AP1 ...A hackers club??

**6iron** · August 21, 2009

I bought the Ap1s and they have improved my game but I'm already looking at the new forged AP2s, Ping S57s and muscle back Mizuno irons. I want to keep getting better but I'm afraid to go to a "players iron". What would you better golfers do in my situation?

**CG031** · August 22, 2009

If you hit the AP1's well, don't switch. They aren't a hackers club. They are a nice set.

**microcrayfish** · August 22, 2009

According to this ( http://thesandtrap.com/clubs/sneak_p..._ap2_cb_and_mb ) recent article from the main page there's a few of Titleist's Tour staff playing the AP1s so I wouldn't exactly call them hackers' clubs.

**Taylor Shrake** · August 22, 2009

most sources I've seen call them "aspiring players" irons. They aren't for the muscleback pros, but moreso for the "better" golfer who wants "workable irons" while still being reasonably forgiving.

And they are awesome... almost bought myself a set

**flanagan** · August 22, 2009

Hardly a "hacker's" club, where would you even come up with that? Certainly not in the category of "super game improvement" (which I don't consider "hacker's" clubs, either).

Just by leering at other clubs you are trapped and will probably buy them, so get them and be happy.

By the way, I didn't get a full set of AP1s because I liked the feel and look of the AP2 shorter irons better, do be aware that there are significant loft differences if you decide to blend a set.

**WUTiger** · August 22, 2009

AP1s are a good club. They finished a close second to the Callaway X20s I got.

One question to ask yourself: How much golf "time" do you have each season? The answer to your question comes from a very good former college player who was my teammate in a golf scramble.

He played some Titleist 735.CM irons, one of the early blended control-forgiveness models. He said he used more "player" clubs in college, but doesn't have as much time now to work on his game.

He said he had a better chance of breaking 80 regularly with the 735.CMs than with some of the 600 series "player" sets available.

The better clubs are made for people who can regularly work on maintaining and improving their swings.

End result: look at your score. If the AP1s work, who cares if they're not forged blades? If you're my scramble partner, I sure don't.

**laxbballgolf** · August 22, 2009

Just an opinion, of course, but I'm of the camp that playing blade-like clubs is a more rewarding experience. I learned on MP-33s, went to X20 Tours, and now I'm back to my old MP33s. Even for humans like ourselves, they really aren't that hard to hit well. And a lot of the joy of golf, for me at least, comes from trying to replicate the truly great shots, so I value feedback over forgiveness by a mile.

**Dub** · August 22, 2009

I was impressed with the AP1s the first time I saw 'em on a rack.

I recently hit a 6iron on the range.....very nice.

Funny thing about "hackers" clubs....some great golfers are seen using them. Look around on tour and see what some of their long and mid irons are.

On a more local scale, our club's Senior Champ is hands down one of the purest ballstrikers I've ever played with. He generates good swing speed through his efficient swing and his sound at impact should be recorded...I'd love to have it as a sound effect on PowerPoint presentations. I can't stress how perfect this guy stikes the ball. He should charge folks to watch him play....

Anyway, this guy games regular old cavity backed PINGS. I played in a tourney with him last March....I dropped my illusions of gaming "players" clubs during that round. I watched him repeatedly crack shot after shot with authority, working it in either direction and flighting it to his desired trajectory....all with cavity backs. It was an eye opening experience.

***iacas*** · August 22, 2009

Some PGA Tour or Nationwide Tour pros play them. A lot of club pros might play them.

In general, if you had to pigeonhole them, they'd be for the 8-18 handicapper. If a bogey golfer is a hacker, then I guess they're a hacker's club.

They're the most "game improvement" and "forgiving" irons Titleist has ever made, they'll tell you. And the new ones coming out in the fall are even better.

I've hit them (the current and the upcoming ones). Were it not for a few little things (mainly trajectory control), I'd consider playing them.

**Dub** · August 22, 2009

Some PGA Tour or Nationwide Tour pros play them. A lot of club pros might play them.

I had a set of DCI irons several years back that seemed to be extremely forgiving. I'm glad to see they are opening the door again for the "Joe the Plumber" golfers......

**GaijinGolfer** · August 22, 2009

Acushnet wouldnt put the name, "Titleist" on a hacker's club. Titleist always has been a club for "better" players (thats why Acushnet has the Cobra brand).
There is no reason you cant keep getting better with your AP1s. Theres lots of tour players nowdays who are playing game-improvement irons.
I dont subscribe to the belief that you need to switch to blades if you want to continue to get better.

h_baden · August 28, 2009

I play the AP1s, 8 hcp, clearly a hacker's club, but I like them...

**DavidFehertysBike** · August 28, 2009

Perhaps the current model is designed for bogey golfers but the new ones coming out in the fall seem to have something for a 5 to 15 handicap...My demands for an iron is that i have to be able to control the ball flight and i dont want the sole of the club interfering through impact. The newer AP1 design seem to have those qualities.