Sept 21st was a Monday. I was scheduled for a embargoed media briefing at Tropicana Golf & Country Resort.
And, not even a ruptured old radiator in my car could stop me from going.
Are Mondays really that bad?
The cab ride was a refreshing change and I can't do without the My Teksi app anymore.
I was early by half an hour as I entered the Golfers Terrace.
It was great to bump into an old pal Steven Tan, the deputy general manager of Tropicana.
After exchanging pleasantries with Stevie, I sat down with the Titleist SEA Team for breakfast.
I truly enjoy product briefings like these because it gives me a chance to catch up with like-minded, and dedicated, industry professionals.
It was great to catch-up with Justin Fong and Singapore-based Aussie Gene Saunders again, although we haven't had the chance to play even 9 holes together over the past few years!
And yet again at this meeting, we vowed to organize a game. Fingers crossed, it may happen soon enough.
After breakfast, and after the rest of the 5-man media party were all present, it was time for the "classroom" briefing by Gene.
Now, I cannot vouch for the rest of my colleagues but I love testing new equipment... And when I saw the new Titleist 716 AP1 and AP2 displayed in the bag, I was mesmerized!
I could not wait to try these at the range later.
Gene knew equipment and he had a way of getting us to understand the new tech that goes into each Titleist club.
The new AP1 irons – are the longest, most forgiving irons ever designed by Titleist R&D – provide unparalleled game improvement technology.
Tech call outs include:
• An extreme 360º Undercut Cavity creates a large, thin, unsupported face area,
resulting in a Thin Fast Face that flexes more at impact. The thinner face – constructed
from specially heat-treated 17-4 stainless steel for strength – increases both speed and
launch for more distance. Additionally, the deeper undercut creates discretionary
weight that allows industry leading use of high density tungsten.
• High Density Tungsten, precisely placed low and in the toe of the long and mid
irons, produces a lower center of gravity (CG) for a higher launch angle. The improved
launch allows for stronger lofts, which increase speed for even more distance. The high
density tungsten also moves weight to the perimeter, increasing moment of inertia
(MOI).
• The forgiving High-MOI design – with 50 percent more tungsten than prior
generation 714, an average of 42.5 grams of tungsten per head – maximizes heel and
toe stability without increasing AP1’s preferred blade length, while producing higher
ball speeds across the face for more consistent distance on off-center hits.
The New AP2 provides tour-proven distance with maximum
forgiveness through the most advanced technology available in a tour played iron:
• High Density Tungsten weighting creates a Low CG that is perfectly aligned at
impact to increase speed and distance. The tungsten weights are shaped to perimeter
and precisely placed low and out using an Advanced Co-Forging Process pioneered
for golf clubs by Titleist R&D. The result is solid feel and higher MOI.
• The forgiving High-MOI design – with an average of 56.2 grams of tungsten per
head, 25 percent more than AP2 714 – drives higher ball speeds across the face for
more consistent distance on off-center hits at a tour-preferred blade length that allows
workability and shot control. Compared to the previous generation, 716 AP2 has 8.5
percent higher MOI in the long irons and 5.5 percent for the full set.
• New AP2’s innovative construction combines a forged 1025 Carbon steel body with
extreme perimeter tungsten weighting in the long and mid irons for an unparalleled
combination of low CG and high MOI with Solid Forged Feel.
Thankfully the briefing was quick and we could head to the range to hit these babies. Thanks Geno!
Now, I may be an editor of a golf publication but that doesn't make me a pro.
First up was the AP1 PW in an N'S' Pro 'S' shaft.
Pure... What? Yes, pure on the first swing of the day.
The one thing I noticed was the ball trajectory that was a little higher than normal but it wasn't looping.
After trying out several irons, I noticed that the hang time across the set was certainly longer than my own set of irons.
The AP2's were no different and the feel was a lot more solid at impact with this new release.
It was a joy to keep hitting them.
One thing that caught my eye was that both the AP1 and AP2 looked sleeker and had a much more attractive look compared with previous models.
The multiple shaft options was a boost for my 45-year-old body, as I could be fitted for a shaft that suited my swing speed and swing plane characteristics.
It was eye-opening indeed.
And, not even a ruptured old radiator in my car could stop me from going.
Are Mondays really that bad?
The cab ride was a refreshing change and I can't do without the My Teksi app anymore.
I was early by half an hour as I entered the Golfers Terrace.
It was great to bump into an old pal Steven Tan, the deputy general manager of Tropicana.
After exchanging pleasantries with Stevie, I sat down with the Titleist SEA Team for breakfast.
I truly enjoy product briefings like these because it gives me a chance to catch up with like-minded, and dedicated, industry professionals.
It was great to catch-up with Justin Fong and Singapore-based Aussie Gene Saunders again, although we haven't had the chance to play even 9 holes together over the past few years!
And yet again at this meeting, we vowed to organize a game. Fingers crossed, it may happen soon enough.
After breakfast, and after the rest of the 5-man media party were all present, it was time for the "classroom" briefing by Gene.
Now, I cannot vouch for the rest of my colleagues but I love testing new equipment... And when I saw the new Titleist 716 AP1 and AP2 displayed in the bag, I was mesmerized!
I could not wait to try these at the range later.
Gene knew equipment and he had a way of getting us to understand the new tech that goes into each Titleist club.
The new AP1 irons – are the longest, most forgiving irons ever designed by Titleist R&D – provide unparalleled game improvement technology.
Tech call outs include:
• An extreme 360º Undercut Cavity creates a large, thin, unsupported face area,
resulting in a Thin Fast Face that flexes more at impact. The thinner face – constructed
from specially heat-treated 17-4 stainless steel for strength – increases both speed and
launch for more distance. Additionally, the deeper undercut creates discretionary
weight that allows industry leading use of high density tungsten.
• High Density Tungsten, precisely placed low and in the toe of the long and mid
irons, produces a lower center of gravity (CG) for a higher launch angle. The improved
launch allows for stronger lofts, which increase speed for even more distance. The high
density tungsten also moves weight to the perimeter, increasing moment of inertia
(MOI).
• The forgiving High-MOI design – with 50 percent more tungsten than prior
generation 714, an average of 42.5 grams of tungsten per head – maximizes heel and
toe stability without increasing AP1’s preferred blade length, while producing higher
ball speeds across the face for more consistent distance on off-center hits.
The New AP2 provides tour-proven distance with maximum
forgiveness through the most advanced technology available in a tour played iron:
• High Density Tungsten weighting creates a Low CG that is perfectly aligned at
impact to increase speed and distance. The tungsten weights are shaped to perimeter
and precisely placed low and out using an Advanced Co-Forging Process pioneered
for golf clubs by Titleist R&D. The result is solid feel and higher MOI.
• The forgiving High-MOI design – with an average of 56.2 grams of tungsten per
head, 25 percent more than AP2 714 – drives higher ball speeds across the face for
more consistent distance on off-center hits at a tour-preferred blade length that allows
workability and shot control. Compared to the previous generation, 716 AP2 has 8.5
percent higher MOI in the long irons and 5.5 percent for the full set.
• New AP2’s innovative construction combines a forged 1025 Carbon steel body with
extreme perimeter tungsten weighting in the long and mid irons for an unparalleled
combination of low CG and high MOI with Solid Forged Feel.
Thankfully the briefing was quick and we could head to the range to hit these babies. Thanks Geno!
Now, I may be an editor of a golf publication but that doesn't make me a pro.
First up was the AP1 PW in an N'S' Pro 'S' shaft.
Pure... What? Yes, pure on the first swing of the day.
The one thing I noticed was the ball trajectory that was a little higher than normal but it wasn't looping.
After trying out several irons, I noticed that the hang time across the set was certainly longer than my own set of irons.
The AP2's were no different and the feel was a lot more solid at impact with this new release.
It was a joy to keep hitting them.
One thing that caught my eye was that both the AP1 and AP2 looked sleeker and had a much more attractive look compared with previous models.
The multiple shaft options was a boost for my 45-year-old body, as I could be fitted for a shaft that suited my swing speed and swing plane characteristics.
It was eye-opening indeed.
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