Tsr2 vs Tsr3 distance/forgiveness trade off

[9ironiscash]

Hi guys, 

 

looking into the tsr lineup; had hit the tsr3 at a club fitting day and was informally fit for it. Love the driver, but am concerned re: forgiveness level. Currently play a g400 max which is spinny but on auto-pilot for finding fairways. My game suffers greatly when not in the short stuff. 
if I were to go tsr2 instead, can you expect somewhat similar distance with significantly more forgiveness vs the 3, or are the differences negligible? Would be going with a low launching shaft as per what I was fit for in the 3. A 5 yard difference isn’t worth it imo to lose being in the short stuff.  Miss is usually high tow with the driver but I’m fairly centered with strike pattern. 

[Carolina Golfer 2]

I played both for about a month upon release.  The 2 is much more forgiving than the 3.  Especially on hits away from the center.   On perfect strikes the 3 is q few yards longer.   But how often do we hit it perfectly.   So not worth the trade off for me. 
 

You’ll be more than pleased with the 2. 

[smvolkma]

I agree.  The tsr2 is a wonderful all around driver.  Much more forgiving.  

[9ironiscash]

56 minutes ago, smvolkma said:

I agree.  The tsr2 is a wonderful all around driver.  Much more forgiving.  

How do you find it distance-wise compared to the usual competitors? 

[LinkLow]

I went from the 2 to a 3 when I played the TSR. Definitely less forgiving, but easier to work high/low and left/right, and longer on center strikes.

 

[Poor Mans Ty Webb]

This is essentially a non-answer, but...there are SO many variables here.  Shaft weight, flex, tipping, profile.  Angle of attack.  Strike location.  etc.  Tough to go with a blanket response.

 

As is the case with most driver models within the same band, I think there's a Venn diagram of overlap where the 2 and 3 are basically performing at similar levels, and then there are mutually exclusive ends, as well.  A competent fitter would be able to find the overlap point.  A TSR2 can be set up to lower spin and launch, and a TSR3 can be set up to raise spin and launch.

 

I think the general consensus is that the TSR2 is designed to be relatively more "forgiving" than TSR3 (especially across the whole face), but TSR3 also has more adjustability in it with the weight track in the back.  I know that thing is marketed as a draw/fade bias tool, but it's not as simple as that.  What it really does is adds mass behind a mishit and can really help you with matchups.  If you accidentally/intentionally are able to make your misses favor one side of the driver head, the weight track can help add forgiveness for that specific miss, which can make the TSR3 plenty forgiving.

 

The best way I can put it is that in the hands of a competent fitter, TSR2 might have a higher floor, but TSR3 might have a higher ceiling.

[gvogel]

The GT2 is better.  Not what you are looking for, but it's really good.

[B_of_H]

like the previous post said the 3 can be equally to perhaps even more forgiving IF you miss predominately on one side of the face.  I used the 3 model until last summer because almost all of my misses are in the heel.  I moved the weight to the heel and it out performed the 2 on those misses by a small margin (tsi and tsr).  Fast forward to the summer and for me the gt2 was as forgiving in the heel as the tsr3 or gt3 with the weight in the h1 setting, hence why I switched. The gt2 had a little tighter dispersion on those heel hits perhaps as well.  If you are sticking with the tsr line and miss predominately in the heel then the 3 seems just as good as the 2 for that miss with the weight in h1 or h2 IMO. 

 

I will also say that the weight in the heel doesn't make it draw for me, it might have a slight effect on ball flight but its not a major change.  

[smvolkma]

1 hour ago, 9ironiscash said:

How do you find it distance-wise compared to the usual competitors? 

It might be a little shorter but depends on spin.  I could hit a hot knuckle ball with it from time to time but on Mishima, the TSR2 was a lot better.  I put the GT2 on my AD IZ shaft and it was no better for me.  May be for others.  

[Cliffy2020]

Although the 2 & 3 are both 460cc they look noticeably different.  The 2 appears bigger because it’s slightly longer front to back (which I don’t prefer).  Because I’m consistently toe-side of center the adjustable weight track on the 3 was the icing.  It’s been the best driver I’ve ever tested and ever played and the only driver I’ve payed full retail for.  That being said, I’d play the 2 in a heartbeat if I had to and not lose a wink of sleep over it.  The TSR series is that good.

[9ironiscash]

5 minutes ago, Cliffy2020 said:

Although the 2 & 3 are both 460cc they look noticeably different.  The 2 appears bigger because it’s slightly longer front to back (which I don’t prefer).  Because I’m consistently toe-side of center the adjustable weight track on the 3 was the icing.  It’s been the best driver I’ve ever tested and ever played and the only driver I’ve payed full retail for.  That being said, I’d play the 2 in a heartbeat if I had to and not lose a wink of sleep over it.  The TSR series is that good.

My miss is always high toe and never heel, so good to hear that moving the weight to that area may make it just as forgiving as the 2.  I think it’s safe to assume the tsr2 will be hotter out of the gate than my g400 max. 

[Carolina Golfer 2]

13 minutes ago, 9ironiscash said:

My miss is always high toe and never heel, so good to hear that moving the weight to that area may make it just as forgiving as the 2.  I think it’s safe to assume the tsr2 will be hotter out of the gate than my g400 max. 

I definitely would not  say "just as forgiving as the 2" with the weight on the toe.  It just makes the miss less punishing than if you had it in the middle.   My miss is high toe, and even with the weight out there I would lose maybe 10 to 15 yards, vs 20 if I had it i the middle.  But the TSR would be just as good as the TSR 3 off the toe, even with the weight out there.   I'm not a low single digit, but certainly not a complete hack, and the trade off on misses with the 3 just wasn't worth it to me.  To me the benefit of the 3 is those that want the smaller profile look as mentioned above, and want something a bit lower spinning and if you have the ability to work it.    If you go back and look at all the material Titleist put out upon the release of the TSR line, there is a huge difference in the face between the two and three on misses.   The 3 is designed not to miss. HA 

 

 

[Cliffy2020]

25 minutes ago, 9ironiscash said:

My miss is always high toe and never heel, so good to hear that moving the weight to that area may make it just as forgiving as the 2.  I think it’s safe to assume the tsr2 will be hotter out of the gate than my g400 max. 

Still not as forgiving as the 2.  

[argoodman]

I recently changed from the TSR2 to the GT3. Despite hitting the TSR2 relatively well, I still had a problem squaring up the club face and spinning the ball too much. When I tried the GT3, I was able to square up the driver head much better and my spin numbers were significantly reduced. For my swing, the TSR2 (and the GT2) were not more forgiving. The claimed forgiveness of the TSR2, which appears to be related to the MOI was increasing my difficulty squaring up the club face and adding spin. I think too many get lost in the manufacture's club narrative. You need to find a club that actually fits with your swing profile. 

[Poor Mans Ty Webb]

1 hour ago, 9ironiscash said:

My miss is always high toe and never heel, so good to hear that moving the weight to that area may make it just as forgiving as the 2.  I think it’s safe to assume the tsr2 will be hotter out of the gate than my g400 max. 

 

I have the TSR3 weight out on the toe side and align myself for a toe-side miss..  What it seems to do for me is just "beef up" that miss a bit so the head is more stable through impact (as opposed to vibrating violently in the hands).

 

This also seems to hold the face slightly more open and put a bit more pop in the ball to get it airborne with some more manageable spin instead of giving me a low-spin duck hook that falls out of the air.  I can aim up the right side and trust that it will turn over without the risk of overcooking it as much.

 

With this setup, if I hit it on the heel it's got a chance of being push-slice city, so I intentionally play for a toe-side miss.

[bigmacpapi]

I’d recommend watching this video if you want some data for reference. That being said I am gaming a TSr2 but only because a good deal on it came up first before the 3. 
 

Also apparently the TSr3 isn’t that much different than the previous TSi3 if price is a factor there could be some savings there. 
 

TSi2 to TSr2 is a great improvement as far as the shaping/looks at address goes. (Had them side by side)

[stratgolf]

TSR2 - GT2 player. Tried both TSR3 and GT3. 

 

Perfect hits GT3 was a little longer, but everywhere else the GT2 was better. I was still impressed with the GT3/TSR3 when I hit them, but on a performance basis it was pretty clear that I was improving every single other category except total distance with the 2s. Personally think the gap in performance is much closer than other brands "max" style heads have been to core/LS.

[Mobert19]

7 hours ago, argoodman said:

I recently changed from the TSR2 to the GT3. Despite hitting the TSR2 relatively well, I still had a problem squaring up the club face and spinning the ball too much. When I tried the GT3, I was able to square up the driver head much better and my spin numbers were significantly reduced. For my swing, the TSR2 (and the GT2) were not more forgiving. The claimed forgiveness of the TSR2, which appears to be related to the MOI was increasing my difficulty squaring up the club face and adding spin. I think too many get lost in the manufacture's club narrative. You need to find a club that actually fits with your swing profile. 

This is exactly what I saw. In GT3 now and tee the ball up a tad higher than I used to and absolutely crushing it. 

[drza3]

1 hour ago, Mobert19 said:

This is exactly what I saw. In GT3 now and tee the ball up a tad higher than I used to and absolutely crushing it. 

It’s the same thing with me. I square up the GT3 way better and the “miss” just spins up a little. Ball speeds are still great across the face for me 

[manima1]

I played the TSR2 and actually ended up moving to the TSR3.  For some reason, I hit the TSR3 considerably better.  It is the more forgiving club for me.  I don't see the TSR3 as an unforgiving club by any means - anyone 15 cap and under can play it.  20 capper without a major over the top move could as well (TSR3 would not be friendly to a slicer)

 

Same exact shaft as well.  Perhaps I had a dud of a TSR2 but for me it was either nuked down the middle or off the planet.  There wasn't an "average" hit, it was good or bid.  I couldn't square it.

 

Perhaps I just get along with more compact heads due to some delivery factor.  

[ENedo]

If look's come into play for you they're definitely. TSR2 is their standard modern look, longer in the back. TSR3 is the old school Titleist "pear" shaped head, taller than the TSR2 and not as long in the back.  

[B_of_H]

21 hours ago, ENedo said:

If look's come into play for you they're definitely. TSR2 is their standard modern look, longer in the back. TSR3 is the old school Titleist "pear" shaped head, taller than the TSR2 and not as long in the back.  

 

yes, the big difference is that the gt2 is the same shape as the tsr3 now.  (or at least really close)

[petep52]

I think it depends on how cool you are. If you’re super cool, the TSr3. If you’re not cool, the TSr2. 
 

I’m not cool and I’m okay with it. 

[9ironiscash]

1 hour ago, petep52 said:

I think it depends on how cool you are. If you’re super cool, the TSr3. If you’re not cool, the TSr2. 
 

I’m not cool and I’m okay with it. 

Lol I also am cool with it if it works! How are you finding the tsr2 to be distance wise? 

[petep52]

Just now, 9ironiscash said:

Lol I also am cool with it if it works! How are you finding the tsr2 to be distance wise? 

I got 1.47 smash factor with it tonight. 

[Urb]

TSR3 shaves a few RPM vs TSR2, but doesn't tank spin like a lot of the other triple diamond type heads.  

 

TSR3 also looks better.

 

If you want a better looking TSR2, Mizuno STZ230.

[stryper]

On 1/22/2025 at 9:08 AM, gvogel said:

The GT2 is better.  Not what you are looking for, but it's really good.

And the GT3 was a better fit for me, so there is that. 😉

 

Really seems to be such an individual thing between the two heads.