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In this review, I’ll be taking a look at the Titleist TSi4 driver.
The TSi4 is all about low spin. It has a very low, forward CG position designed to substantially reduce spin and increase launch for maximum distance on solid strikes.
The TSi4 also features a compact 425cc head size, new advances in face technology, an enhanced MOI, and adjustability that is characteristic of the entire TSi line.
How useful is the low spin property of the TSi4 for performance off the tee? Is there a distinct lack of forgiveness? Who is best suited to use the driver?
I’ll try to answer all of these questions and more in this review. Here’s what I’ll be covering:
- Ratings
- Features & Technologies
- Performance
- Look, Sound & Feel
- Where To Buy This Driver Online
- Conclusion
Read on to find out what you need to know to make an informed purchase.
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.
What are the reviews like?
The Titleist TSi4 driver has a similar popularity to the TSi1, and much less than the TSi2 and TSi3. As such, there aren’t many reviews of the driver out there, either from professional critics or consumers.
With that said, critic reviews have been very positive on the whole. The driver has a 4/5 customer rating on Rock Bottom Golf.
What People Like
- incredible distance when struck solidly and with enough speed
- penetrating ball flight cuts through the wind nicely
- not as punishing as you might think it terms of forgiveness
- smaller profile is very appealing to many
- substantial, very satisfying feel
What People Don’t Like
- pricey
- a fair amount of club head speed is required to realize the full potential of the driver
What are the features?
Low & Forward CG
One of the defining features of the TSi4 driver is an ultra-low, forward center of gravity (CG). It’s the lowest and most forward CG in the TSi driver line.
The result of this CG position is reduced dynamic loft (the amount of loft on the club face at impact, measured relative to the horizon) and lower spin, but the launch remains high.
Optimized Aerodynamics & Sound
The TSi4 generates 6% less drag than the previous TS4 model through improved shaping.
This results in more club head speed and hence more ball speed and distance.
Multi-Dimensional MOI
The usual MOI (moment of inertia) that most other driver brands advertise and offer mainly focuses on horizontal performance towards the heel and toe.
Titleist goes above and beyond this, providing a more holistic MOI design. This means that the TSi4 is stable not just horizontally, but vertically towards the crown and sole as well.
This results in higher ball speeds in more areas of the face, as well as tighter spin and directional performance, giving you more confidence to attack every drive.
Fine-Tuned Adjustability
There are multiple opportunities to adjust and fine-tune the TSi4 driver to best suit your swing. This is ideally done by a fitter who would know which changes can bring about the most benefit.
The first is the SureFit hosel, which enables sixteen (16) unique loft and lie combinations for ball flight optimization. The second is the removable weight on the sole which is shifted forward compared to the other TSi drivers.
Stock Info
The TSi4 driver is available in 8°, 9°, and 10° standard lofts at 425CC. Unfortunately, only the stock 9° model is available to lefties.
Titleist offers a range of quality shaft options to players:
- featured graphite shafts: HZRDUS Smoke Yellow (low launch), TENSEI AV RAW White (low launch), HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX (low-mid launch), KURO KAGE Black DC 5G SFW (mid-high launch), TENSEI AV RAW Blue SFW (mid launch)
- premium graphite shafts: Tour AD DI, Tour AD IZ, and Tour AD XC
The stock grip is the Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360. The Golf Pride Z-Grip is available as a premium option.
Below are the specs of the Titleist TSi drivers. Click or zoom to enlarge.
How does the driver perform?
Distance
There are a few keys to being able to unlock explosive, unbeatable distance with the TSi4. If you have a sufficiently high club head speed and you normally generate a mid to high spin rate, the TSi4 is going to get that trajectory down, but the high ball speed will keep the ball in the air for maximum carry and rollout.
Alternatively, if you come into the ball steep or come over the top in your swing (outside-in path), you may be generating high spin that way and hence will see distance gains with the TSi4.
They say that the TSi4 generates, on average, about 250 rpm less than the TSi3 and 130 rpm less than the TS4. This is pretty close to what I experienced in my tests. In particular, I was averaging right around 2000 rpm, which is exactly where I was hoping to be.
Overall, I’m extremely pleased with the distance of the TSi4. In short, if you strike it well, it’s going to be a bomb. I find that if you mis-hit it, you’ll tend to lose 15-30 yards of distance, which is quite substantial but not unreasonable considering the CG placement.
Forgiveness
There’s no doubt that the TSi4 is the least forgiving driver in the TSi line. Having said that, I’ve certainly seen worse forgiveness out there, and the low spin does help to take the edge off hooks and slices.
Performance on mis-hits is still respectable as long as the contact isn’t right on the edge of the face, but don’t expect to keep your ball in the fairway when you make a bad swing.
The worst performance seems to be near the top of the face, so I suggest not teeing up your ball too high if you can avoid it.
Trajectory & Launch
The typical trajectory of the TSi4 is more or less what Titleist claims: a mid-high launch with low spin and a penetrating, straight flight. But remember that this is relative and depends on your club head speed, shaft, swing, etcetera.
The TSi4 is the most workable driver in the TSi line. I’m not a shot-shaping magician myself, but I know the huge amount of shape you can put on the ball because I’ve seen it. Such workability could definitely meet the demands of Tour pros.
What about look, sound & feel?
The Look
At 425CC, the TSi4 driver has a smaller head than the other models in the TSi line. It has a classic, pear-shaped, ‘players’ profile. Both of these things are designed to increase control and workability.
The aesthetic of the driver is similar to the other TSi drivers, but one unique aspect of the TSi4 is that the sole weight is shifted forward towards the face.
The compact nature of the TSi4 looks great behind the ball; if anything, it appears just a touch closed at address. This is a good thing because it will encourage golfers to open the face a little at impact, which is often what skilled players want to do.
Like the other TSi drivers, the TSi4 has a unique textured face designed to frame the ball and to offer a visual contrast with the black crown when setting up over the shot.
The Sound & Feel
Smaller driver heads traditionally have a less forgiving feel on mis-hits. The TSi4 isn’t really different in this regard, but what makes up for it is how amazing sweet-spot strikes feel.
When struck solidly, the TSi4 feels very substantial, with a nice, balanced “metal wood” smack and a pop. It’s so satisfying that you want to experience it over and over, so in that way, it’s an incentive to make better ball contact.
Feel is fairly similar as you move into the mis-hit regions, but there is a noticeable increase in vibrations through the hands. The sound of mis-hits is a little higher-pitched compared to center strikes.
Feedback is the most distinct in the TSi line of drivers — both feel and sound are pretty strong indicators of where you make contact, but taken together, you get a very clear picture.
Where should you buy the TSi4 driver online?
Titleist provides several different avenues for you to get fit or to understand which loft, length, shaft, etc. would be best for you.
For new TSi4 drivers, you should check out Rock Bottom Golf, Global Golf, the Titleist store, or eBay. RBG and Global Golf offer payment plans, performance guarantees, and club trade-in programs to help you minimize the financial hit. RBG also allows you to input fully custom specs.
With that said, new driver models don’t stay new for long, and eventually the option for custom orders will disappear. At that point, you’ll have to look at an off-the-rack TSi4 or even a used one.
For used TSi4 drivers, your best bet is probably eBay. They are a fantastic source for golf equipment, both new and used. You can also see which used drivers Global Golf has for sale.
Conclusion
The Titleist TSi4 is right up there as one one of the best “low-spin” driver offerings of 2021. Some people might even consider it the best.
The driver is incredible when you catch the ball solidly. But the forward CG and low spin property makes it relatively unforgiving on mis-hits, so if you’re a higher handicapper who struggles to make consistent contact, the TSi4 might not be for you.
The TSi4 is best suited for golfers who struggle with high spin and are trying to get their RPMs down. This may be due to high club head speed, an outside-in swing path, or “hitting up” on the ball. And the TSi4 isn’t reserved only for skilled players — golfers across the skill spectrum can benefit greatly from it.
Are you interested in the TSi4 driver? Have you played it? What’s your experience? Let us know in the comments below.
I am a scratch player who loves shaping the ball left, right, high, low. I feel like this driver (8degree, set lower 0.75 std lie) would be great for me. But i am afraid about how bad those misshits would turn out and about will I be able to hit this driver off the deck. I am using a 8.5degree 917D3 driver for now. Love to hear from you
Thanks for checking out the review. The TSi4 would certainly be excellent for someone looking for workability in their driver. My guess is that you’d do well with it if you’re having success with the 917D3. When it comes to hitting off the deck, there’s nothing particular about the TSi4 that I think would make it difficult, and in fact, the face isn’t excessively tall so that would only make it easier. It’s hard to say if the relative lack of forgiveness in the TSi4 would have a major impact on your game, but given what you’ve said about your handicap and whatnot, I think you’ll be fine. In my experience, mis-hit forgiveness isn’t terrible, but it’s probably not enough to satisfy golfers looking for game improvement equipment. I would definitely give it a try and see how it goes.
Great driver! I purchased my driver in September 2022 and received it October 10. I love this driver. I can hit the draw, fade or straight ball with ease. I am a 8 handicap and looking to improve on that number with this monster (consistency and confidence). I really like that they give you a full toolbox of driver settings. For me, the performance of this club is well worth the price tag.
Awesome, glad to hear it!