Titleist TS1 offering more speed for the moderate swinger

With USGA rules in place to limit just how fast a driver clubface can be, golf manufacturers have had to get increasingly creative in recent years to continue to make better products.

The area that most people point to first when it comes to driver advancement is forgiveness, as today’s drivers offer far better performance in terms of both distance and dispersion when hit from areas other than the center of the face.

Equally important, however, have been the increased customization options that manufacturers are offering golfers in modern drivers.

For example, adjustable hosels allow players to use different settings to fine tune performance, while also enabling them to change shafts more easily to find the percent fit.

Additionally, specialized clubheads that are often coupled with movable weight technology can help golfers reduce spin, fight a slice, or more easily control trajectory.

Another category that is growing rapidly in popularity is that of the lightweight driver, where the goal is to specifically help golfers who have more modest swing speeds create more distance.

It’s in this category where Titleist is jumping in with both feet really for the first time with its new lightweight TS1 driver, which in total weighs just 275 grams.

So who is the target player for the TS1?

“There are so many golfers that can benefit from the performance of TS1,” said Josh Talge, Vice President of Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “For seniors, women, juniors - really anyone who is the moderate swing speed player - TS1 is an absolute powerhouse. You can swing as smooth and easy as you want and the ball just takes off. The distance just feels effortless.”

Key to the design of the TS1 is that each of its components from the clubhead to the grip was engineered to work together to improve results for players with more moderate swing speeds.

In terms of its overall weight, the TS1 at 275 grams is 45 grams lighter than the TS2.

Weight savings come in the form of eight grams from the clubhead, 20 grams from the specialized Golf Pride Tour Velvet Lite grip that is utilized, and 17 grams through the use of premium lightweight shaft options from either Fujikura and Mitsubishi, two of the most well-regarded shaft companies in the world.

That design approach maintains the driver’s overall balance and allows golfers to create more clubhead speed without having to swing harder, with the end result being a chance to add valuable yards off the tee.

That said, the TS1 is about far more than just its lightweight design when it comes to performance.

Like the highly popular TS2 and TS3 models, the TS1 is also 460cc and it features a thin titanium crown that enables engineers to redistribute weight in the clubhead to optimize launch and maximize MOI.

The TS1 also features the thinnest clubface that Titleist has ever constructed to promote faster ball speeds from across the face, and each driver face goes through a CT scan to ensure that it’s at the USGA’s legal limit.

Additionally, the TS1’s more streamlined shape takes advantage of aerodynamics to reduce drag during the swing to further promote clubhead speed for the golfers who need it most, and a SureFit weight that has been positioned low and deep in the head can be changed to influence swing weight as necessary.

The TS1, of course, will also come standard with Titleist’s highly successful SureFit hosel, which allows players to utilize 16 different settings to independently adjust both loft and lie angle to optimize launch angle, spin rate, and shot shape.

As mentioned, this is Titleist’s first foray into releasing a lightweight driver design globally, but this is something that has been in the works for quite some time within the R&D department.

The key, however, was to get it just right, which Titleist engineers believe they’ve done.

“Anytime you can give someone more clubhead speed potential, the ability for them to generate ball speed is there,” said Stephanie Luttrell, Titleist Golf Club R&D Director of Metalwoods Development. “What separates TS1 from other competitive lightweight products is that we haven’t had to make sacrifices, particularly with MOI and adjustability.

“Everything about TS1 – from the technology package to the tour-inspired look, sound, and feel – makes this a driver and delivers on the promise of Titleist Speed.”

In terms of guidelines for the swing speed range that is best suited for the TS1 as opposed to maybe the highly forgiving TS2, Luttrell offered some additional advice.

“TS1 is designed for golfers who have a driver swing speed of approximately 85 mph and below, and are averaging about 220 yards or less off the tee,” said Luttrell. “By bringing our TS technology into this extremely lightweight configuration and adding a slight draw bias, we’ve been able to produce dramatic benefits for this group of players.”

The TS1 driver will come at a standard length of 45.75 inches, and it will be available in lofts of 9.5, 10.5, and 12.5 degrees. That said, the 9.5 and 12.5 heads are offered as right-handed models only.

TS1 drivers are available for pre-order now, and they will be available in each of 2nd Swing’s five retail locations for professional fittings starting on June 20.