Titleist is about to replace the GT280 mini with the new GTS300, one of the fastest metalwood refreshes in the company’s recent history.
This week the Titleist GTS300 mini driver lands in tour bags, and it’s worth noting how quickly we got here. The title generally takes its time. The company tends to let a product breathe, sometimes for a full two-year cycle, sometimes longer, before pulling the trigger on a successor. By the title’s standards, the turnaround from GT280 to GTS300 is quick.
A quick rethink
of The GT280 wasn’t exactly a mistake. There was (and still is) an audience. A friend of mine Lend mine and I haven’t seen it since, which is its own kind of validation. But step back and look at the broader category. Most of the industry (TaylorMade, PXG, Cobra) moves around 300cc. The only outsider is Callaway, sitting at 340. Meanwhile, Titleist went the other way with the 280, relying on playability off the deck while everyone else built something a little more focused off the tee.
There is a place for that. There is also the question of what the market actually wants.
It’s at least notable that while Titleist has been the No. 1 driver on the PGA Tour for several years in a row, it was Callaway who led the underdog at Augusta this April. We are not talking about massive numbers; it’s not like half the field had a mini in the sack. But the gap is real and the position held by the incumbent in the driver’s category has not translated to the small dog. A 20cc bump doesn’t sound like much, but reading between the lines is that the original was smaller than tournament players (and a significant portion of everyday players) could want from their mines.
What it carries
The 2-position flip system from the GT280 makes the journey to the GTS300, which gives fitters and golfers two different CG settings: back heavy for higher launch and a bit more spin, front heavy for a flatter flight and lower spin.
The full story of the technology has yet to be told. This is just a reflection of how Titleist has handled releases for as long as I can remember. First the tour presentation, then a deep dive into materials, geometry, and everything engineers want to understand when retail is closer.
The name change is worth a quick mention. The switch from GT to GTS sounds like cosmetic alphabet soup, but it aligns the mini with the rest of the GTS family of metalwoods that launched in Houston at the end of March. By the time the GTS300 hits shelves this summer, it won’t be left with the old badge alongside a refreshed lineup.
My 2 cents
Last season I tried every mini available. My use case calls for something I can occasionally hit off the deck, so I thought I’d go down to the 280. It didn’t take long to rule out the Callaway Elyte (the 340 was just too much club for what I needed), but in the end I gravitated to TaylorMade R7 Quad.
280 was a solid second. I liked it. I liked the R7 better.
I had a chance to hit the GTS300 last week during a visit to TPI. We’ll see what happens once it’s in my bag on a real course, but the condensed version is this: Titleist’s more aggressive than usual approach to replacement seems like the right call. The larger head looks a little closer to the right hovering behind the ball, and the slightly larger footprint shouldn’t cost too much in off-deck performance. The feedback during the assembly process was encouraging.
Price and availability
The Titleist GTS300 mini driver will be available at retail this July as the rest of the GTS line of metalwoods hits golf shops.
In preparation for the launch of the GTS300, Titleist has dropped the price of the smaller GT280 (which, depending on what you’re looking for, may still be the right club for you) to $399.
For more information, visit Titleist.com.
