouge ST

[RickyBobby_PR]

1 hour ago, ryan.mzzz said:

my opinion, unplayable due to the glare on top. so, uggo to the max. 

Of course, my reaction to titleist drivers probably has something to do with the fact that I lost approximately 100,000 balls in the woods of west virginia with my trusty 915 driver and I thought all that spinning was my fault. then I got a ping g400 and stopped losing balls. so, i doubt i’ll ever get over that impression and use a titleist driver again.

at the same time, i’m dreading the day the powers that be in the golf world get between me and my yellow v1x’s. i may have to build up a prepper style years long supply right before that happens.

So a bad fit and it’s the club/manufacturers fault.

fyi Ping because of their head designs and moi are some of the highest spinning heads on the market, even their lst model spins higher than other lst models

[StrikurJim]

  I am not really leaning one way or the other on these.  They are very subtle and could be really nice once I have them in hand.  They could also, not be as pleasing to the eye once I get my hands on one.  All that said I am more curious about the tech and shaft options.

[MichaelM]

I don't care if it's square and bright yellow. If I can hit it longer and straighter than my current driver, I'm good.

[Rlgregg3232]

Glad I’m not the only one…to me Titleist usually has the best looking clubs but I think they missed the mark in that department with these drivers. I’m sure they perform well though.