Titleist's new 915D2 and 915D3 Drivers: In-hand photos

[PThomas]

I would be amazed to witness some of these numbers out on the course.

[lefty74pgh]

I had a fitting at a demo day last weekend. Granted they were new range balls, but I did get an idea of some numbers. I brought my current driver, 913 D3 10.25 Diamana Blue X to see how the 915's compare. I will say that the 913D3 was the most consistent driver for me, but I definitely lost distance because of excessive spin.

We hit my current setup and the numbers were basically

SS- 105-108
Launch- 9*-11*
Spin- 3300-3800 rpms
Carry- 253-256yds

We tried the Diamana White X and a few others, but got similar numbers. I finally mentioned the Rogue and the rep put together a 915 D3 10.5 Rogue Black X and I saw an immediate change across the board. I got a better launch, lower spin and farther carry distance.

SS-106-110
Launch- 12*-15*
Spin- 2400-2800 rpms
Carry- 273-276, Had one at 281

The 915 D3 Rogue X was obviously fit me the best and I ended up getting the 915 D10.5 Rogue, 915F 16.5 Rogue X and the 915H 21 Rogue X.

[finalist]

Any other owners of the 915 notice the impact sound is actually slightly more muted on harder swung, good contact swings? I've had numerous range seasions now where I start off with the typical impact sound thinking, "yep that is loud." Later in the sessions once I warmed up and really swinging hard and stable the sound goes softer. I've checked impact location each time and they are centered, so it's not so much a location feedback thing (but I do see the lower misses are loudest). It's like more compression softens the sound a lot.

fWIW.

[Townes]

[quote name='PThomas' timestamp='1416948724' post='10502829']
I would be amazed to witness some of these numbers out on the course.
[/quote]

Should have clarified total, not carry, and I was amazed to see it on trackman. All three players were low singles and the two with the best results had positive AoA and good SF. Both were hitting the 110 MSI S Rouge.

[Av9114]

[quote name='finalist' timestamp='1416973582' post='10504537']Any other owners of the 915 notice the impact sound is actually slightly more muted on harder swung, good contact swings? I've had numerous range seasions now where I start off with the typical impact sound thinking, "yep that is loud." Later in the sessions once I warmed up and really swinging hard and stable the sound goes softer. I've checked impact location each time and they are centered, so it's not so much a location feedback thing (but I do see the lower misses are loudest). It's like more compression softens the sound a lot.

fWIW.[/quote]

I noticed that too but I just figured that I was mishitting it slightly. I found the sound on mishits off-putting enough to start to look elsewhere. I tend to miss slightly high on the face and the sound/feel was terrible. I'll probably give it one more go before deciding for sure. I've always loved the traditional Titleist look…

I did end up loving the fairway woods though despite not expecting too. It was just a dozen or so balls indoors on the pga superstores crummy monitor but it felt great and was maybe the best fairway wood I've ever hit (my previous favorites being the cb5 and xhot lines).

[compton1977]

Four rounds in with my 915 d3 and I have found that it likes to be tee'd lower than the 913, for sure it sounds a touch more muted when you hit it dead centre, anything slightly higher or lower on the face had a different sound. It far outperforms my Bio Cell + though, more than enough to get over the slightly louder sound from the mishits. Anyway it's cold enough in the UK now to need a beanie hat, that quietens the impact a touch!

[foggedz]

http://youtu.be/RhfA7y5lj6U

915D3 VS R15 430

[Boydr12]

[quote name='foggedz' timestamp='1417112188' post='10510893']
http://youtu.be/RhfA7y5lj6U

915D3 VS R15 430
[/quote]
That's a SLDR not a R15 just so you know..

[tylernim]

[quote name='Boydr12' timestamp='1417117115' post='10511101']
[quote name='foggedz' timestamp='1417112188' post='10510893']
[media=]http://youtu.be/RhfA7y5lj6U[/media]

915D3 VS R15 430
[/quote]
That's a SLDR not a R15 just so you know..
[/quote]

He meant to post this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJjy1bHGWPs&list=UUFHZHhZaH7Rc_FOMIzUziJA

[Boydr12]

[quote name='tylernim' timestamp='1417120023' post='10511243']
[quote name='Boydr12' timestamp='1417117115' post='10511101']
[quote name='foggedz' timestamp='1417112188' post='10510893']
[media=]http://youtu.be/RhfA7y5lj6U[/media]

915D3 VS R15 430
[/quote]
That's a SLDR not a R15 just so you know..
[/quote]

He meant to post this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJjy1bHGWPs&list=UUFHZHhZaH7Rc_FOMIzUziJA
[/quote]
Yeah I have seen it. The D3 has beat everything he has put it up against!!

[DuckHook02]

[quote name='tylernim' timestamp='1417120023' post='10511243']
[quote name='Boydr12' timestamp='1417117115' post='10511101']
[quote name='foggedz' timestamp='1417112188' post='10510893']
[media=]http://youtu.be/RhfA7y5lj6U[/media]

915D3 VS R15 430
[/quote]
That's a SLDR not a R15 just so you know..
[/quote]

He meant to post this one.

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJjy1bHGWPs&list=UUFHZHhZaH7Rc_FOMIzUziJA"]https://www.youtube....H7Rc_FOMIzUziJA[/url]
[/quote]

Interesting that he was fitted for a Rogue 60x in the 915, but has a Kai'li 70s in the R15.

[tylernim]

[quote name='DuckHook02' timestamp='1417137118' post='10511983']
[quote name='tylernim' timestamp='1417120023' post='10511243']
[quote name='Boydr12' timestamp='1417117115' post='10511101']
[quote name='foggedz' timestamp='1417112188' post='10510893']
[media=]http://youtu.be/RhfA7y5lj6U[/media]

915D3 VS R15 430
[/quote]
That's a SLDR not a R15 just so you know..
[/quote]

He meant to post this one.

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJjy1bHGWPs&list=UUFHZHhZaH7Rc_FOMIzUziJA"]https://www.youtube....H7Rc_FOMIzUziJA[/url]
[/quote]

Interesting that he was fitted for a Rogue 60x in the 915, but has a Kai'li 70s in the R15.
[/quote]

The Kai'li came from his SLDR 430. I'm assuming maybe it's a low enough spinning head that he doesn't need a X in it, maybe? He hits up on the ball ~7*.

At the end of the day the 915 is a more spinny head than the SLDR...rumors are that the R15 is higher spinning than the SLDR, though...so who knows.

[Exist]

[quote name='Boydr12' timestamp='1417122551' post='10511339']
[quote name='tylernim' timestamp='1417120023' post='10511243']
[quote name='Boydr12' timestamp='1417117115' post='10511101']
[quote name='foggedz' timestamp='1417112188' post='10510893']
[media=]http://youtu.be/RhfA7y5lj6U[/media]

915D3 VS R15 430
[/quote]
That's a SLDR not a R15 just so you know..
[/quote]

He meant to post this one.

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJjy1bHGWPs&list=UUFHZHhZaH7Rc_FOMIzUziJA"]https://www.youtube....H7Rc_FOMIzUziJA[/url]
[/quote]
Yeah I have seen it. The D3 has beat everything he has put it up against!!
[/quote]

Surely not! I cannot believe that a conservative company like Titleist could design and build a weapon that competes with TM or Callaway!

[DuckHook02]

[quote name='Exist' timestamp='1417139381' post='10512087']
[quote name='Boydr12' timestamp='1417122551' post='10511339']
[quote name='tylernim' timestamp='1417120023' post='10511243']
[quote name='Boydr12' timestamp='1417117115' post='10511101']
[quote name='foggedz' timestamp='1417112188' post='10510893']
[media=]http://youtu.be/RhfA7y5lj6U[/media]

915D3 VS R15 430
[/quote]
That's a SLDR not a R15 just so you know..
[/quote]

He meant to post this one.

[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJjy1bHGWPs&list=UUFHZHhZaH7Rc_FOMIzUziJA"]https://www.youtube....H7Rc_FOMIzUziJA[/url]
[/quote]
Yeah I have seen it. The D3 has beat everything he has put it up against!!
[/quote]

Surely not! I cannot believe that a conservative company like Titleist could design and build a weapon that competes with TM or Callaway!
[/quote]

It beat both TM drivers (SLDR and R15), but I don't think he's done a comparison yet with Callaway.

[BdaGolfer]

Finally had a cance to hit the Rogue Black yesterday against the S - 915 D3 heads 9.5*. Both very similar feel to me, smooth, easier to load than the silver, both felt a little more "vague" at impact than the silver though.

Launch was 11-12* (I prefer a 10.5 head), but spin with the Black was low, as in ~2000, some down to 1600 and even had one at 1300 (on a GC2). Carry was lower than expected because of that but roll was 30-40 yards....personally I'll take more carry.

Nice shaft though, I'll need to try it against the silver in a 10.5 head, but I do like the easier-loading feel to it.

[Icemanzacw]

Shields is coming up with better stuff than Crossfield these days.

http://youtu.be/4EeITO3F2bI

[mwmilk123]

Good video. 1 degree higher launch, 5-600 less spin. That would suit me just fine. I don't believe his distance numbers though.(juiced)

[dwboston]

[quote name='mwmilk123' timestamp='1417199537' post='10514311']
Good video. 1 degree higher launch, 5-600 less spin. That would suit me just fine. I don't believe his distance numbers though.(juiced)
[/quote]

His carry distances (in the 260-270 range) seemed right on for a SS of around 110 mph.

[scratchswinger]

All that video tells me is that the 913 needs to be fit differently than the 915. I don't think there is a 14 yard difference between the two when fit right and the ball is hit well. Miss hits is a different story.

Why is his smash factor always so low?

[dwboston]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1417204310' post='10514575']
Why is his smash factor always so low?
[/quote]

I think that's due to the GC2 launch monitor he's using. Without the HMT I think it uses a fixed value for smash factor. His smash factor was at 1.42 or 1.43 on every hit.

[Tallen01]

Well, I'll add my experience. I just bit the bullet. 915D3. I went in to buy a G30. I had demo'd nearly everything out there, twice, taken some out on the course, and even spent time with some of them on a GC2. (7.1 index, typical swing speed around 105-107).

This time went in my credit card. Found a great fitter, and went on a Trackman. We finally settled on a setting that was best for me (I'm one of the few non-300 yarders here on the WRX).

With my swing speed and attack angle, a 9.5 915D3, with a X-stiff Rogue fit me best (kind of; see R15 results). Lowest dispersion, great feel and looks, and respectable numbers. I loves the smash factor on the G30, but never got a great consistenly high swing speed with it. I could go after the 915 and not worry about hooking it. Man, that R15 looks like a winner, but it was not available for purchase yet, and I needed it for a round at Torrey Pines on Tuesday.

Here's my way too much data for each club:
Club, Speed, Launch angle, spin rate, spin axis, land. ang., spin loft, height, hang tim, carry, ball speed, attack angle, smash, club path, face-path, swing plane, face angle, launch direction, total yds.

915 A1: 105.9 12.9 2300 1.0 35.8 12.8 92.2 6.36 255.2 154.1 2.3 1.46 3.3 ‐3.0 52.8 0.3 0.7 281.7 (first shaft, 10.5 degrees head)
G30 419X: 103.3 12.6 2042 4.4 32.8 11.2 82.4 6.05 252.4 152.7 3.4 1.48 2.4 ‐3.1 51.3 ‐0.8 ‐0.3 282.2 (tour stiff, nice low spin too).
815 DBD: 107.7 11.8 2307 ‐1.4 33.4 11.8 80.6 6.12 249.1 151.5 2.9 1.41 3.7 ‐4.9 51.0 ‐1.1 ‐0.5 276.6 (did not like the feel).
r15: 106.3 12.9 1838 0.2 32.7 12.5 84.3 6.04 256.8 154.7 1.9 1.46 2.5 0.5 52.0 2.8 2.8 288.2 (I lked a lot; best club speed, longest carry and total, and look at that spin!!)
915: 104.8 13.0 2061 2.3 34.2 11.6 87.9 6.22 255.7 153.5 4.0 1.47 0.4 0.5 52.0 1.0 0.9 284.3 (optimized shaft, 9.5 degrees,
g30: 101.3 12.5 2293 ‐8.2 33.7 11.8 83.8 6.05 244.5 151.0 4.3 1.49 2.4 ‐5.6 51.0 ‐2.0 ‐1.3 273.1 (stiff stock shaft, 1.49 smash).

[dwboston]

Just placed my order with DD's for a 915 D2, F, and H. I took part in a Team Titleist fitting several weeks back and pulled the trigger today. I'm getting:

915 D2 - 12*, GD AD DI 7S, -1/2" length, D4 SW, NDMC Midsize grip
915 F - 16.5*, GD AD DI 8S, -1/2" length, D4 SW, NDMC Midsize grip
915 H - 21*, GD AD DI 105S, -1/2" length, D4 SW, NDMC Midsize grip

I was really impressed with the D2 and H during the fitting. I was able to hit exactly the shafts I got fit for and they performed really well vs. my existing 910 D2 and 909H. I could only demo the 915 F with the AD DI 7S, and it felt a bit light to me. I have the 8S in a 910 F and like it a lot. Too bad I just cant swap them as it would have saved me some money, but the adapters are different. Great dealing with DD's as always. I'm looking forward to getting these, even though it will be 4-5 months before I can use them here.

[greenadam21]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1417204310' post='10514575']
All that video tells me is that the 913 needs to be fit differently than the 915. I don't think there is a 14 yard difference between the two when fit right and the ball is hit well. Miss hits is a different story.

Why is his smash factor always so low?
[/quote]

Scratch...it doesn't even tell me that really. It tells me he hit the 913 lower on the face ...8 mm difference basically.. relative to center of face with the 913. = lower launch , and higher spin results

[attachment=2515819:Untitled.png]

[greenadam21]

[quote name='dwboston' timestamp='1417206675' post='10514685']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1417204310' post='10514575']
Why is his smash factor always so low?
[/quote]

I think that's due to the GC2 launch monitor he's using. Without the HMT I think it uses a fixed value for smash factor. His smash factor was at 1.42 or 1.43 on every hit.
[/quote]

Rick uses HMT...thats where the contact points come from that you see after each shot. Maybe the low smash is from hitting low toe 80 percent of the time. He didn't flush one the entire test really.

I'm not sure whether those distances from center are enough to affect the smash to such a great extent or not.

[scratchswinger]

[quote name='greenadam21' timestamp='1417230855' post='10516111']
[quote name='dwboston' timestamp='1417206675' post='10514685']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1417204310' post='10514575']
Why is his smash factor always so low?
[/quote]

I think that's due to the GC2 launch monitor he's using. Without the HMT I think it uses a fixed value for smash factor. His smash factor was at 1.42 or 1.43 on every hit.
[/quote]

Rick uses HMT...thats where the contact points come from that you see after each shot. The low smash is from hitting low toe 80 percent of the time. He didn't flush one the entire test
[/quote]

His hooks would be unplayable on most tough tracks.

[greenadam21]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1417231448' post='10516141']
[quote name='greenadam21' timestamp='1417230855' post='10516111']
[quote name='dwboston' timestamp='1417206675' post='10514685']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1417204310' post='10514575']
Why is his smash factor always so low?
[/quote]

I think that's due to the GC2 launch monitor he's using. Without the HMT I think it uses a fixed value for smash factor. His smash factor was at 1.42 or 1.43 on every hit.
[/quote]

Rick uses HMT...thats where the contact points come from that you see after each shot. The low smash is from hitting low toe 80 percent of the time. He didn't flush one the entire test
[/quote]

His hooks would be unplayable on most tough tracks.
[/quote]

True his specialty is 8 in to out path and a toe contact point..

I'd poke more fun but my specialty isn't far off from that

[greenadam21]

[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1417231448' post='10516141']
[quote name='greenadam21' timestamp='1417230855' post='10516111']
[quote name='dwboston' timestamp='1417206675' post='10514685']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1417204310' post='10514575']
Why is his smash factor always so low?
[/quote]

I think that's due to the GC2 launch monitor he's using. Without the HMT I think it uses a fixed value for smash factor. His smash factor was at 1.42 or 1.43 on every hit.
[/quote]

Rick uses HMT...thats where the contact points come from that you see after each shot. The low smash is from hitting low toe 80 percent of the time. He didn't flush one the entire test
[/quote]

His hooks would be unplayable on most tough tracks.
[/quote]

They really aren't hooks according to Flightscope. More pushes.

I tend to find that Gc2 sim is exaggerated when it comes ball movement from a given spin axis or "side spin". He probably finds himself right of target more often than not on cours with his start line. The low spin shot even with a 20 degree axis isn't enough to bring it back to target.

[attachment=2515849:Untitled.png]

[scratchswinger]

[quote name='greenadam21' timestamp='1417232904' post='10516235']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1417231448' post='10516141']
[quote name='greenadam21' timestamp='1417230855' post='10516111']
[quote name='dwboston' timestamp='1417206675' post='10514685']
[quote name='scratchswinger' timestamp='1417204310' post='10514575']
Why is his smash factor always so low?
[/quote]

I think that's due to the GC2 launch monitor he's using. Without the HMT I think it uses a fixed value for smash factor. His smash factor was at 1.42 or 1.43 on every hit.
[/quote]

Rick uses HMT...thats where the contact points come from that you see after each shot. The low smash is from hitting low toe 80 percent of the time. He didn't flush one the entire test
[/quote]

His hooks would be unplayable on most tough tracks.
[/quote]

They really aren't hooks according to Flightscope. More pushes.

I tend to find that [b]Gc2 sim is exaggerated when it comes ball movement[/b] from a given spin axis or "side spin". He probably finds himself right of target more often than not on cours with his start line. The low spin shot even with a 20 degree axis isn't enough to bring it back to target.

[attachment=2515849:Untitled.png]
[/quote]

That's good to know!

I like some of what Rick has to say and that he puts together these head to head shootouts, lately though he has been doing his best to provide "apples to apples" while holding an apple and a grape. If he is raving this much about the 915 Drivers, he is going to go crazy when he tests the fairways.

[brushie]

Played the 915 D2 today with my speeder 661 from my 913 d2. Best distances were the same as my 913 but where the 915 shined was dispersion and forgiveness. Have not hit driver that straight in a long time. Sound and feel was better with the 913 d2, but the comments about the 915 feeling and sounding different with range balls vs premium balls is right on. Much better with premium balls.

[Dizz]

I just want to say something:

I bet answering calls and working in customer service for a major shaft company is absolutely BRUTAL some days.

I have two pretty good "in the business" friends that work for shaft companies and started in customer service before moving into the positions they currently work in.... Both of my buddies told me they had several guys that would call several times a week and literally shoot the breeze about shafts, shaft fitting, specs, etc for 1-2 hours each call. I know the one that worked for probably the most popular shaft OEM out there had a guy that would call him and talk for 10+ hours per week.... every week.