Focus on Feel and Performance with New Titleist AP1, AP2, ZB Forged and ZM Forged Irons
Fairhaven, MA (January 24, 2008) Staying true to its heritage of designing performance enhancing golf clubs for better and aspiring golfers, Titleist introduces four new irons for 2008. The new Titleist AP1 and AP2 irons are multi-material, dual cavity designs that provide Advanced Performance You Can Feel. The new Titleist ZB Forged is a blended cavity-to-muscle back set while the new Titleist ZM Forged is a traditional muscle back iron.
"We designed these irons with a focus on feel and performance," said Jeff Harmet, President, Cobra Golf and Titleist Clubs. "The Titleist iron audience ranges from world-class Tour players to aspiring golfers who demand performance with great feel. Each of our new irons is clearly positioned and provides best in class performance for its intended target golfer.”
Following extensive research with a wide range of golfers, Titleist discovered clearly defined average ball speed gaps of approximately 10 miles per hour between Tour players, club professionals and low single digit handicap amateurs, and high single digit to low double digit amateurs.
“It is important to note that average ball speed gaps between player groups have widened over the years,” said Harmet. “The average ball speed of a PGA Tour player is 165+ miles per hour, while the average ball speed of a 5-9 handicap player is 145 mph – a 20+ mph difference. As a result of our research, we have designed four distinct irons that will focus on performance and feel and optimize launch conditions and ball flight based on the targeted players’ ball speed range.”
“The advanced dual cavity design and multi-material construction of the new Titleist AP1 and AP2 irons utilizing a dense tungsten nickel alloy in the back and sole allowed us to optimize launch conditions for a larger range of swing speeds from Tour player to aspiring golfer,” said Dan Stone, Vice President, Research and Development, Titleist Golf Clubs. “We were able to do this while maintaining the traditional soft yet solid ‘Titleist feel’ that players have come to expect from Titleist irons.”
The Titleist Leadership Team has worked extensively with players at the Oceanside Test Facility in California and other locations to introduce the new irons to its Tour staff in preparation for the new season.
“The feedback on the new irons from the players with whom we have worked has been extremely encouraging and effusively positive,” said Stone. We anticipate our Tour staff gravitating to the new AP2, ZB and ZM irons, while the AP1 is expected to be our most successful at retail as it appeals to the widest audience.”
FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF TITLEIST AP IRON LINE
The new AP family is the most technologically advanced irons that Titleist has ever produced. The AP1 and AP2 feature contemporary technology with traditional Titleist feel for the better and aspiring player. The AP stands for Advanced Performance, and the new irons deliver on that promise. Both feature a multi-material construction and dual cavity design that combine to provide unmatched feel, forgiveness and playability in a Titleist iron. Four different materials are used in the construction of the AP irons, including a steel body, tungsten nickel steel box, central support bar with elastomer cushion and aluminum cavity plate. The AP1 iron body is cast with 431 stainless steel, while the AP2 is forged with 1020 mild carbon steel. Below is a comprehensive list of Features and Benefits for the new AP1 and AP2 irons:
AP1 IRONS
– Overview/Player Profile: Titleist AP1 Irons are advanced performance, multi-material, dual cavity, contemporary cast irons providing looks, feel, shot control, and higher flight with forgiveness. Titleist AP1 Irons target the skilled golfer with enough performance to easily reach the aspiring serious golfer. High-tech design and construction deliver outstanding performance.
– Dual Cavity, Multi-Material Design: Upper and lower cavities optimize weight distribution to the perimeter, while the precise cast 431 stainless steel body with high density tungsten nickel box provide both feel, forgiveness and performance. Elastomer cushion on central support bar dampens vibration for outstanding feel.
– Tungsten Nickel Box: High density material located in the back and sole encloses the lower cavity to locate weight low and deep for performance while providing structural rigidity and low frequency vibration dampening for unmatched feel.
– Thin Face: Distributes additional weight low and deep to help improve the weight distribution and performance.
– Central Cross Member with Elastomer Cushion: Cross member provides rigidity behind the impact area for solid feel. Soft elastomer cushion dampens face vibration for outstanding overall feel.
– Optimal CG Location: Dual cavity, multi-material, thin face design optimizes the Center of Gravity (CG) location in the center, low and deep for optimal launch, increased ball speed, higher launch and consistent spin performance across the hitting area.
– Confidence Inspiring Appearance: Contemporary, confidence inspiring set-up appearance features a traditional profile with soft blends, modern proportions and a semi-underslung hosel junction.
– Metallic Cavity Plate: Attractive cavity plate and back graphics with multiple elevations and textures for great shelf and bag appeal.
– High Performance Sole: High performance sole with width, camber and bounce specs designed to deliver playability from a variety of lies and turf conditions without excessive bounce or dig.
– Dual Hosel Lengths: Shorter hosel in long irons helps bias weight low for improved launch.
– Progressive Offset: Blade length is the same throughout the set with enhanced progressive offset.
– Lofts: Two degrees stronger versus AP2.
– True Temper Dynamic Gold High Launch Stock Shaft: Tour proven Dynamic Gold performance in a new mid weight shaft with a lower kick point for great feel and flight. Stock graphite shaft is Aldila VS Proto-T 75 exclusively for Titleist.
– Grip: Tour-proven feel and traction of the Titleist Tour Velvet Rubber by Golf Pride.
– Custom Options: Additional shaft, grip, length and lie options available through Titleist Custom.
– Price/Availability: Available in both right and left hand beginning March 15, 2008, with a suggested retail price of $100 per club/steel and $125 per club/graphite.
AP1 Irons 3
4
5
6
7
8
9
P
W
Loft 20° 23° 26° 29° 33° 37° 41° 45° 50°
Lie 60° 61° 62° 62.5° 63° 63.5° 64° 64° 64°
Offset 0.245" 0.220" 0.195" 0.170" 0.145" 0.125" 0.110" 0.105" 0.100"
Bounce 1° 1° 2° 2° 3° 4° 5° 6° 7°
Length 39.00" 38.50" 38.00" 37.50" 37.00" 36.50" 36.00" 35.75" 35.50"
AP2 IRONS
– Overview/Player Profile: Titleist AP2 Irons are advanced performance, multi-material, dual cavity, chrome plated technical forging for the skilled, single digit golfer who wants contemporary iron technology with traditional solid feel, looks and shot control.
– Dual Cavity, Multi-Material Design: Upper and lower cavities optimize weight distribution to the perimeter, while the precise forged steel body with high density tungsten nickel box provide feel, forgiveness and performance. Elastomer cushion on central support bar dampens vibration for outstanding feel.
– Tungsten Nickel Box: High density material located in the back and sole encloses the lower cavity to locate weight low and deep for performance while providing structural rigidity and low frequency vibration dampening for unmatched feel.
– Thin Face: Distributes additional weight low and deep to help improve the weight distribution and performance.
– Central Cross Member with Elastomer Cushion: Cross member provides rigidity behind the impact area for solid feel. Soft elastomer cushion dampens face vibration for outstanding overall feel.
– Optimal CG Location: Dual cavity, multi-material, thin face design optimizes the Center of Gravity (CG) location in the center, low and deep for optimal launch, increased ball speed, higher launch and consistent spin performance across the hitting area.
– Confidence Inspiring Appearance: Contemporary, confidence inspiring set-up appearance features a traditional profile with soft blends, modern proportions and a semi-underslung hosel junction.
– Metallic Cavity Plate: Attractive cavity plate and back graphics with multiple elevations and textures for great shelf and bag appeal.
– High Performance Sole: High performance sole width and bounce with relieved trailing edge for playability and shot making.
– Dual Hosel Lengths: Shorter hosel in long irons helps bias weight low for improved launch. Longer hosel in mid and short irons helps manage flight.
– Precision Project X Stock Shaft: Tour proven performance with medium launch and outstanding spin control.
– Grip: Tour-proven feel and traction of the Titleist Tour Velvet Rubber by Golf Pride.
– Custom Options: Additional shaft, grip, length and lie options available through Titleist Custom.
– Price/Availability: Available in both right and left hand beginning March 15, 2008, with a suggested retail price of $142 per club/steel and $167 per club/graphite.
AP2 Irons 3
4
5
6
7
8
9
P
W
Loft 22° 25° 28° 31° 35° 39° 43° 47° 51°
Lie 60° 61° 62° 62.5° 63° 63.5° 64° 64° 64°
Offset 0.160" 0.145" 0.130" 0.120" 0.110" 0.100" 0.090" 0.085" 0.080"
Bounce 0° 1° 3° 4° 5° 6° 7° 8° 8°
Length 39.00" 38.50" 38.00" 37.50" 37.00" 36.50" 36.00" 35.75" 35.50"
FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF TITLEIST ZB AND ZM FORGED IRONS
The new Z Forged family continues the Titleist legacy of designing and producing forged irons with superior shot control for the best professional players and competitive amateurs in the world. The ZB Forged is a blended cavity-to-muscle back set of traditional forgings, while the ZM Forged is a traditional muscle back iron. The Z shaped back design of the iron moves weight from the heel to toe centering the CG for solid feel, consistent ball speed, launch and spin. Below is a comprehensive list of Features and Benefits for the new ZB and ZM Forged irons:
ZB FORGED IRONS
– Overview: High performance, blended cavity-to-muscle back iron, forged with 1025 carbon steel and bright chrome plating for traditional feel, superior looks and shot control for the competitive and highly skilled golfer.
– Blended Set: Cavity back long irons (2-4) for playability, partial cavity mid irons (5-7) blending to muscle back short irons (8-P) for shot control. The ZB irons feature a progressive blade length with the long irons slightly bigger than the short.
– Z Back Design: A contemporary back design locates the center of gravity in the center of the face by precisely distributing weight from the heel into the toe producing traditional solid feel.
– Tour Validated Flight: Traditional blade performance with Tour standard loft specifications for Tour validated ball flight, shot and trajectory control and workability.
– Tour Preferred Shape and Offset: Traditional profile with slightly more progressive offset than the ZM Forged for a preferred set-up appearance.
– High Performance Sole: Traditional narrow sole for reduced skip in firm conditions and appropriate bounce to reduce digging. ZB sole is slighter wider with moderate bounce in the 2-7 versus the ZM.
– Dual Hosel Lengths: Shorter hosel in long irons helps bias weight low for improved launch. Longer hosel in mid and short irons helps manage flight.
– Dynamic Gold Steel Stock Shaft: Preferred shaft of better players worldwide for feel and shot control.
– Grip: Tour-proven feel and traction of the Titleist Tour Velvet Rubber by Golf Pride.
– Custom Options: Additional shaft, grip, length and lie options available through Titleist Custom.
– Price/Availability: Available in both right and left hand beginning March 15, 2008, with a suggested retail price of $125 per club/steel and $150 per club/graphite.
ZB Irons 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
P
Loft 18° 21° 24° 27° 31° 35° 39° 43° 47°
Lie 60° 60° 61° 62° 62.5° 63° 63.5° 64° 64°
Offset 0.150" 0.140" 0.130" 0.120" 0.110" 0.100" 0.090" 0.080" 0.075"
Bounce 0° 1° 2° 3° 4° 5° 6° 7° 8°
Length 39.50" 39.00" 38.50" 38.00" 37.50" 37.00" 36.50" 36.00" 35.70"
ZM FORGED IRONS
– Overview: High performance, muscle back forged iron, forged with 1025 carbon steel and bright chrome plating for traditional feel, superior looks and shot control for the competitive and highly skilled golfer. Compact size with constant blade length.
– Z-Muscle Design: Contemporary back design locates the center of gravity in the center of the face by precisely distributing weight from the heel into the toe producing traditional solid feel.
– Tour Validated Flight: Traditional blade performance with Tour standard loft specifications for Tour validated ball flight, shot and trajectory control and workability.
– Tour Preferred Shape and Offset: Traditional profile with minimal progressive offset for a preferred set up appearance.
– High Performance Sole: Traditional narrow sole for reduced skip in firm conditions and appropriate bounce to reduce digging. Slightly narrower than the ZB with 1 degree more bounce in long irons.
– Dual Hosel Lengths: Shorter hosel in long irons helps bias weight low for improved launch. Longer hosel in mid and short irons helps manage flight.
– Dynamic Gold Steel Stock Shaft: Preferred shaft of better players worldwide for feel and shot control.
– Grip: Tour-proven feel and traction of the Titleist Tour Velvet Rubber by Golf Pride.
– Custom Options: Additional shaft, grip, length and lie options available through Titleist Custom.
– Price/Availability: Available in both right and left hand beginning March 15, 2008, with a suggested retail price of $125 per club/steel and $150 per club/graphite.
ZM Irons 3
4
5
6
7
8
9
P
Loft 21° 24° 27° 31° 35° 39° 43° 47°
Lie 60° 61° 62° 62.5° 63° 63.5° 64° 64°
Offset 0.125" 0.120" 0.115" 0.110" 0.100" 0.090" 0.080" 0.075"
Bounce 2° 3° 4° 4.5° 5° 6° 7° 8°
Length 39.00" 38.50" 38.00" 37.50" 37.00" 36.50" 36.00" 35.75"
ON TOUR
The new Titleist irons have gotten off to a fast start across the worldwide professional tours. Last year’s PGA European Tour Rookie of the Year, Martin Kaymer, earned his first career victory with a wire-to-wire win at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship the first time he put the new Titleist ZM Forged irons into play. Meanwhile, Chez Reavie tied for the best final round of the day at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic with the ZM Forged irons to post a Top 5 finish. Among the players who have put the new AP2 irons into play include Ben Crane, Tom Pernice, Jr., Brett Quigley, Bill Haas, Jay Haas, Dudley Hart, Jon Mills and Mark O’Meara, while Billy Mayfair relies upon the AP1.
To download hi-res photography of or obtain additional information on the new Titleist irons, please click here or contact Joe Gomes, Director of Communications, Acushnet Company (508.979.3211).
Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra comprise the major golf brands of the Acushnet Company, an operating company of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE – FO).
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