Golf equipment manufacturers like to think that they have products to cater to the needs of all golfers, and you certainly can't criticise Titleist for not trying this over the last 12 months or so.
First, they resurrected the 6-Series name with the 620 CB and MB Irons, before replacing the AP line with three new irons, the T100, T200 and T300.
But they're not done just yet. For 2020 they are introducing the T100S, which is a fully-forged player's iron with stronger lofts to provide extra distance to quality ball-strikers who still want to use a 'tour-shape'.
Modelled on the T100 - which Titleist say is the most played on the PGA Tour this season - the new T100S are 2 degrees stronger to give a little extra carry distance whilst still preserving the feel and precision needed for workability.
Josh Talge, Vice President of Titleist Golf Club Marketing, explained the decision:
T100S was developed as a Player's Distance iron with an emphasis on the word 'Player's'. We've taken the most popular irons on the PGA Tour and carefully engineered them to maximise distance.
As we were launching the new T-Series, we met a lot of golfers who were really excited about T100 but had become accustomed to playing stronger-lofted iron sets. It would have been really easy to just take the T100 and bend them stronger for those players. But by doing that you start to sacrifice the incredible feel and turf interaction - the reasons why players were gravitating toward them in the first place.
So our engineers went back and redesigned each individual iron to give these players the stronger lofts and distance they're looking for, while preserving the performance of that pure forged shape and sole.
The T100S Irons are designed with the following technologies to ensure the same forged feel and precision as the T100:
Co-forged dual-density tungsten (with an average of 66g placed in the heel and toe of the mid and long irons) delivers exceptional stability.
Tour-refined sole shape (same as in T100) features a thin topline, minimal offset and enhanced camber for improved turf interaction.
- Progressive set design - with progressive blade lengths, sole widths and hosel lengths - delivers optimal CG positioning with preferred shaping through the set.
The T100S Irons are available for fittings from March 12th and in store from March 27th.
They are priced at £1,120 for 4-PW, or £160 per club, with a 3 Iron and Gap Wedge also available. The stock shaft, a True Temper Project X LZ, is said to enhance ball speed and launch to provide maximum distance with the optimal trajectory.