Titleist Introduces New AP1 and AP2 Irons with Improved Flight, Forgiveness, Feel

New 714 Series Models Feature Higher Launching Long Irons and Lower Launching Short Irons for Longer Carry Distance with Outstanding Forgiveness 

(FAIRHAVEN, Mass.) – Precision engineered for advanced performance, the new Titleist AP1 and AP2 irons deliver longer flight with increased forgiveness and more solid feel.

Precise iron play requires both distance and control, hitting shots that fly the desired distance with the proper trajectory to softly land the ball near the pin. The new AP1 and AP2 (714 Series) irons, available in golf shops worldwide beginning Nov. 8, feature progressive designs developed by the Titleist Golf Club R&D team to produce optimum launch, trajectory and distance for each 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 also utilized 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 mishits to provide consistent distance without sacrificing workability or shot control.

The new AP1 irons are the longest, most forgiving irons 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.

“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 optimizing its performance to provide longer distance, more consistent distance and stopping control, even when you don’t hit a shot perfectly.”

The new irons debuted on the PGA Tour this summer to immediate validation and success, with two instant converters to the new AP2 models quickly earning breakthrough victories. Jordan Spieth won his first-career PGA Tour title at the John Deere Classic with new AP2 irons in the bag, just two weeks after the clubs were made available on tour. Soon after, Jason Dufner played new AP2’s in winning the PGA Championship for his first major title.

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-percent 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. “There isn’t a more progressive set of irons in the industry.”

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-center 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 center 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 maximize the forgiveness. You can design more forgiveness into an iron by simply making 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.”

MORE SOLID FEEL: Progressive CG not only helps flight the AP1 and AP2 irons properly, it also improves feel. The optimized 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.

Both AP1 and AP2 feature a satin polish playing position with bright polish cavity highlights for superior appearance at address.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY: The new Titleist AP1 and AP2 (714 Series) irons will be available in golf shops worldwide beginning Nov. 8. AP1 irons have a MAP of $100 per club (steel shaft) and $125 per club (graphite). AP2 irons have a MAP of $137.50 (steel) and $161 (graphite) per club.

ON TOUR: 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 late June at the PGA Tour’s AT&T National. At the John Deere Classic, just two weeks after the new models made their debut on tour, Jordan Spieth trusted the new AP2’s to three-consecutive 65s and a maiden PGA Tour title.

“It’s really incredible what the new irons have done for me,” said Spieth, who put his new AP2 models in the bag the first day he tested them. “They’ve made improvements to help get the long irons up higher, which is something I need because I don’t spin the ball very much… I also love how I can flight the ball with a 9 or 8 iron if I need to, but if there’s a tucked pin I can launch it way up in the air. It’s just amazing the variety of different shots you can play with them. They’re forgiving enough to be able to still get the right distance on a mishit but you still have the workability of a forged club, just like a blade. I can move it both directions, hit it high or low, and when my swing is on I know that the irons are going to perform the way I need them to.”

Less than a month later, Jason Dufner earned his first major title at the PGA Championship playing a new set of AP2 irons and, as one national golf magazine cover boasted, “lots of precise iron shots.” Dufner 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 real 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.”

On the Web.com Tour, Peter Malnati also gamed a new set of AP2’s in winning the News Sentinel Open, birdieing five of his last seven holes for a one-shot victory.

Other players who have already put AP2 irons in their bags include: Ben Crane, Kevin Na, Brendon de Jonge, Jbe Kruger, Jason Bohn, Mark O’Meara, Brad Faxon and Jay Haas. Ben Curtis switched to the new Titleist AP1 irons the first week they were available.

Contact: NEOhioGolf@yahoo.com