The new Titleist 716 AP1 irons are the brand's longest and most forgiving iron yet.
New Titleist 716 AP1 irons launched
The new Titleist 716 AP1 irons have been revealed, aimed at game improvers seeking maximum distance and forgiveness.
It's part of the latest family of clubs to be launched by Titleist, including the 716 AP2, 716 CB, 716 MB and 716 T-MB irons and 816 hybrid.
The 716 AP1 irons have a fresh look and use 50 per cent more high-density tungsten than 714 in the long irons to concentrate discretionary weight to the perimeter of the clubhead. This raises the Moment of Inertia (MOI) and therefore forgiveness, while also lowering the centre of gravity (CG) and positioning it more centrally to increase launch and offer a better feel.
“Tungsten is dense material, it packs a lot of weight in a small package,” Steve Pelisek, General Manager for Titleist Golf Clubs, exclusively told GM. “This is the 5th generation of using tungsten and we feel these latest irons use it most effectively. The 42g of Tungsten in the 716 AP1 irons accounts for 17 per cent of the total mass of the clubhead, helping increase distance and preserving ball speed on off-centre hits.”
A key innovation is a 360° undercut. In 714 AP1, there was a supporting bar that connected the face to the cavity. This has now been removed, increasing the unsupported face area for more face flexion at impact and more ball speed.
To implement this, Titleist had to use a new stronger material called 17-4 stainless steel that has been heat-treated to increase its strength, but maintain Titleist’s ability to bend the heads for custom orders.
With a lower CG creating a naturally higher launch angle, Titleist have accounted for this by strengthening the lofts by one degree compared to 714. This keeps the trajectories playable while maintaining stopping power in greens.
The AP1 is the larger of the two AP models and is Titleist’s longest, most forgiving iron ever, offering maximum distance and forgiveness for the mid-to-high handicappers.
Details
The Titleist 716 AP1 irons have the same RRP as the 714 AP1 irons launched two years ago, £93 steel and £107 graphite per club. The new stock steel shaft is the XP90, which is lighter than the previous XP95, and in graphite the Kuro Kage TiNi 65 features Titanium Nickel wire for feel and response.
