Titleist launch new AP1 and AP2 irons

Published:

Titleist’s 714 Series AP1 and AP2 irons feature higher launching long irons and lower launching short irons for longer carry distance with outstanding forgiveness.

Available in golf shops worldwide from November 8 alongside the new CB and MB irons, feature precise, progressive designs developed by the Titleist Golf Clubs R&D team to produce optimum launch, trajectory and distance by loft.

Advanced CG height progression, precisely designed into both models, creates higher launching long irons and flatter launching short irons for more carry distance with outstanding control to help players stop the ball on the green, closer to the hole.

Titleist R&D utilised innovative tungsten weighting and manufacturing technologies to make AP1 and AP2 the most forgiving irons in the game at the head sizes and blade lengths preferred by serious golfers. Performance-engineered profiles with precisely placed high density tungsten weighting in the long and mid irons help produce higher MOI, increasing the speed on miss-hits to provide consistent distance without sacrificing workability or shot control.

The new AP1 irons are the longest, most forgiving iron Titleist has ever made, with a multi-material, dual cavity design for players that want maximum distance, forgiveness and solid feel in a great looking progressive game improvement chassis.

The new AP2 models are multi-material, forged irons that offer distance with trajectory control and forgiveness with workability in a solid feeling, great looking tour proven chassis. Both AP1 and AP2 feature a satin polish playing position with bright polish cavity highlights for superior appearance at address.

“When it comes to iron play, distance without the ability to stop your shot is meaningless. You have to hit the ball far enough to reach the green, but also have the proper ball flight to stop it near the hole,” said Steve Pelisek, General Manager, Titleist Golf Clubs.

“What our R&D team has accomplished with the new AP1 and AP2 models is impressive, effectively taking each individual iron as its own design and optimising its performance to provide longer distance, more consistent distance and stopping control, even when you don’t hit a shot perfectly.”

On the European Tour and PGA Tour, the new models were launched this summer with immediate validation and success. Two instant converters to the new AP2 irons earned victories just weeks after the new models were made available. One of those players, Titleist Brand Ambassador Jason Dufner, played a set of new AP2 irons to record victory at the USPGA Championship for his first Major title.

Price and availability

The new Titleist AP1 and AP2 (714 Series) irons will be available in golf shops across Europe beginning November 8th 2013. AP1 irons have a SRP £93 (steel shaft) and £107 per club (graphite). AP2 irons have a SRP £114 (steel) and £130 (graphite) per club.

The improvements at a glance

Longer, precise flight

Titleist Golf Club R&D designed the new AP1 and AP2 irons to provide the best combination of trajectory and distance control. The long and mid irons feature improved dual-cavity constructions – AP1 has a new, deep undercut; AP2 has a 25% thinner upper cavity face – with high density tungsten efficiently placed low in the head for lower CG, making it easier for players to launch the ball higher for more carry distance. The short irons have a thicker upper face and narrower sole that help raise the CG for a lower, flatter trajectory with outstanding control into the green.

The short iron lofts in both AP1 (#7-W) and AP2 (#6-W) have been strengthened 1 degree to help lower launch and increase ball speed for more distance. A second AP1 gap wedge (52º) has also been added to help with set gapping.

“We’ve really taken progressive design to another level to get that flight and forgiveness where we want it,” Pelisek said.

To ensure proper CG height throughout the set, high density tungsten is placed low in the bottom of the hosel of the AP2 P and W irons. This also helps make for a better transition to utility wedges, which typically have the CG slightly closer to the heel.

Maximum forgiveness

AP1 and AP2 irons provide the most forgiveness in the game at their tour-proven blade sizes. High density tungsten is precisely placed low in the toe (and co-forged into the heel of AP2) of the long and mid irons to create high MOI that drives higher ball speeds across the face for more consistent distance on off-centre hits.

“Every player can benefit from added forgiveness. You always want to maintain distance so that you carry that bunker, or water hazard, even if you don’t catch it on the centre of the face,” said Dan Stone, Vice President of Titleist Golf Club R&D. “There’s a progression in how we design irons. Since long irons require more speed and are more difficult to hit for most players, we try to maximise the forgiveness. You can design more forgiveness into an iron by simply make the head bigger, but in doing so, we would give up control. And Titleist wants to use a profile and shape that players prefer. So we push the envelope with high density tungsten in order to maximize forgiveness while retaining the look that serious golfers want to play.”

Co-forging process

Pioneered by Titleist R&D, the co-forging process allows for the extreme placement of high density tungsten low and out on the heel of the AP2 long irons; the result is higher launch with maximum forgiveness, without the loss of workability or shot control, at the AP2’s constant, tour-preferred blade length.

The tungsten co-forging process takes place in the middle of the AP2’s standard forging process. The partially forged head is removed from the forging die, after which a pilot hole is drilled into the heel. The hole is seeded with the tungsten weight and a steel cap. The head is then returned to the forging die where the tungsten is precisely hammered into place.

“The co-forging process really illustrates the critical thinking and the tremendous design and engineering expertise we have in Titleist R&D to keep finding way to improve our irons,” said Marni Ines, Director of Titleist Irons Development. “We have more discretionary weight to play with on the AP2 because of its smaller chassis, which provided us the opportunity to place tungsten in the extreme perimeters of the club head. On average there are over 40 grams of tungsten in the long and mid irons (#3-7), which is around 20 percent of the total head weight. This efficient weighting produces high MOI in a tour-proven profile.”

Solid feel

Progressive CG not only helps flight the AP1 and AP2 irons properly, it also helps provide solid feel. The optimised CG heights are positioned closer to the point of impact, resulting in a larger sweet spot for a more solid feel on every shot.

A new face support bar in the AP1 long irons further tunes face vibrations for improved feel at impact. With both models, increased face thickness in the short irons adds mass behind the ball for a more blade-like short iron feel.

Improved sole profile

AP1 and AP2 irons feature a new pre-worn leading edge that reduces digging at the point of turf entry, and increased camber (more in the short irons) that helps control divot depth to allow a smooth entry and release from the turf for a more playable sole.

An improved hosel-to-leading edge blend reduces the appearance of offset through both sets, while the AP2 #8, #9 and P irons feature a reduced heel height for a more proportioned, compact profile. AP1 long irons feature a wider topline that adds confidence, while AP1 short irons have a slightly thinner topline and sole for a more playable, solid visual.

Tour endorsement

Nearly 40 players on the worldwide professional tours have already switched to the new AP1 or AP2 models since the seeding and tour validation process began in June and July at the AT&T National on the PGA Tour and the Scottish Open on the European Tour.

At the John Deere Classic, just two weeks after the new models made their debut on the PGA Tour, Jordan Spieth trusted the new AP2 irons for victory. Less than a month later, Jason Dufner earned his first Major title at the USPGA Championship playing a new set of AP2 irons. Dufner, who carries AP2 4-PW irons, hit 54 of 72 greens in regulation at Oak Hill, which ranked third overall for the week.

“The new AP2’s are really nice. The soles are better, the bounce is configured a little bit differently, and the feel is better,” Dufner said. “They just feel really solid through the strike, there’s no turf grab with the leading edge and they’re just going right through the turf really nice. They feel really solid all around, even if you catch one a little thin or a little heavy they still seem to hold their flight well.”

Other players who have already switched to new AP2 irons include: Matteo Manassero, Victor Dubuisson, Ben Crane, Brendon de Jonge, Jbe Kruger, Jason Bohn, Brad Faxon and Jay Haas. Ben Curtis switched to the new Titleist AP1 irons the first week they were available.

 

 

- Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us.