Singapore: Titleist has unveiled its new 716 AP iron models which deliver ‘best-in-class combination of distance, forgiveness and shot-stopping performance’.
Available from October 23 in golf shops worldwide, the new 716 Titleist AP1 and AP2 irons are precisely engineered with industry-leading amounts of high density tungsten to deliver the best combination of low Centre of Gravity [CG] and high Moment of Inertia [MOI] in their respective categories.
Chris McGinley, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing, said: “AP1 and AP2 irons are designed for two distinct player profiles. AP1 is for players seeking maximum distance and forgiveness. AP2 is for players seeking distance and forgiveness in a Tour-proven iron.
“Our R&D team has precisely engineered both models to create speed and launch for distance with maximum forgiveness to help all players improve their iron play.”
The new 716 AP1 is the longest, most forgiving iron ever from Titleist, part of the Acushnet company which is a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
Its extreme 360º undercut cavity design with a large, thin, unsupported face delivers speed and launch for more distance, while the industry-leading use of high-density tungsten weighting provides maximum forgiveness.
“Golfers looking to improve their games need the best technology available,” McGinley said. “We understand these golfers want as much distance and forgiveness as they can get, but we also know they want to score better.
“AP1 has technology that will help golfers hit the ball farther with the proper flight to stop the ball closer to the pin more consistently. That’s what good iron play is all about.”
Marni Ines, Director, Titleist Irons Development, added: “Golfers are getting a double helping of distance with new AP1 without sacrificing trajectory.
“By carving more mass from the undercut and thinning the face, we get more launch and speed. On top of that, we’ve added a significant amount of tungsten, which lowers the CG and increases launch.
“We’ve taken that extra launch and used it to strengthen the lofts. Stronger loft means more speed. More speed means more distance. There are a lot of companies that chase distance mainly by strengthening lofts and lengthening shafts, but we think we’re doing it the right way, with superior technology.”
Dan Stone, Vice President, Golf Club R&D, said: “Remember, when it comes to good iron play, distance is still just one part of the equation. Distance control and accuracy are just as important, and that’s where forgiveness comes into play.
“We are the only company in this category using high density tungsten. You can make a club more forgiving just by making the club head larger, but golfers don’t always want that. Through our technology we have the best combination of low CG and high MOI in the game improvement category.
“What that means to the golfer is hitting the ball far enough to reach the green and stopping it close to the pin more often, and maintaining distance consistency and trajectory even when you hit it off centre.”
Meanwhile, the new 716 AP2 is Titleist’s most advanced players’ iron, made even better, delivering Tour-proven distance with forgiveness and solid forged feel.
New AP2 irons use extreme high density tungsten weighting to position the CG low and perfectly aligned at impact for more speed. An innovative co-forged construction places the high density tungsten low and to the perimeter, increasing MOI for greater forgiveness and consistent distance.
“AP2 is the gold standard in the Tour-played iron category,” McGinley said. “It’s been one of the most-played cavity back models on the PGA Tour and has been trusted over the years by players such as Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson, Bill Haas and Jason Dufner.
“AP2 is also one of the best-selling Tour played irons in the market. Our R&D team knows what Tour players and dedicated golfers want when it comes to iron performance and have worked side by side with them over the last two years to make the new 716 AP2s even better.”
Ines said: “New AP2 is a direct result of advancements in our co-forging process. When the development process began, I told my team to design the best club they could, put the tungsten where we wanted it and not worry about whether we could actually make it.
“We shaped the tungsten to the perimeter of the club and brought it right to the edge so, literally, it’s part of the profile. Incredibly, our manufacturing team figured out how to make it.
“You can always make a golf club more forgiving by making it bigger, but a Tour player doesn’t want to play anything bigger than this. So we had to get more creative in order to boost our MOI. Really, the only way to get the weight farther out now would be to pull it outside of the head.”
Stone added: “There isn’t a Tour-played iron with better technology than AP2. It’s been the forgiveness leader by a substantial margin for years now and we just keep expanding on that.
“Our 712 series AP2, which we introduced in the fall of 2011, would still be a leader in the category in terms of combination of low CG and high MOI. And our construction has improved two times since then. Our Tour players like ball speed on off-centre hits, just like everyone else does.
“Consistent distance comes from consistent speed. The forgiveness of 716 AP2 is now on par with 714 AP1, and brings distance control in a players’ club to an entirely new level.”