Titleist are back with a new driver range featuring materials that have never been used before in golf clubs to deliver new levels of performance.
Whereas in previous years we have seen Titleist make small changes to their lineups, particularly across the ‘Speed Project’ which culminated in the TSR Metals, this time around the new GT Drivers are said to be brand new and completely different.
Having used the TSR3 Driver for the past year, I was really excited to see whether the new GT models were able to beat it! There are three models in the range - GT2, GT3 and GT4 - but in this review we'll be focusing on the GT3.
Who is it aimed at?
The GT3 drivers deliver fast ball speeds with the most adjustability for golfers looking to optimise distance and fine-tune their ball flight.
Usable for most golfers, with a friendly looking head and plenty of adjustability. With an RRP of £579 it is definitely expensive, but it might just be worth it…
The Tech
Titleist say that the GT range marks the start of a new era when it comes to metals, and so as you'd imagine there's a whole host of new technologies in the head.
First up is a new seamless thermoform crown, made from a proprietary matrix polymer. This is a brand new material in clubhead design which is ultra-lightweight, allowing Titleist more freedom with their internal weighting and a cleaner transition from the crown to the rest of the head.
A split mass construction sees mass moved further to the front of the head, helping to deliver higher ball speeds thanks to CG placement, as well as raising MOI by adding more weight at the back of the head.
Across the three new driver models this year we are going to see improved aerodynamics, with all of the heads featuring more refined profiles to reduce drag and encourage faster swing speeds.
Finally, ball speeds are said to be raised through the use of a titanium Speed Ring which stabilises the edges of the clubface for more speed when you catch it out of the middle, whilst Variable Face Thickness (VFT) works to keep ball speeds up when you don't hit it so well, improving the front-to-back dispersion.
The GT3 has a 460cc clubhead, although Titleist say it should look a little smaller, with a taller clubface . The new aerodynamics are also designed to promote a little more clubhead speed than the TSR3.
Titleist GT3 Driver Review
Looks and Feel
Despite the fact that Titleist say the GT Drivers are a complete transformation, upon first inspection there doesn’t seem to be a huge change in the design and look of the head compared to the previous TSR range.
The look at address and on the face is pretty typical as to what you’d expect from Titleist, with a clean black crown and slightly more noticeable face graphics. Ideally I’d prefer a matte crown over a shiny one but that is just personal preference.
The shape of the GT3 Driver has been updated a little as part of Titleist’s effort to improve aerodynamics, although to the naked eye it’s pretty hard to see until you look very closely.
As someone who has been used to the TSR drivers it feels like a nice continuation the GT3 as it looks pretty similar, with a slightly smarter updated look.
When I first started hitting some shots one thing I did notice was that there was a slightly different sound and feel – more resounding at impact which was louder and more solid than the TSR3. I liked this as it felt like there was more power behind my shots.
The Data
I headed down to the Titleist Performance Centre at Woburn GC to test out the new GT range and was fitted for the GT3 Driver with 11 degrees of loft and a slightly heavier shaft than in my previous TSR3 Driver.
This is a couple of degrees higher than the TRS3, but I was also fitted for the GT2 Fairway which produced quite a low ball flight and this will be really helpful me as someone who predominantly plays links golf. Having a fairway wood which will fly lower and run out a little more could be really useful in windy conditions.
The Trackman data showed that I achieved a ball speed of 141mph, with an average spin rate of 2590rpm and a carry distance of 233 yards which I was really impressed with.
This is an increase of almost 10 yards carry and an extra mile an hour of ball speed with identical club head speed, so I was definitely getting a bit more out of the GT3.
Whereas other brands have really been pushing forgiveness in recent driver models, with the likes of 10k, Titleist are looking for improvements across the board to give you speed and forgiveness in one package.
On-Course Performance
This driver goes so straight!
I tested the GT3 on the Old Course and I was really impressed with the performance, I felt like I was picking up distance compared to the TSR3. I could see on a number of drives on the Old Course that the ball was travelling past points that I never usually reach off the tee, such as the 10th hole where I was able to reach the front edge of the green.
The most impressive thing for me was just how straight the ball was going, there was hardly any curvature on the ball and I felt so confident that I could step up and hit the ball hard without any worries.
Out on the course I could clearly see that the ball was launching and flying a little higher than I am used to, but it felt as if the spin was lower and I was definitely gaining distance so this wasn’t something that I minded.
I have a tendency to lose some of my drives to the right, but even on the tougher driving holes I didn’t see this once which I was really pleased with.
The driver felt incredibly easy to hit, even when I didn’t catch it out of the middle or when I made a poor swing, which combined with the gains in distance is a really nice combination.
Titleist GT3 Driver Verdict
I have only been using the GT3 Driver for a short while but I feel like it could end up as the best driver that I have tested in my time with Golfalot – although you’ll have to wait for the Best Drivers of 2024 test to see whether that is true!
I loved the look of the GT3 down by the ball, the performance was really impressive and the forgiveness was there too.
It is expensive at nearly £600 but I feel like it has given me a new confidence with my driving which is huge, so I genuinely think it is worth the money.
Having said that, I would argue that the fitting process that I went through could be necessary to see the kind of changes that I did.
The technologies have changed in the GT range so it did take quite a bit of tinkering with different heads, shafts and weightings to really dial in the model for me during the fitting session. If you’re just going to go off your existing specs you might not see the same gains that I did.
Would I use it?
I loved my TSR3 Driver but this is a very easy switch. I can’t wait to get out on the course and hit that GT3 again!
Titleist GT3 Drivers Pros and Cons
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