When the original AP irons came out a couple of years ago, they were at once both a radical departure for Titleist and something you completely expect. The multi-material AP1 and AP2 were unlike anything the company had produced before, but they felt and looked so good that they were unmistakably Titleist clubs.

The most striking aspect of the APs was the black, elastomer insert in the back cavity that significantly reduced hard, lower-frequency vibration. The new models retain the multi-material, dual-cavity design but include the “Tuned Feel System,” a co-molded medallion of the elastomer insert with an aluminum plate for improved sound and feel. For the thinner-face, larger-cavity AP1 that means a hotter, more lively sensation during contact.

Other AP1 improvements include short irons with a thinner topline and shorter blade length and a sole with a laser-welded tungsten-nickel insert for better turf interaction. “I’ve always wanted to play Titleist irons but always felt they were a little too much stick for me,” says a 14. “But the AP1 couldn’t be easier to hit; my ball flight was high and straight. This might be just what I need to get down to single digits.”

$700 (4-GW), titleist.com

TESTING GROUNDS: Titleist AP1 (6-iron, steel R flex)
BALL SPEED: 105 MPH
LAUNCH ANGLE: 19 degrees
BACKSPIN: 4361 RPM
CARRY DISTANCE: 164 yards