Titleist has a reputation for being tighter than Fort Knox about its new products. Even Titleist reps seem to have little idea of what to expect in regards to new products. Earlier this week, we introduced you to the redesigned Titleist website which includes some teaser pictures on some of the new offerings for 2005. We’ve had our ears to the ground and have some more details and specs on what to expect early on this year from Titleist. Please take what you read here with a grain of salt. This information is compiled from what we’ve been hearing throughout the industry. Although it is accurate to the best of our knowledge, it has not been confirmed by Titleist.
Drivers
The new Titleist drivers have probably generated the most buzz recently. You’ve seen the shiny black and silver head covers in Davis Love III’s staff bag. Ernie Els commented earlier in the year about how the distance with the new drivers is great, but the sound isn’t what he’s used to.
The new drivers will be called the 905 series and comes in two versions, the 905S and 905T. The biggest change with these heads is size. While the current 983 series is about 350-360cc, the 905 will be in the 400cc range. The 905S will have a deep club face which provides lower spin and higher launch. The 905T, on the other hand, will have a shallower face and a higher spin bias to replace the 983K. The new shaft options for this year include the Aldila NV 85 and a Grafalloy Blue. The Titleist Speeder will be discontinued this year.
Fairway Woods
Titleist has been hurting in this department for a while. Many of their staffers are clinging to old 970’s and Pro Trajectories rather than adopting the new 980F series. The new line is called the 904F and has a sole that is far more reminiscent of the 970 fairway metals that have inhabited the bags of Adam Scott and Tiger Woods. The shallow sole helps increase ball contact while preventing fat shots when hitting tight lies. Expect the same shaft options as the current 980F series.
Wedges
The Vokey Spin Milled Wedges are another new option from Titleist in 2005. Vokey designed wedges are some of the most played clubs on all tours and are very popular among amateurs for their high spin, soft feel, and consistency. While the basic designs of the new wedges is largely unchanged, the milled face will be a first for Titleist. While the club itself will be cast, the face and grooves will be milled in a machine which increases manufacturing accuracy. With more accurate grooves, these wedges will be able to impart more spin into shots.
Putters
When serious golfers think putters, they likely think of Scotty Cameron. Cameron is Titleist’s putter designer and his putters are more works of art than golf equipment. Most of the pros on Tour use custom made putters direct from Cameron. There has been quite a lot of buzz about the new offerings for 2005, and it appears as though the hype is justified.
The big introduction this year is the new Studio Style series which will have similar styles as the Studio Stainless line, but features one important upgrade: the addition of a German Stainless Steel (GSS) insert. GSS is a special type of steel which is preferred for its soft feel and responsiveness. Tiger Woods and many other Tour players have their entire putters made purely from GSS, so it was only a matter of time before it found its way into the retail market.
Also new this year is the American Classics Series which will be a reintroduction of some of Cameron’s older works like the Napa blade and Bullseye. These are sure to be instant collectors items and will likely be some of the most sought after clubs in the Titliest lineup.
Irons
Don’t expect any new irons until late spring/early summer at the earliest. However, one exciting new product which is rumored to be introduced is the new 735CM forged combo set which consists of blades in the PW-8-irons and a progressive cavity in 7-3-irons. They’ve been seen at Tour events for a while now, and it looks like their success may help bring them to the retail marketplace.
Photo Credit: © Titleist.
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