{"id":2253,"date":"2008-01-15T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-01-15T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesandtrap.com\/columns\/bag_drop\/titleist_introduces_new_irons_for_2008"},"modified":"2008-01-15T10:53:31","modified_gmt":"2008-01-15T15:53:31","slug":"titleist_introduces_new_irons_for_2008","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesandtrap.com\/b\/bag_drop\/titleist_introduces_new_irons_for_2008","title":{"rendered":"Titleist Introduces New Irons for 2008: AP1, AP2, ZB, and ZM"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BagFor a few months now we’ve been hearing about Titleist<\/a>‘s new irons. Early reports were that Titleist was going to re-enter the “aspiring golfer” market as they’ve tended to call it, as well as to overhaul their low-handicap level irons.<\/p>\n

We’ve managed to track down a bit more information, and it appears that the early rumors were correct. Titleist plans to launch four new iron sets in 2008. And while you may still be able to claim that the forged musclebacks we’re about to share with you are evolutionary, the cavity-back irons represent a distinct new beginning in iron design at Titleist.<\/p>\n

The new musclebacks are named the ZB and the ZM, while the cavity-back models are named the “AP” for Advanced Performance and come in two models: the AP1 and the AP2. The latter of these represent the “new beginning” and are “multi-material, dual cavity designs.”<\/p>\n

Let’s have a closer look at Titleist’s iron lineup for 2008.
\n
\nEngineering & Technology<\/strong>
\nTitleist representatives say that the irons were “designed with a focus on feel and performance.” The Titleist market has long consisted of players ranging from Tour players to low-handicap golfers, as well as golfers who aspire to be good and demand the solid feel and clean aesthetics for which Titleist is known.<\/p>\n

Titleist sought to position these four new models to satisfy everyone along that curve: its demanding Tour players and the 15-handicapper who is dead-set on improving and doesn’t want to play with clunky über-game-improvement shovels.<\/p>\n

One of the key areas of focus for Titleist with these irons was ball speed. Obviously, the faster a ball travels the further it’s likely to go, and Titleist noticed that the average ball speed gaps between player groups has widened over the years. Their research says that the average driver ball speed of a PGA Tour player is 165+ MPH, while the average of a 5-9 handicap player is 145 MPH. That’s a 20+ MPH difference, and it continues on through every club in the set.<\/p>\n

As a result, Titleist designed these irons to focus on not only the traditional feel and performance but also to optimize launch conditions and ball flight based on the targeted players ball speed range.<\/p>\n

AP Iron Line<\/strong>
\n\"TitleistTo achieve the ball speed and launch conditions, the AP1 and AP2 incorporate multi-material construction and a dual cavity. The back sole is comprised of a tungsten nickel alloy intended to optimize launch conditions and for a larger range of swing speeds. The line that separates the tungsten nickel alloy from the rest of the club is visible, and Titleist representatives say that they were able to maintain the “traditional soft yet solid ‘Titleist feel'” that players have come to expect from Titleist irons.<\/p>\n

The company line is that “the new AP family is the most technologically advanced irons that Titleist has ever produced.” They both feature a “multi-material construction and dual cavity design that combine to provide unmatched feel, forgiveness and playability in a Titleist iron.”<\/p>\n

The AP irons are built using four different materials: a steel body, a tungsten nickel steel box, a central support bar with an elastomer cushion, and an aluminum cavity plate. The AP1 iron body is cast<\/em> from 431 stainless steel while the AP2 is forged with 1020 mild carbon steel.<\/p>\n

With the AP1 irons, Titleist seems to be shooting for the aspiring golfer who may not think they have the game to be playing with their clubs. By using the dual-cavity and multi-material approach, Titleist is providing “contemporary cast irons providing looks, feel, shot control, and higher flight with forgiveness.”<\/p>\n

Let’s take a look at each of the AP irons in more detail.<\/p>\n

AP1 Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n