50 Words or Less
The Titleist TSR3 driver is a dream for the high level player. More aerodynamic with great speed on center. Large range of adjustability with the SureFit Hosel and Adjustable CG. Best for players who consistently hit the center of the face.
Check out the new Titleist GT3 driver HERE
Introduction
If you’re looking to put together your PGA Tour dream bag, the Titleist TSR3 driver is the place to start. This is the most-played driver from the most-played brand on Tour. Since its launch, it’s already racked up a major win and numerous PGA Tour victories. Why is it so popular among the game’s best? I tested one to find out.
Looks
In the bag, the TSR3 driver doesn’t look radically different than the TSR2 driver [review HERE]. Both have an all-black sole with an arrow of silver down the center. Additionally, both drivers push all their branding to the edge of the heel and toe for a very sleek appearance. However, if you look closely at the rear of the TSR3, you’ll see the SureFit weighting system which I’ll discuss later.
At address, the TSR3 (above, left) is noticeably more compact and traditional than the TSR2. The biggest difference is that the TSR2 is much longer from front-to-back than the TSR3. This change gives the TSR3 a shape that sits right on the border of pear shaped and round/symmetrical. Putting both drivers behind a teed golf ball, you can see that the TSR3’s face shorter heel-to-toe than TSR2. This makes the 3’s face appear much taller though the real difference is a fraction of an inch. Both drivers have gloss black crowns marked only by small “TSR” alignment aids.
Sound & Feel
Even indoors, the Titleist TSR3 driver is whisper quiet at impact. While I can appreciate a stout, thumping sound off a driver, there’s something about the combination of huge ball speed and tiny sound that makes me smile.
Something that the TSR3 shares with the TSR2 is the feel of impact. With both drivers, the ball feels very light on the club face. Impact still feels solid, but it’s as if the ball is afraid of bothering the club. It tiptoes on the face before streaking down the fairway.
This being a player’s driver, there is ample feedback through the hands. You could be half asleep and still clearly locate where the ball met the face. In contrast, because it’s so quiet, there’s not a ton of audio feedback.
Performance
During our podcast [listen HERE], Titleist’s Director of Metalwood Development, Stephanie Luttrell, shared that there was a long list of things the Tour staff did not want changed from TSi3 driver [review HERE]. On one hand, that’s very high praise, but it did make it hard to know what to change. Titleist decided to focus on speed, making the head more aerodynamic with a new “boat tail” shape that removes an element of drag from the sole.
Titleist also implemented a face design that’s entirely different from the one used on the TSR2 driver. Where the TSR2 is designed to deliver high ball speed across the enter face, the TSR3 driver uses Speed Ring VFT to maximize speed in the center of the face. To be plain, this means that the TSR3 is extremely fast on center but will shed speed when you hit the heel or toe. The head still feels fairly stable on mishits, but this club is optimized for the high end ball striker.
The other major difference between the TSR3 and TSR2 drivers is the level of adjustability. Both feature the SureFit Hosel which, despite requiring a chart to interpret, I regard as the best in the industry for the number of options it provides. The TSR3 goes a step beyond that with the SureFit Adjustable CG Track System. This system gives players the ability to move the eight gram weight into one of five positions. It is important to note that this system moves the CG over a fairly small range. This means that it’s not going to be a slice-buster or a cure for hooks. It’s meant to give players who consistently strike the center of the face a small tweak to their shot shape.
Conclusion
After several testing sessions, it’s clear why the Titleist TSR3 driver is the choice for so many Tour pros. The shape is beautiful, and the sound and feel make it addictive to hit. More importantly, everything from the face design to the adjustable CG is optimized for the player who consistently hits the middle of the face. Visit your Titleist fitter to find out if the TSR3 can earn a spot in your bag, too.
Buy the Titleist TSR3 Driver HERE
Visit Titleist HERE
Titleist TSR3 Driver Price & Specs
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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23 Comments
Is it going in the bag Matt
Richard,
No, I need more forgiveness.
-Matt
It appears noticeably shorter than some of the Rogue and Stealth drivers?
John,
Based on what?
-Matt
Your reviews of the Callaway and TaylorMade drivers earlier this year?
You can’t compare numbers from one review to another as apples to apples. We’ve been saying this for years.
-Matt
As a reader, we use these reviews to help us determine what to buy. As you are the same person doing the testing of these products we should be able to use as an apple to apple test. The only thing changing is the product, not the player. Obviously, fitting is necessary but if you’re getting 20 more yards out of the club it tells us something…if it didn’t we wouldn’t need your professional review :)
Trevor,
No one is the same day to day. Even more so week to week, month to month, or year to year.
-Matt
You’re never going to get them to understand, Matt. I truly feel for you sometimes when reading the comments. Haha. Respect for even taking the time to respond to them. I don’t understand what’s so hard to understand about the fact that swing speed can change drastically from day to day, much less over a month or two. The only apples to apples is testing on the same day, even then fatigue and the order in which you test can have a big impact. So truly, there is no “apples to apples” anyway. I like your reviews and always take the numbers with a grain of salt. Keep up the good work.
Thank you, Corey.
Hi Matt,
Did someone fit the TSR3 for you for this testing? I’ve been noticing a pretty big difference in reviews on this club when fit vs. someone’s standard setup.
Jim,
I was fit by Titleist for the TSR2 driver, and I used the same specs in the TSR3 and TSR4 so I would have apples-to-apples comparisons.
-Matt
Thanks.
My experience on this was interesting. My fit for the TSR2 and TSR3 were different. And I ended up getting fit for the TSR3 (longer and less dispersion) even though I’m around a 15 HCP and I was coming from good experience with the TSi2.
I always look at these and compare it to the G425 review you did with the Fujikura Ventus blue TR shaft and your distance was at 294! Do you attribute that to the shaft or do you think the G425 is that much longer than this driver? I went and. bought that combo as well and feel I’m getting a good 25-30 yards more than my previous driver.
Trevor,
You can’t compare the numbers from one review to another as apples to apples. They were done at different times under different circumstances.
That said, I’m glad you found a combo that works for you.
-Matt
Nice review. If it’s too unforgiving for you…I think I’ll have to pass, LOL. Main question is on feel of 1K Black vs the 1K White I know you’ve reviewed here. (I didn’t see a 1K Black review) Guessing an even lower spin/lower launch than the White? Thanks.
George,
I’ll have a full review of the 1K Black in the coming weeks.
Best,
Matt
I hit them both today and surprisingly enough I actually hit the TSR 3 a lot better than the 2 and I’m a 15 hcp.
Is the TSr3 worth the upgrade over the TSi3?
Brandon,
There’s no way for me to know if the TSR3 will be meaningfully better than the TSi3 for you; you need to get fit and compare them to know.
Best,
Matt
Anyone know the head weight of the tsr3?
Fitted for a driver replacement today for my M3. I hit all the new 2023 drivers with more than 20 combinations of heads and shafts. Finally found the perfect combination for me after 95 swings ( a lot of swings ! ) TSr3. 9.0 degree with Mitsubishi Tensei AX Blue Tech 55 shaft. 26 yds longer than current driver and a lot straighter. Still out performed the competition after 115 Swings. TSR3 on order. I’m a 15.8 handicap.
This driver is so good. plenty of neutral forgiveness packed inside a gorgeous design. i’ve tested everything except the paradygm and nothing comes close to the tsr3