Hi Jack,

Sorry to hear of your experience -- did you buy these "off the shelf", second hand or did you take the time to get fitted for them?

One of my old playing partners found a great deal on a set of irons -- they were the "apple of his eye" so to speak. However, he bought them off the shelf - as is and where is -- without a fitting. He hit 4-5 shots with them in the "try out area" and did well enough. But, when he started playing with them regularly, he found out that the shafts were too stiff and had a low launch characteristic. He has a hard time getting the ball into the air and needed something with a lighter shaft and a higher launch characteristic.

He really liked the irons and wanted to keep them so he did eventually take them to a fitter/builder and wound up purchasing brand new shafts to replace the stock shafts that they came with.

It cost him a small bundle, and while he is happier with the irons, he is not afraid to share his story with others about it being a hard lesson learned. I hope that you can get your situation sorted out -- the AP1's are good clubs.

Not to shut the barn door after the horse got out but did you buy the AP1's without being fitted or did you make an impulse buy in a big box store because of an magazine article or what others who play this iron committed on ? As expensive as golf clubs are, if you were not evaluated by a professional fitter you are just gambling that the clubs you buy will help you improve your game. There are so many variable involved e.g., shaft length, flex, lie, etc. that may make or break your performance and a professional fitting cost is minimal compared to the pleasure you will get from properly fitted irons. There may not be a professional fitter near you but even hitting balls with your G20's as a base line and hitting another manufactures to compare on a launch monitor would be a good idea. Also it is early in the golf season and not knowing where you live, you may not be "in the grove with your swing" due to sporadic weather conditions that winter brings.

Jack M, I'm sorry that you don't like the AP1s. It shocks me that you lost this much distance. Based on your comments, it doesn't sound like you were properly fitted. I say that because you mentioned that you don't feel you get a solid strike and losing 10 yards. I doubt you would have chosen the iron if you noticed this in a fitting. I'm thinking the stock G20's just fit you better. I feel confident that if you had the AP1s fitted you would not only see more or comparable distance and better accuracy. I believe Titleist equipment is second to none. Best of luck with your game.

I'm curious if you were fitted for the clubs to get the best possible make up for your swing. Kind of hard to help with the lack of information.

TT

Jack,

I play 714 AP1s and never could be happier so far. Just a few questions that raised into my mind.

1. Did you get fitted for this set.
2. Where did you buy these club from a reputable store? EBay? could be counterfeit...
3. New or Use? If used, previous owner might have changed the specs
4. Range time, like anything new, are you spending time to get to know the person before you like them.

I'm sorry that the clubs doesn't fit quite like your old set. I noticed that even giving up 5 to 10 yards in distance sometimes, my margin of error towards my target was more in line than anything else. I sometimes play a longer club when in doubt, thus getting better at GIR (if only I could putt better or get rid of those blowup holes). I'd rather use a longer club with accuracy versus bombing a club into the sandtrap or back of the green.

Anyway, good luck maybe a fitter (if you weren't fitted), PRO could help you out. I hope others can help you out too. As you can see, I LOVE my Titleist.......

Jack, sorry to hear your troubles. But it sounds as if you were never fitted before you purchased the set of irons. Any brand without fitting is a hit and miss approach. See if you can take the time for proper fitting. We'd love to hear your report after. AP1 714 are a great set of golf tools.

I just went from the AP1's 714, which helped my game alot, to the 716 T-MB's. The AP1's are great clubs and people that have tried them out have spoken wonders about them.

I had a set of G-10s that I bought online, did terrible, went to a Titileist/png fitter. The G-10s were the wrong color dot and 1/4" short for me. Working with G-20 and 712 AP1 outdoors, it came down to preference once both were fit to me. Took the AP1s for the appearance. Not a fan of the wide sole on the G-series. Both sets were a special order/not available off the rack - confirming the advice from other answers here.

Just to share my experience. I got my AP2 716 after going through club fitting session, ending up with 2 degree flat recommendation. When I received this set of club and went straight to play a game, I didn't play well, much worst than my previous TM set and it went go for a few games.

I grew suspicious that it should not be the club but rather my golf swing. To confirm that, I took out my previous set and true enough, I played a equally bad game.

The next thing logically thing to do is to go for golf lesson and realized that I have cultivated bad habits unknowingly.

Now I am back on track and I am beginning to love my new irons. One of the things I love about AP2 is that it give feedback about every shot that I play. Just by feeling the impact and hearing the sound, I know am I hitting a good shot or not.

I've had my AP1's for 2 weeks.Spent some range time with them and I am completely thrilled with them. Higher launch and approx. 15 yard gains through all the clubs. Would you buy a pair of shoes if they didn't fit? Fitting is everything , they become an extension of you when you grab one. Good luck.

Range time - even the pros have to get comfortable with new clubs before they go in the bag.

Worst case, you can work with your pga pro for shaft and grip / wrap changes that may be needed.

I have to agree with everyone on this; were you fitted and did you buy these off the shelf?

I had the PNG i3 for the longest time and finally made the switch to the AP1 710. Love at first site but struggled a little to find the sweet spot. I bought these right off the shelf so I knew it's possible the irons were not for me. Bought the 712 and fitted by the golf shop that was selling them. Again, LOVED it but still had a hard time finding the sweet spot. But getting fitted by t Finally got the 714 but this time I was fitted by an actual Titleist fitter. What.a.difference. I have no problem finding the sweet spot at all and been playing some good golf the last few years with the 714, no complaints.

I will agree with you on this, I did lost some distance with the Titleist vs. the png. But honestly, could careless about the distance. I rather have the consistency and do not mind adjusting my clubs. That's why I go to the range as much as I can to dial in the irons. Hitting that sweet spot and getting the consistency 9 times out of 10 is what I want. I had a tough time with that on the PNG and stuck with them for so long b/c I loved them. Then I knew it was time to make change... It's been heaven ever since...

Anyways, sorry to hear about your disappointment. I guess it wasn't meant to be....

I have just changed to the 716 AP2's. I too have lost distance on each club but gained accuracy it was a bit of a challenge adjusting at first, but now I'm dialled in and my scores are dropping, maybe worth looking into getting a lessons or go for a loft and lie check, being a forged head they should be able to be adjusted to you quite easily.

keep going and best of luck for the season ahead.

Will

I know I'm late to this discussion topic. I just don't think you should give up on these clubs, personally. If I were in your "golf shoes" right now, I would accept my decision and work at getting better. I would stop focusing on any loss of distance and go back to the basics of hitting a flush golf shot. The distance will come back in time, that's how I feel. Going to another set of clubs could be an added expense.

I bought the AP1 714 steel shaft regular as a used set from a reputable online Titleist store. They were certified as authentic. I had the grips changed from the Tour Velvet it came with and had them bent 1 flat which has been my specs.
The difference in balance, weight, etc. from my png G2's made for a struggling beginning. That and the fact that the long winter layoff and only the first year back from a rotator cuff surgery made me doubt the irons.
I stuck with them and found that it was more my own swing flaws combined with the above matters. As soon as I cleaned up ball position and especially face angle at address, the consistency of shots greatly improved.
It was not the clubs, it was me. I ended the season over the last 2 months loving these. Gained at least 1 club distance and great accuracy on good passes. Hit some of my best shots, had a few Eagles and lots of birdies with these.
Give the club some time and work on your swing because a new set many times has a different "feel" that has to get used to, and you can't lose confidence in the clubs right away.
Maybe my experience will help some.

Bill D

The latest AP1 4-iron I picked up is amazing!

I was fitted for 914 ap1s (but being a titleist club ho) I upgraded to the newer 716 ap1s and also fitted found changes to my swing club head speed only thing that stayed the same was lie you have to get fitt to have rite clubs but range time lesson maybe will make the game we all love more enjoyable