Titleist 718 CB Reviews Please!!!

Hello All

I want to make the Move to the 718 CB. I played the 716 CB on and off and handled them pretty well.

I am currently playing AP2 718 and don';t love them. Not crazy about the feel and turf interaction.

Hover around a 7 HC shoot high 70s to low 80s. Iron play is the best part about my game whilst driving and chipping are the worst.

How have the 718 Cbs been? Are they 'that' much harder to hit than the AP2???? How would they compare to the Mizuno MP 18 SC??

They may look the same as 716’s, but they did make some small changes in tech from what I gather, and I love them. Coming from PXG’s, I don’t miss them for a second. Prior to that was always Mizuno, but 18’s just didn’t do what 64’s, 15’s, did for me. (Always played a “players” cavity back, never played blades, so cant speak for them. Also I don’t see much difference from AP2, at least 718’s. More of what you rather look down at.

I’m sure you will enjoy 718 CB’s.

Don't switch from the AP2's. You will get 1 or 2 shots per round with the CB's where your like "Yeah, Sweet pure strike". Then you have a 4 or 5 shots where your just a little off and now your in defensive mode guarding from 3 putts or trying to get up and down around the greens trying to save par. I absolutely loved my CB's but the AP2's just post better scores. I'm a 6hcp and play in a 9 hole league twice a week. Looking at my scores over 20 rounds with the CB's last year I was constantly shooting 40-42 and last 15 rounds with the AP2's the worse score was a 40 and consistently shooting 37-39. Its mainly because my misses with the AP2's are not hurting me like the CB's were.

GREAT looking club. yet to hit them though

Don't switch from the AP2's. You will get 1 or 2 shots per round with the CB's where your like "Yeah, Sweet pure strike". Then you have a 4 or 5 shots where your just a little off and now your in defensive mode guarding from 3 putts or trying to get up and down around the greens trying to save par. I absolutely loved my CB's but the AP2's just post better scores. I'm a 6hcp and play in a 9 hole league twice a week. Looking at my scores over 20 rounds with the CB's last year I was constantly shooting 40-42 and last 15 rounds with the AP2's the worse score was a 40 and consistently shooting 37-39. Its mainly because my misses with the AP2's are not hurting me like the CB's were.

I understand the sentiment, but when comparing irons like this, there probably isn't much in it.

For example, I was playing a shotgun scramble last year and we started on a par 3. I had to hit a 6 iron to cover the 170 yard carry to the green - I made good contact, but the face was slightly open and my ball had push- fade movement and I ended up short and right. I was hitting my 716 CB. Would the AP2 have saved that shot? I'm not sure it would have.

I played this past weekend for then first time. Weather has been awful up here. Confronted with the same 170 carry, I pulled from the top and hit the ball fat. I don't think the AP2 saves that shot, either.

But for the rest of the roalund, I was aiming at pins and hitting targets when my driving wasn't garbage.

I've found that there is very little 7-PW of the same type of iron. No club will save a bad swing. For 4,5,6 irons and consistency, it depends on the golfer, swing repeatability, practise time, some mental focus.

As others have said to me - play what you like. You'll score better with clubs you like playing the with.

Don't switch from the AP2's. You will get 1 or 2 shots per round with the CB's where your like "Yeah, Sweet pure strike". Then you have a 4 or 5 shots where your just a little off and now your in defensive mode guarding from 3 putts or trying to get up and down around the greens trying to save par. I absolutely loved my CB's but the AP2's just post better scores. I'm a 6hcp and play in a 9 hole league twice a week. Looking at my scores over 20 rounds with the CB's last year I was constantly shooting 40-42 and last 15 rounds with the AP2's the worse score was a 40 and consistently shooting 37-39. Its mainly because my misses with the AP2's are not hurting me like the CB's were.

 

I understand the sentiment, but when comparing irons like this, there probably isn't much in it.

 

For example, I was playing a shotgun scramble last year and we started on a par 3. I had to hit a 6 iron to cover the 170 yard carry to the green - I made good contact, but the face was slightly open and my ball had push- fade movement and I ended up short and right. I was hitting my 716 CB. Would the AP2 have saved that shot? I'm not sure it would have.

 

I played this past weekend for then first time. Weather has been awful up here. Confronted with the same 170 carry, I pulled from the top and hit the ball fat. I don't think the AP2 saves that shot, either.

 

But for the rest of the roalund, I was aiming at pins and hitting targets when my driving wasn't garbage.

 

I've found that there is very little 7-PW of the same type of iron. No club will save a bad swing. For 4,5,6 irons and consistency, it depends on the golfer, swing repeatability, practise time, some mental focus.

 

As others have said to me - play what you like. You'll score better with clubs you like playing the with.

I had a lot of moments of thinking like that when playing my CB's. I was actually ok losing 2-3 strokes per round just because the turf interaction and feel of the CB's are far superior to the AP2's. I did a graph last year comparing my CB's to my AP2's and the +/- with the CB's was almost 10 yards where as the AP2's were 3.5 yards while hitting on my Mevo. Last year I had to account for my Left/Right and Short/Long miss while playing the CB's and this year I'm only accounting for my left/right misses while playing approach shots.

That was my experience. The feel and turf interaction is much better with CB vs the AP2. How did you do the comparison of dispersion front/back CB vs AP2?

Shovels, play the 718MB's

Ha!

I couldn’t stand the sole interaction with the ap2 irons. I have tried them all. They hit too high and spin too much for me. I have the 718 cbs and love them. It will definitely improve your ball striking. I like knowing how far they go on a good strike and being able to work them more.

Out of all of the CB's I have hit this year these have been the best, next would be the Wilson Staff V6's

such a beautiful club

are they that much harder to hit than Ap2??

I had the 718 AP2s in my 5i and 6i with 7i-PW in the 718 CBs. Recently got CBs in the 5i and 6i, and this was the best equipment decision I've made this year. I think the CBs and AP2s share an equal amount of forgiveness, but the CBs just feel more pure, can be controlled more, suit my eye better, and interact better with the turf - especially the thick stuff. At your handicap, I doubt your misses are harsh enough where an AP2 would save you that much more than the CB.

Have never really gotten along with the AP2. The CB is superior from the rough and feels a lot better overall. The 718CB has some forgiveness tech in it as well. Not just cosmetic differences from the 716.

I would grab them if you like then. Hard to say how much longer Titleist will even offer the CB line as the trend is fitters push players info the AP line.

To me the CB's look so much nicer and traditionally Titleist-like that I'd be tempted to go with them instead of AP2 if I wanted a player's cavity back type club. How much more forgiving could the AP2 be, the CB isn't *that* much smaller is it?

If I ever go Titleist I would go to CB instead of AP2

They are about the same but the class of CB just rolls over AP2 anyday

I was gaming the 714 AP2 and like other have said, the turf interaction was awful for me. I shot my best round ever with the 716 CB so I thought, what the hell, I'll just pick up the 718 cb. Hit them in the store and was as impressed with them as the 716 cb. I was lucky to find a new set of 716 so I didn't hesitate and I have been playing much better golf and a lot of it has come down to my iron shots being 1 or 2 putt distance easily. They ARE as easy to hit as the AP2 IMO, actually easier with the ground leading edge I have found. If your heart is telling you to go CB, do it. There is something to be said for liking what you are looking down at... They may be a tad shorter than the AP2 but it comes down to loft, you can always bend the CB stronger and be fine.

such a beautiful club

 

are they that much harder to hit than Ap2??

I don't think there's significant difference. MOI is almost the same. Might get slightly different ball flights or yardages. 3-4 irons might vary more.

I demoed both and went with the CB’s. I found them comparable on trackman, but just liked the look better; gotta like what you’re looking at.

I have the 718 AP2 and love them, but I lust weekly for the 718 CB. I’d love to get a set but don’t want to sell the AP2’s. Next fall when the 720 (I presume) are released, are the 718’s marked down at all?

I went from 716 CB/MB combo to 718 AP2 (with AP3 4i and 5i). I couldn't describe turf interaction on any club except my old Bridgestones J40's which had a bit of bounce. I play in dust in summer to mud in winter and am steep, so it doesn't really matter what the bottom of the club does!

AP's are definitely longer (likely stronger lofts anyway) than my CBs. And they're just easier to hit. I don't miss the smaller clubs at all. I can't say I've hit the 718CB, but I'm sure they'll be similar to the 716, smaller middle, weaker lofts, etc.

If your a 7 hcp I wouldn’t worry about hitting the sweet spot enough to justify changing to CBs. You obviously hit it. I would seriously consider combo of cb, mb and tb. That to me is mixing old school with new school with a cherry on top. I’d also compare mizuno mp18 sc and blend for comparisons.

Excellent set of sticks! Best CB’s I’ve gamed to date.

Your only gonna see maybe 2-3 yard gains, with the same lofts. Great clubs, but upgrading for a few yards is the question. Don't believe the hype with any manufacturers new clubs. The only way your seeing noticeable yardage gains is with jacked lofts or longer shafts!

I found the CB to be fairly firm feeling. This isn’t an indictment, but it certainly wasn’t a preference.

I found the CB to be fairly firm feeling. This isn't an indictment, but it certainly wasn't a preference.

Interesting how we all have different feels.... my 716s are one of the softest irons I have owned, not THE softest but still very much so. I like the little bit of feedback I get when not flushed and I found the 718s to feel pretty much the same. I found the older CB to feel more firm but its been a while since I have hit any of them.... Absolutely love these irons, though.

What shafts do you have in them?

I just put my set up on BST, amazing setup!

What are you moving to?

These irons are outstanding and the best feeling Titleist CB since forever. I have two little ones and not getting any time to play and practice. I went to a set of Ping i210’s and it’s depressing! I’m trying so hard to maintain my 4.5 index and that’s requring me to rethink my bag.