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[ad_1] Titleist has introduced the all-new GT280, the latest addition to its GT metalwood family. Designed for distance and control off the tee, as well as playability from the turf, the mini driver integrates technology from both Titleist’s GT driver and fairway lineups. It offers a unique balance of power and precision at the top end of a golfer’s bag. Engineered to be longer and more forgiving than a fairway metal yet easier to control and more workable than a driver, GT280 delivers a distinct performance profile compared to previous Titleist metalwoods. “GT280 is a completely new offering that was born from golfer feedback,” said Josh Talge, Titleist’s Vice President of Golf Club Marketing. “We heard from more and more players who were looking for a club that gapped between their driver and 3-wood. For some, this club is for tee shots only. Others need to be able to hit this club off the turf. GT280 is designed to perform exceptionally under both conditions, and it will be a really valuable addition to our metalwood lineup.” “The design process for GT280 began with a request from J.J. Van Wezenbeeck, Titleist’s Senior Director of Club Promotions, and when we brought out our first mini driver prototype last year, we quickly saw that it fit a performance need for both tour players and amateurs,” said Tom Bennett, Principal Product Manager for Titleist Metalwood R&D. “Whether GT280 has a permanent spot in a player’s bag, replacing their strongest-lofted fairway, or serves as a situational ‘15th club,’ there’s strong interest in another go-to distance club that performs how GT280 does.” GT280 features a Seamless Thermoform Crown, made from the same Proprietary Matrix Polymer (PMP) as GT drivers, saving weight while maintaining Titleist’s signature sound and feel. It also has forward/aft weighting adjustability, like the GT4 driver, providing two distinct CG settings. The forged L-Cup face maximises performance on low-face strikes, while a lower leading edge improves playability from the turf. Named for its 280cc head volume, which sits between GT drivers and GT fairway metals, GT280 has 13 degrees of loft and a stock shaft length of 43.5 inches—two inches shorter than the stock GT driver shaft. GT280 is available for fitting and pre-sale from April 2nd and will be in golf shops worldwide from Friday, 18 April. GT280 Technology “The design goals for GT280 were multi-faceted,” said Bennett. “GT280 needed exceptional distance and speed off the tee, performance from the turf, and adjustability for fitting purposes. That’s a long list of demands, but we approached the challenge by building off both our GT driver and fairway platforms.” Seamless Thermoform Crown GT280’s titanium body features a Seamless Thermoform Crown made from Titleist’s Proprietary Matrix Polymer (PMP). This composite allows engineers to strategically position the club’s centre of gravity (CG) for ultra-fast ball speeds, high stability, and optimal launch conditions. The PMP’s tunable acoustic properties also preserve Titleist’s signature sound and feel. Forward/Aft CG Adjustability Like the GT4 driver, GT280 features forward/aft CG adjustability, allowing fitters and golfers to fine-tune launch conditions and swing weight. The stock setup includes an 11-gram flat weight in the aft position and a 3-gram flat weight forward. Flipping these lowers launch and spin for a more penetrating flight. “What we saw with our tour players, some were only looking for performance off the tee – this is like a second driver to them,” said Bennett. “Other ones were really interested in performance off the turf. So having these two CG options to adjust is going to be very valuable in both tour and amateur fittings depending on player needs.” Forged L-Cup Face GT280’s forged L-Cup face features a new insert that wraps around the bottom of the clubface. Given GT280’s deeper face compared to a fairway wood, Titleist engineers focused on improving low-face strike performance. The L-Cup design helps retain ball speed, minimise excessive spin, and enhance sound and feel from both the tee and turf. Lower Leading Edge Along with its L-Cup design, GT280’s profile is optimised for turf play. The leading edge sits lower to the ground, and engineers softened the sole curvature from heel to toe, creating a confidence-inspiring look at address while improving forgiveness on off-centre or low strikes. “We took the leading edge of a typical driver and really dropped it closer to the turf,” said Bennett. “That’s been one of the first things players have noticed when they set it down at address. It looks more inviting to hit off the turf than a club with its face depth typically would.” © Golf Australia. All rights reserved. [ad_2] Source link