Titleist TSi2 Driver Played and Rated
Introduction
With modern drivers costing as much as $500, it can be quite difficult to justify getting a new one. Certainly, if you’re spending that sort of money you should probably be fitted.
The Titleist TSi series drivers were released to the public in February 2021. Was it going to be worth upgrading my eight-year-old 913D3 model?
Let’s find out!
Tour Player Validation
The Titleist TSi1, TSi2, TSI3, and TSi4 Drivers are amazing pieces of equipment.
They were released to tour players at one of the biggest weeks of the year – the 2020 US Open (played in September 2020 due to COVID-19). The driver was due to launch to the public early in 2021 but became the number one played driver on the Tour that week. Just think about that in itself. Guys were willing to try a new piece of equipment on the biggest week of the year without practicing with it other than receiving it on Monday/Tuesday.
There were many players that were not even sponsored by Titleist that used the new driver. Guys like Tommy Fleetwood made the switch immediately. I knew that I needed to get my hands on one as soon as possible due to the popularity on tour.
I loved Titleist drivers before, but these were game-changing!
Technology Improvements
Titleist has added some new technology to their drivers. The most exciting is the new face that is used on the driver. The material is called “ATI-45.” The material is also used on the Mars-Rover. You may be thinking, “what does space travel do for me?” Well, although you won’t physically hit it to the moon, the exotic material is definitely different and has a very “hot” face to it.
The TSi1 is more of a lighter club than the other drivers. This club will be best for juniors, women with slower swing speeds, and seniors (in general). The overall weight of the club being lighter will benefit those with slower swing speeds as the player will be able to “whip” the club through the hitting zone much faster. The club also is made to get the ball in the air quicker. Titleist has designed the (lighter) weight more towards the bottom of the club which again, helps spin the ball and get more of a carry on the ball rather than a penetrating ball with a lower ball speed.
The TSi2 is the club that will fit the majority of the players out on the golf course. The new driver is a beautiful-looking driver. The TSi2 has more of a triangle, pear-ish shape. It is a 460cc head that continually gets smaller towards the back of the club. The shape of this club encourages the ball to get in the air faster and higher.
Higher handicap players would use this model, or players that need extra help getting the ball in the air. The face is highly encouraging to get the ball in the air and as well as forgiveness. Although the club doesn’t necessarily have the “traditional” look, I can speak from personal experience that it is something that you can get over rather quickly.
The TSi3 has five different positions to adjust the weight on the back of the club to have more a toe weighting, center weighing, or heel weighting. This can encourage a draw, neutral, or fade bias at impact. The weight adjustment isn’t anything new to the overall world of drivers, but for Titleist it is. The TSi3 is more a traditional shape of a driver, which I would call a “half-moon or pear shape. This is the model used by tour professionals and was used at the 2020 US Open as the number one driver on tour that week.
The TSi4 driver is made for elite players that are searching for a penetrating ball flight – i.e. single handicappers and some professionals. This head was developed from feedback from the tour players that played the original TSi3. There is only one weight adjustment available to this club but the face adjustment is still there like all the other Titleist drivers.
My local club had a “used” TSi2 with 10 degrees of loft in their shop for a great deal ($300, compared to $550 new) so I said what the heck – I’ll give it a shot. My current driver was 8 years old, a Titleist 913D3 and I thought it should be time. I kept the shaft from my old driver, a Tour AD stiff flex and there we have it – an upgraded bag with a fun club to hit. I knew that ideally the TSi3 or TSi4 would be better for my game, but I couldn’t pass this deal up, because I love deals.
I went to hit the club at the range and was immediately impressed. The club just had a “pop” to it like my other club never had. Now that I know about the club, this is the new face with the new material compared to the old face. It really is just “better” and something you will notice immediately. Something I really liked about by 913D is the feedback. I could feel that I didn’t quite hit the middle of the face. This feeling also carried over to the new driver as well.
The flight of the ball was incredible, the ball just “wanted” to go far it seemed. The ball was going a little high for me. I believe it is due to my swing speed and launch angle, but I have never seen this on the launch monitor. The club design of the TSi2 is meant to help the ball in the air and encourage a higher launch angle.
I naturally hit up on the ball, and do not really need the additional help, therefore I believe this is why my ball goes higher than “normal” rather than a penetrating flight. I played with this driver for the entire summer and found that the additional height meant I was giving up a few yards, but it also meant more fairways overall.
The ball wanted to go higher and not left/right. It was a pretty incredible sight to see after hitting the club for a few months. I no longer had the snap hook or the block 6 miles to the right! This club just wanted to go straight, and I think that goes back to the technology Titleist designed into the club.
Titleist TSi2 Driver Played and Rated: Conclusion
Overall, these clubs are amazing. I would recommend getting fitted rather than just grabbing one off the rack like me. Although I’m keeping mine, I believe the TSi3 might be better for my game rather than the TSi2. I hit it a little bit higher than I would like, but as discussed, the increased spin may have kept me in the fairway more as well.
