MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Titleist AP2 714 Series 3-iron to pitching wedge, fitted with stiff-flex steel shafts.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: My irons are the previous version of the AP2s so I am curious to see how the 714 models perform in comparison. The look is familiar, perhaps just a little more modern in design. They feel good and are nicely weighted to swing.

One difference I will have to take into account is that my clubs have been lengthened half an inch and these are standard-length shafts.

VERDICT: I definitely noticed some similarities at impact with the new AP2s compared to mine. On a damp day when the ball wasn’t flying optimum lengths because of the conditions it’s difficult to say the new irons are longer, but what most impressed me was the purity of the strike. They feel great at impact with minimal resistance through the turf and a surprising amount of forgiveness away from the sweet spot.

The AP2s felt balanced through the set with no inconsistent carry distances, club to club. These are so-called ‘players’ irons and shaping the ball in either direction was easy to do. Pitching with the wedge was straightforward, particularly in alignment. I also generated solid backspin with the pitching wedge. These are terrific irons that have progressed enough to have me thinking about an upgrade.

MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Titleist AP1 714 Series 4-iron to gap wedge, fitted with regular-flex steel shafts.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: These irons are attractive and look great at set-up, although they do feel a little heavier in the head than my clubs.

VERDICT: It took me a few iron shots to get used to the AP1s but once I did they were great, really responsive. The compression of the ball at impact felt sweet and when I found the centre of the clubface the ball really took off; straight and pure. They are forgiving on mis-hits, too. Several times today I still found greens in regulation despite not quite catching the approach shot solidly.

I can’t say I hit the AP1s any further, straighter or on a different trajectory to my normal iron shots, but the strikes felt pure. I still sensed that extra clubhead weight as I swung but it wasn’t off-putting – in fact, it almost certainly helped improve my ball-striking.

The gap wedge took a little bit of getting used to simply because I don’t normally carry one, and after one poor strike I quickly found my groove with it. That club and the pitching wedge were handy clubs around the greens. I was pretty happy with the AP1s and I think I could get used to them.

In all honesty, I can’t say a bad word about them.

FACTS & FIGURES

SUITABILITY: All golfers, although better players will favour the AP2 model.

SHAFTS: The options in AP1 include True Temper XP95, Kuro Kage 65 and Kuro Kage 50. In AP2 True Temper Dynamic Gold shafts are standard.

SET COMPOSITION: 3-iron to 52° wedge in AP1 and 3-iron to 50° wedge in AP2.

LEFT-HANDED MODELS?: Yes.

HOW MUCH?: $135 per club (steel shaft), $169 (graphite) for AP1s; $185 per club (steel), $219 (graphite) for AP2s.

TITLEIST SAYS: “Precise iron play means controlling both trajectory and distance to stop your shot near the pin. Titleist AP irons are precision engineered for optimum flight and distance, with increased forgiveness to help you hit it close.

“AP1 irons are the longest, most forgiving irons Titleist has ever made, with a multi-material, dual-cavity design for players that want maximum distance, forgiveness and solid feel in a great looking, progressive, game-improvement chassis. AP2 irons are multi-material forged irons that offer distance with trajectory control and forgiveness with workability in a solid-feeling, great-looking, Tour-proven chassis.

“Both AP1 and AP2 feature advanced centre of gravity height progression, which creates higher-launching long irons and flatter-launching short irons for more carry distance with outstanding control. Precisely placed high-density tungsten weighting in the long and mid-irons produces higher moment of inertia for consistent distance without sacrificing workability.”

Contact Acushnet Australia on 1800 660 535 or visit www.titleist.com.au