Titleist's 917D2 Driver comes with a sweet new headcover
Titleist has officially announced the release of the
917 driver, sure to be one of the top drivers that
avid
players -- if you're on AmateurGolf.com you're
probably one of them -- will consider if shopping for
a new gamer for the 2017 season.
Let's take a look at what the Titleist's engineers
have been working on.
The release may not come as a huge surprise,
since Tour seeding began several months ago and
Jimmy Walker won the PGA using a 917 driver. But
with days of Fall left to play in even the coldest parts
of the country, the Oct. 21 availability might allow
you to get some reps in before you put away the
clubs for the season, dreaming of the fairways you'll
hit and extra distance you'll find on the Florida trip
or next spring. (Not that we worry about that here at
AGC World HQ in Carlsbad, California.)
CHECK OUT OUR REVIEW OF THE TITLEIST 917 FAIRWAYS
Now, we're not suggesting that everyone needs
(or can afford) a new driver every year, but the way
Titleist releases product -- on a two year cycle --
they build in plenty of pent-up demand from players
on older models like the 915, 913, and 910. What all
of these have in common with the 917 is the two
model standard, meaning both come in the well-
known D2 and D3 monikers. And the SureFit
adjustable hosel is also the same as on the 915,
meaning you can swap out shafts easily if you have
one you absolutely love.
Titleist isn't content on relying on upgrades from
current players of their drivers. The 917 series has
all of the bells-and-whistles to allow their fitters to
fit just about anyone into a model that works for
them, while keeping the tradition lines that we've
come to expect from a company that has long been
known for its appeal to better players.
The 917D2 is a 460cc head and produces
slightly
more spin than the 440cc 917D3. Jimmy Walker
used
it to win the PGA. The 917D3 will typically produce a
more boring trajectory and appeal to higher spin
players since it produces 250 rpm lower spin rate, all
things being equal.
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Titleist
917's SureFit adjustable weight system |
New to the 917 is the SureFit CG
adjustable weight system, found in the
sole of the club. The drivers ship with two 12-gram
weights (shown right). The pre-installed weight has a
neutral effect on ball flight, while replacing that
weight with the second one provides either a draw or
fade bias.
What we love about it is the combination
of minimal difficulty with maximum efficiency. Flip
this little cylindrical-weight, reinsert and lock it in,
and you can start seeing the effect on ball flight
immediately. Many players have drivers with
adjustable shafts, but leave them in the neutral
position or where the fitter placed them, without
ever changing. Here you have an easy-to-use option
for giving you just the help you need.
So
when what's the difference in the way ball flight is
changed by the SureFit hosel versus the SureFit CG?
“The SureFit hosel, with its independent lie
adjustment, allows players to impact the start
direction of the golf ball coming off the face,” said
Stephanie Luttrell, Titleist’s director of metalwood
development. “If you are a player that pulls the ball
left of the target line, you can flatten out your lie
angle, and that will allow you to start the ball more
on your intended target line. SureFit CG impacts left-
and-right dispersion by dynamic face closure as well
as side spin. It’s more about shot shape and
curvature than starting direction.”
MORE TECHNICAL STUFF:
Enhanced Active Recoil Channel:
This popular feature, which allow the face
to flex more efficiently at impact, now flexes even
more than the one on the 915 because its walls are
thinner in non-stress areas.
Easier to Hit: Similar to the
915, the 917 face is thicker on the edges, but this
time with a constant thickness on the outside instead
of a gradual tapering. The result? A larger sweet
spot, which even the best players enjoy.
MODELS, LOFTS, AND SHAFTS:
The 917 drivers are available with five different
stock shafts, including the new Aldila Rogue Max,
Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana Limited White and
Fujikura Speeder Pro at $550 MSRP. The 917D2
comes in
8.5, 9.5, 10.5 and 12 degrees models, while the
917D3 comes in 8.5, 9.5 and 10.5 degree setups.
917 LAUNCH EVENTS:
On Saturday, Sept. 17 (9/17), facilities around the
country will host trial and fittings days for new
Titleist 917 drivers and fairways. For more
information and a list of participating facilities,
golfers should visit Titleist.com/917.
“If you purchase a 917 driver off the rack in its
neutral settings, you’ll be getting exceptional all-
around performance. It's the best driver we’ve ever
made,” said Josh Talge, Vice President, Titleist Golf
Club Marketing. “But if you can give us about 30
minutes and 30 swings to get properly fit into 917’s
adjustable technologies, you’ll also be getting a
driver that is essentially designed for you, a driver
that is custom built to get the absolute most out of
your golf swing. We’re confident you’ll experience
significant performance gains.”
Golfweek Equipment Editor David Dusek covers
the key points in his video, shown below. Learn even
more at www.titleist.com. And don't
forget to put some time on the calendar to find a
fitter on 9/17!