First look: Titleist new T-Series irons and utility irons

There are some things that are certainties. Death, taxes and the biennial tour debut of Titleist irons, the latest of which occurred today at the PGA Tour's Charles Schwab Challenge and DP World Tour's Soudal Open.

The collection includes new iterations of the company’s T100, T150, T250 and T350 irons along with T250•U and U•505 utility irons. Titleist irons have been the most played irons on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour for more than a decade, and the introduction is part of the company’s venerable tour validation process.

“It's years of research, player feedback, player testing,” said JJ Van Wezenbeeck, Titleist’s senior director of club promotions. “To bring the product out, see it tested on the golf course during a tournament week and prove itself—it’s super exciting to see all that finally come to fruition.”

Titleist firmly believes that leveraging its tour staff and listening to the needs of the best players in the game is an integral part of creating products that work for all players.

Titleist brand ambassador Russell Henley, one of the best ballstrikers on tour, knows what he is looking for in an iron.

“[With] 9-iron, what I want to do is hit one really hard and be able to put it way up in the air. And then I also want to [have the ability] to take a lot of speed off and take spin off, but I still want it to land soft,” said Henley on his process.

“And then when I get into my [long] irons, I want to be able to get that ball up in the air, but I don't want to get it up in the air with too much spin. ... Golf is getting to be more and more specific, and the more technology, the more that we're learning about the game, the more every shot needs to be approached a little bit differently and be attacked in a different way.”

Henley ranks inside the top five on the PGA Tour in greens in regulation and proximity to the hole this season. The 36-year-old won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March with a blended set of T200 (4) and T100 (5-9) irons.

Although Titleist was mum on the details, photos show the T100 and T150 appear to have a dual-cavity design while the T250 and T350 feature a more blade-like back. Given that these irons have habitually been the most forgiving in the line it will be interesting to see if Titleist has possibly gone with a hollow-body design in these clubs. Stay tuned.