As someone who has always filled the gap between my 3-wood and iron set with either a ‘set’ 2-iron or a utility iron, I was excited to see what the Titleist 2023 U505 utility iron had to offer. One of two utility irons that Titleist produces, alongside the T200 (utility build), I was keen to see if it could sit amongst the best utility irons on the market.
In terms of the design, Titleist has drawn upon tour feedback to enhance the shape of the U505. It has a slightly shorter blade length and a shallower face than its 2021 predecessor, giving a much cleaner playing position. Titleist has then used what it refers to as ‘Max Impact Technology’ by adding dampening in the polymer muscle badge to fine-tune the feel and audio. It has even called on master wedge craftsman Bob Vokey to improve the turf interaction with a variable bounce sole.
From a looks perspective, the U505 is very clearly a premium offering in terms of shelf appeal. The minimalist, clean branding and classy chrome finish just ooze quality, something that has become synonymous with the Titleist brand.
Down behind the ball, it won’t suit everyone's tastes. The protrusion from the back of the head is pretty large and is something I often find off-putting in a utility iron, however, I must say the more shots I hit with the U505, the less noticeable it became. Otherwise, the profile is flawless. The head sits extremely square, the leading edge is crisp, and the overall dimensions of the head did give me an awful lot of confidence.
Performance-wise, the Titleist U505 did an excellent job for me in terms of ball data. I conducted my test sessions both on the course and practice ground at Saunton Golf Club using my FullSwing KIT launch monitor and TaylorMade TP5 golf balls.
I was sent the 1-iron model which comes in at 16 degrees and despite its low base loft, I was achieving some decent launch angles, averaging out at 10.8 degrees. Ball speed was strong too at 151.2 mph on average, while the spin number was a very manageable 3996 rpm. From the ground my average carry was 221 yards and off the tee it jumped up to just over 230. This was a really nice set of numbers for me personally and more or less exactly what I was expecting.
In terms of feel, the U505 did produce quite a firm impact sensation, firmer for example than the Callaway Apex UT I tested earlier in the year, however, it was far from unpleasant. I got great feedback on mishits and felt I could pinpoint strikes very accurately, but ball speed didn’t suffer much at all off-center, and ball flight remained very stable.
The standout feature of the U505 for me is the versatility in terms of usage both from the tee and the fairway. I found it just as easy to hit some bullet tee balls as I did to hit a floaty approach from around 220 yards which is exactly what I want in a utility iron and testament to the sole design in my opinion.
The U505 is a must-try for those on the lookout for a utility iron. Classy looks, strong performance, and exceptional versatility make this a very strong offering from Titleist.
