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This is a review of the Titleist 714 AP1 irons, which Titleist claimed were the longest and most forgiving irons they had ever made back in 2014.
The 714 AP1 is an upgrade in nearly every conceivable way (forgiveness, ball speed, spin) over its predecessor, the 712 AP1. The AP1s also made the 2015 Hot List for Golf Digest.
How well do these irons perform? How do they compare with similar offerings in the game-improvement category? Read on to find the answers.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, stock shafts and stock grips are used when evaluating this club. In most cases, the golf clubs reviewed on Golfstead are acquired temporarily for testing purposes and are not purchased. The review that follows is based on the personal experience and research of the author. Because everyone’s swing and body are different, results with a particular club may differ from person to person.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 4.7/5 (Excellent)
Classification: Game-Improvement
Best suited for: Any golfer can be successful with 714 AP1 irons, but they’re best suited for beginners or mid to high handicaps looking for a quality, forgiving iron.
Pros
- CG progression makes for nice long trajectories
- mis-hits do a great job of holding the line with minimal sidespin
- can get the ball up in the air out of a variety of lies
- brushed satin finish is functional and looks good
- satisfying impact sound and feel
Cons
- doesn’t afford as much control and workability as other irons
- some may find the large, thick clubhead clunky and unappealing
- relatively expensive
Best Places To Buy Online
The AP1 714 irons are more than a few years old now, so you can find them at pretty amazing prices.
Right now, the best two places to get the irons online are eBay and Global Golf. Go to these places and check out what’s available.
Want a high-resolution look at the 714 AP1 iron? Click on the composite image at the top of the page and navigate the photos on the left-hand side of the screen.
What are the reviews like?
The 714 AP1s are generally regarded as premium quality irons and they have excellent ratings.
They have a 4.7/5 on Global Golf, and they are also recommended by just about every other reviewer.
What People Like
- high long-iron trajectory
- very long carry/distance
- legendary forgiveness
- great look and great feel
Indeed, there isn’t much that the 714 AP1 doesn’t do well.
What People Don’t Like
- some dislike the large and thick appearance of the clubhead and feel that it somewhat limits shot workability
- some have found that the irons sometimes produce more spin than desired in certain situations.
What are the features?
According to Titleist, the 714 AP1s are “precision engineered for optimum flight and distance” and, as game-improvement irons, they are intended to be very forgiving.
Full features and benefits (which can be found on the Titleist website) include:
Progressive CG
A low-to-high height progression of the center of gravity (CG) enables longer irons to be launched at a higher trajectory and shorter irons to be launched at a flatter trajectory for more carry and distance.
Tungsten Weighting
High-density tungsten weights are “precisely placed” in mid and long irons.
This results in a higher moment of inertia (MOI) and hence better forgiveness and ball speeds across the entire face.
Deep Undercut & Camber Sole
A deep undercut dual-cavity design helps with forgiveness, while a camber sole with a pre-worn leading edge delivers a “smooth turf release” (a marketing term that refers to better club-turf interaction).
The AP1 714 irons have progressive sole widths (wider with length), blade lengths and top lines, with a satin polish finish and bright polish cavity highlights.
Stock Info
The 714 AP1s are available in one of three stock shafts (True Temper XP95, Kuro Kage 65 or Kuro Kage 50) and the Titleist Tour Velvet Grip.
For iron specifications, see the table below:
Name | Loft | Lie | Length (steel) | Offset (mm) | Bounce | Swing Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 20° | 60° | 39" | .245" | 1° | D1 |
4 | 23° | 61° | 38.5" | .220" | 1° | D1 |
5 | 26° | 62° | 38" | .195" | 2° | D1 |
6 | 29° | 62.5° | 37.5" | .170" | 2° | D1 |
7 | 32° | 63° | 37" | .145" | 3° | D1 |
8 | 36° | 63.5° | 36.5" | .125" | 4° | D1 |
9 | 40° | 64° | 36" | .110" | 5° | D1 |
P | 44° | 64° | 35.75" | .105" | 6° | D1 |
W | 48° | 64° | 35.5" | .100" | 7° | D1 |
W2 | 52° | 64° | 35.5" | .100" | 7° | D1 |
How do these irons perform?
Distance
Well-struck shots with the 714 AP1s fly a very long and consistent yardage, more so than many other modern irons.
Mis-hits and shots hit from bad lies (such as deep rough) retain a very decent ball speed and distance.
Many people will find themselves gaining a half a club or more in distance over their previous irons, particularly with the shorter irons, due to the more flat and penetrating trajectory.
Playability/Workability
Sidespin is minimal and a straight ball flight is strongly favoured.
While the AP1 doesn’t offer as much control as the tour-level AP2, shots can still be shaped fairly easily — draws, fades, low balls, etcetera.
The thick and bulky clubhead can power through the rough to extract most lies, and the camber sole can smoothly cut through the turf.
Forgiveness
Many golfers will greatly appreciate the exceptional forgiveness of the 714 AP1s.
Shots that are mis-hit near the toe or heel still tend to go relatively straight, and shot dispersion with a repeatable swing is minimal. Of course, this is great for mid-to-high handicappers.
What about look, sound & feel?
The Look
The 714 AP1s have a simple yet sophisticated and refined badge design on the cavity, with a classy white/red/black colour scheme.
I personally prefer the aesthetics of the brushed satin finish on the various parts of the clubhead much more than the chrome finish of the previous generation irons. The satin finish also produces less glare, which is a nice little benefit.
The 714 AP1s have slightly less offset and slightly smaller blade sizes than similar game-improvement irons in their class, but it’s certainly nothing extreme.
At address, these irons look clean and inspire plenty of confidence that you’ll hit a respectable shot.
The Sound & Feel
Sweet spot hits on the face feel flush, balanced and very satisfying. Mishits feel muted to some degree, but there is sufficient feedback to be able to tell where the ball made contact with the face.
The impact sound can be described as a slightly muffled “click” that gets more muffled as you move away from the sweet spot.
Overall, the profile of the 714 AP1s is very solid.
Where should you buy these irons online?
Years later, it can be difficult to find AP1 714 irons in new condition.
Regardless, you can find some amazing deals from trustworthy and reputable sellers on eBay, but just be aware of their policies. If you look through the search results, you can find plenty of listings for both new and used irons.
eBay is great because you’re completely protected by the Money Back Guarantee.
Alternatively, Global Golf still has some of these irons in stock. You’d best grab some before they’re gone. Check and see what coupon codes they’re running here.
Conclusion
The Titleist 714 AP1 irons are wonderful irons that really don’t have any major weaknesses. They do a fantastic job of addressing the needs of the mid-to-high handicapper who wants a forgiving, high quality all-around performer.
The irons are a culmination of premium quality, craftsmanship and performance.
The best thing to do is try them out for yourself and find out whether or not they’re for you. If you aren’t having the success you were hoping for, you can always look into getting a custom fitting.
Have any thoughts or opinions about the Titleist 714 AP1 irons? Leave them in the comments below!
Hello, thank you for the helpful review.
I am a newbie in the Golf World, I have an average budget. Which kind of iron do you recommend me the most? Do I have to obtain a specialized club, or a regular should work for me?
Hey, thanks for the comment. For a beginner with an “average” budget as you put it, no, I wouldn’t recommend getting your clubs fit. That can cost quite a bit extra, and the difference in performance is often minimal. Buy a good set off the rack, discover your swing, and learn how to make consistently solid contact with the golf ball first.
Your ideal iron set really depends on your budget. I’m not sure what “average” translates to in terms of dollars, but assuming a budget of $500 or less, a really solid choice that comes to mind is the Cobra Fly-Z XL. They offer a nice balance between forgiveness, distance and overall performance. You can read my review of these irons here, and you can find great deals on them on eBay. Good luck!
The 714 AP1’s are a great choice for beginners.