Titleist T Series Irons Review [T100, T200 & T300]

As one of the premier manufacturers of golf equipment, and with their products used so widely by many of the world’s best players, there is always a buzz created when Titleist release new irons. I therefore couldn’t wait to get my hands on the new 2021 T-Series irons and put them through their paces.

This article will seek to cross-compare the T100, T100S, T200 and T300 across various attributes helping you decide which might be best for you to consider next time you are looking to make a switch.

Looks

Quite often when fitting golfers, I find myself remarking on the importance of the club’s aesthetic meeting the player’s eye. Simply put – if you like what you are looking down at, it can positively transcend your confidence level, and we all know how important this is in golf.

With Titleist clubs, you are generally assured of a clean, minimalistic design with traditional shaping, and I can report that they have not stretched far from this ethos with these irons.

The T100 and 100S, designed for the crisper ball-strikers among us have little to tell them apart. Looking down, both possess relatively small heads, minimal offset, sleek top lines and overall, a clean, slightly angular shape.

The sole width is nice and thin to help with creating crisp turf interaction at strike. Those with an eye for detail would perhaps notice the 2-degree stronger loft in the 100S. On the back it’s a similar story, the 100S packs in a little more muscle, or as Titleist call it “muscle channel” for increased speed, but you wouldn’t see this standing over the ball.

Moving on to the T200, you’ll notice an increase in head size and top line, giving a slightly more muscular appearance behind the ball. The traditional shaping is retained and the iron still looks as though it is sleek enough to provide some control and workability.

There’s no tip-toeing around it, the T300 is a brute. It looks as though it’s been designed purely to mash golf balls. A big solid head is accompanied by greater offset than you’ll find in the smaller models.

Confidence-inducing to say the least. You’ll find another key difference on the back of the head where all the tech is on display, whereas in the T200 it’s hidden behind a casing that gives the club a driving-iron like appearance.

Feel 

I found the feel and sound of these clubs quite intriguing. As you might hope, the smaller T100 and T100S do give a significantly softer feel than their larger counterparts, providing an enjoyable experience. Interestingly though, the sound they produced on impact seemed a little harsher than I was expecting and somehow didn’t quite match the feel through the fingers.

Moving into the T200 and T300, both produced a pretty solid feel and sound to match. The T300 in particular, really provides the type of feedback you would expect from its imposing looks. Interestingly, Titleist are keen to make mention of all the things they have done to improve sound and feel in the 200 and 300, and I’m not sure they’ve fully achieved this.

Distance

When testing, I decided to go through the models in order from T100 through to T300. My preconception was that I might struggle to generate good distance with the traditionally lofted T100 but was pleasantly surprised at how competitive it was in this regard.

Perhaps this is down to the heel and toe tungsten weighting Titleist have managed to insert. This set a really solid benchmark upon which I hoped the other models would improve. Logically both the carry and total distances did increase with each model so that again was good, and what you would expect, given the stronger lofts and increased tech with the larger, more forgiving models.

Interestingly, at least for me, the differences were not as stark as I was expecting. From T100 to 100S I gained on average just 3 yards of carry, this gap was repeated again with T200. It wasn’t until the T300 where I gained a further 7 yards.

Even then though, overall there was only a 13-yard gap (carry) / 18-yard gap (total) between the T100 and T300 that’s not much more than one extra club. Considering the 5-degree loft gap between those models, the T300 7-iron is essentially a 6-iron in disguise. It does beg the question – just how much difference is the extra “tech” providing?

A very small amount, if any, is the answer in terms of distance. With T200 I managed to achieve approximately a 1.5mph increase in ball speed. The difference was more pronounced with the T300 which gave a further 4mph, likely down to the “max impact” polymer core sitting behind the sweet spot of the club. The issue of course being that stronger lofts launch the ball lower and so this negates some of the carry distance benefits, but more on this later.

Control

Hitting the ball great distances is of course an advantage, but it is equally important for it to be controllable and consistent on landing. This is ultimately what ensures a good shot is rewarded by remaining on the putting surface, hopefully near to its intended target.

Usually, when looking at control, I would turn my focus to numbers such as the backspin rate, launch angle and peak height, as these all dictate the landing angle and stopping power of your shots.

	Launch Angle (deg)	Peak Height (ft)	Spin (rpm)	Roll (yds)	Carry (yds)	Total (yds)
T100	15.2	79	5876	9.3	164.2	173.5
T100s	14.2	73	5289	11.5	167	178.5
T200	13.9	73	4966	12.6	170.4	183
T300	12.5	70	4650	14.5	177.3	191.8

What we typically see with irons is that the stronger lofts on cavity back irons are overcome by tech in the head lowering the centre of gravity and increasing the launch angle back to a suitable window. This usually has a negative effect on the spin rate but does at least give the more powerful irons a chance of stopping by increasing their peak height.

Interestingly here, going through each of the models in order (T100 – T300), there is a drop off in launch angle, peak height and spin rate across each model. This ultimately means that the roll-out on landing increases also.

To put this into context, T100 gave me a launch of 15.2, spin of 5876 and roll out of 9 yards on average. T300 launched at 12.5 which is very low, spun at 4650 and ran out 14 yards. In reality, these numbers again give the impression of 7 iron versus 6 iron, meaning the tech isn’t having much effect over the natural decrease in loft on the T300.

Bear in mind if you are a golfer that likes to shape their shots, lower launch and spin is not going to be your friend.  Ultimately if you’re looking for increased control and workability, I’d go for the smallest head you’re comfortable striking consistently.

Forgiveness

Unless you’re a metronomic ball-striker, it’s always nice to know that there’s a little help at hand for the ones you don’t quite catch. I have to say all the models performed well in this category, even the T100 and T100S that you might think would be a little less forgiving.

The drop off from my best to worst strikes with T100 was only 4.5mph and only 3.6 with T100S. This number again improved further with T200 (2mph), yet oddly was at its highest with the T300 (5.9mph) – perhaps I just hit a particularly bad one.

Nonetheless, my worst strike with T300 was still faster than my best with the T100 so the T300 is still a pretty potent weapon if you are after ball speed. Titleist have made the face thinner in the heel and toe areas which theoretically should increase face flexion on off-centre strikes and minimise the distance lost.

One thing I did also notice with the T300 (again all bar one shot), was that my dispersion was generally much further left. This is likely due to the increased offset all models were tested with the same shaft for consistency. Therefore if you are someone that struggles with a push/slice shape of shot, The T300 may be a good option to consider.

Shaft options

If you were to go to one of the Titleist fitting centres such as the one in St. Ives, Cambridge, you’ll have access to a phenomenal range of shafts, although many of these are only available as an upcharge.

More locally, your local pro shop stockist will have a selection of graphite and steel shafts from which to fit you more than adequately. A lower swing speed player who is looking to increase launch and distance may well benefit from the graphite Tensei Red option, or the light steel alternative of Dynamic Gold AMT Red. Further graphite options are available with the Tensei blue (mid) and Tensei white (mid-low).

As speed and power increase, AMT options in black (mid) and tour white (low) offer increased stiffness to provide the weight and control needed for the player.

Another option to consider may be the Project X LZ which with it’s unique bending profile (softer through the middle and stiffer at butt / tip) offers excellent energy transfer for those looking for a little extra power. Interestingly, I’ve often found this shaft works quite well with a shallow angle of attack, particularly for those who tend to release the club too early.

Golf Insider verdict

Titleist T-Series irons T100 review

The T100 is a great option for the player who generates fast clubhead and ball speed, and is looking for greater shot shaping and ball flight control from their irons. 

Titleist T-Series irons T100.S review

The T100.S is an ideal option for a good ball striker who is looking to maintain control of their ball flight, but perhaps eke out a few extra yards with a more penetrating ball flight. 

Titleist T-Series irons T200 review

The T200 will suit a mid-handicap golfer who strikes the ball reasonably consistently but would like a bit more forgiveness and power from a traditional looking clubhead.

Titleist T-Series irons T300 review

The T300 will suit a mid-high handicap golfer looking for some extra speed and distance with their iron shots. It’s also a good option for those who tend to struggle with a slice or push shot shape.

Frequently asked questions

Below are some frequently asked questions from golfers looking to purchase the T-series irons.

What are the main differences between the T-series irons?

Ultimately, with these new T series irons, what you have is a spectrum. It starts at the T100 which is going to give you excellent feel and control, shot shaping ability and stunning looks. Great if you are a strong and consistent ball striker who doesn’t struggle with generating speed and power.

As you go through the models, increasingly there’s a little more help with speed and distance, at the expense of some of the control the T100 affords, and so it really depends on the balance you are looking to strike. At the other end of the spectrum you’ve got the T300 with a nice big clubhead that produces impressive power. If you’re getting a little stick from your mates, this might give you some ammunition. As discussed earlier, this model in particular may be of benefit if you struggle with an open clubface. (There is also a T400 – whilst this hasn’t been tested as yet, from the specifications and clubhead design you can expect it to perform like a more extreme version of the T300)

Bear in mind with the stronger lofts and lower launch if you are having a fitting for the T300, the set make up will be an important point to focus on. You may be able to save a club at the top end of your bag, but with the PW at only 43 degrees, you might find you require an extra wedge at the other end. 

Alternatives to the Titleist T-series irons

Some newly-released alternatives to the T100 would include the Ping i59,  Mizuno Pro 221 and Taylormade P7MB, all traditionally lofted bladed irons, that would hope to provide a similar experience and performance. 

The T100.S is a little more unique in that the stronger loft and extra weight in the head is built into what is still a very streamlined clubhead. The Mizuno Pro 223 is probably one of the best-suited new-release to cross-compare with. Don’t discount the Taylormade P770 either.

With T200, you are starting to look more towards the players’ distance iron category. This matches in well with the Mizuno Pro 225, and the upcoming Spring release of the Ping i525. Other alternatives might include the Callaway Apex iron and Taylormade P790.

The T300 would be best compared with rival products such as the Mizuno JPX 921 Hot Metal, Callaway Mavrik and Taylormade SIM 2 Max Irons. Those who enjoy the offset aspect of the T300 may prefer to try the SIM 2 Max OS. 

Are Titleist T-Series irons forged?

The T100 features a fully forged two-piece construction, whereas T100.S and T200 only include a forged face. T300 is a cast iron and hence the feel it generates is perhaps not quite as soft. 

Are Titleist T300 irons good for high handicappers?

It’s perhaps too broad to say that a high-handicapper should always go for the biggest, most forgiving club out there. There could be any number of reasons why their handicap is where it is, maybe not necessarily down to pure ball-striking ability. 

One thing is for sure though, if you fit the mold of a golfer that has an inconsistent strike, and are losing a bit of length, these definitely are worth a look. The powerful, large club heads will provide confidence and forgiveness on off-centre strikes helping to make your bad shots better.

Remember, your good shots will always be good, but minimising the impact of the poorer ones can dramatically reduce your scores. 

One thing to be mindful is that these T300 irons produce quite a low ball flight. Great if you play on a windy course, not perhaps so helpful if the greens are small and well protected. However, it is possible to have the loft angle custom fitted if you are struggling to hit an ideal launch window. 

Titleist T-series irons specs

Below is a summary of the lofts, lies and length for each Titleist T-Series iron model.

	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	P	W	W2	W3
T100	21°	24°	27°	30°	34°	38°	42°	46°	50°	—	—
T100•S	19°	22°	25°	28°	32°	36°	40°	44°	48°	—	—
T200	—	22°	25°	28°	31°	35°	39°	43°	48°	—	—
T300	—	20°	23°	26°	29°	33°	38°	43°	48°	53°	—
T400	—	—	20°	23°	26°	29°	33°	38°	43°	49°	55°
Lie	61°	61.5°	62°	62.5°	63°	63.5°	64°	64°	64°	64°	64°
Length	39.00″	38.50″	38.00″	37.50″	37.00″	36.50″	36.00″	35.75″	35.50″	35.50″	35.25″

Summary

That rounds up our review of the Titleist T100, T100s, T200 and T300 irons. Feel free to leave any comments or questions below and we’ll get back to you.