Gear: Titleist TSR1 drivers, fairway woods, hybrids
Who They're For: Slower-swinging golfers who need more ball speed and height on shots to maximize distance.
The Skinny: Titleist made the TSR1 drivers, fairway woods and hybrids more aerodynamic and designed them as part of a lightweight package that can help players who have slower and moderate clubhead speed generate more distance.
The Deep Dive: As launch monitors became integral to custom fitting over the past few decades, fast-swinging golfers learned to maximize distance by combining a high launch angle with low spin. More and more pros learned to swing up into their tee shots to get the most out of their low-spin clubs and balls, but that combination does not work for everyone. According to the USGA and R&A's Distance Insights reports, about 30 percent of golfers swing at a "moderate" speed around 75 to 90 mph, instead of 110 or more generated by most pros. These amateur golfers don't generate enough speed to keep a low-spin shot in the air, so they can be robbed of distance.
Titleist engineers noted this and created the TSi1 drivers, fairway woods and hybrids for them two years ago. In 2023 those clubs are updated to help moderate-speed players swing faster, gain carry distance and achieve more overall distance.
TSR1 Driver
Titleist TSR1 driver (David Dusek/Golfweek)
Price: $599 with MCA MMT SpeedMesh 40 graphite shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 Lite grip
Specs: All-titanium head with an adjustable hosel. 45.75 inches long, with lofts of 9, 10 or 12 degrees
Available: Feb. 23
The TSR1 driver comes standard as the lightest of the four TSR drivers. The aerodynamically shaped, 460-cubic-centimeter head is 8 grams lighter than the TSR2, TSR3 and TSR4 drivers, and it comes stock with shafts that are 10 to 15 grams lighter. Combine those weight savings with a lightweight grip, and the TSR1 is about 40 grams lighter overall than the other TSR drivers, so golfers can swing it faster with the same effort.
The variable-thickness face broadens the sweet spot and protects ball speed more efficiently on mis-hits.
The TSR1 creates more spin and is the highest-launching TSR driver, so moderate-speed players should be able to get the ball up quickly and maximize carry distance. A 9-gram weight in the back helps boost the stability, which can be a challenge in lightweight drivers, and the club has the most prominent draw bias in the TSR family. That should help create more roll after the ball lands.
TSR1 Fairway Woods
Titleist TSR1 fairway woods (David Dusek/Golfweek)
Price: $349 with MCA MMT SpeedMesh 40 graphite shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 Lite grip
Specs: Stainless steel head with an adjustable hosel. 3W (15 degrees), 5W (18 degrees), 7W (20 degrees), 9W (23 degrees, custom only)
Available: Feb. 23
As with the TSR1 driver, the TSR1 fairway woods are the lightest offerings Titleist makes in the category to help golfers generate more clubhead speed and more ball speed.
The TSR1 fairway woods are the largest by volume in the TSR family, but their low profile and deep center of gravity make it easier for golfers to hit shots high for added carry distance.
The TSR1 fairway woods have a moment of inertia that is 15 percent higher than the TSi1 fairway woods, so they should be more stable, too.
TSR1 Hybrids
Titleist TSR1 hybrids (David Dusek/Golfweek)
Price: $299 with MCA MMT SpeedMesh 40 graphite shaft and Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 Lite grip
Specs: Stainless steel head with an adjustable hosel. 4H (20 degrees), 5H (23 degrees), 6H (26 degrees), 7H (29 degrees, custom only)
Available: Feb. 23
Golfers who struggle to generate speed shouldn't be carrying long irons such as a 4-iron. To help those players replace traditional long irons, Titleist made the TSR1 hybrids as fairway wood-style clubs with a low center of gravity and a wide, forgiving sole. They look large and inspire confidence in the address position, and with extra mass in the back to boost the moment of inertia, the TSR1 hybrids are stable when golfers make contact toward the heel or toe.
Story originally appeared on GolfWeek
