The best utility irons in the game tend to offer very different individual performance characteristics. Some are great at launching the ball high, while others excel at providing that low, penetrating ball flight from the tee that players in windy conditions love. Some provide a lot of workability but maybe lack a little forgiveness, while others prioritize playability but lack a little finesse. I think I may have just tested one that covers all bases… let’s take a look at the new Titleist T250U utility iron.
In terms of the technology story, the T250’s singular design features a face and body made entirely of high-strength steel, which allows powerful performance technologies to be sneakily disguised within its profile. For increased speed, Titleist has incorporated a new forged L-Face with a V-taper design, which has been introduced to create greater ball speed across the entire face and increase launch on low-face strikes, something that could be useful when utilizing the T250U from the deck rather than the tee.
Enhanced consistency is a big part of the T250's design, with Titleist saying that Improved Max Impact Technology helps produce more consistent carry distance and tighter dispersion. For high flight & stability, split high-density tungsten is precisely utilized to produce an optimal CG with good stability in what is still a relatively compact profile.
Looks-wise, for once, I have precisely no notes! This is as good-looking a utility iron as I could ever imagine. From the limited branding and sparing use of color, all the way to the shaping and finish, from a shelf appeal standpoint, it is perfection.
In the playing position, the small offset is executed beautifully while all the dimensions and curves are precisely what I would have drawn up in my dream scenario. In case you hadn’t picked up on this, I really liked it!
Fortunately for me, the performance only served to enhance my admiration of the T250U utility iron.
I was fitted into a 3-iron model, with a Graphite Design Tour AD VF Hybrid 95X shaft, and testing was a joy -I felt like I could do anything with the ball. My stock shots flew with a beautiful, consistent, mid-height trajectory, only ever deviating by around 200rpm of spin at most, but when I wanted to hoist one up a little more or knock one down, I have never hit a utility iron where this felt easier.
With some utility irons, you have to work very hard to manipulate ball flight, but truly, the T250U offered me the most versatility I have ever experienced in this genre of golf club.
Feel wise, once again, the T250U was faultless. I noted in my T250 iron review that these were probably just on the firm side of the spectrum for a full iron set, and the T250U obviously feels the same (with essentially the exact same head design), but that marginally firmer feel seemed to suit a utility iron perfectly. And don’t get me wrong, it is far from harsh, just a nice solid feel with plenty of feedback. I don’t want or need my hands being molly-coddled in my utility iron as I would with a wedge or irons, I want to feel that power.
Crucially, I also found almost identical performance from the ground and off a tee in terms of launch and spin, which is huge in terms of predictability for the better player and is not always the case in this category. Often in the past, I have stood on the tee of a long par three debating whether to drop my ball on the ground or peg it up for fear of hitting a high-launching low spinner that flies 10 yards further than I anticipated. Not so with T250U. From a short tee or the turf, my spin, launch, and carry distances were exceptionally tight.
The Ping iDi utility iron I recently reviewed went in extremely high up my list of best utility irons for its simply outstanding performance and feel, but this at least matches it and, if I put my superficial head on, might just have the edge based on its visual.
The T250U is available in 2 (18˚), 3 (20˚), and 4 (22˚) iron head models with a variety of featured shaft options and is customizable by plus or minus 2˚ in loft, 4 degrees upright to 2 degrees flat in lie angle and by plus 2 inches or minus 4 inches in length.
The RRP for the T250U utility iron will be $279/£259 or $399/£379 (premium shaft).
