If you’re an expert in the ballistic armour field or have taken more than a passing interest in NASA’s Mars Phoenix Lander program, you might have some idea why golfers are so amped about the new Titleist TSi Drivers and Fairway Woods.
Titleist have opted to use a unique titanium alloy in the face of the new clubs, and it features improved strength, flexibility and durability – characteristics that have seen it successfully used in the aforementioned scenarios.
Known as ATI 425 aerospace titanium, it is now set to make its mark in golf through its capacity to boost distance while tightening dispersion in the new Titleist TSi drivers and fairway woods.
And given the rapid uptake of the new clubs among tour players, word has clearly spread quickly.
Titanium Face, But Not as You Know It
Titleist admit the new titanium used to power the TSi drivers’ face was a difficult material to work with, but they persisted after realising its potential performance benefits.
ATI 425 titanium is a rare commodity, produced in just one foundry in Pittsburgh, but it has resulted in speed gains that weren’t possible using conventional titanium.
It allowed Titleist to create their thinnest ever driver face while maintaining the strength and durability required to withstand impact conditions.
And it helps the new Titleist TSi drivers perform exceptionally well across the entire area of the face, with mis-hits travelling further and straighter out of both the heel and toe areas and from high and low on the face.
The Whole Package
With the ultra-fast ATI 425 titanium face fuelling speed and distance gains in the new TSi drivers, Titleist also upgraded all four of the big As in driver design: aerodynamics, accuracy, appearance and acoustics.
The TSi drivers’ aerodynamically enhanced head shape is 15 per cent more efficient than the previous Titleist driver. It slips through the air with less resistance to raise the terminal velocity of the club head on the downswing, adding extra yards of distance in the process.
The driver heads are also more stable and forgiving, with MOI (moment of inertia, the resistance to twisting) boosted by 13 per cent. It functions in tandem with a low CG (centre of gravity) to create more uniform spin rates across the face for straighter, higher-launching drives regardless of where impact occurs on the face.
And with a focus on fine tuning feel and reducing vibrations, the new Titleist TSi drivers feature improved impact acoustics and precise feedback.
Titleist have further customised the TSi offering with two distinct models – the TSi2 and TSi3 – and both are a sight to behold.
Titleist TSi2 Driver
The TSi2 model is designed for players who want to maximise distance and forgiveness and naturally produce mid-to-low spin levels.
It features a head shape with a modern influence that delivers a higher MOI, making it the more stable of the two TSi models.
A static CG generates a high-launching, low-spinning ball flight and a SureFit hosel can be tweaked to customise the swing weight.
The Titleist TSi2 driver is available in lofts of 9°, 10° and 11° and offers the simplest way to find more fairways and enjoy shorter approach shots into the green.
Titleist TSi3 Driver
The Titleist TSi3 will appeal to consistent ball strikers who like to tinker with the CG location to customise flights and shapes with their driver.
It features a SureFit CG track, an adjustable weighting system on the rear perimeter of the sole that can alter ball flights in five different positions.
The system has a neutral setting plus two different degrees of heel and toe bias to introduce flight customisation into a player’s game off the tee.
The TSi3 also offers another layer of customisation via the Titleist SureFit hosel, which offers 16 loft and lie configurations and swing weight adjustability ranging from -4g up to 4g, modified in 2g increments.
It also launches lower than the TSi2 and has a more traditional head shape to make working the ball an altogether easier proposition.
The Titleist TSi3 driver is available in three lofts: 8°, 9° and 10°.
Shaft Selection
Titleist have upped their shaft offering in the TSi driver line-up, with four premium options to choose from: a Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Black Dual Core 5G (high launch, low spin), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Blue (mid launch, mid spin), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White (low launch, low spin) and the HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX (low-mid launch, low-mid spin).
The TSi driver range is also able to be upgraded to a tour-grade shaft from Graphite Design, with three choices: The Graphite Design Tour AD DI, Graphite Design Tour AD IZ and the Graphite Design Tour AD XC.
Titleist TSi Fairway Woods
Replicating the new TSi driver designs are two fairway wood models that follow closely in the footsteps of the drivers. Titleist TSi2 fairway woods are designed for distance, with high-launching trajectories and low-spinning ball flights.
The Titleist TSi3 fairway woods are the lower-spinning version that features weight customisation on the sole, just behind the leading edge, to provide a more penetrating trajectory.
TSi fairway wood shaft options mirror those of the TSi driver line-up.
Titleist TSi Drivers & Fairway Specifications
- Australian Release Date: November 12
- Hand: right/left (TSi2 FW 21° RH only, TSi3 FW 13.5°, 18° RH only)
- Grip: Golf Pride TV 360 58R
- Shaft options: Mitsubishi Kuro Kage Black 5G (a,l,r,s), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Blue (r,s), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw White (s,x), HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX (s,x).
- Shaft upgrade options: Graphite Design Tour AD DI (s), Graphite Design Tour AD IZ (s)
- Titleist TSi2 Driver Lofts: 9°, 10° and 11°
- Titleist TSi3 Driver Lofts: 8°, 9° and 10°
- Titleist TSi2 Fairway Wood lofts: 13.5°, 15°, 16.5°, 18° and 21°
- Titleist TSi3 Fairway Wood lofts: 13.5°, 15°, 16.5° and 18°