There have been a some beautiful irons released in the golf industry over the past couple of months. Mizuno Golf had introduced their collection of MP-18 irons while TaylorMade Golf recently added to their P700 series with the P790 and P730. Titleist joins the party this week with the formal announcement of their 718 Series of irons including the AP1, AP2, AP3, T-MB, CB and MB.
718 AP1
Titleist’s largest and most true game-improvement entry, the AP1 features hollow irons in the 4- and 5-iron based in part on the knowledge gained from Titleist’s high-end C16 concept irons. The remainder of the set feature 360-degree undercut cavity, wider-soled thin face designs, progressively constructed so the short irons and long irons specific shotmaking needs are met. Throughout the long and middle irons (4-7), high density tungsten weight is used in the toe sections to provide the highest forgiveness of any of the 718 irons. An average of nearly 58 grams of tungsten is used in each iron, and the thin face insert is just two millimeters thick.
The AP1 is offered 4-iron through gap wedge (USD $1,000 for set of eight).
718 AP2
The forged design played by most PGA Tour players on the Titleist staff combines several metals and methods to improve long and middle iron distance and short iron control. On the 3- though 6-iron, a high strength SUP 10 steel body is forged to the same steel face insert that’s just 2.1 millimeters thick and as thin as 1.8 millimeters in the upper cavity – something that could only be done with the high-strength SUP 10 steel. The set then switches to a 1025 carbon steel body and face insert on the 7-iron, while the 8-iron through wedge feature a forged 1025 carbon steel face and body construction.
Key to the design again is the use of two different densities of tungsten in the heel and toe (an average total of 57 grams) to provide stability on the long and middle irons (3-7).
The AP2 is available 3-iron through gap wedge (USD $1,300 for a set of eight)
718 AP3
The most technically ambitious of the new AP irons, the AP3 brings a high-speed, multi-faceted approach to that category of irons that by shape appeals to better players and by performance entices nearly all serious golfers regardless of handicap. This is the first time Titleist has offered the AP3.
It features three separate constructions within the same set, led by a hollow-yet-blade-like construction in the 3- through 7-iron. An L-shaped face insert (just 2.1 millimeters thick) is made of high strength 455 steel, and it wraps around the sole to provide better face flexing than a traditional face insert. It’s supported by a 17-4 stainless steel body. There’s also an average of 84 grams of high-density tungsten in the heel and toe to boost MOI. The 8- and 9-iron in the set feature a sheet of 17-4 steel for the face insert, while the wedges are solid cast, single-piece 17-4. The set is designed progressively both in terms of size and center of gravity location, and the changing constructions facilitate this movement through the set.
The AP3 is available 3-iron through gap wedge (USD $1,300 for a set of eight)
718 T-MB
Originally conceived as a hollow-construction, fast-faced driving iron, the T-MB was offered on custom order as a full set in its 716 version. Now, it’s a full set stock offering right from the get-go (although it’s already gotten some fame as the long-iron replace Jordan Spieth used to hit his approach shot from the driving range on his way to winning the Open Championship in July at Royal Birkdale). Again, the set changes from long and middle irons to short irons. The higher-speed long irons feature the high-strength SUP 10 steel in an L-Face construction, surrounded by a 17-4 steel body.
Once again, high-density tungsten plays a huge role with a mammoth 91.5 grams on average filling the heel and toe. The short irons feature a 17-4 face insert, but only use tungsten in the 8- and 9-iron. The hollow construction isn’t just about forgiveness, but also a solution to feel of a hot face.
The T-MB comes in a 2-iron through pitching wedge at USD $250 per club or USD $2,000 for a set of eight.
718 CB
The traditional looking forged cavity backs also employ some subtle face insert technology. A 17-4 face insert around a forged 1025 carbon steel body provides weight savings that allow for average of 71 grams of tungsten to be distributed to the heel and toe to optimize forgiveness and stability.
The short irons (8-iron through pitching wedge) are a classic one-piece forging. The more distinct pre-worn leading edge prevents digging and is seen to varying degrees throughout the full array of 718 irons.
The CB is available 3-iron through pitching wedge (USD $1,300 for a set of eight).
718 MB
The traditional one-piece forged muscleback blade already has made its way to tour and been used by Justin Thomas in his win at the PGA Championship. While very limited changes were made from the 716 MB, a straighter line muscle further refines the weighting to more precisely locate the center of gravity to enhance the shotmaking skills of elite players. As in the past, the head is forged from a single billet of 1025 carbon steel.
The MB is available 3-iron through pitching wedge (USD $1,300 for a set of eight).
Source: Titleist, Golf Digest
