Fairway woods are among the most challenging clubs to make because they need to be versatile, easy to hit and send the ball the same distance whether a player is hitting off a tee or from the turf. For that reason, when players find a fairway wood they like, they tend to stick with it.
However, by applying the critical new feature it developed for the new GT drivers to the GT fairway woods, Titleist feels it has unlocked new levels of overall performance, blending more distance with an improved ball flight and more consistency.
Who are the Titleist GT fairway woods for?
The Titleist GT2 fairway woods are for golfers who want more distance and a high level of stability and forgiveness. The GT3 fairway woods are for players who want left-right adjustability, lower spin rates and a lower ball flight.
What should you know about the Titleist GT fairway woods?
While several other manufacturers have released fairway woods that have carbon fiber crowns, Titleist has struck with stainless steel and worked to make it thinner and stronger. Now, however, with the GT fairway woods, Titleist is adding a seamless thermoform crown piece to both the GT2 and the GT3, made using the company’s proprietary matrix polymer.
The top of the GT2 is designed with a seamless thermoform matric polymer crown piece to reduce weight. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
The polymer weighs significantly less than the stainless steel it replaces on the top of both clubs, lowering the center of gravity (CG) location and creating discretionary weight that designers could reposition to other areas.
There is no visible seam, and in the address position, the GT2 and GT3 feature a glossy black top that looks like many previously released Titleist fairway woods.
To improve performance on low-struck shots, both Titleist GT fairway woods have a forged 465 stainless steel face in an L shape, which wraps under the leading edge and into the sole. On thin shots, this allows the hitting area to flex more efficiently.
Both the GT2 and the GT3 come with Titleist’s 16-position SureFit hosel mechanism. The two cogs in the system move independently, so players and fitters can adjust the lie angle, the loft or both to ensure a good fit and distance gapping.
The lower portion of the hitting area in the GT3 has been a redesigned to create a deeper, squared-off look. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
Titleist has also redesigned the lower portion of the hitting area, flattening it to create a more confidence-inspiring look. At the same time, the GT2 has a lower profile than the GT3, which has a taller, deeper face that lower-handicap players often prefer.
Titleist designers aspired to make the GT2 launch higher but spin less than the TSR2 fairway woods because that should equate to more carry distance. So, using some of the weight saved by going with the polymer crown, designers repositioned more weight forward in the head, which shifted the CG more forward, resulting in higher ball speeds and lower spin rates. The sole weight behind the leading edge comes standard at 9 grams, but other weights are available to custom fitters so they can fine-tune the spin rate and launch angle for players.
The GT3 has a five-position moveable weight in the front of the sole. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
While the GT2 is the larger of the two fairway woods and matches the GT2 driver in being a high-stability, high-forgiveness offering, the GT has a five-position adjustable weight track in the sole that allows players and fitters to give the club a draw or fade bias. The GT3 comes standard with a 12-gram weight in the track, but other weights are available to fitters.
What lofts are available in the Titleist GT fairway woods?
The Titlist GT2 fairway woods are available in 13.5, 15, 16.5, 18 and 21-degree versions, and the GT3 fairway woods are available in 15, 16.5 and 18-degree versions.
How much do the Titleist GT fairway woods cost?
The Titleist GT2 and GT3 fairway woods are $399 each with Project X Denali Red, Project X HZRDUS Black 5th Gen or Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue graphite shaft and Titleist Universal 360 grip.
When will the Titleist GT fairway woods be in stores?
Titleist GT2 and GT3 fairway woods are available for fitting and pre-sale now and will be in stores starting August 23.
Here are several close-up images of the new Titleist GT fairway woods: