How the Titleist GT3 driver helped Billy Horschel to his best season

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Titleist released their new range of GT metal woods in August of this year and they have introduced a driver with a GT3 model that offers bundles of flexibility.

They introduced a new Proprietary Matrix Polymer (PMP) material where the thermoforming process allows it to reshape the crown where the plastic can be bent into shape and wrapped around the edges.

There are also 16 different loft and loft settings to suit your swing and a new Adjustable CG Track, now positioned closer to the face compared to the previous TSR3.

Filters/golfers can choose between five areas (H2, H1, N, T1, T2), to help with their inclination.

The two leading drivers, Billy Horschel and Cam Smith, switched to GT3 immediately. Other players who have left include Max Homa and Tom Kim.

Horschel put GT3 in the bag in June and went on to win the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth and finish second at The Open at Royal Troon.

“I put the new Titleist GT3 in the bag right away at the Memorial,” said Horschel.

“They came out with it that week and I hit it within five or six balls. I was very impressed with the speed of the ball, and the consistency of the spin rate. I didn’t go out with energy anymore. He moves it quickly and on the shots that I hit well and on the shots that I missed, I got distance, which is something I’ve never seen before.”

Forgiveness is another factor where the American saw a big jump that saw him average 299.4 yards off the tee in the 2024 season and finish 33rd in Total Driving (distance and accuracy combined).

“I’ve never gained two to three miles at about four miles an hour before with a driver and right away I’ve gained that and I’ve seen that every now and then.

“The important thing about this driver that I think people don’t talk about enough is that if you hit it in the middle or miss it a little bit, the spin rate is consistent.

“Whether I hit it right and it’s 2,300 or I miss it a little bit from the bottom to 25 or maybe 2600, the spread is still strong like we haven’t lost anything.” It’s fast, the spin rates are very consistent.

“It is important because when I try to carry the bed and I know that if I miss a little it will be very close to my throw rate and that I still have a chance to carry it if it only turns. 26.

“So to be confident if I need to carry something I know or miss that the spin rate will be there. We’re still going to be pretty close if not the same amount of play as a whole lot of golf.”

Open winner Smith is also a convert

For Smith the fix helped him move to the 2024 model.

“They took out a head that was the size of my TSR3. It was going really high and the spin was still good but it was that high flight window so we dropped it,” said the Aussie.

“I got a bit more speed in it too and that window was good so I didn’t have to change too much to be honest.

“I just put it in the bag, dropped the loft and left. Maybe those who follow me can get an extra mile or two an hour so maybe you know four or five meters in the air which is good especially in those stage 5’s when you’re trying to get there in two but, for me too, the biggest thing was missing the heel and the toe. It just directs a little.”

And for Smith, who won the 2022 Open, the trademark Titleist sound was another reason why the GT3 went straight to the wallet.

“I like the sound. I’ve always loved the dead in the face sound, the real thuddy sound and the sound isn’t real. That’s probably the biggest thing for me is the sound of the driver. It just feels solid.

“The way the ball feels off the face, I think it’s the best Titleist has ever done, especially those who miss with the heel and toe. It doesn’t really feel like you’re hitting it with the heel of your toe. It still looks like it’s in the center of the clubface and I think that shows in flight. “

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