Review of Titleist 775 tour issue irons

LeftRev · May 12, 2006

After some playing and range time I feel comfortable giving a review of Titleist's 775 irons. This set is a tour issue set with no serial numbers but they look identical to retail 775s. I want to thank Joe Kwok again for building the set...DGSL S-300 shafts, wooden dowels, and 1 degree upright from factory specs, standard lofts[45 degree pw]. We had several conversations between CA and NC during the process and he was a good listener and advisor. He is a craftsman without peer.

I'm a 4.7 handicap and previously played MP-33s[4 years] and then tried a number of different irons including TM300 Lehmans, Z101s, TM MBs, etc. Having played forged blades most of my life, I've been a reluctant convert to game improvement clubs. The only previous Titleist irons that have spent any extended time in my bag were 962s with DG Sensicore[very good irons]. No Titliest irons since have made it into the bag...either didn't like the look or feel. But my GIR needed some improvement and after hitting a demo 775 6 iron and liking the feel and ball flight, I decided to swallow my pride and try the 775s.

Appearance: I did not like the look of the 775 cavities...period. After one range session, I added lead tape to the 'functional' inserts in the cavities and now the set's appearance is more like 804s...even close to the 704s. As the lead tape weathers, they will look even better...kind of understated. Nobody will give them a second look in the bag...that's what I wanted. By now I'm used to the offset in the 3 and 4 irons. It is more than many people will want but it makes those two clubs even easier to hit consistently. The 5-pw decrease in offset down through the set so that the pw looks like it has almost no offset at all. The size of the heads also decrease from 3 down to pw...oversize 3 iron and player's size pw. I find the transition helpful. Titleist got that right!

Feel: Not Mizuno soft but I have a hard time differentiating any difference in the softness of the 775s and the TM300 Lehmans, z101s or TM tour issue MBs. Much of that may be attributed to the dowels that Joe installed. It worked. There is solid, soft feel on center hits...mishits aren't jarring but certainly communicate where the ball has struck the face. There is no 'click' on solid shots...just a nice flushed feel and 'thump' that is very pleasing. Again, Titleist has produced a forged iron with the feel that I like...a compliment coming from a feel snob who only thinks Mizuno has gotten that right.

Distance: The strong lofts have added about 1/2 to 3/4 of a club in distance. I wanted that. But the ball flight is not low at all...mid to mid high. I'm a fader of the ball and am pleased to be able to hit the high fade with no ballooning and still get the distance gain. I suspect that the combination of the DGSL shafts and stronger lofts have combined to give extra distance.

Playability: I almost never draw an iron unless I make a bad swing and hit a pull hook. But with the 775s, I am hitting more 'drop down' type fades which give me alot more confidence in where to start shots and where they will end up. Knock down shots are easy. Distance control is very good...no hot spots on the iron faces. The soles are medium width but the bounce works well. I'm a 'picker' of the ball but now am able to take shallow divots which also adds to the 'flushed' feel of the irons.

So, the 775s are 'in the bag'. My GIR are up and I've shot 74 and 77...scores that I might not have shot if I hadn't hit more greens...and had a one hop...'quiver the flag' on a par 3 that didn't go in but stopped about 18 inches behind the hole for deuce. For that matter, I dreaded par threes in the past but have had three 2s in two rounds. They look alot better in the bag already!

easyyy · May 12, 2006

great review. Glad to hear you found a set that works. Progressive offset, and the heads get smaller and smaller as they get into the short irons. Sounds like a good set. They were Kwoked, great set.

Could you give us a caparison to the TM 300 topline, cavity, and face? :) Really would like to see it.

joey3108 · May 13, 2006

Wow! It's one of the best review i've seen for a while.

Thanks for the review and kind words. Again, I'm very happy I can contribute to your success lately in playing better golf and especially on almost ace the shot.

Can you tell us a bit on that shot? What iron and what yardage was that? This is a classic prove that ego should be on the bottom of our list.

Yes, Titleist has done a great job designing new irons lately.

THanks again!

joe :)

jackn · May 14, 2006

Totally agree with joe i love my 735s

Jack

Madball · May 16, 2006

Nice review Mike

I'm glad you found a set to stick with... I'm closing in on that :)

newportbeach · May 16, 2006

Thanks for the review. Great move on the lead tape part. I looked hard at these irons but also just didn't like the look of the cavity (yes I know I don't usually see the cavity at address but it just looks weird in the bag). May have to reconsider these along with the 755s when they come out. Anyone know if Titleist retail and tour irons are forged by the same place. Just wondeing if the tour amounts to some difference in feel.

Riuzzi · May 17, 2006

Thanks for the review. Great move on the lead tape part. I looked hard at these irons but also just didn't like the look of the cavity (yes I know I don't usually see the cavity at address but it just looks weird in the bag). May have to reconsider these along with the 755s when they come out. Anyone know if Titleist retail and tour irons are forged by the same place. Just wondeing if the tour amounts to some difference in feel.

I don't know about the 700 series, but the 600 series are all Endo forged, tour and retail. I'm guessing it's the same with the 700 series, but I don't know where they're done.

wahoojay · May 17, 2006

Joe-

What is the reference to the "dowels" you installed? What does that mean and is it something that I could have done locally? Thanks in advance.

"Much of that may be attributed to the dowels that Joe installed. It worked. There is solid, soft feel on center hits...mishits aren't jarring but certainly communicate where the ball has struck the face."

wahoojay · May 17, 2006

What is the difference between the tour issue and the retail? Did you put the lead tape to cover up the red markings on the cavity?

Thanks in advance.

LeftRev · May 17, 2006

What is the difference between the tour issue and the retail? Did you put the lead tape to cover up the red markings on the cavity?

Thanks in advance.

wayhoojay,

I'll let Joe explain the wooden dowels but they are there more as a positive influence on feel than performance.

The tour issue set and retail sets that I have seen are identical in appearance. I did add the lead tape as a cosmetic improvement[iMO] to the red cavity inserts. Thinking that those inserts, which are positioned differently in the cavity of each iron have some functional importance, I added the same exact amount of lead tape to each iron, trying to keep the swingweights the same throughout the set. The 3-5 irons did require a small additional amount in each because the cavity inserts were larger.

Richard,

I'm still working on some comparative photos....probably with 695 cbs and mbs.

JHR · May 17, 2006

Great review Rev,

Glad you are happy as you hope to be, i love to hear all the Titleist success stories.

joey3108 · May 17, 2006

Joe-

What is the reference to the "dowels" you installed? What does that mean and is it something that I could have done locally? Thanks in advance.

"Much of that may be attributed to the dowels that Joe installed. It worked. There is solid, soft feel on center hits...mishits aren't jarring but certainly communicate where the ball has struck the face."

Read this link below for more info:

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15326

Let me know if you need my service!

THX!

Joe