Titleist 718 AP3 Irons Review

We tested the brand new 718 AP3 model to find out which type of golfer it would suit

Titleist 718 AP3 Irons Review

Titleist 718 AP3 Irons Review - We take a closer look at the 718 AP3 iron, a new addition to the Titleist family said to offer distance and forgiveness in a slimline package

 

Titleist 718 AP3 Irons Review

A brand new model in the expansive 718 iron family, the AP3 is billed as the player’s distance iron, said to offer the distance and forgiveness with feel and looks similar to AP2.

This classic and elegant “muscleback” rounded mid-mallet features wrap-around face-sole technology and completely solid stainless steel flange. 718 AP3 was also inspired by the development of Titleist Concept C16 irons, which taught R&D how to engineer breakthrough distance and forgiveness into a player preferred, smaller footprint.

Titleist 718 AP3 iron new angle

A hollow-blade construction combined with a thin, unsupported L-Face insert launches the ball long and high with shot-stopping spin – even on longer shots.

Gear Test: Titleist 718 AP1 v AP2 v AP3

The high-MOI design – with an average of 84.9 grams of tungsten per head, placed low and in the toe of the long and mid irons – produces higher ball speeds across the face, providing the off-centre distance performance of a game improvement iron.

“AP3 truly represents the best of both worlds,” Josh Talge, Vice President of Marketing, Titleist Golf Clubs, told GM. “We’re giving you the distance and forgiveness of a game improvement iron packed into the look and feel of a player’s iron.”

718-AP3-new

New, preferred player’s shape appeals to golfers needing distance and forgiveness while maintaining control and solid feel.

Compared to the 716 AP2 7-iron, the 718 AP3 7-iron is said to provide 3.1mph more ball speed, a slightly lower launch and nine more yards of carry distance.

The irons are proving popular on Tour in the long iron section of the bag, with Joost Luiten making a hole-in-one at the USPGA Championship using a 718 AP3 iron.

The new AMT (Ascending Mass Technology) Black shaft provides lighter long iron shafts for launch and speed and heavier short iron shafts for control in specific weight ranges matched to the AP3 target player.

The Titleist 718 AP3 irons are available from September 29th in 3-P, 48º with an RRP of £150 per club in steel, £175 per club in graphite.

 

Joel Tadman
Technical Editor

Joel has worked in the golf industry for over 12 years covering both instruction and more recently equipment. He now oversees all product content here at Golf Monthly, managing a team of talented and passionate writers and presenters in delivering the most thorough and accurate reviews, buying advice, comparisons and deals to help the reader find exactly what they are looking for. So whether it's the latest driver, irons, putter or laser rangefinder, Joel has his finger on the pulse keeping up to date with the latest releases in golf. He is also responsible for all content on irons and golf tech, including distance measuring devices and launch monitors.


One of his career highlights came when covering the 2012 Masters he got to play the sacred Augusta National course on the Monday after the tournament concluded, shooting a respectable 86 with just one par and four birdies. To date, his best ever round of golf is a 5-under 67 back in 2011. He currently plays his golf at Burghley Park Golf Club in Stamford, Lincs, with a handicap index of 3.2.


Joel's current What's In The Bag? 

Driver: Titleist TSR3, 9° 

Fairway wood: Titleist TSR3, 15° 

Hybrid: Titleist TSi2, 18° 

Irons: Ping i230 4-UW

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM8, 54°. Titleist Vokey SM9 60° lob wedge, K Grind

Putter: Evnroll ER2V 

Ball: 2023 Titleist Pro V1x