NEWS FROM THE TOUR VANS
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Some golf fans may assume that all top professionals use equipment specifically designed and built for them, but that’s generally not the case. Most PGA Tour players use clubs that are available to the average consumer, albeit those same pros have access to equipment reps who help them fine-tune shafts, grips, club weighting and other variables that can be altered. This standard of design makes it easier to fix a club issue, like replacing a cracked clubhead.
That’s why it was interesting to hear how a pair of major champions are now using special Titleist irons designed just for them.
Adam Scott, who had been using Titleist 680 Forged blades first released in 2003 and is notoriously picky with his irons, has now gone to prototype Titleist 681.AS Forged blade irons with increased offset. Meanwhile, Justin Thomas prefers a set of Titleist 621.JT blades with virtually zero offset, a rare modification.
These sets are designed purely for each individual player. They aren’t currently being sold to the golfing public, although Titleist said the technology in both could be used in future clubs.
“These prototype irons (621.JT and 681.AS) have been developed in collaboration with each player to better understand some key design variables such as shaping, sole design and CG placement – that ultimately may find their way into future Titleist iron development,” a statement from the company said.
This kind of exception isn’t quite a Halley’s Comet situation – there have been a copious amount of prototypes made for Bryson DeChambeau, and Xander Schauffele used an initial version of the Callaway Apex Pro that was designed for him back in 2018 – but it’s fair to say that two players going to a “1-of-1” set at the same time doesn’t come around much in the gear world.
So why was this necessary?
A lot of it comes down to how offset a club is, meaning how far the hosel is ahead of the clubface.
Scott has gravitated to the Titleist iron designs of the early 2000s. Although he won the 2013 Masters with MB 710 blades, he felt uncomfortable with how more recent designs had less offset and a shorter, more symmetrical blade.
Most PGA Tour players have moved into irons with less offset, so Scott’s preferences required a different treatment. He showed up to the CJ Cup with an altered version of Titleist’s new 620 MB Forged blade irons that came out earlier this year.
Thomas is on the other end. A picture of his new irons show the hosel just about perfectly in line with the leading edge of the clubface. This would be a nightmare for the average golfer because offset helps square the face at impact, giving the leading edge of the face more time to catch up coming into impact. However, for a ballstriker of Thomas’ caliber, less offset can help with working the ball both ways.
Thomas had been using the 620 MBs throughout this year. It’s unclear what alterations were made to his new set beyond the zero offset, but it is clear that both Thomas and Scott are using clubs with their initials on it for the first time in their careers.
Sean Fairholm