Titleist’s original Advance Performance (AP) irons were conceptualized as a result of the brand’s research, which indicated that serious golfers want performance with great feel and not performance at the cost of feel. The brand conducted extensive vibration and sound analysis to reduce the harsh lower-frequency vibration that causes poor feel in irons.
The AP1 and AP2 were designed by Titleist veteran Peter Gilbert, the designer of almost all outstanding DCI irons, and Dan Stone, Titleist’s new head of the Golf Club Research and Development. Among the two AP’s, the Titleist 2 Iron was the standout performer. It retained the same outstanding AP1 formula but had subtle changes. Its sole is slightly thinner, reducing the bounce angle and improving the way it interacts with the lawn at impact.
The Advance Performance Titleist 2 allows solid ball-strikers to enjoy the forged feel. Unlike in other irons, this model gives better spin control in the heels. The futuristic design is made up of a steel body, an elastomer bar, an aluminum cavity plate and a nickel-tungsten sole. The excellent mix of carbon steel and base cavity is wrapped with a nickel box that thrusts the gravity underneath of the iron during impact. This certainly improves the quality and distance of the ball flight. Titleist says the AP2 is technically aimed at golf professionals with handicap 5–9 but enthusiasts can still test it to see how they can handle this commanding iron.
The AP Titleist 2 is widely used by leading tour players because of its outstanding feel and incredible workability. Its unique dual-cavity design balances the weight of the club, including the exterior perimeter of the clubhead, which significantly enables the club to be more forgiving than previous Titleist Irons.
Compared to the 735.CM irons, the top line of the AP Titleist 2 iron is a little thicker and the toe is rather higher. The elastomer cushion supports the structural firmness of the impact area and reduces the dampening face vibration, allowing high-rate overall feel. The tungsten-nickel box with high density encloses the lower cavity of the iron, which material keeps the weight of the iron low and deep. It also reinforces structural rigidity while still preserving the low vibration frequency. Professionals find the tungsten-nickel combination for the box a great choice because it reduces the width of the sole and back flange, allowing enhanced shot control and better performance on the lawn.
With all these important features, the Titleist 2 iron is a very reliable set of irons, but it certainly comes with a price. If your pocket and muscles can handle the big smooth swing that it can provide, then it is a great iron for you.
