Martin Hopley
By

The Titleist AP1 714 Irons are the fourth generation of the range launched in 2008 and they continue to use the same cast chassis that has made this model so popular. The aim of Titleist when they created the 714 AP1 was to increase the ball flight, the forgiveness and the feel from the iron and we think they have acheived this well.

Titleist 714 AP1 Irons

The changes are more evolution than revolution as Titleist have been careful not to mess with a successful model. 10% of the weight from the top edge of the undercut cavity has been removed and positioned lower in the head to lower the centre of gravity. The wider sole and larger dual cavity allows the weight to be moved lower and Titleist have used high density tungsten and moved it further towards the toe to increase the stability of the club.

Titleist 714 AP1 Iron Profile

This makes the club very forgiving and the positioning and amount of weights in each of the irons in the set is different depending on the loft and performance Titleist wanted from each iron. What you end up with is a set with some very forgiving long irons that are effortless to hit and could also easily be used by better players.

The feel is moderated by the medallion in the back of the cavity and this gives a very solid feel to all the irons, belying the fact that this is an oversize, cast cavity back head.

Titleist 714 AP1 Iron Cutaway

The short irons from 7 to PW are like a set within a set as they not only have 1 degree stronger lofts than the previous AP1 712 irons, but also a narrower sole and top line. This gives them a lovely look at address and again the feel is very good. The heads are still oversized compared to the market and Titleist say they are the most forgiving irons for their head size in the market and I found it was hard to dispute that.

What this means is that the P wedge is now 44 degrees so Titleist have not one, but 2 gap wedges available as extras. These are a W1 at 48 degrees and a W2 at 52 degrees. With Titleist saying that sets will more likely be 5-W1 then this is starting to make iron numbering look very silly.

Titleist 714 AP1 Iron Specification

The final subtle changes are in the sole design where they have ground off the leading edge to give it a ‘pre-worn’ look. They have also increased the camber of the sole in the short irons to help the ball through the turf and to prevent the club digging into the ground. This it does very well and all through the set the divots were very similar and it all helped to enhance the feel of the clubs.

Visually they look a lot better at address as the offset is still the same, but it has been blended a little differently and therefore looks less at address. There is still the progressive offset that reduces as the irons get shorter and all the helps to give a better player feel to the AP1 irons even though they are targeted at the 6-18 handicap range.

Titleist 714 AP1 Iron Address

The AP1 714 irons come with a True Temper XP95 steel shaft that is 15 grams lighter than the previous Dynamic Golf XP or a Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 65 graphite shaft. These are both lightweight shafts and help to give an overall feeling of lightness to the set.

This is one of the key things to take from the AP1 review. Whilst these irons are Titleists, they are very forgiving indeed so they are sneaky good for mid handicappers who want to go with a quality performance brand. The quality of the design and the feel is what you would expect from a premium golf brand and therefore they are priced accordingly. However price aside these are a quality set of cavity back irons that deliver lots of forgiveness in a stylish way.

Golfalot Rating: 5 stars
More from Titleist
Share:

Videos

Picture

Titleist 714 AP1 Iron

Titleist 714 AP1 Irons - Product Details

UK Launch08 November 2013
UK Launch RRP£744
USA Launch08 November 2013
Handicap Range
Low
High
GolferMens
Hand AvailabilityLeft, Right
ManufactureCast
MaterialSteel
FinishChrome
Swing WeightD2
Shaft NameTrue Temper Dynamic Gold XP, Mitsubishi Kuro Kage 65
Shaft TypesSteel, Graphite
Shaft FlexRegular, Stiff, X Stiff
Shaft Weight95 grams/65 grams
DesignCavity Back
Set Makeup3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, PW, GW
Additional ClubsGW
Manufacturer's WebsiteTitleist Website

User Reviews

Rex
October 2017

Used AP1 for the first time last week as a rental set in Las Vegas. I'm a high teens handicap and improved my game 10 strokes on a course that I have never played before. Bought them this week and ready for my first round today.

April 2017

I'm a 70 year old and had gone to hybrid till I tried the AP1 714 3,4,5 irons and was amazed, my game is renewed and the short irons are fantastic. I should have got these in late 2013 when they came out. These are the best game improving Irons I've ever used and have good all around look. Thank you Titleist, quality is your name and game.

March 2017

Best irons on the planet for any handicap golfer. Notice I said handicap golfer. A scratch player or pro can play with any club but for us handicappers you can't go wrong with these clubs.

January 2017

I doubt I'll ever upgrade.

November 2016

Moved up from a set of Callaway FX Irons. Tried them all before purchasing my AP1's. These clubs are 10-15 yards longer then my old set and longer then any set I demoed. Regardless of the cavity back design you can work these clubs. Best set ever. My 5 iron is back in the bag again and got rid of 1 hybrid.

October 2016

Had these irons for over a year and I have reduced my handicap from 12 to 6 part of the reason being down to the AP1 irons which provide great feel as well as look the part.

August 2016

Although forgiving in nature, anyone who likes the feel of striking the ball on the club-face to indicate how they're hitting will not find that with these clubs. Very "muted" feel to the club-face. They do play well but really only meant for beginners/medium skilled players as it can be tough to tailor your shot when everything feels the same.

August 2016

I bought my AP1 714s used in great condition at a good price. I have been using Mizuno and Callaway irons for years. I am a consistent 8-12 HC. Let me just say this. These irons can't be touched by any other brand for feel, workability or distance. Quality, quality, quality...Titleist. I am now a believer.

July 2016

Purchased these clubs on Golf Town Pre-Owned. Tried them for the first time yesterday and they felt amazing. I love the way they feel with ball contact and the accuracy they provide. I previously was hitting Callaway X20's and glad i made the move to the AP1's.

June 2016

Don't know why I waited so long to try theses clubs, I have played my best iron striking rounds with confidence and ease. Feedback is there in sound but mis-hits go where you want a mis-hit to go, okay at a 12 handicap and have tried them all, the search may be over Love them so far

May 2016

Bought my AP1's during a Golf Expo at a super discount price , but had to wait 2 months before ever taking a swing because I had just knee surgery the previous week for a torn left meniscus. When I finally got to swing them 2 weeks ago, I knew I had made the right decision to buy. Love the feel of the club from the first swing. I am having to make adjustments to club selection because of increased distance over the set of Adams I was playing. With a little more time on the range, my game should be in great shape for the summer!!

June 2015

Just picked my set up from our club, Egypt Valley (at a great "member price") in Ada Michigan and played with them on a wonderfully groomed course. Solid feel on contact every time with great balance that made striking consistently effortless. Elegant look, awesome feel and feedback. The best Fathers Day present ever !

May 2015

I bought mine today. I hit a couple of demo clubs and these felt the best. although the Wilson Staff were close, but the Titleist gave me a better ball flight.

Write a Review

Facebook Comments