Yahoo Sports Titleist GT1, GT2, GT3 hybrids
Gear: Titleist GT1, GT2, GT3 hybrids
Price: $329 each with Fujikura Air Speeder shaft and Titleist Universal 360 grip.
Specs: Stainless steel face and chassis with moveable weights (GT2, GT3) and adjustable hosel. Available lofts: 20, 23, 26 and 29 degrees (GT1); 18, 21 and 24 degrees (GT2); 19, 21 and 24 degrees (GT3).
Available: Feb. 4 (pre-order), Feb. 21 (in stores)
Who they're For: Players seeking high-launching, forgiving hybrids with lightweight configurations (GT1); golfers who want maximum forgiveness and stability (GT2); and advanced players who value workability and a compact, iron-like design for shaping shots (GT3).
What You Should Know: Several years ago Titleist decided that it made sense to release new hybrids when it released new irons, with the rationale being that when golfers get fitted and buy new irons, that was the ideal time to consider a new hybrid club. Consumers, however, were lukewarm on the idea and still associated long-iron replacements with woods, so eventually Titleist brought hybrids back into the wood cadence.
That’s what made last summer’s GT driver and fairway wood release so interesting; no hybrids were made available. Now, however, Titleist has three new GT hybrids ready for golfers who want more distance, versatility and forgiveness than they get from long irons.
The GT1, GT2 and GT3 are each designed to glide over and through the turf more efficiently, and they all come with Titleist’s 16-position SureFit hosel mechanism, which allows the stated loft to be increased or decreased.
However, the clubs look different, and Titleist designed them to play differently. Here’s what you need to know.
GT1: Up and Down Adjustability
The GT1 is a fairway wood-style hybrid that has the largest footprint of the three GT models, and it has the highest moment of inertia thanks to a pair of weights in the sole. With the 11-gram weight in the back and the 5-gram weight in the front, the launch angle and spin rates should increase, and the GT1 will resist twisting on off-center hits more effectively. With the heavier weight in the front, the spin rates and launch angle should lower, ball speed should increase and golfers can expect to hit a more-piercing shot.
The blade length of the GT1 hybrid is longer than the TSR1 it replaces, the hitting area is larger, and for mid- and higher-handicap golfers, it should inspire confidence in the address position.
Finally, the GT1 features a smaller 0.335-inch diameter shaft tip, like a fairway wood or driver, which is smaller than the iron-style tip found in Titleist’s other hybrids. It’s a small detail, but the thinner tip should allow the shaft to be more flexible in that section, which should result in a higher ball flight for golfers who struggle to hit approach shots from the fairway or tee shots on par 3s high into the air.
GT2: Maximum Forgiveness and Stability
The GT2 hybrid is the most forgiving in the Titleist lineup. It has a smaller profile than the GT1, and like the GT1, it has an 11-gram and a 5-gram moveable weight, but instead of those weights being in the front and back, they are in the heel and toe.
Putting the 11-gram weight in the toe should create a fade bias, and affixing it in the heel will create a draw bias. In both settings, the GT2 has significant perimeter weighting and a higher moment of inertia than the TSR2 hybrid.
The flatter leading edge of the GT2 hybrid allows it to sit flush with the turf, improving turf interaction and making it easier to achieve clean contact, even from challenging lies. This is particularly beneficial for higher-handicap players who might occasionally strike the ball fat or thin with long irons.
GT3: Small Size, Big Versatility
The GT3 is the smallest of the three GT hybrids and has the shortest blade length. It was designed to appeal to accomplished golfers who want more consistency and distance than they get from long irons but who don’t want to sacrifice the ability to shape shots.
Like the GT2, the GT3 hybrids feature moveable weights with ports in the heel and toe and come standard with 11-gram and 5-gram weights. However, because the clubhead is smaller and the blade length is shorter, the GT3 has less perimeter weighting than the GT2. For low-handicap golfers, that’s fine because it allows those players to generate more spin and produce draws and fades more easily.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Titleist GT1, GT2, GT3 hybrids
