Titleist AP2 - Why V grooves ?

[BrendanH]

Disadvantage vs U grooves ?

I just now saw on Titleist's website that the AP2 irons will come with v-grooves. My understanding is that the increased volume that comes with U-grooves brings a distinct advantage by providing more spin in wet conditions or from the rough. Am I wrong ? I know the USGA are working on a ruling to limit the groove volume in an effort to counteract the bomb 'n gouge trend in today's game. Do you think Titleist may be pre-empting this ruling in the AP2s ?? Before I saw the V-groove spec I was certain a set of AP2s was in my immediate future. Now I'm not so sure.

I'd love to hear others thoughts on this......

[KevCarter]

My guess, and this is a complete guess, is that Titleist is making these irons conform with the upcoming USGA rules change.

 

Kevin

[BrendanH]

My guess, and this is a complete guess, is that Titleist is making these irons conform with the upcoming USGA rules change.

 

Kevin

 

Well that was my thought also but I had read elsewhere on this site that the USGA and R&A are nowhere close to an agreement so an imminent ruling was unlikely. Does Titleist know something we don't ?

[Metalhead]

My guess, and this is a complete guess, is that Titleist is making these irons conform with the upcoming USGA rules change.

 

Kevin

 

 

Hey Kev-

Any chance of getting a review of the A2p's...since you and the titleist staffers are the only ones having tasted these beauties>>>????

Josh

[StugyGolf]

The ruling of the grooves comes into effect as of 2009 for everyone n'est pas?

[KevCarter]

My guess, and this is a complete guess, is that Titleist is making these irons conform with the upcoming USGA rules change.

 

Kevin

 

 

Hey Kev-

Any chance of getting a review of the A2p's...since you and the titleist staffers are the only ones having tasted these beauties>>>????

Josh

 

Hi Josh,

 

Not while it's freaking 18° below zero!!!

 

:) :D ;)

 

They are beautiful. I have some bad indoor pictures of them on my website, and I'm headed to Phoenix next Saturday where I will have a chance to hit them. Everybody that I have talked to on the Titleist staff that has hit them LOVES them. Sorry, I would tell you more, but that's all I know for now.

 

Why in the world would a golf pro choose to live in Minnesota???

 

Kevin

[taylormadefan]

I just now saw on Titleist's website that the AP2 irons will come with v-grooves. My understanding is that the increased volume that comes with U-grooves brings a distinct advantage by providing more spin in wet conditions or from the rough. Am I wrong ? I know the USGA are working on a ruling to limit the groove volume in an effort to counteract the bomb 'n gouge trend in today's game. Do you think Titleist may be pre-empting this ruling in the AP2s ?? Before I saw the V-groove spec I was certain a set of AP2s was in my immediate future. Now I'm not so sure.

 

I'd love to hear others thoughts on this......

 

All the new Srixon clubs 701 tours, 701, and new wedges have V grooves.

 

I have yet to hear one complaint about lack of spin about them. I don't think it will make as much difference as people think.

[307golf]

My 2006 Titleist 735cm's have V grooves so I don't think the AP2's are an indication of major changes due to USGA/R&A rules.

[Metalhead]

My guess, and this is a complete guess, is that Titleist is making these irons conform with the upcoming USGA rules change.

 

Kevin

 

 

Hey Kev-

Any chance of getting a review of the A2p's...since you and the titleist staffers are the only ones having tasted these beauties>>>????

Josh

 

Hi Josh,

 

Not while it's freaking 18° below zero!!!

 

:) :D ;)

 

They are beautiful. I have some bad indoor pictures of them on my website, and I'm headed to Phoenix next Saturday where I will have a chance to hit them. Everybody that I have talked to on the Titleist staff that has hit them LOVES them. Sorry, I would tell you more, but that's all I know for now.

 

Why in the world would a golf pro choose to live in Minnesota???

 

Kevin

 

Thanks kev!! please do tell after you get back from the sun...that is IF you are coming back from the sun!! ;)

_I dig your website!! what did you make it with? Impressive!

 

 

 

BTW- Just for reference, I have played the TP MB's (box grooves) and my friend has a set of the 3 dot TP MB(with V grooves...and in terms of ballflight and reactions from the greens - its hardly noticable if at all! Just my 2cents.

Josh

[g8a_golf]

my 690's have v grooves and i still get plenty of spin from every lie. I'm not worried about the change at all...

[BrendanH]

my 690's have v grooves and i still get plenty of spin from every lie. I'm not worried about the change at all...

 

That's encouraging - I really want to feel good about putting these in play. Thanks for all the responses. If anyone has a good contact at Titleist I'd love to hear their reasoning behind it, especially since the 755s were U-grooved.

[StaffBag]

I thought that I heard from somewhere that the USGA was backing off some of thier thoughts about the groove issue?

 

Am I mistaken?! (Since the R&A and the USGA are always nowhere near ever agreeing on a subject when one body decides comes up with a Rules idea on thier own!)

[indianshaft]

I thought the issue was the depth of the grooves not the shape or am I wrong about that?

[BrendanH]

I thought the issue was the depth of the grooves not the shape or am I wrong about that?

 

Close. The element the USGA are looking at limiting is groove volume, not shape. However I believe that groove width is important to gaining grip on the surface of the ball so I think we'll find that the rules change will effectively move most manufacturers to V-grooves or very similar.

[nobogeys59]

But has the USGA made a firm decision yet on the groove shape and volume?

[KevCarter]

Thanks Josh,

 

My website is a fun hobby. It's done with iWeb which is really simple, any idiot, including me can learn how to make a website with it. :)

 

Kevin

 

My guess, and this is a complete guess, is that Titleist is making these irons conform with the upcoming USGA rules change.

 

Kevin

 

 

Hey Kev-

Any chance of getting a review of the A2p's...since you and the titleist staffers are the only ones having tasted these beauties>>>????

Josh

 

Hi Josh,

 

Not while it's freaking 18° below zero!!!

 

:D ;) ;)

 

They are beautiful. I have some bad indoor pictures of them on my website, and I'm headed to Phoenix next Saturday where I will have a chance to hit them. Everybody that I have talked to on the Titleist staff that has hit them LOVES them. Sorry, I would tell you more, but that's all I know for now.

 

Why in the world would a golf pro choose to live in Minnesota???

 

Kevin

 

Thanks kev!! please do tell after you get back from the sun...that is IF you are coming back from the sun!! :cheesy:

_I dig your website!! what did you make it with? Impressive!

 

 

 

BTW- Just for reference, I have played the TP MB's (box grooves) and my friend has a set of the 3 dot TP MB(with V grooves...and in terms of ballflight and reactions from the greens - its hardly noticable if at all! Just my 2cents.

Josh

[Skaffa77]

But has the USGA made a firm decision yet on the groove shape and volume?

 

I hadn't heard anything about a firm decision or timeline. It would have been all over this site...and to date...I've heard nothing more.

[jwolfe910]

Hey Kevin I saw on your website that you use to play the 755. I've heard how soft the new Ap2 plays, but in terms of forgiviness how do the Ap2's compare to the 755. Are the Ap2 as forgiving as the 755's.

[Mala]

I think I remember reading somewhere that while U grooves increase spin from the rough, the V grooves are more consistent from the fairway.

 

Don't know if thats true or not.

[KevCarter]

But has the USGA made a firm decision yet on the groove shape and volume?

 

I hadn't heard anything about a firm decision or timeline. It would have been all over this site...and to date...I've heard nothing more.

 

 

Hey Kevin I saw on your website that you use to play the 755. I've heard how soft the new Ap2 plays, but in terms of forgiviness how do the Ap2's compare to the 755. Are the Ap2 as forgiving as the 755's.

 

Sorry, haven't hit them outside yet. Hitting off the mats is not a fair trial. I'll get to hit them in Phoenix next week.

 

Kevin

[BD57]

Or ....

 

Titleist is cross-marketing the AP2's .... they want some tour usage .... and the PGA boys prefer v-grooves.

[yankees06]

Who has hit them???????????????????????

[blastoff]

I've hit them and all I can say is they look so much better in person. I was ready to order the Cobra Pro cb irons and I had a chance to demo all of the new Titleist stuff. The ap2's were the standout of all the clubs. Granted it was 40* outside when we hit them, but the ap2's were great. Compared to the ZB's and the ZM's the ap2's felt the softest by far.

[yankees06]

I was also thinking that the new Cobra Pro cb irons where going to be the irons for '08 now i am really thinking about the AP2's. Now i just have to wait for some snow to melt.

[yankees06]

what is the cost going to be on these.

[Gxgolfer]

Ap2 will be $1299 list with Project X