Golfers have eagerly anticipated the release of Titleist’s newest drivers since we were given a sneak peek in June. While the GT drivers will understandably grab most of the spotlight, Titleist is also launching two GT fairway metals to round out the lineup perfectly.
“A line of high-performing fairway metals needs to excel in a number of different ways,” said Stephanie Luttrell, Director of Titleist Metalwood Product Development. “For most golfers, fairway metals need to be highly versatile. They need to be fast and long off the tee, and they need to fly high and hold greens. Playability and forgiveness are hugely important as well. The changes we made to GT fairways help deliver across all these performance attributes.”
Titleist has decided to do away with the titanium crown for the GT driver lineup, and GT fairways are following suit by replacing the heavier steel crown with a Seamless Thermoform Crown made of a new Proprietary Matrix Polymer. While the new polymer crown weighed three times less in the driver, it is approximately five times lighter for the fairway. This allows a significant amount of discretionary weight to be redistributed throughout each head. It’s worth noting that the GT2 heads use more of the Proprietary Matrix Polymer than the GT3, which is done to fine-tune the center of gravity locations on each head. Like the driver, these fairway metals retain the classic Titleist sound and feel.
With the weight savings, Titleist engineers were able to redistribute the weight to reposition the center of gravity in the optimal locations for each head. In the GT2 model, the center of gravity has been moved lower and closer to the face, resulting in a higher launch and lower spin compared to the TSR2. In the GT3 model, a deeper center of gravity creates a higher launch while maintaining low but playable spin.
“We had very ambitious CG targets for both models, and the only way we were going to get the CG where we wanted it was through the multi-material crown,” said Tom Bennett, Titleist Clubs’ Principal Product Manager. “That discretionary weight allowed us to significantly increase launch in both models, drop spin considerably in GT2 and keep spin low in GT3.”
One of the most common strike locations on fairway metals is low on the face. That’s why Titleist has used a forged 465 Stainless Steel L-cup face, which is designed to improve performance on low strikes. In their testing, they found that shots hit in this area maintained more ball speed and reduced excessive spin. According to their Tour players, this L-cup face also reduces the sharp feel that is often associated with thin shots.
Titleist GT Fairways – GT2
GT2 targets a broader range of golfers by offering high launch, low spin, and more forgiveness than the GT3. It is available in five different lofts, the highest being a 21° 7-wood.
One notable change to the sole design is the flattening of the sole curvature from heel to toe. With a shallower face design compared to the GT3, the changes to the sole give the GT2 a more grounded appearance. Additionally, because the contact on both the heel and toe occurs higher on the face, the GT2 is more forgiving than its predecessor.
Lofts: 13.5, 15.0, 16.5, 18.0, 21.0 (RH/LH)
Titleist GT Fairways – GT3
The new GT3 fairway is designed as a mid/high-launching fairway metal with low spin. Similar to the driver, golfers can adjust their ball flight using the SureFit Adjustable GC Track Systems, which offers five different positions: H2 (Heel), H1, N (Neutral), T1 (Toe), and T2. These characteristics result in a fairway metal that provides fast ball speed, controlled ball flights, and maximum adjustability.
Titleist values feedback from their Tour staff, and one suggested change for the GT3 was to have the face sit a little bit taller. This change not only helps distinguish the style from the GT2 but also benefits players who prefer to hit down on the ball rather than employ a sweeping motion. Like the GT2, the sole has seen a reduced curvature from heel to toe, making the club look like it’s sitting lower to the ground.
Lofts: 15.0, 16.5, 18.0 (RH/LH)
Shaft options for the GT fairway metals are similar to those for the GT drivers. They consist of a Project X Denali Red, Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue, Project X HZRDUS Black 5th Gen, and Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black. For an additional $200, you can also upgrade to premium Graphite Design shafts such as the Tour AD-DF, AD-DI, and AD-UB.
Titleist’s GT fairway metals are currently available for fitting and will be available in stores on August 23, 2024, priced at $399. You will be able to find them at www.worldwidegolf.com.
More details about the new GT fairway metals lineup are available at www.titleist.com.
