A driver chat with Titleist’s Richard Temple

Is shaft or head more important?

I speak to our lead fitters and they say that if a guy likes a certain shaft for whatever reason he will do his best to fit around that shaft because he probably will be able to using Sure Fit Tour (Titleist’s adjustability system). Unless it really is unsuitable.

If you look at launch conditions of shafts, there is a spread but it’s not that big. We can do more using SFT than by changing shafts.

If you look at our shaft matrix, there are after-market shafts but the issue I get from the R&D people is that shafts are designed for tour players and then changed to suit amateurs.

There is a huge spread of exotic shafts but they are pretty much redundant they really don’t need them.

Is driver adjustability predominantly for the fitter or the consumer? Definitely the former, says Richard.

If you have been properly custom fit then you don’t really need the wrench.

You should check with your professional before making changes.

I would say stick with what’s being fitted and don’t change.



For example, when you take off loft you change the spin rate so you might end up hitting it lower off the club but spinning more and it will cost you distance.

If it’s set up properly, the launch condition will be optimised so why change?

It’s part of the fitting philosophy that the consumer should be confident and comfortable.
The expert’s view

Who will your 913 drivers most appeal to?

A wide range of players, says Richard, and the difference between D2 and D3 is subtle
We want people to know how good and playable our drivers are it’s a broader-reaching product than ever before. It’s not game-improvement and probably never will be but we aim to offer a total package.

Technically, the launch conditions of the D2 and D3 are very similar. The perception of D3 is that it’s for better players and lower spinning but it’s more about the look. SFT is such a powerful tool that we didn’t really need two vastly differing products. So it comes down to looks and it’s a confidence thing. If you struggle to turn it over, you would tend to go for the D2. D3 might appeal more to the traditionalist.