During its annual PGA Tour stop at The Memorial, Titleist unveiled its latest lineup of drivers, generating high anticipation due to the success of its previous releases, including the TS, TSi, and TSR drivers. Those drivers were all developed as part of the Titleist Speed Project, which has been a massive success, resulting in them being the most-played driver on the PGA Tour for the past five years. Today, we can finally share the official details of the new Titleist GT drivers. There has been a lot of talk and speculation about this lineup, but one thing is for sure: Titleist continues to build on its momentum and, with a significant material change, shows no signs of slowing down.
“The GT line represents a monumental leap forward for Titleist driver design and engineering,” said Stephanie Luttrell, Director of Titleist Metalwood Product Development. The breakthroughs we made in material, construction, shaping, and design weren’t possible in prior generations. All the advancements found in GT are working in concert to create the highest-performing driver we have ever made.”
Titleist’s GT release marks a significant change as they move away from using a titanium crown and introduce a new era of drivers with a never-before-used crown material. Each driver in the GT lineup features a Seamless Thermoform Crown made of a Proprietary Matrix Polymer. Titleist realized that to enhance the speed of the TSR, they needed to move away from the all-titanium designs. This material change resulted in an approximately three times lighter crown, which unlocked significant internal weight changes. Furthermore, wrapping the crown around the edges and down to the sole provides the advantage of manipulating the center of gravity locations and lends itself to an incredibly clean and seamless look.
Titleist fans may be concerned about the impact of the new crown material on the classic Titleist driver sound. The industry’s shift towards carbon fiber/composite crowns has varied drivers’ sound profiles. For Titleist, maintaining their unique sound was a top priority for the R&D team. Thankfully, the new proprietary matrix polymer not only reduces weight but also possesses unique acoustic properties, enabling Titleist engineers to fine-tune the sound profile. This ensures that golfers will have a driver with exceptional sound and feel.
The new crown material allows for significant internal adjustments. Switching to a three-times lighter crown has created many new possibilities. Club designers always aim to remove limitations and explore countless options, and that’s precisely what occurred here. As a result, Titleist engineers developed a new Split Mass Construction, allowing them to place weight exactly where it’s most beneficial within the clubhead.
With Split Mass Construction, weight was divided up, with some being pushed low and forward to dial up the speed while the remainder found its way towards the back of the head to enhance stability and increase MOI. The positioning of internal weights differs across the three heads of the GT lineup, as they have three distinct profiles. This allows golfers to find the GT driver that offers them the best combination of launch, speed, and spin. With all the possibilities, the easiest way to determine which head works best for your game is to go and get fit.
Another change that was implemented due to the shift from titanium was the aerodynamic properties. Thanks to the new internal construction and weight distribution, Titleist was able to take a closer look at how aerodynamics will affect the clubhead throughout the swing. With improved shaping, particularly to the crown and sole curvature, Titleist optimized airflow and reduced turbulence and drag. According to Stephanie Luttrell, “The result is a significant gain in clubhead speed.”
Speaking of speed, Titleist takes advantage of two main face technologies to help produce intense ball speeds across the entire lineup. It starts with an upgraded titanium Speed Ring, stabilizing the clubface’s perimeter. A reinforced perimeter maximizes the COR and produces maximum ball speeds on shots that find the center of the face. For off-center contact, a Variable Face Thickness (VFT) helps maintain ball speeds while reducing the amount of distance loss.
“When we release a new product, it has to outperform the previous line,” said Josh Talge, Vice President of Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “For GT, it needed to be faster than TSR. It needed to be longer and straighter, and it had to sound better, look better, and feel better. GT delivers across the board without compromise.”
Titleist GT2
The GT2 driver maintains the same classification as previous releases. It is designed for golfers who seek a fast and forgiving driver that achieves a high launch and low spin. The GT2 features an upgraded Speed Ring and VFT, resulting in improved ball speeds across the face, and it offers maximum stability with its higher MOI design.
In developing the GT2, Titleist aimed to combine a confidence-inspiring shape with enhanced aerodynamics. The result is a 460cc clubhead with a longer front-to-back profile and a slightly shallower face height while incorporating more of the classic pear shape. This design is expected to appeal to a wide range of golfers, especially those who favor the shape of a GT3 but seek the extra forgiveness offered by the GT2. Additionally, there is a 9-gram weight positioned in the rear that can be swapped out to adjust both headweight and swingweight.
Standard Length: 45.5″
Lofts: 8°, 9°, 10°, 11° (RH/LH)
Titleist GT3
Titleist offers the GT3 for players who want maximum adjustability to fine-tune their distance and shot shape. One of the key changes is the Adjustable CG Track, which has been moved to a more forward position closer to the face. This track allows golfers and fitters to choose from five CG locations (H2, H1, N, T1, T2) to match their center of gravity position with their strike tendencies. Finding the best location on this track can help generate even more speed and ensure a more consistent ball flight. According to Titleist, the results are even more noticeable in the GT3 because of the forward location of the track.
Similar to the GT2, the GT3 features a 460cc clubhead, appearing as if it’s more compact and even more pear-shaped. Golfers should expect higher speeds than the TSR3, thanks partly to the improved aerodynamic shaping.
Standard Length: 45.5″
Lofts: 8°, 9°, 10°, 11° (RH/LH)
Titleist GT4
Titleist targets the better player with the GT4, designed for those with higher swing speeds who struggle to keep their spin rates under 3,000 RPM. The GT4 stands out with its mid-launch profile, providing a more penetrating ball flight and the ability to reduce spin. Unlike the GT2 and GT3, this driver head is 430cc, making it the most compact and classic-looking profile in the lineup.
Like the TSR4, the GT4 features two swappable weights, one located on the rear of the sole and the other closer to the face. Players looking to reduce spin the most can place the 11-gram weight forward and the 3-gram weight in the back. Meanwhile, those seeking a more stable/balanced setting can move the heavy weight to the rear.
Standard Length: 45.5″
Lofts: 8°, 9°, 10° (RH/LH)
Titleist offers a variety of shaft options, such as Project X Denali Red, Mitsubishi Tensei 1k Blue, Project X HZRDUS Black 5th Gen, and Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Black. Additionally, there is a premium Graphite Design option, including the Tour AD-VF, Tour AD-DI, and Tour AD-UB, which will cost an additional $200. If your preferred shaft is not listed, don’t worry, as Titleist has a deep selection of custom shafts to choose from.
Titleist GT drivers are currently available for fitting and will be hitting store shelves on August 23, 2024, for $649. Check out the selection at www.worldwidegolf.com.
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