Anyone still gaming 712 AP1's?

phen0men0n · February 22, 2018

I just got myself a second hand set for cheap (previous owner toed everything - the middles of the faces are all pretty much pristine!) and after I tinkered with them and got them to my specs, I think these might be my favorite irons I've ever hit. Seriously. They have normal DG S300's in them instead of the lightweights, and it's a HUGE difference! Visually, they launch lower than my Callaway Apex Pros with Project X 5.5's that I was fitted for. Probably just the loft difference, but the ballflight with the AP1/S300 is much more penetrating. The Apex Pro/5.5's balloon on me if my impact isn't perfect. Even though the AP1's are supposed to be not as workable, I had no problem controlling my trajectory, I can hit draws and fades with them, they really do everything I can do within the limit of my ability. They feel not the same as my Apex Pros, but still very soft and with plenty of feedback across the face. The S300s make a HUGE difference.

I mean seriously, why does anyone buy brand new clubs? I understand wanting the new shinies, but I'm a pragmatist and I don't see the point in spending at least $1,200 on a set of irons when I can spend $350 and get somewhat better results? Maybe I was improperly fit, I dunno.

The only annoying thing is the 8iron was nearly 4 swingweight points lighter than the rest of the set. WTF, Titleist?

chadly643 · February 22, 2018

From experience I can tell you the benefit of buying new is getting custom fit and ordering to spec. I'm trying to buy a new driver right now and am running into a problem where if I want to get custom fit I have to spend $400+. It's a real bummer when I can find last year's models on the used market for half or less. Drivers are the worst as they seem to depreciate faster than cars.

I got new irons 2 seasons ago. Went through a compete fitting, ordered from Mizuno to my specs, and I love the confidence it gives me knowing any bad shots are me and not my equipment. I won a hybrid a few years back and had to guess on the shaft, never did hit that club well.

Congrats on finding a set of irons that work well for you for a great price. I actually played those same irons for about 5 seasons. Great sticks.

LifeStory · February 22, 2018

they are nice irons in their own right...if you have a stomach for their chunky fatness :taunt: :taunt: :stop: :blush2:

phen0men0n · February 23, 2018

I like the way they look. To each their own.

bmellisen · February 23, 2018

I played the 710’s for about five years, got them used off of here for pretty cheap. Good clubs, yeah you can work them if you needed to but they mostly went high and straight for me. Which is a good thing. I got used to the thick top line, really never bothered me except for on the wedges.

Glad you found a set you like I think they will do well for you.

hoosier84 · February 23, 2018

I just got myself a second hand set for cheap (previous owner toed everything - the middles of the faces are all pretty much pristine!) and after I tinkered with them and got them to my specs, I think these might be my favorite irons I've ever hit. Seriously. They have normal DG S300's in them instead of the lightweights, and it's a HUGE difference! Visually, they launch lower than my Callaway Apex Pros with Project X 5.5's that I was fitted for. Probably just the loft difference, but the ballflight with the AP1/S300 is much more penetrating. The Apex Pro/5.5's balloon on me if my impact isn't perfect. Even though the AP1's are supposed to be not as workable, I had no problem controlling my trajectory, I can hit draws and fades with them, they really do everything I can do within the limit of my ability. They feel not the same as my Apex Pros, but still very soft and with plenty of feedback across the face. The S300s make a HUGE difference.

I mean seriously, why does anyone buy brand new clubs? I understand wanting the new shinies, but I'm a pragmatist and I don't see the point in spending at least $1,200 on a set of irons when I can spend $350 and get somewhat better results? Maybe I was improperly fit, I dunno.

The only annoying thing is the 8iron was nearly 4 swingweight points lighter than the rest of the set. WTF, Titleist?

I picked up a set for well under $200 earlier this year and am enjoying them as I get more back into golf after not playing for a few years. Wanted a set that wasn't much of a dropoff from new sticks and these feel great. Original grips and they aren't that worn so you know they haven't been played that much. I like that they're game improvement but aren't as huge as some of the other GI irons.

gvogel · February 23, 2018

I still play the 712 AP1's, and mix in a couple AP2 714 short irons (I like the AP2 PW and 9-iron). The 712's might be the best of the AP1's - they have the traditional lofts of the AP2's.

Oh, and Ben Curtis won a Tour event in Texas with his. I have tried the newer ones, and keep going back to the 712's.

BlkNGld · February 23, 2018

I still play them. Every time a new one comes out I hit them against the 712s and none have made me feel the need to change.

But the newer versions are at an inherent disadvantage for me as the new models have to overcome that 2 gap wedge nonsense Titleist has chosen to implement for AP1s over the last couple of spins.

sharkiesj · February 23, 2018

I have a custom set of 712's with PX 5.5s that I stumbled into many moons ago. I guess the guy they built them for didn't like them so he returned them and I got them. I've had some of my best scoring rounds ever with these irons over the years, so naturally I never play with them and always look to replace them. I've ho'd many sets of irons thru the years but I will always hang on to these irons. Great balanced iron, forgiving, and good playability.

phen0men0n · February 23, 2018

I still play the 712 AP1's, and mix in a couple AP2 714 short irons (I like the AP2 PW and 9-iron). The 712's might be the best of the AP1's - they have the traditional lofts of the AP2's.

Oh, and Ben Curtis won a Tour event in Texas with his. I have tried the newer ones, and keep going back to the 712's.

The biggest thing I like about them is the lofts. I currently play 5-P, but if i got new ones, I would need to play 6-W because the lofts are so jacked now. People like me who want help with the irons but don't want to hit them crazy far are kind of screwed by the new models from every company, the gapping in the scoring clubs is so messed up now. The 718 AP1's have a 34° 8 iron!!! That's almost a 6 iron! I don't buy all that marketing rhetoric about needing lower lofts because of launch conditions, they lowered the lofts so they will go further and sell more clubs. It's one of the oldest tricks in the book. I've considered getting a 712 AP2 P wedge, but the AP1 P wedge started feeling much better once I got it up to my swingweight. If i get a bunch of low spin bombs on my knockdown shots this season I might switch, but on the range so far it seems perfectly manageable.