Titleist released their new GT metal woods range in August this year and they have delivered a driver with the GT3 model that offers bundles of adjustability.
They have introduced a new Proprietary Matrix Polymer (PMP) material where a thermoforming process allows it to reshape the crown where the plastic can be bent into shape and wrapped around the edges.
And there are 16 different loft and lie positions to suit your swing as well as a new Adjustable CG Track, which is now positioned closer to the face compared to the previous TSR3.
Fitters/golfers can select between five locations (H2, H1, N, T1, T2), to help with their tendencies.
Two leading players, Billy Horschel and Cam Smith, made the switch to the GT3 immediately. Other players who have also made the move include Max Homa and Tom Kim.
Horschel put the GT3 in the bag in June and he went on to win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth as well as finishing second in The Open at Royal Troon.
“I put the new Titleist GT3 in the bag right away at Memorial,” said Horschel.
“They came out with it that week and I hit it right away within five or six balls. I was really impressed with the ball speed, with the consistency of the spin rate. I didn’t go out any harder. You’re moving it quicker and on shots that I hit perfectly and on shots that I missed hit a little bit, I’ve gained distance which is something I’ve never seen.”
The forgiveness is another aspect where the American has seen huge leaps which saw him average 299.4 yards off the tee in the 2024 season and finish 33rd in Total Driving (distance and accuracy combined).
“I’ve never gained two to three almost four miles per hour before with a driver and instantly I’ve gained that and I’ve seen that on a regular basis now.
“The thing that is important about this driver that I think people aren’t talking about enough is whether you hit it in the centre or you miss it a little bit, the spin rate is very consistent.
“Whether I hit it good and it’s 2,300 or I miss it a little bit off the bottom and it’s 25 or maybe 2600, the dispersion is still tight like we haven’t lost anything. It’s faster, spin rates more consistent.
“It’s crucial because if I’m trying to carry a bunker and I know that if I miss a little bit it’s going be really close to my perfect spin rate and that I still have a chance of carrying that bunker if it’s only going to spin 26.
“So having the confidence of when I need to carry something that I know even if I do miss it the spin rate’s going to be there. We’re still going to get very close if not the same amount of carry as a perfect golf shot.”
Open winner Smith also a convert
For Smith the adjustability helped him move to the 2024 model.
“They brought a head out that was the same loft as my TSR3. It was going really high and the spin was still good but it was just that higher flight window so we knocked it down,” said the Aussie.
“I got a little bit more speed out of it actually as well and then that window was perfect so I didn’t really have to change too much to be honest.
“I just kind of put it in the bag, knocked the loft down and away she went. Probably the ones I go after probably get an extra mile or two an hour so probably you know four or five metres in the air which is nice particularly on those par 5s where you’re trying to get there in two but, for me as well, the biggest thing was the heel and toe misses. It’s just straightened it out a little bit.”
And for the Smith, the 2022 Open winner, the trademark Titleist sound was another reason why the GT3 went straight in the bag.
“I love the sound. I’ve always loved the deadened sound off the face, a real thuddy noise and the sound is unreal. That’s probably also been the biggest thing for me is the the sound of the driver. It just feels solid.
“The way the ball feels off the face is I think the best that Titleist have ever done especially those heel and toe misses. It doesn’t doesn’t really feel like you’re hitting it off the heel of the toe. It still kind of feels like the middle of the clubface and I think that shows in the flight as well.”
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