Why a Combo Set Might Be Right For Your Game

What We Tried

The 2023 Titleist T-Series irons in a blended combo set. This included the T100, T150 and T200.

Who Tested Them?

My name is Jamie Danbrook and I am MyGolfSpy’s Forum Director. A lefty playing off a seven handicap, I would rate my iron play as a strength. I don’t suffer for distance but I am not going to refuse a little extra help and some more distance if I can get it.

Every iron has a purpose and there is a purpose for every iron.

This is what has become abundantly clear throughout my time using the Titleist T-Series irons and it all started with the fitting. However, I have to go back a little further to connect all the dots.

In 2018, prior to joining the MyGolfSpy Forum staff, I was selected as a member to test and review the PING i210 irons for the MyGolfSpy Forum as part of a member testing opportunity. As I had been using the PING iE1 irons, I thought the transition would be easy. It wasn’t but eventually this set of i210 irons became my main set for the next four years.

Having played several great rounds with them and created fond memories my eyes began to wander and I soon looked for a change. I wanted to take in the full forged iron experience and transitioned to a set of Sub 70 659 TC irons. The desire to have that perceived superior feel of forged irons and feeling I had the iron ability to play something with a little less tech, more feel. I wasn’t concerned with any distance loss and, in fact, I didn’t notice much, if any. However, as with the PINGs, I had early struggles with these new irons.

I know enough about equipment to be able to know what works and what doesn’t for my game. After I got through the early hurdles, I had a few stellar rounds but still felt something was missing. My next step was into the player’s distance category with a set of TaylorMade P790 irons. Having found I was using a lot of my longer clubs in previous sets, I wanted to see if my game could be elevated by using irons that would leave me with shorter approach shots into greens.

This time around, I didn’t have the early struggles. I clicked nearly right away with the P790s but, again, something was missing. It was hard to put my finger on what that was—until I had my fitting with Titleist.

Titleist T-Series Irons

Titleist created the T-Series to be blended and, according to Titleist “80 percent of tour staff have blended sets.” This is where the “light bulb moment” came. Even though I had success with all my previous sets and most of them had some sort of progressive design to improve performance throughout the set, they still were just that one set. In truth, this moment should have come much earlier as I had long ago replaced the PING i210 4-iron with a PING Crossover to create better gapping at the top end of the bag which is normal for a lot of golfers.

With my Titleist set, I got specific irons to ensure I have the proper irons for each and every situation. What does this mean exactly? Let me walk you through my setup.

My Golf Bag – The Finer Details

I prefer a 58- and 54-degree combo of wedges and have had success with cavity-back wedges. For my next club, I wanted to add another one of those wedges or, as what ended up happening, a set wedge.

Titleist T100

The main reason I went down this route is forgiveness. I want to set myself up for the most success possible, even if that means gaming a less sexy-looking club. When discussing this situation with my fitter and hitting several shots, we decided on a 50-degree gap wedge and a 46-degree pitching wedge in the T100. These are all-forged, have a slim top line and are designed for precision. If I want the best scoring club possible that fits my comfort zone, this was the choice.

In the next section of my bag, we wanted a little extra distance, a certain level of forgiveness and use these irons as potential scoring clubs. While my fitter did suggest I could continue with the T100 set, I wasn’t as confident. I knew the gapping would be easier but the iron distances were a little shorter than I wanted.

Titleist T150

When we factored in all of this, we landed on the Titleist T150 from 6- to 9-iron. The T150 has a bit more technology while aiming to mimic the feel and performance of the T100. The T150 has two more degrees of loft, meaning a bit more distance. However, this also left a decent gap with the T100s which we needed to address, so we made the gap and pitching wedges one degree strong. As a result, I now had a middle section which was better suited to longer approach shots and tee shots into par-3s. The bonus is that these clubs look nearly identical.

The feel for both is exceptional and the main difference to me is that the T150s have a bit more pop. I am sure that is partly their tech but also the loft. The other key feeling is their responsiveness to strike location and turf interaction.

Titleist T200

This left me with one more club to select for where I often use my 5-iron. One example is off the tee on shorter par-4s or situational par-5s and sometimes into longer par-3s and to progress up the fairway on par-5s. I was less concerned about an exact carry number than getting a club that would meet those needs of distance versus accuracy.

Once again, the fitter did give some leeway in the decision as he felt I could use either the T150 or make the leap to T200, which is where I ultimately settled. The look on the Titleist T200 is a lot different than the T100/T150 irons with their brushed look. The T200 is shiny, more closely matching the T350. That is where the similarities end. At address, the T200 has the same shaping as the T150 as well as offset. The top line again is marginally thicker but not by much.

Iron Shaft

All the irons used the same Project X IO 6.0 shaft that matches up well to my swing and it was a toss-up between that and the Project X LZ. Both performed really well but, with a slightly higher peak height on the IO. Additionally it just felt really good and we loved seeing the ball-flight window.

When the irons arrived, I headed right to the range where, again, I struggled to adjust. This dampened my initial excitement and lowered my expectations—until my first round turned it all around.

Takeaways – On Course

I have since played 20 or so rounds with the Titleist T-Series Irons irons and here are my biggest takeaways.

I wish I had never played a straight set of irons. It will be next to impossible to consider a non-blended set in the future.  The PW and GW are much more forgiving than I had anticipated and the precision is exceptional.  With the mid irons (non-T100), my greens in regulation stats have gone up along with my confidence.  The T200 is not my favorite club but it does the job.  Stopping power! I have never owned a set with this level of stopping power—not just spin but flight and consistency. 

Of course, like any amateur golfer, I still hit some awful shots and struggle at times. And, like all of us, I still believe I haven’t reached my full potential. I can say with extreme confidence that my floor has been raised. This is due to each iron being selected and built to work best not just for my game but each having the proper purpose.

Wrapping Up

The Titleist experience, from fitting to delivery to putting them in play, is exceptional. I had never owned a set of Titleist Irons before and am thrilled with how the Titleist T-Series Irons have performed. If you have not had a Titleist fitting or are considering it, don’t hesitate. Do it! Their expertise, along with the performance and enjoyment of hitting their clubs, is something you do not want to miss out on!

Editor’s Note: This article was written in partnership with Titleist.

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