New 917 Drivers by Titleist

Titleist have revealed their new 917D2 and 917D3 models, engineered with proprietary Active Recoil Channel 2.0 and SureFit CG technology.

“When we talk to golfers about driver performance, distance and forgiveness are always paramount. But they aren’t the only attributes that players look for in a driver. They also want a repeatable trajectory, a shot shape they can count on for better accuracy. And they need it to look, sound and feel great,” said Dan Stone, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club R&D.

Titleist 917 drivers deliver increased ball speed for more distance with superior forgiveness, industry-leading adjustability with optimised trajectory control, and tour-inspired sound and feel through the following key technologies:

• Active Recoil Channel (ARC) 2.0, a long, wide, deep sole channel, actively flexes and recoils at impact to launch the ball off the face with higher speed and lower spin for more distance. Refined thickness areas throughout the channel, including thinner heel and toe regions, produce greater face flexibility for a more consistent deflection that reduces spin and increases speed across the face.

• Radial Speed Face 2.0, a high-speed forged face insert, is tuned with ARC 2.0 to promote greater off-centre ball speed for more overall distance.

• A precise, High-MOI Design, with a low and deep centre of gravity location, delivers stability and forgiveness by preserving off-centre ball speed for more distance, more often.

• Titleist’s industry-leading SureFit Hosel and new SureFit CG weight system deliver the ultimate in precision fitting for every player.

New SureFit CG provides precise customisation through a highly efficient interchangeable weight system, optimising spin and launch conditions for a more consistent trajectory and tighter shot dispersion. The unique orientation of SureFit CG, positioned at an angle deep on the sole, enables the centre of gravity to be moved from Neutral to a back, heel position (Draw) or a forward, toe position (Fade). Each SureFit CG position affects dynamic face closure and gear-effect sidespin, enabling golfers to enhance their preferred ball flight and shot shape through more consistent impact and spin. The streamlined design of SureFit CG – which provides significant weight savings versus competitive “track” systems – allows the CG to be manipulated while preserving 917’s high-MOI properties for distance with forgiveness. SureFit CG also provides the flexibility for headweight adjustability.

917’s adjustable technologies offer the type of customisation previously available only on the Titleist Tour Van. A Titleist authorised fitter will utilise the SureFit Hosel and SureFit CG, coupled with interchangeable shafts, to determine a player’s optimal setup so they are playing a 917 driver that is fit precisely to their swing.

Two models provide distinct performance choices, particularly in spin and trajectory. 917D2 provides distance and forgiveness in a large 460cc full pear profile and produces a higher peak trajectory with 250rpm more spin versus 917D3. The 917D3 provides distance with workability in a traditional, tour-inspired 440cc pear profile.

In player testing, golfers properly fit for a 917D2 or 917D3 driver experienced gains in ball speed and reductions in spin compared to 915D2 and 915D3, which equated to an average of three to five yards more carry distance.

The new Titleist 917 drivers will be available in golf shops worldwide from 21^st October (RRP to be confirmed).