What a journey Titleist has been on the past six years. It was that long ago when the company sat down and decided to take a very introspective look in the mirror when it came to metalwoods. Turns out, it was one of the best things they ever could have done. You see, it was at that time when Titleist was making good drivers in their 900-series. They were often applauded for their playability, but there was something missing. Speed.
So, the “Titleist Speed Project” was established, and the company set out to create a product that could stand toe to toe with any other in the marketplace not just in playability, but also sheer speed and power. First came TS which was a notable jump from the 900-series, but it was the TSi which kicked the door down for the company. The TSi has been the #1 driver on Tour, something many other companies have practically sold their soul to achieve.
Where do you go from there though? According to Titleist, you re-invent and refine.
Titleist TSR Drivers
When Titleist brought their ATI 425 Aerospace Titanium face to the table with TSi, they did something many companies had convinced themselves wasn’t possible anymore by creating a lineup of all titanium drivers that could compete with anything out there in every performance measurable. With that in mind, it should be no surprise that Titleist is once again out to prove to the industry that composites are cool, but Titanium isn’t at all out of style.
The TSR drivers represent refinement for the company. For two iterations they have pulled out all the stops to create a framework which put them as a must try driver company. With that achieved, the move now isn’t to just regurgitate it, but to refine and fine tune it.
A major part of the TSR design is the increased attention to aerodynamics on all three heads. These refinements visually go from very subdued in the TSR3 and TSR4, to much more notable in the TSR2 which showcases a much more traditional and flowing shape than the TSi2. Additionally, the goal was to remove as much drag as possible, and this was achieved with each head having a new “boat tail” shape.
Massive focus was also put on the face of each TSR driver. Now, don’t worry, the aerospace titanium which many fell in love with on the TSi’s is still present and accounted for, but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be improvements, particularly in the variable thickness to improve speed production and retention. Two different VFT designs are in play with TSR, “Multi-Plateau VFT” with the TSR2 and TSR4, and “Speed Ring VFT” in the TSR3.
The Multi-Plateau design in the TSR2 and TSR4 is built inward individual layer by layer to regulate the face to create an almost constant CT over the entire surface making for more retention and forgiveness on off-center strikes. With the TSR3, Speed Ring VFT is all about centering the maximum COR/CT relationship right into the sweet spot giving those who find the middle of the face maximized speed potential.
While the above signifies the hot-button design features in the TSR lineup, each club is also worth diving into individually for a more clarified picture.
Titleist TSR2 Driver
The TSR2 is a 460cc design which is the most forgiving of the three TSR options. This is the driver which offers speed and stability above all else to ensure performance across the face with the previously discussed “Multi-Plateau VFT” being a major part. Interestingly, the CG in the TSR2 is lower and forward than the TS2 and TSi2, according to Titleist this is all about ball speed and launch/spin condition optimization.
Rounding out the high launch, low spin design is a “reimagined” look. Basically, it looks like the TSR2 went on a diet and came back with a look that even the pickiest players will now get along with. A better shaping in the rear getting rid of the quasi-angular look of the TSi2 as well as a refined toe shape make for a driver that looks like a classic Titleist head. Not to mention, gone is the out of place silver finish on the sole, now the TSR2 blends seamlessly to its siblings.
Length: 45.5”
Loft Options: 8.0 in RH and 9.0, 10.0, 11.0 in RH/LH
Titleist TSR3 Driver
Another 460cc clubhead, the TSR3 builds on what was the most popular clubhead in the TSi driver release. The goal was to keep the player’s profile but fine tune it by understanding that type of golfer is one that tends to live in the center of the clubface. That is where the aforementioned “Speed Ring VFT” comes in to maximize the CT/COR relationship in the sweet spot. Speaking of that sweet spot, it is now even more tunable with a reimagined CG Track System which is more efficient at dialing things in for the player than the previous version.
Visually, the TSR3 will look extremely familiar to those who spent time with the TSi3. This was intentional as there was no need to overhaul what was already massively successful. Instead, there were subtle tweaks to improve the aerodynamics to make the mid-high launch and low spin design stand out even more. In fact, based on the early Tour adoption rate, this is once again going to be a big hitter for Titleist.
Length: 45.5”
Loft Options: 8.0, 9.0, 10.0 in RH/LH (10.0 is custom in LH), and 11.0 in RH (custom)
Titleist TSR4 Driver
Finally, the TSR4. What we have here is, contrary to early rumors, once again a 430cc driver design that visually is one of the most classic looks we have seen. Make no mistake, this is a low-spin and mid-low launching clubhead aimed at the better player and those who struggle to keep spin below 3,000 RPM’s.
Where the TSi4 was a very demanding low and forward CG driver, the TSR4 will undoubtedly keep some of that demand, but Titleist has done much work to increase the playability. First, the application of the new “Multi-Plateau VFT” face also used in the TSR2 seeks to add notable consistency in speed and distance which the TSi4 did not have away from center. Second, the TSR4 features a two-weight system with the option to place a heavy weight in a forward port, or a rearward one which Titleist states turns the club into a TSR3.5 of sorts.
Length: 45.5”
Loft Options: 9.0 in RH/LH, 8.0 and 10.0 in RH
The Details
The new TSR drivers will hit stores on 9/23/2022 and feature a breadth of no-upcharge and custom shaft options. As standard, the lineup will offer Project X’s HZRDUS Red CB and HZRDUS Black 4G, as well as the Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei AV Blue with Xlink and Tensei 1K Black. More than that, for a $200.00 upcharge the Graphite Design Tour AD UB, Tour AD IZ, and Tour AD DI will also be available. Yes, there is a full catalog of other full upcharge shafts, but the Graphite Design “Premium” level option is quite cool to see. The TSR drivers will be priced at $599 for the standard options, and $799 for premium.
What do you think of what Titleist is bringing to the table this year with the TSR drivers? Do you plan on seeking them out to try? Jump in and let us know all your thoughts in the comments below or directly on the THP Community!
Nothing wrong with feeling good my man!
Speed crisis averted. It’s fine. I’m fine now. Really wish I hadn’t wasted all my scuffs yesterday though. Could have been something with non-range balls.
And more of what I’ve seen. I launch that 1k Black for some reason, and I kind of like it. Lost a couple, but have also been able to work a pretty consistent fade with it, and still turn it and knock it down pretty easily. I like.
You can enter yourself what weight you want.
Here’s hoping!
Titleist Canada
Not to my knowledge
I may be wrong but i think Titleist hybrids are usually released in conjunction with the irons, not the woods.
Left it at A1 with weight swap. Aim and fire just like when it’s up front. Was a little windy today, but this monster can stay low and go!
Random pairing described them as missiles
Have no clue what changed by swapping other than the sound. Just as straight, easy to launch. I’m guessing spin may have gone up a touch (still cut through it)? More forgiving setup? Need some number gathering.
Jelly of you guys with quick access to those machine thingies.
Have been worried in the past about a little wind…not anymore.
I’d feel better too…noice!
I still chickened out on commiting to it for the weekend though. I hit a few working my old one each way before I left to make sure I hadn’t totally adapted away from it. Really like what I’m seeing with this for flights though. And it even sounds good with range balls. I’d love to get my hands on a TX in that 1K to hit. The sheet makes it seem like maybe it just has a little wider diameter butt though.
Enjoying the face on the TSR3 too. I need a close friend to get a 2 so I can compare on course without having to buy one, because I’m really curious how the differences in the faces wild show up for my strike pattern on course.
The bolded…
That has to be what I’m feeling. Thought it might be the grip. Didn’t even think about that. Could be why I’m not comfortable going full send and relaxing my wrists. Maybe the larger diameter is preventing my mind from letting go?
Could be why it’s so accurate too. Doesn’t let me do stupid things?
I usually go one less wrap of tape when putting grips on. This makes total sense now that you mention it. Makes me even more willing to rip the grip off and redo it with a little stretch!
Just finished cutting the grip off. Could I had them just ship the grip off I paid $10 extra for during the build? Absolutely, but I’m not a smrt man?.
I pulled a grip off an iron I just built and are sitting idle.
Put the grip on the 1K Black with 1 less thickness of tape. Stretched it out a bit (how I like them) and BAM! Feels so much better!
FYI
I use painters tape and compressor to blow my grips on. Make the tape a little tacky, but can still remove and install easily.
Unfortunately Temps dropped to mid 40’s this morning and rain. The round was cancelled. Was really looking forward to playing this round with a MIA THP’r too!
Will get this knew feel out to the course tomorrow!
Edit:
Went back out to get a SW measurement as my mind was rethinking the dry swings I put on it after the regrip. It’s is now around D7ish (non digital scale). I think it was D5/6 before, glorious!
Are we there yet?
Yeah could be reigning you in a bit. And that could be a good thing, or limiting.
Might need to do the grip just in case.
Edit:. Looks like you did and results were more how you like it!
My miss is high face. Occasional heel side, but usually I miss just above center on my swing arc. It’s a decent miss. Flies far compared to the opposite, and I loved that my TSi3 was good up there. Not too slow, high launch, and spin didn’t stop off the planet. I’ve seen pretty good things with the TSR3 there so far too. This is an example from the other day on a slight miss.
Took off high, still shaped, and just flew and flew. Not sure how much it ran. Little breeze was off the left, that’s why I drew it, and it looked like it was into the edge of the left rough pretty quickly after it hit. Fairways were fairly shaggy after some rains really.
And I’ve some more like this since. Hitting some absolutely high bomb with it and this shaft, even on that miss. Big carries. For someone who usually lives in the 85-105′ range, it’s a pretty fun combo. And for someone who also lives in the borderline low spin range, that launch and flight has of some welcome forgiveness.
Edit: been averaging about 2100 in spin with the 9* and the 1k black, but that’s with different shots and shapes. Stock has been upper 19’s like clockwork.
I’m curious if you liked the S or R better and if that answer is the flex you normally play?
And what you liked about each head of you noticed any differences between them?
Your height is like some guy who recently won the Tour Championship.
View attachment 9119577
Haha No. Just with this. And I don’t normally even want to hit it that high. I mean without truly trying to (say that 5 times fast ) for a forced carry or something. There’s something about that combo.
I put the TSR3 in my Ventus Black and it’s much more in line with my normal flight.
Which one gets hit first?!?
I was fit into the 2 so that will get play at the event. The fitting didn’t give me the distance increase others saw, but I like the head.
The shape or the overall consistency?
Yes? Im not sure actually. I liked the TSi line as well.
I only hit 3 or 4 balls with each one. I usually play stiff but I am on the low end of clubhead speed for a stiff around 95 mph for the driver. I generally play stiff because my misses are better with it. That said I hit both shafts pretty well from the first swing.
I tend to like lower torque shafts in general. I like the head and face to return where I expect it to be particularly on bad swings. I think that plays into sticking with stiff flex shafts. I think I may hit the regular a bit further but if I miss one more fairway with it I would rather give up the distance.
I didn’t notice a huge difference between the heads. I would probably lean toward the TSR 2 because I was previously fit into a TSi2 and I am not a super high speed or spin driver of the ball. I will probably go and try to do some fitting though.
Is this new Hzrdus shaft higher launching? The Black, Smoke Black, etc. were all very low launching shafts.
8 days ?
I was using the Tensei 1k Black there. I hit the Hzrdus my first time with these heads and was pounding it, but a little more left and not as high. They’re both low/low, but different feels and something about the 1k makes me deliver a little differently.
I’ve been my be fastest with the 3, and the 2, with the Hzrdus Black, (even against my Ventus I play) but despite hitting it pretty well it seems to fit me sightly less each generation. Not sure why. I’ve changed, and they seem like they’ve gained more feel.
I never seem to get the gains that other people seem to get.
Except for me … they have launched on the high side of mid for me. ????
The stretched grip made a big difference today, felt more "free" if you will. Haven’t become comfortable with the combo yet, but it’s very reliable. Put the heavy weight back up front and may flip it back tomorrow.
Looked at my performance in shot scope and was surprised. Didn’t feel like I was hitting it all that well, but the tracking puts it just a few yards ahead of my TSi4. That made me feel good as once I get comfortable with the combo, it should surpass it.
What was really fun. The son had a high swing speed and asked to look at his driver. He was slicing the crap out of the ball and sending it into the stratosphere. He was hitting a regular flex! We went through some of his thoughts and gave him some ideas. On 18 he finally took me up on hitting my driver. I had watched closely how he placed the tee and wanted to make sure he wouldn’t sky the new driver.
Was the first drive of the day for him that stayed straight, was lower, and went 40 yards past his first tee shot with his driver. I hope his mother and my wife get a round in and keep me posted on his progress. Kid has some talent!
He didn’t sky my driver either, which is nice.
Anyone else having fun watching the various TSR fitting videos…….. ?
Notice any trends? I think I have……
They are fitting guys into shorter drivers! I’ve watched a good few of the Titleist performance fitting videos and a good majority of them are fitting the guy into drivers in the 45" to sub 45" range.
Personally…..I struggle a bit with consistent driver face contact…..but my brain also doesn’t want to give up the distance potential of the longer shaft (as I fixate on longer is faster…..but it isn’t always!!!!).
Thoughts…?
I have not gained distance with a new driver in years. Its really about maintaining distance across the face and looking for slightly better dispersion. But center punched. Everything is been with in yards.
When I went to Titleist last year they suggested 45" instead of 45.5. I got the same distance with better dispersion. I asked about swingweight and the fitter said not to worry too much about it. They don’t generally adjust swingweight for a 1/2" on a driver and they certainly didn’t change the swingweight of the driver in the middle of the fitting.
If your strike location on the face is consistent, then stick with what you have….
I find that my miss is thin with the driver and after watching some of the recent fitting videos, I’ve noticed the fitters have mentioned that a shorter driver will help get the strike higher into the face….which is what I need.
That seems odd. A 1/2" takes off about 3 points….which for me…..is pretty noticeable. It also depends on the shaft weight and balance of the shaft though.
It’s common for sure, but I’ve never been fitted into a shorter than 45" driver and I think for TSR2 I was put into standard length (45.5"). I never explicitly ask about things like length, swingweight, etc in fittings though. I go in completely blind and completely without significant biases (as best I can anyways) and let the fitter and the numbers steer me wherever that leads.
I imagine there are practical reasons (from the fitters perspective) for this, which include:
1. They simply dont carry shorter length shaft options (or many of them).
2. The fitters may just not be experienced enough to know what shorter brings to the table.
Etc..
Could be. I feel like #1 is a bad excuse though, since you can easily just have the player choke up an inch.
That said, it’s an easy enough experiment to do on your own – just choke up an inch on all your driver swings and see if it helps contact. You also can’t make a shorter shaft longer, so it seems to make some sense to me to start with standard length and cut it down if you need to.
Choking up simply isn’t the same.
I can understand you need to add weight to get the same swingweight, but what else about it is different? Is it the taper of the grip? The fitter should be able to put a different weight in there since they have the weight kits.
I’m just trying to say, I hope shaft length on the fitting shafts isn’t the cause. I know I’ve had fitters have me choke up at times in fittings.
I agree with you and @DNice26 that the swingweight can make a difference. I was surprised they didn’t recommend adding a bit of headweight. The fitter said you adjust pretty easily.
I find the weight, balance and feel of the club is sufficiently different when cut down vs. choking up. Perhaps its just a me thing.
Gotcha. Likely the swing weight adjustment I’d imagine.
Really nice that Titleist has the weight kit if you need to make an adjustment in shaft length though without using lead tape.
I have long arms so in the last two Titleist driver fittings, my spec was 1/2" short and then add 4g head weight. Fairway finders!
View attachment 9119704
My fitting experience was reviewed in the Titleist Experience thread, but a couple of club-related comments…
– I gained 25 yards of carry from my Callaway Epic that was fit (on a simulator) 14 months ago. WOW!
– Very surprised I was fit into -0.5" length! My fitter was very open with the data and numbers, but purposely didn’t provide me with what shafts/lofts we were using so I didn’t subconsciously change my swing. I’m a tall guy and always figured I needed a longer driver. So much for that! Interesting data point with the shorter club discussion above.
– My fitter works with a lot of club pros in the St. Louis area. His comment was that every single pro he worked with saw gains of at least 5 yards carry from TSI to TSR, and there were two pros who gained around 20 yards. Sounded like he knew it was going to be good, but didn’t realize it was going to be that good!
– The buzz is real. My fitting was a private one on a country club range, and we had at least 12 people come up and ask if they could get fit into the fitting schedule. All of them said they had heard great things and were excited to check them out.
I’ll get my hands on it in one week at the event…can’t wait to see it in action and show THP what this thing can really do!!!