Titleist 718 new thread - AP2 only

[jsixman]

Rather than read through 20 pages of the whole 718 line-up, I thought it would be nice to have an AP2 thread only. I've played every AP2 line since they started in 2008, but I don't see how they can get better than the 716's. The tinker bug suggests that I get the 718s anyway. Let's here some opinions/ comparison's on the 718 AP2 line only.

[Aviador Naval]

I'm interested in this as well.

 

I loved my 714s, currently own the 716s, and have hit the 718s extensively to include outdoors with a Trackman. To my eye, both the 714 and 718 look quite a bit better but I seem to get the most consistent results from the 716s. I have a little scratch available to move to the 718s but I'm concerned it would be a step backward other than the looks. I'm almost embarrassed to say the looks of the 716 bother me since they look great at address and its only that hideous badging on the back that looks like it was developed by a summer intern.

[BottleCap]

I'm interested in this as well.

 

I loved my 714s, currently own the 716s, and have hit the 718s extensively to include outdoors with a Trackman. To my eye, both the 714 and 718 look quite a bit better but I seem to get the most consistent results from the 716s. I have a little scratch available to move to the 718s but I'm concerned it would be a step backward other than the looks. I'm almost embarrassed to say the looks of the 716 bother me since they look great at address and its only that hideous badging on the back that looks like it was developed by a summer intern.

 

The designer that was responsible for the looks of the 710, 712, and 714 went on to Cobra

[dunn]

I've had the 718s since they came out

 

I also owned every gen of AP2 but these I've owned the longest....didnt get along with them

 

Tried 3 or 4 different shafts and I just don't get along with them....I really wanted too which is reason for shaft hunting....since the 90 days is past ill just keep em though

 

So forgiving for such small head but to my eye the face looks like a "scoop"....stupid I know but it is what it is...i never think about offset usually but it's prolly the thing I don't like....

 

Currently playing MP69

 

Btw, if I had a 716 or 714 set no point in buying 718....they're same to me or close enough

[jbole267]

I can't comment on anything but looks on the 716, but the badging is very meh. That being said, I currently have the 718 AP2 and they're awesome — looks, feel, forgiveness — it's all there. Were currently under heaps of snow here in Calgary so obviously haven't had the chance to game them outside but in our golf dome and simulators here they are great.

 

Unless you can't stand the looks of the 716, is it worth the upgrade? Probably not.

[BForrester]

Interesting, I thought the 716s were the least well-regarded of the recent AP2 releases. I tested the 716s, along with a handful of others brands, before I decided on my 850 Forged and didn't think much of them. Could have been the AMT shaft, but I found them lacking in the feel department compared to the '16 Apex Pro and my 850s.

[jsixman]

Oddly enough I think the 716's are the best looking. I like the back of them. :stink:

[Aviador Naval]

Oddly enough I think the 716's are the best looking. I like the back of them. :stink:

 

You're a CyClown rather than a Hawk. As such, being odd is par for the course for you... ;)

[MichMan123]

Ive played AP2 for 9 years owned every one.

 

They are still to this day the best overall irons. Honestly since 710 they are all similar enough - I found a distance jump in the 716s but the 718s feel less jumpy.

 

I try to replace the AP2 every year twice a year for some reason but whenever I'm fitted or playing a Money game the Ap2 are the gamers. Im going to give up on trying to replace them and learn to love them

[Pekeface68]

Sounds like me. I’m always going back to the AP2’s. I currently own the 718 and really like them. After a horrible experiment with the P790s, I like the 718s even more. Just can’t beat the shape, feel and distance control.

[benthegolfer]

I played 712s starting during the fall that they were released. After wearing the set down pretty well I bought a set of 714s but put 712s back in. I later owned two sets of 716s with three different sets of shafts but found those to be a little too spinny and just didn't like the way they interacted with the turf. After losing groove depth on most of my 712 short irons I moved into a set of 718s and haven't looked back. I love the turf interaction with these and I believe they fly lower than 714/716. I have been looking for similar feel to my 712s for a long time and think I have finally found something better. Went 4-PW with a T-MB 3 Iron, all with AMT Tour X100.

[andyk856]

I gamed the 712 AP2 for about 6 years and loved them. A friend of mine got the 716 when they first came out, I tried them and hated the feel of them.

[rsgolfhard]

I'm still rocking my 710's. I don't have a lot of extra money for hoe'ing but I got the itch. I will probably try out the new 718s. I love the look but I'm not sure if I'll have much different results than what I currently get.

[JStang]

A couple of weeks ago, I hit some irons at Golf Galaxy and was striking everything out toward the toe. I thought it would be a great opportunity to see how the AP3 performs on this strike compared to my 718 AP2's and I saw no difference at all. I think they are forgiving, look as good as everything and feel fantastic when struck in the center.

[Weston11]

Maybe it's just me, but I think the 718 AP2 short irons look quite a bit smaller/thinner/better than my old 714s. I can't tell as much with 4, 5, and 6, but 7-pw look a lot better to me.

[Nixhex524]

I have a set of the 716 AP2, also, and just picked up a set of 716 CB. It's interesting, the CB look to have more offset to me than the AP2 in the short irons. I have only checked out the 718 AP2 a couple times as I can't see replacing my 716s with them, but I like the more compact look, maybe a little less offset. The badging looks a lot like the 714 to me. The 716 badging I hated at first but it has grown on me since the clubs perform, when I am hitting them well they seem very accurate. I don't know if it's worth the money to upgrade OP if you like your 716s that much... I think the 716s are the best AP2 yet honestly.

[Tommy56]

I’m also a big fan of the 716s. The 718s might look a tad better, but not enough to warrant an upgrade.

[magnus7319]

I've played every iteration of AP2. 714 is still my favorite. Best feel. Best flight. For me. Was NOT a fan of the 718. They looked spectacular but I didn't hit them well.

[Longbomber10]

Back in the fall I had the chance to go into a fitting with a top Titleist rep up here in Canada on a trackman 4

I went in wanting to go into 718 mb's but after testing with a few different shafts we quickly found out that the changes to the 718 ap2 fit me perfectly. He said they actually moved the cg up in the 718 to lower the spin and launch a bit and make it more into a low Handi cap players club and that the typical ap2 player would move more into the ap3 now.

I always had the mentality that ap2 would be high launching high spin for me but with the 718 I saw lower spin with the ap2 tighter dispersion and 3-4 mph faster ball speed over the mb

[Wineauxdc]

Been playing the 714 AP2 since they came out. Really wanted to like the 716 but didn't like the looks or feel. Tried the 718'and liked the looks and feel but the numbers on trackman were identical to my 714. The feel and sound of the 718, for me, was a major improvement over the 716. Might have to revisit the 718 at some point in the spring.

[sheldonjhacker]

Been playing the 714 AP2 since they came out. Really wanted to like the 716 but didn't like the looks or feel. Tried the 718'and liked the looks and feel but the numbers on trackman were identical to my 714. The feel and sound of the 718, for me, was a major improvement over the 716. Might have to revisit the 718 at some point in the spring.

Win...sounds like you've hit them all. Is the 718 more or less forgiving than the 716 and the 714? ...and how does the 716 compare to the others? Thanks !

[rymail00]

Ok here's my (hopefully short) thought on it.

 

I started out with a used set 710 AP2's with Steelfiber i95's a few years back coming from Adams A4 Tour with PX 5.5. I found a little extra distance, and definitely more forgiveness in 710's over my A4 Tours I believe them adding Tungsten helped.

 

Then the 716 Ap2's came out and I got them with the same setup and shafts as my 710 (Steelfiber i95). I found them to be quite a bit more forgiving the 710, and maybe a touch longer. Personally I loved the 716's, I loved everything about them, I actually didn't mind the looks at all (I'm definitely in a small group in that department). I thought the 710's "looked" a bit more player-ish overall but was extremely happy with the 716 and were the best and most consistent irons I had owned.

 

Then the 718 spy pics came out. Looks wise it was everything the 716 didn't have, thinner topline, sole, a more square toe profile etc. (well everything I like to see address at least). Again I got them setup identical to my 716's, same loft, lies, and shafts the Steelfiber i95. What I noticed with the 718's, is that for me they are almost a half club longer, and flew and peaked out at higher point than the 716's (again for me) but not a ballooning flight. It's not super high but playing the same course day in and out for 8 years I got used to seeing certain flights with 716 and the 718's were just a touch higher, and again about half club longer, and that was in the last part of our north east season, when it was definitely a bit colder. I thought I read they were able to knock off a touch of spin vs. the 716, and maybe that's half club extra I'm getting....I'm not sure. The feel of the 718's is improved too when flushed vs. the 716's, I think that was definite improvement. They are also supposed to be equal to the 714 AP1's in forgiveness. And they are super forgiving for there size. But overall, as of right now I really like the 718's, and can't see going back to the 716's.

 

Is the 718 worth upgrading too? That's only something each person can make. I'm lucky enough with my job to both get out and play and hit the range 4 days a week. So my 716's were quite beat up, and starting to get some brown spots on some irons from lots of use, so for me it was worth it.

[mason82]

Had the 718s. Looks great, feel is pretty good, but spun like a top. No thanks.

[Wineauxdc]

Been playing the 714 AP2 since they came out. Really wanted to like the 716 but didn't like the looks or feel. Tried the 718'and liked the looks and feel but the numbers on trackman were identical to my 714. The feel and sound of the 718, for me, was a major improvement over the 716. Might have to revisit the 718 at some point in the spring.

Win...sounds like you've hit them all. Is the 718 more or less forgiving than the 716 and the 714? ...and how does the 716 compare to the others? Thanks !

I think the 718 is the most forgiving of the 3. I didn't like the top line of the 716 and I didn't think the 716,when hit flush, felt as solid as the 714 or 718. So to answer one of your questions, I'd rank the 716 last out of the 3 with 718 first.

I had similar numbers on trackman with all 3 series with KBS C-Taper 120 S stiff shafts. Whatever gains with the 718 were not enough for me to pull the trigger last year. For me, it will come down to the 718 Ap2 and the 716 TMB(if I can find a set in really good condition) in the spring. (About 1/2 club pickup with the TMB).

 

Hope that helps.

 

 

 

 

[onetime19]

I came from multiple sets of AP2, I purchased my 718 set a little over a month ago. I'm hitting them better than my previous set, albeit different shaft, but they feel great ,look great and inspire confidence in me. I installed a set of Best Grips classic leather grips and wow how awesome! So for those reasons, I really like the 718 AP2

[Aviador Naval]

...the changes to the 718 ap2 ... they ... moved the cg up in the 718 to lower the spin and launch a bit...

 

Can anybody "in the industry" confirm or dispute this statement? I don't mean to suggest that either Longbomber or his cited source are full of it. Rather, simply looking for a second source as the technical specs of the actual clubs this year seem a bit harder to come by than they have been in the past and most of the published press is a fairly lazy "remains a good classic club with a new look..."

[Togatown22]

I can confirm that the 718's launch lower for me than my 716's did; outside, on Trackman with the same shaft. In fact, since I need help with a little more spin and higher trajectory that I had to move to a different shaft to accomplish this when I moved to the 718. For me, the 718 is an improvement across the board vs the 716's. Better feel, better grind/turf interaction, slightly more forgiving, and better looks in the form of a more compact looking head (I don't think they are actually smaller, they may in fact be a hair larger). I didn't pick up any appreciable distance, but I wasn't looking too. I did put AP3 4 and 5 iron in there because the launch and flight made a big difference for me.

[JStang]

Had the 718s. Looks great, feel is pretty good, but spun like a top. No thanks.

 

Spun like a top? What kind of spin numbers were you seeing? We have a SkyTrak at my office and I rarely get 7k RPM's with a 7 iron unless I leave the face open a touch.

[ram01002]

Owned 712s and really liked them, had a tendency to get a touch diggy for me. Went to 714s and felt like they were better through the turf and pretty much perfect. Probably shouldn't have sold them. Purchased 716s and they were a little bouncy and I felt like I hit a few moonballs which I didn't love. Bought the 718s a couple months ago and just got back from a 4 day golf trip. First impression is that the short irons definitely launch lower than the 716s, long irons still good, maybe slightly lower launch but with good enough ball speed. Clubs look good, feel good, remind me of 714 turf interaction. I really don't have any complaints. I never seem to get any jumpers/distance surprises with the AP2s which is why they're always on my short list.

[Titleist_242]

Still playing 714, didn’t see enough of a difference to justify the price tag. Honestly think 18 are just rebadged 14s due to the popularity of the 714s