Titleist was admittedly a bit late to the hybrid market, and when they first arrived, it was only with the 503.H, which I reviewed in early 2005. The review was rather favorable if the club is viewed as a driving iron, but the 503.H lacks the true versatility found in most modern hybrids. Getting the ball airborne with a 503.H from poor lies, for example, was much more difficult than with most other hybrids.
After giving the 503.H half a season, I moved on to a TaylorMade Rescue Dual TP in mid-2005. My complaints in the Rescue Dual review: the ball got up in the air, but workability and trajectory control was lacking. Early 2006 brought a truer hybrid from Titleist, the PT 585.H. Read on to see whether it kicked the Rescue Dual out of my bag or whether I’m still searching for my 2-iron replacement…
Construction and Esthetics
The 585.H borrows a bit of technology from Titleist’s fairway wood line in that the body is comprised of a softer 431 stainless steel body to provide a softer, sweeter, and more solid feel. The face has a 455 stainless steel insert – a harder steel than the 431 – to maximize ball speed and reduce spin.
A 20-gram tungsten sole weight pushes the center of gravity (CG) low and deep in the clubhead for a fairway metal-type launch and distance with good control. As you likely know, the lower the center of gravity, the easier the ball will get up in the air and the less backspin it will have.
The 585.H offers a simple at-address appearance. The tear-drop shape and clean lines inspire confidence and appeal to the better player’s sense of esthetics.
The 585.H also features a contoured sole with heel and toe relief designed to promote crisp contact from all types of lies, be they sidehill, downhill, or simply poor – in a fairway bunker, the rough, or hardpan.
The modified bore-thru hosel removes weight from the heel area for an optimal center of gravity closer to the center of the clubface. From the bottom, a polymer “Neutralizer™” pin helps to dampen vibrations for improved sound and feel.
The club’s visual appearance is really rather simple: at address, the glossy black crown dominates while the silver face with white scorelines really stands out. The glossy black paint job stops just short of the hosel, which I found to be a nice touch. The 585.H is much easier to align than the Rescue Dual TP, which has a rounded silver area on top of the club and a rounder looking face.
The non-offset design, wide face, heel/toe relief, and white scorelines are simple, effective, and designed to offer control to better players.
The sole features a drag-reducing design in a somewhat familiar “T” shape found on many hybrids. Black recessed areas towards the heel and toe frame the tungsten weight and Titleist’s simple, stylish graphics.
The club appears at address to be quite sleek and perhaps a bit smaller than most hybrids. The compact teardrop shape suits the eye of the better player, as does the lack of offset and the square face angle. The face is wide, shallow, and the heel/toe relief make it obvious that you can get down to the ball even on a tight lie while simultaneously offering face area than a long iron.
The 585.H, in brief, features a good blend of looks and appearance, as the Tour-preferred teardrop profile, square, non-offset setup, gloss black finish and white full-length scorelines not only look good but likely play well too.
Performance
I’ve been on a quest to replace my 2-iron for quite some time. I’m still a good long-iron player, so the 3-iron will stay in the bag for the time being. I’m also pretty good with a 3-wood, but I’ve always felt that a 5-wood got up too high and didn’t offer quite the shot-shaping capabilities I wanted in that distance gap.
The green Aldila NV Hbyrid 85 is the stock shaft in the PT 585.H. I swapped in the UST ProForce V2 Hybrid.
As I said before, the 503.H was my first foray into hybrids, and it took over for the 2-iron off the tee and from good lies in the fairway. The Rescue Dual TP added some poor-lie and recovery-shot capabilities, but took away the tee ball and a good amount of workability and trajectory control.
The Titleist 585.H brings that all back to me and simultaneously improves the feel and sound. If you don’t feel like reading more, stop here: the Titleist 585.H is the best hybrid I’ve ever hit. Titleist says that the 585.H is a “Tour validated utility metal that blends the distance and playability of fairway metals with the shot and trajectory control of an iron for greater versatility from the tee, fairway, and rough,” and I can’t disagree with a single thing.
From behind, the 585.H appears sleek. The glossy black crown is tasteful and elegant. Oddly, no triangle appears on the top of the club like Titleist’s drivers and fairway metals.
Initially I tested the 585.H in two lofts: 17° and 19° with the stock Aldila NV Hybrid shafts. The shafts felt a bit too boardy, the ball flight too low, and the feedback a bit too harsh. I swapped the shafts out for the UST ProForce V2 hybrid shafts and it made all the difference. The 19° was not hit much – its launch was too similar to my 3-iron to consider using, but the 17° found an immediate home in my bag, kicking out the Rescue Dual.
My driver swing speed is about 108 MPH, and I’ve hit the 585.H 17° anywhere from 200 yards (my “bunt” or “control” swing from the tee on some short par fours or into par threes) to 240 yards when going for a few par fives with trouble long. The ball off the tee tends to travel slightly higher than a ball hit from the fairway or even the rough, but that’s a great advantage on long par threes. From the fairway, the ball rockets off the face on a penetrating trajectory that’s higher than both my old 2-iron and my current 3-wood, and lands rather softly for something traveling so far.
Workability exists in both dimensions. I found myself hitting cuts and draws just as easily as I might with my 5-iron. But what most impressed me was the trajectory control. You can punch this club a bit to keep the trajectory down for a little run (or to keep it under the wind), or you can float a ball in the air to land it softly or to carry further downwind. The sole reacts well to both flavors of shot: it glides over the turf for the high shots and lets you lead with the hands without digging or scraping for the low ones.
The sole offers heel relief and a 20-gram tungsten weight to lower and deepen the center of gravity. Also note the polymer “Neutralizer™” pin in the modified bore-thru hosel.
Feel at impact is simply divine – it’s almost impossible to describe. Titleist’s fairway woods have always had a great feel, as have their irons, and the 585.H seems to perfectly blend the two in true “hybrid” fashion. This is not to say this club is good for everyone: mis-hit the 585.H and you’ll know it. The feel on mis-hit shots is just as bad as with a mis-hit long iron, and your ball will react just as poorly. For better players who don’t often have to worry about quality of contact, though, the feeling at impact is well worth the price of admission.
Recovery shots are exceptionally easy. Though the ball doesn’t quite jump with partial swings like it seemed to off the face of the Rescue Dual TP, I enjoyed playing recovery shots more with the 585.H because I could control the trajectory and shape of the shot. I’ve played low burning cuts and low draws with the 585.H to escape from the trees that simply would not have been possible with the Rescue Dual. Rarely do you want to hit the ball high from such trouble, so the 585.H is a winner there.
Simply put, the Titleist PT 585.H may be the best hybrid on the market for the better player. Though the club can hit the high floaters most other hybrids hit by default, the standard ball flight is a tad stronger. With that comes increased workability and trajectory control.
A flashy yet classic “PT” graces the sole, while the black paint job gracefully swoops backwards away from the face.
Specifications
The PT 585.H is available in 17°, 19°, 21°, and 24° lofts for both righties and lefties. Stock shaft options include the True Temper Dynamic Gold S300, the Aldila NV 85 Hybrid, and the Titleist 4175. The length (40 or 40.5″ at 17° and 39 or 39.5″ at 24°) can be customized +1″ or -2″ (depending on the chosen shaft), but the lie angle (58-59°) cannot. The standard grip is the Titleist Tour Velvet Rubber (with the logo underneath).
As with all Titleist clubs, a wealth of shaft options are available, including various weights of the Aldila NV Hybrid, the VS Proto, the Fujikura Sppeeder 904HB, the Graphite Design YS-Hybrid, Project X steel shafts, the NS Pros by Nippon, the UST iRod, and the UST ProForce V2 Hybrid.
MSRP is $175 for steel shafted models and $208 for graphite.
Conclusion
If you’re a low-handicap golfer who doesn’t like to hit a 5-wood, 2-iron, or 3-iron anymore, buy yourself one, two, or even three 585.H and start swinging. You won’t be disappointed: the looks, feel, and performance are all spot on. If you’re a mid to high handicapper, I’m sorry, but this is one hybrid that’s just for us.
I must admit to being rather surprised by the 585.H. After the 503.H, and given Titleist’s traditional past, I didn’t have the highest of hopes for the 585.H. Still, the company seems to have leaned on its incredibly solid 906 line of fairway metals (and its history of producing great fairway clubs) with just enough iron-like characteristics to result in a home run.
At $199 retail, the 585.H may be the best two bills you’ll ever spend on your golf game.
Excellent review – I agree with all of it! I’m a 1-handicapper and purchased this club (17 degrees, stiff V2 shaft) about a month ago.
My carry distances are as follows:
D2 8.5-degree driver 260 yards+
906 15-degree 3W 240 yards
735CM 3I 205 yards
this little beauty was the ideal solution to fill the gap between my 3W and 3I. Don’t ever think about getting a 1I or 2I! I admit I was convinced at my fitting session as it didn’t seem manly to carry a hybrid but I’m so glad the fitter convinced me. Am kicking myself I didn’t buy a hybrid about 3-4 years ago.
No matter what the lie, this club rises to the occasion.
Thanks for yet another thorough review ERIK. Funny about the shafts though, even though I have the same swing speed (105+) I tend to think the UST V2 is boardy and like the feel of the NV. Perhaps we have completely different swing profiles.
* bought these in the spring with S300 shafts.
* I luv them
* I want a 5i option
just bought one of these, 19deg slots in well between 3i and 3w. i have the aldila vs proto 80-s sharf and i am very happy so far. one thing i found with these hybids is that there is a very small sweet spot, therefore i do agree that it is one for the low handi-cappers. when i find the middle it goes just as far as my 3 wood which is a bit worrying. 😕
Played the second half of 2007 season with a 21 degree Graphite Design YS Hybrid shaft. Huge improvement over the 503.H and certainly better than my 21 degree Rescue TP. The review is bang on…If you are looking for shot shaping then the 585.H is the club for you. Serious clubs for serious golfers applies here from Titleist. Great review!
Took me a few rounds to get used to my 17 degree 585h, but now that I’m comfortable with it, I love it. the Aldila NV shaft helps me keep the ball down and the distance is amazing.
Very solid and unbiased review of the 585H hybrid. I am a long hitting journeyman mini tour guy and I bought the 17 degree with the S300 shaft in the summer of 2007 and it has allowed me to carry four wedges by dropping my 3 wood. This club gives me 3 wood carry and roll when unleashing hard swings for long second hots into par 5 holes. And its ideal off the tee on par 4 holes when I just want to hit it 240-275 yards and to be in play. I live in Las Vegas so the lower, hotter trajectory of this club is ideal for the firm and fast desert fairways.
Just discovered your site – excellent reviews.
I’m a former 5 handicap who abandoned golf for a decade and started back up in my mid 30s, though now shooting in the low 80s. I don’t think there were hybrids when I used to play and I initially, and foolishly, associated them with beginners (the equipment sure has changed in ten years!).
This 19 degree hybrid is a wonderful club. It’s the size of my old rescue wood but lighter, with much better carry and control. It’s like a having a 2 iron one can hit consistently and with more flight. It’s very true: one can sort of punch it for a lower, really long roll, or swing through like a long iron or fairway wood. I use it twice as often as my 3 wood, which has become a club for tees and wide, safe par 5s. For anything else, this hybrid is a go-to club. It also leaves room for that critical extra wedge in my bag. Very happy with it – and with the Titleist AP2 iron, btw.
I have been trying to figure out the “hybrid” thing for a couple of years now. Like Damien above, I found that the lower lofted hybrids go much further than the corresponding irons. I now carry a 22* as a 2 iron replacement, and it is a full club longer than my 3 iron + close to 5 wood distance off a low tee. Titleist reigns supreme…
I am a 2 handicapper and new to the Hybrid clubs as I have always been a bit of a traditionist i.e. playing a 3 wood, 1 iron and 3 iron, nothing like making this wonderful game even harder than it already is. Can someone please advise me as to what clubs the various 585H lofts are designed to replace.
Many thanks
I never like hybrids due to the big offset , until i read about 585H.
I have a 905T , 906F2 wood 3 , and my irons are from 3 Iron to A from KZG ZO ( Zero Offset ). A 19 deg 585H just a tool that i need to fill between my wood 3 and 3 Iron. It replace my Adam TOur 5 Wood which i find hitting too high.
It is a utility club that i long for . Off the Tee , i am getting about 230Y and from the fairway about 215Y. Miss hit is like long irons and when you got it right , it gives you the trajectory and the distance that you want. Love the shaper and how the club at address , feels like my Irons.
A club for better players .
Eric,
Excellent review and suggestion of the UST shaft. I had played the 585 for about a year and became frustrated with it. When it was struck on the screws in the right condition it would fly a long ways. I wanted to hit it out of a variety of conditions and found my old Taylor Made more forgiving. I took your suggestion and replaced the shaft with the UST and it instantly became my favorite club in the bag. 225 yards of the tee time and time again. The shaft allows a much higher ball flight and still allows hooks and fades on command. Thanks for the suggestion.
Thanks for the review.
I am looking at these hybrids, but I am not extremely sure if I should get it. I am on the fence of being a mid and low handicap. I have hit it a few times and it feels good, but I am still not sure if I will be happy with it. I can hit my Ping 3-wood great and my long irons great, but that hybrid distance is still iffy. A little advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Hmm…after all the great reviews I’m a bit worried about my experience thus far with my 585.H 19 degree w/ Graphite Design’s YS 85g shaft.
I have the YS shaft in my 905T and 904F 15 deg., both with stiff shafts. My driver swing speed is right around 114 mph and I still love my old Titleist driver along with the 904F 15 deg. which is easily the best 3wood I have ever owned.
Anyways, I was looking for a club to replace my 762 series 2 iron, which is a really great club off the tee for me, I can hit it around 230 with a medium trajectory. However, in the rough I have problems w/ carry, trajectory, and stopping the ball on the green from around 210-220 out (I generally hit a smooth 3 wood if I need to carry the ball 220+). Lately, I’ve just been hitting hard 4/3 irons from the rough to carry the ball as far as I need to.
I figured the 585.H would be a perfect fit…but I am having a great deal of difficulty even hitting the ball straight with this club! I feel like I have to forcifully release the club to avoid a nasty high cut shot I keep on hitting. With the same swing of my old 2 iron, I would hit a nice boring low-mid traj. and dead straight shot, even off the deck. The only thing I can think of is the shaft causing this problem. Keep in mind I’ve only hit this club 50 times or so and only on the range, but the results have been pretty poor thus far.
Any thoughts?
I agree with you Jason
I recently purchased 2 Titleist 585 Hybrids, a 21* and a 24*
Both fitted with YS-6 85g shafts. The 85g shaft feels very heavy, maybe choosing a different lighter shaft will help me.
I find it easier to hit my 2 and 3 iron over these clubs. I use Titleist 680 blades playing off 5.
Interesting observations, Jason and James; always great to hear the other side of things to make one realize that perhaps they are not alone. I also have both the 21* and 24* 585 hybrids with YS-6 Hybrid Shafts in both. At first I had some difficulties adjusting to the clubs setup at address as I would literally pull my shots immediately on contact. A quick adjustment to my shoulders, which tend to cheat a little to the left (result of laziness on my part), and suddenly I was making solid contact and controlling ball flight and just letting the club do the work. Fantastic clubs, but as with anything Titleist…Serious Clubs for Serious Golfers. They are not for everyone, but certainly shafts make a huge difference as our swings are unique to us alone.
I love these clubs. I have a 19* and 24* 585H with the NV-85 stiff shafts that I got slightly used from ebay for about $80 each. My set goes 9.5 (Callaway), 15, 19, 24 (Titleist), 5 iron through LW (Ping). It is really easy to fade and draw the hybrids from fairway to light rough. By choking down on the 19 and 24 I easily get the old yardage from my 3 iron (200) and 4 iron (185) and have the power to hit the 19* 220 and the 24* 200 when needed while maintaining a smooth swing. I really like the neutral address. Most other hybrids have a slightly closed face (2 degrees or so) that made me have to open the face and caused an awkward swing. The review is spot on. These are great for low handicap players. If you’re a mid to high handicapper, Adams seems to have the best hybrids from people I’ve talked to.
I have a Titleist pt 585.H 21 deg hybrid with the Titleist 4175 shaft and I would like to install the UST Proforce V2 shaft but have been told by a shaft supplier that the Titleist takes a .355 taper tip shaft and that UST does not make this shaft in a taper tip. How did you do it?
I’m looking to replace my NV-85 shaft with the V2-86 hybrid shaft. What tip diameter is correct for the 585?
Thanks
Does anyone know the weight of the Titleist 4175 shaft for the 585H?