After much anticipation, it is time to introduce the new GT driver family from Titleist, and in this review, we will be taking a look at the GT4. Can this compact, low-spin offering sit amongst the best drivers of 2024? Let’s take a look…
WATCH: See us go through a Titleist GT driver fitting
Touching on the technology first of all, the whole GT range sees a departure from the familiarity of all-titanium Titleist drivers. The engineers at Titleist HQ felt that the only way to increase speed and performance was to experiment with new materials, and this brought them to the development of a material completely new to golf club design that Titleist refers to as a Proprietary Matrix Polymer which is being utilized in the crown section.
Stephanie Luttrell, Director of Metalwood Product Development explains: “The density of this crown is approximately three times lighter than where we were in an all-titanium construction. By wrapping the crown down to the sole, we optimize the mass distribution throughout the head, allowing us significant advantages in designing to our center of gravity and inertia goals.”
The GT4 has been designed for players looking to eliminate excessive spin rates. This aggressive spin profile has been achieved via a combination of the new Seamless Thermoform Crown, and what Titleist refers to as Split Mass Construction which has allowed them to distribute two internal masses further apart, maintaining back-weighted stability while driving the CG forward for serious spin reduction.
In terms of the visuals, by far and away, I would say that the GT4 is my favorite of the new GT family head profiles. I am a sucker for a compact driver head (the GT4 comes in at 430cc) and combined with the very round, squat profile, and clean Titleist aesthetics, this is about as good as it gets for me. Higher handicap players might find the smaller footprint a little intimidating, but hold that thought, Titleist may have a remedy for that…
Based on extensive tour testing, Titleist has now introduced some color contrast to the face of this GT range which is really helpful for both lining the ball up and making it easier to see the loft which is a smart move to help instill more confidence at address in what could be a relatively intimidating driver for some.
It would be remiss not to highlight one slight disappointment, which lies on the sole of the whole GT range, and while it has absolutely no bearing on the performance or quality of the driver as a whole, I find the sole of this driver somewhat dull in design. This is a tiny criticism of what is a hugely impressive driver range as a whole, but I’ve got to call it how I see it.
With regard to the performance, I was seriously impressed. Having tested on a Trackman 4 launch monitor, spin levels were predictably low, ball speeds high, and the feel was off-the-charts impressive. Based on the smaller profile, I would suggest this will suit more proficient ball strikers better, but as a PGA Professional, I felt I had enough consistency to handle it, and found the GT4 head to be the most workable of the bunch. It does have a slightly different acoustic than the other drivers in the range - a little higher pitched and not as dense, but no less powerful.
Midway through my first fitting session, however, I was blindsided by my fitter! He took the head off me without telling me what he was doing, went to work with his wrench, and handed it back to me. It was like I had a completely different driver in my hands. The launch window and spin rates had completely changed, and he hadn’t adjusted the loft in any way.
What he had done however was switch the two adjustable weights on the sole around so the heavier 11-gram weight now sat at the rear, while the lighter 3-gram weight was now up front, and what a difference. Launch was a good 1˚ higher, and spin rates were up over 250rpm. My fitter described it as being able to turn the GT4 into a GT2.5, which summed it up brilliantly. What I got here was the compact head that I love, but with MOI that sat somewhere between the GT2 and GT3 models. This is a great option to have within one driver head, and one that fitters and players around the world will be utilizing shortly I’m sure.
With so many players now accustomed to 460cc heads as standard, the GT4 will remain something of a niche product, but from what I have seen during testing, more players should at least be open to trying this model. My favorite of the bunch for sure, this will be a very successful product maybe across a broader ability spectrum than anticipated.
The GT4 is available in 8˚, 9˚, and 10˚ in both right and left-handed options. The standard length will be 45.5” and as you would expect there are a number of custom grip, shaft, and even head weight options to dial in your preferences. However, the non-up chargeable options are the Project X Denali Red, Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Blue and Black, and the Project X Hzrdus Black 5th Gen. The RRP of the full GT range will be £579/$649.
