Written by Michael VanDerLaan
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Golf Gear Advisor's player-experts love testing clubs to find which ones feel, look, and perform the best. We put the Titleist TSR Driver to the test and compared it to other drivers that we have tested.
Titleist has built a reputation on feel. That is, golf balls, wedges, and putters. Between Pro V's, Vokey wedges, and Scotty Cameron putters, the manufacturing Goliath has a stronghold on finesse and feel. In the past, their fairway woods and drivers have lived in the shadows of competitors like Taylormade and Callaway.
With the TSR series, that trend has been broken. We have lots to talk about, so let's get started.
Why Trust Us?
At Golf Gear Advisor, we're not just guys who like to watch golf on TV and do a little bit of research.
Player-expert John has BEEN one of the guys playing on TV, has made over 50 cuts on the most well known tours in the world, and is familiar with what it takes to win.
Michael, our other player expert, has won on every level on the way to turning pro himself. He has a passion for helping people improve and have fun in the game of golf and commands a deep understanding of equipment, club and ball dynamics, and swing mechanics.
John, their father and the founder of Golf Gear Advisor, provided the foundation for everything they have become in golf and life. He has spent countless hours deep diving into different aspects of golf - from equipment to strategy to fitness and beyond - and has a unique and effective way of passing along his understanding.
When the three of us put their ideas together, what comes out is a complete and comprehensive picture of how different components of golf fit together. Through that, we are able to bring the most accurate review of a piece of equipment like the Titleist TSR.
Titleist TSR Driver Features
Titleist TSR drivers encompass multiple different models that each have slightly different characteristics.
- The Titleist TSR1 Driver is ultra-lightweight which is perfect for increasing clubhead speed. It is designed to appeal to players with low or moderate swing speed who want to maximize distance.
- The Titleist TSR2 Driver is the most forgiving driver of the four and it is designed to maximize off center hits. It is a good fit for someone who has a hard time finding the center of the face, and wants to hit more fairways without spending countless hours on the driving range practicing.
- The Titleist TSR3 Driver is a sort of opposite to the 2. It is focused on maximizing performance on center strikes. In simple terms, a perfect strike with the TSR3 is desired, but you would prefer the performance of the TSR2 driver if you hit it off the heel or the toe.
- And then there's the Titleist TSR4 Driver. This is a more compact head designed for low spin and a consistent launch angle. This is often referred to as a "tour model" because it is more difficult to hit. The smaller head means a smaller sweet spot. Even more, reducing backspin increases the effect of side spin on the golf ball, meaning the ball will curve more.
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We have hit all 4 of these heads on the Trackman. to get launch monitor data and on the golf course, and we feel that both the Titleist TSR2 Driver and the TSR3 are great options. While we know that some people need help bringing down side spin and would benefit from the ball flight generated by the TSR4, we weren't huge fans.
The TSR1 fell somewhere in between all the others. We noticed how light it was and how fast the ball speed was, but that speed also decreased our feel for where the club face was.
The bottom line is, TSR driver models each have a unique design that is made to help with different needs. We'll discuss each one.
Innovative Design
We told you each driver has unique characteristics, but what are they? Well, we'll tell you.
Titleist TSR1 Driver
- Ultra-Lightweight For Increased Ball Speeds(More speed = More distance)
- Multi-Plateau Variable Face Thickness Design For Better forgiveness
- Improved Aerodynamics
- Aerospace Grade Titanium
- SureFit Adjustability
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Titleist TSR2 Driver
- High Launch & Low Spin
- Optimized Ball Speed Through Improved Aerodynamics
- Increased Stability Across Face for better forgiveness
- Player-Preferred Shaping
- SureFit Adjustability
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Titleist TSR3 Driver
- Speed Ring Variable Face Thickness Technology For Precise Distance and Ball Speed
- Performance-Tuned Adjustability Gives You Sure Fit Adjustability With Additional Options In The Weights
- Aerospace Grade Titanium
- Player-Preferred Shaping For The Best Overall Appearance
Titleist TSR4 Driver
- Multi-Plateau Variable Face Thickness Design Creating a Dual CG Design
- Adjustable Spin Control With Adjustable Weights
- Aerospace Grade Titanium
- Compact Head Size and Shape
As you can see, the heads do share some characteristics. This is expected as they all come from the same designers and manufacturer! However, the differences in the heads are what make each option a good choice for different kinds of players.
Now that we have discussed the variables in each head, we are going to take a deep dive into why Titleist TSR drivers are some of the most sought-after clubs currently on the market.
Premium Titanium Feel
Titanium is sturdy, fast, and flexible, making it an ideal material for maximum ball speed consistency and control.
Titleist TSR drivers use aerospace grade titanium that achieves the highest quality standards and increases ball speed across the entire hitting surface, even on off center hits. Titleist prides themselves on quality and performance, and their choice of material is evidence of that.
One of our personal favorite parts about titanium drivers is the sound they make. We think everyone should know that you are hitting is long and straight without having to watch!
Player Performance Characteristics
When it comes to the TSR line of drivers, each one contains slightly different performance characteristics. Click here to jump back to the top of the page and refresh your mind on what each one brings to the table.
All 4 head designs contain some of the same characteristics, which we will focus on for the remainder of our review.
Visual Characteristics
A driver has to look good when you are standing over it. We feel that this is an underrated aspect of any golf club, but especially one that is big and bold.
Shape
Titleist drivers have always had good looking contours. They are well proportioned and visually pleasing. Each of the models looks slightly different, but all of them carry the same basic shape.
We like that Titleist didn't try to do anything special to make the shape stand out. While there is nothing "traditional" about the modern 460CC head, this is about as traditional looking as you will find.
Color and Design
The TSR line are designed with a black base color and minimal accents. This makes for a very under toned and basic look that appeals to golfers looking for something less flashy.
As far as design, there are no ridges, knobs, or other surface features that make the claim of "improved aerodynamics". Instead, there is little to no variation in the surface texture, which reduces drag and helps the club move better through the air.
All in all, it's a well designed driver that appeals to those who want less flash. If you are a golfer who wants something big and bright - something that says "look at me" - this might not be the one for you.
Adjustability
All Titleist drivers are adjustable in the hosel. This is known by Titleist as SureFit Adjustability. There are 16 different setting, and the each club is packaged with a wrench and adjustment chart so that you don't have to guess at what you are doing.
Each head has some different weight options that you can play with to change the spin characteristics of your shot. For example, the TSR3 has a sliding weight on the trailing end of the club head that allows you to change the ball flight without adjusting your swing.
Compared to other drivers, the TSR line is both one of the most adjustable, and the easiest adjustment process to understand. This makes up for some of the things that are sacrificed by choosing a TSR driver over its competitors.
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Price
The starting price of Titleist TSR drivers is $600. That's very comparable to other top choices on the market. While this may seem like a hefty price tag, think about how much you can save on not paying out your friends at your usual match because you hit the ball so much further and straighter!
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Pros and Cons of the Titleist TSR Drivers
What We Like
What We Don't Like
If you are unsure what you are looking for in a driver, take a look at our golf driver buying guide to help narrow in your search.
Wrapping Up The Review
In our opinion, Titleist has been one of the most consistent manufacturers of golf clubs and one of the best brands in golf over the years. Their early focus on precision performance and scoring opportunity meant that they fell behind the distance race for a long time.
With the TSR family of drivers, we feel that Titleist took a step closer to the likes of Taylormade and Callaway.
While they all performed very well, If we had to pick one that would fit the majority of players, it would be the Titleist TSR2 Driver.
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Here's the thing about TSR drivers; they're not the most forgiving, or the longest. They won't wow you with looks and a big sound. They are among the most well balanced drivers on the market, and when you combine that with a high level of adjustability, TSR is a good choice of driver.
There's no hiding that TSR is one of the most popular drivers on tour. We tend to trust the best players in the world to be good judges of quality. Try the TSR for yourself to find out if this driver should be in your golf bag.
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