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 needs golfers to know there’s a bit extra to the story. This GT1 presents added versatility which has the potential to considerably develop the pool of gamers who may simply match into one.
Extra on that in a bit however, first, let’s have 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 elements. 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 inside the GT lineup. It’s the rationale why, as an alternative 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 way of 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 should you don’t swing significantly quick, Titleist says there’s nonetheless one thing in it for you. The lighter weight additionally works to extend pace 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 appears to be like, the polymer-infused materials goes a great distance in the direction of making a sound and really feel that meet the expectations for Titleist drivers.
Like different GT drivers, GT1 presents a VFT Velocity Ring face that’s been optimized for the GT1. That’s the pace 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 way in which of Tour play. There may be each expectation that Titleist may have a GT1 in play on the Masters however the majority of suggestions comes from becoming accounts.
The widespread request was to extend launch with out growing spin. With that out of the way in which, let’s dig a little bit deeper into the goal GT1 participant.
Who’s the Titleist GT1 for?
We at all times have to color with broad strokes for this type of factor and our customary recommendation is to get correctly fitted to your subsequent driver and you must. Having mentioned that, there are three kinds of golfers which can be most certainly to fitted into GT1.
Slower swingers
Whereas GT1 has developed, it hasn’t given up its place within the Titleist lineup as the best choice for golfers trying to regain misplaced clubhead pace.
By way 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 (not less than 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 record of inventory shafts. A Golf Pleasure TV 360 lLte completes the providing.
That’s how we get to that 50-gram discount I discussed.
So GT1 can nonetheless be ultimate for a golfer who wants increased launch and extra clubhead pace.
Spin-challenged golfers
Because the 1 has developed 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 may 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 growing 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 totally different driver constructed for a wholly totally different kind of participant.
Constructed to straightforward weight, GT1 is for the golfer who can obtain extra distance by way of increased spin.
You’re not going to see anyone make claims alongside the traces 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 pace.
He’s not a average (gradual) swing pace man however he’s a GT1 man. You might be one, too.
With a further six grams of weight within the again, Titleist says launch angles usually improve by about half a level and spin climbs by about 100 rpm. For the goal participant, that’s a superb factor.
It’s additionally value stating that when constructed to straightforward weight, GT1 has the deepest middle of gravity of any Titleist driver and, with that, additionally the best MOI.
Whereas Titleist just isn’t planning to leap on the 10K prepare any time quickly, if MOI is some extent of emphasis for you, GT1 will get you the best quantity within the Titleist lineup.
Golfers looking for draw bias*
Let me be clear: Titleist doesn’t provide something to rival essentially the most draw-biased designs in the marketplace nevertheless it does think about GT1 to be its most draw-friendly driver.
Not like true draw-biased drivers, the GT1 lacks the heel-biased middle of gravity. That mentioned, there are some design parts that may work to advertise a draw (or reduce a fade) for golfers looking for a little bit little bit of assist.
With the SureFit hosel within the A1 place, GT1 has essentially the most impartial face angle of any GT mannequin. It additionally has the deepest middle of gravity which may help golfers sq. the membership main into impression. Lastly, in the usual hosel place, it has essentially 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 middle and sacrificing ball pace for it.
Ultimate ideas
I hope this doesn’t must be mentioned however the GT1 isn’t meant to exchange something within the present GT lineup. Its function is to finish a lineup that now contains 4 drivers with 4 distinctive middle of gravity positions and, finally, 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 embrace the Fujikura Air Speeder Subsequent Gen – 40g (R, S, X), 35g (Girls’s R3, Jr./Youth), Undertaking X Denali Crimson – 50g (5.0, 5.5, 6.0), and Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue – 55g (R, S).
Retail value 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 lots to like in regards to the new GT1, we’d be remiss to not let that the TSR1 has been discounted to $449.99 whereas provides final.
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