Roughly four years ago, Titleist debuted a set of T-MB MOTO concept irons. Part of the company’s then-new “Made Only to Order” program, the iron combined the best available features and materials into one set. And they looked, felt and performed extremely well. I remember trying them at the Titleist Performance Institute and thinking they were the best irons I’d ever hit. A bronze-looking sole contrasting the brushed steel, muscle-back body. Extreme heel and toe tungsten weighting lent forgiveness. Simultaneously, a thin face insert enhanced feel and speed. Distance on center and mis-hits, alike, was impressive. Though pricey, they were quickly accepted by anyone from PGA Tour pros to wealthy amateurs. And iterations have remained in the Titleist iron line — now they’re called the 718 T-MB.
But I thought of this iron today, when Titleist debuted two new concept irons under the “CNCPT by Titleist” name. The manufacturer claims to have engineered them to be the finest irons a golfer has ever played. Based on the various T-MB models, I have no reason to doubt that new promise.
For the Titleist Golf Club R&D team, CNCPT represents a challenge to redefine what’s possible. According to Titleist, CNCPT is about removing obstacles, pursuing manufacturing and material technologies the game has never seen – regardless of cost.
“CNCPT is an idea, a promise,” says Kelley Moser Jr., the company’s brand manager of the CNCPT clubs, via a press release. “It’s our answer to ‘What if?’ What if our research and development engineers could bring their dreams to reality, using materials and processes never before used in golf? We promise to provide them all the resources they need, so that CNCPT will always deliver the ‘wow.’ ”
Both the CNCPT CP-01 and CP-02 irons feature golf’s thinnest unsupported, constant-thickness face in golf. Titleist used an ultra-strong alloy here to accomplish the feat. The material — officials claim — has never before used in club manufacturing. This Super Metal L-Face insert, measured and re-measured to ensure perfect uniformity, produces ball speeds previously unforeseen off of an iron face. That in turn helps generate a lot of distance. Large amounts of high-density tungsten – making up nearly half of the total head weight in the lower lofts – helps produce higher launch, more distance and the most generous impact possible. Plus, they just look incredibly sleek.
The CNCPT CP-01 aims to generate a nice, high launch with plenty of forgiveness. The tungsten weighting averages more than 100 grams per clubhead in the lower lofts. Listed as having a player’s distance chassis, they appear to be more for the masses. Meanwhile the CNCPT CP-02 is described as a “stunningly playable” blade — clearly for better players. Its tungsten weighting averages more than 110 grams per clubhead in the lower lofts – more than the brand’s AP3 or T-MB iron.
Each of the new irons sells for a relatively tall $500 per club. I cannot wait to try them both out. I’m already afraid that I may fall for them — regardless of the price.
