Traditionally, which I suppose means for its first three iterations, Titleist’s 1 driver was the sunshine one. Whereas that continues to be true with the GT1 driver, Titleist desires golfers to grasp there’s a bit extra to the story. This GT1 gives added versatility which has the potential to considerably broaden the pool of gamers who would possibly simply match into one.
Extra on that in a bit however, first, let’s take a look at the design parts that differentiate and bind GT1 to the remainder of the GT driver household.
Titleist GT1 design
The usual construct of the Titleist GT1 driver options lighter parts. That a part of the story hasn’t modified. Inventory head weights are lighter as are inventory shafts and the inventory grip.
Absolutely assembled, the GT1 weighs roughly 50 grams lower than a inventory males’s construct with Titleist’s different GT fashions.
So far as the shaping goes, GT1 options the longest front-to-back profile throughout the GT lineup. It’s the rationale why, as a substitute of the normal pear shapes of GTs 2-4, Titleist describes the GT1 as providing a extra trendy profile.
Whereas the bigger footprint can lead some to really feel extra assured over the ball, it does create some aerodynamic challenges. With that, Titleist engineers labored to reshape the crown and sole including extra curvature to assist make the motive force transfer quicker by the air.
Whereas aerodynamics enhancements disproportionately profit higher gamers, Titleist believes that even golfers who swing within the low 80s will get some profit from the improved form.
Even when you don’t swing notably quick, Titleist says there’s nonetheless one thing in it for you. The lighter weight additionally works to extend velocity for a lot of gamers.
The remaining bits of the GT1 design story is in lockstep with the remainder of the GT driver lineup.
With GT1, you’re getting Titleist’s proprietary seamless PMP composite crown. Along with providing key weight financial savings and clear seems, the polymer-infused materials goes a good distance in the direction of making a sound and really feel that meet the expectations for Titleist drivers.
Like different GT drivers, GT1 gives a VFT Velocity Ring face that’s been optimized for the GT1. That’s the velocity from the face a part of the story.
Whereas Titleist engineers lean closely on PGA Tour gamers for suggestions, the 1 has historically been an outlier as a result of it doesn’t get a lot in the best way of Tour play. There may be each expectation that Titleist can have a GT1 in play on the Masters however the majority of suggestions comes from becoming accounts.
The frequent request was to extend launch with out rising spin. With that out of the best way, let’s dig a bit of deeper into the goal GT1 participant.
Who’s the Titleist GT1 for?
We at all times have to color with broad strokes for this form of factor and our normal recommendation is to get correctly fitted in your subsequent driver and you need to. Having stated that, there are three varieties of golfers which are more than likely to fitted into GT1.
Slower swingers
Whereas GT1 has advanced, it hasn’t given up its place within the Titleist lineup as the best choice for golfers seeking to regain misplaced clubhead velocity.
By means of its first couple of iterations, Titleist’s 1 mannequin wasn’t far faraway from a Japanese spec driver. It was lighter, had an extended shaft, was higher-launching and it spun extra, too.
All of that’s nonetheless true with GT1 (a minimum of it may be). In its inventory configuration, GT1 is constructed with a nine-gram flat weight. A 40-gram Fujikura Air Speeder shaft is first on the listing of inventory shafts. A Golf Delight TV 360 lLte completes the providing.
That’s how we get to that 50-gram discount I discussed.
So GT1 can nonetheless be preferrred for a golfer who wants increased launch and extra clubhead velocity.
Spin-challenged golfers
Because the 1 has advanced alongside the TS and now GT lineups, Titleist has come to imagine that maybe it pigeon-holed the 1 and by extension narrowed its viewers greater than it ought to have.
With GT1, Titleist is emphasizing how the becoming capabilities of GT1 might help it attain an broader phase of golfers.
The plan is to do a greater job of selling GT1 in a standard-weight construct. That begins by rising the mass of the flat weight by six grams. Add in a standard-weight shaft and grip and you’ve got what quantities to an virtually fully completely different driver constructed for a completely completely different kind of participant.
Constructed to straightforward weight, GT1 is for the golfer who can obtain extra distance by increased spin.
You’re not going to see anyone make claims alongside the strains of “our highest spinning driver” however the truth of the matter is that each lineup has one, golfers purchase them, and there are literally some gamers who will profit from elevated spin charges.
Living proof: Phillip Bishop, who heads up our Most Needed Testing program. Phil is blessed with an especially constructive assault angle. Relying on the measurement machine, he hits eight to 10 levels up on the ball. With that, he struggles to generate spin.
To toss out a baseball analogy, Phillip is Tim Wakefield to my Dwight Gooden.
On our latest go to to TPI for the GT1 introduction, I used to be confirmed to be a GT3 man. Phill … yeah, there’s a robust case to be made for the GT1 regardless of his 100-mph swing velocity.
He’s not a average (sluggish) swing velocity man however he’s a GT1 man. You may be one, too.
With an extra six grams of weight within the again, Titleist says launch angles sometimes improve by about half a level and spin climbs by about 100 rpm. For the goal participant, that’s a very good factor.
It’s additionally price stating that when constructed to straightforward weight, GT1 has the deepest heart of gravity of any Titleist driver and, with that, additionally the very best MOI.
Whereas Titleist will not be planning to leap on the 10K prepare any time quickly, if MOI is some extent of emphasis for you, GT1 will get you the very best quantity within the Titleist lineup.
Golfers looking for draw bias*
Let me be clear: Titleist doesn’t supply something to rival probably the most draw-biased designs in the marketplace however it does take into account GT1 to be its most draw-friendly driver.
In contrast to true draw-biased drivers, the GT1 lacks the heel-biased heart of gravity. That stated, there are some design parts that may work to advertise a draw (or decrease a fade) for golfers looking for a bit of little bit of assist.
With the SureFit hosel within the A1 place, GT1 has probably the most impartial face angle of any GT mannequin. It additionally has the deepest heart of gravity which might help golfers sq. the membership main into affect. Lastly, in the usual hosel place, it has probably the most upright lie angle of any Titleist driver.
Once more, the purpose isn’t to recommend that the Titleist GT1 is as aggressively draw-biased because the drivers we expect are better of breed for that class however the design can work to create draw-friendly circumstances with out shifting the CG away from face heart and sacrificing ball velocity for it.
Remaining ideas
I hope this doesn’t have to be stated however the GT1 isn’t meant to interchange something within the present GT lineup. Its objective is to finish a lineup that now consists of 4 drivers with 4 distinctive heart of gravity positions and, in the end, sufficient efficiency variation to suit virtually any golfer.
Specs, pricing, availability
The Titleist GT1 driver is obtainable in 9, 10 and 12 levels. Featured shafts embody the Fujikura Air Speeder Subsequent Gen – 40g (R, S, X), 35g (Girls’s R3, Jr./Youth), Challenge X Denali Crimson – 50g (5.0, 5.5, 6.0), and Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue – 55g (R, S).
Retail worth is $649. Pre-sale begins Feb. 2,with full availability beginning Feb. 21.
For extra info, go to Titleist.com.
Save on TSR1
Whereas there’s a lot to like concerning the new GT1, we’d be remiss to not let you realize that the TSR1 has been discounted to $449.99 whereas provides final.
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