Titleist AP2 714 irons: review

The new Titleist AP2 714 - which I was recently fit for at the official AP 714 launch at Royal Lytham & St Annes – are the most impressive irons I’ve tested in my young golf career-to-date.

For some reason or another, I've always held the belief as a high single-figure capper that Titleist AP2 irons are just that little bit too good for me. How wrong I could be. The new AP2 714s are as forgiving as the original AP1.

Forgiveness is particularly apparent in the AP2 714 long irons. In fact, far more forgiving than I initially thought they’d be for a club with better-player appeal and as used so impressively by Titleist staffer Jason Dufner to win last month's PGA Championship.

This abundance of forgiveness is largely down to the 43g of High Density Tungsten (formed of two tungsten weights) placed low and out on the perimeter of each club. In fact, Titleist explained to me this equates to approximately 20% of the overall headweight. Tungsten is apparently twice as heavy as steel.

Titleist has also ensured there's a wider distance between the two tungsten weights in the AP2 714 to present these babies with a higher MOI without having to increase clubhead size - an important consideration for better golfers, most of whom prefer smaller-sized iron heads.

A lower CG in the long irons has already improved my ball flight considerably, too. Balls are stopping within several feet of their descent, rather than scurrying on the front edge and running through to the back fringe.

The thinner upper cavity face and dual-cavity construction of the 714 AP2 creates additional discretionary weight to the club and this has helped me strike the ball much higher and purer than ever before – and pleasingly, with a little extra carry distance to boot.

And the shorter irons have been just as effective. Thicker upper faces and narrower soles, on top of stronger lofts, make the 7-iron to PW much easier to flight.

In terms of feel, everything is solid. The lower CG in the long irons and higher CG in the shorter irons feels like it improves my sweetspot location. Another positive for feel is the added camber, which helps control divot depth. A multi-layer medallion also fine tunes levels of vibration and aids terrific feedback through impact.

While the AP2s have a similar amount of offset as before, the offset appears much better hidden through a hosel blend that makes the space between the hosel and leading edge less apparent.

Yet that’s not the only change, as some of the lofts have been strengthened too – commonplace in the iron market today. The AP2 6-iron through PW has been strengthened 1-degree, making the pitching wedge 46-degree.

And the finish of the AP2 just oozes class. The combo satin and mirror finish reduces glare but at the same time, doesn’t give up its bag appeal. AP2 714 is a modern, high performance iron, all in a progressive, Tour-proven chassis.

Review continues. Click this link for Andy's Titleist AP2 714 custom iron fitting

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